ONE TRUE WAY
Author:
ISBN: 978-1-338-18172-2
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Copyright Date: February 27, 2018
Price: $16.99
Description
Welcome to Daniel Boone Middle School in the 1970s, where teachers and coaches must hide who they are, and girls who like girls are forced to question their own choices. Presented in the voice of a premier storyteller, One True Way sheds exquisite light on what it means to be different, while at the same time being wholly true to oneself. Through the lives and influences of two girls, readers come to see that love is love is love. Set against the backdrop of history and politics that surrounded gay rights in the 1970s South, this novel is a thoughtful, eye-opening look at tolerance, acceptance, and change, and will widen the hearts of all readers.
The author of Ruby Lee & Me presents a fresh take on Annie on my Mind and other classics of the lesbian fiction genre.
Welcome to Daniel Boone Middle School in the 1970s, where teachers and coaches must hide who they are, and girls who like girls are forced to question their own choices. Presented in the voice of a premier storyteller, One True Way sheds exquisite light on what it means to be different, while at the same time being wholly true to oneself. Through the lives and influences of two girls, readers come to see that love is love is love. Set against the backdrop of history and politics that surrounded gay rights in the 1970s South, this novel is a thoughtful, eye-opening look at tolerance, acceptance, and change, and will widen the hearts of all readers.
A beautifully told, heartening story of two girls who discover that their friendship is leading to something more. But how, among the backward thinking of their Southern town, will Sam and Allie ever be able to face what they know is true about themselves?
http://www.shannonhitchcock.com
http://www.twitter.com/shanonhitchcock
http://shannonhitchcockwriter.blogspot.com
Notes
“One of 5 upcoming MG novels featuring LGBTQ characters”
Included on SLJ’s
18 2018 Middle Grade Books to Have on Your Radar
And other blogs, including:
“Some of the Books We’re Looking Forward to in 2018”
Fangirlish
Books We Can’t Wait to Read/ Lydia’s 2018 Middle Grade Picks
Texas Book Festival
A Conversation with the Author
http://www.shannonhitchcock.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/A-70s-Immersion.pdf
50 of the Best LGBT Books 2018
https://www.autostraddle.com/50-of-the-best-lgbt-books-of-2018-441796/?fbclid=IwAR3DQG3q1XQhhO5OuUK7DVa2LyBcJQ4rwcNH0BRpi1-nEcw814ll9P6Pz6U
A 2018 Mighty Girl Book
https://www.amightygirl.com/mighty-girl-picks/2018-mighty-girl-books?p=5
True Colors: “A Mighty Girl” book for Pride Month:
“A Mighty Girl” book about Standing Up for Others:
This emotionally honest middle grade novel also provides an opportunity to discuss the history of gay rights in America.
Speakforthem.org states that “suicide is the leading cause of death among gay and lesbian youth nationally.” I have to be an ally, and I hope you’ll be one too … – Shannon Hitchcock
How can teachers and parents use One True Way as a learning tool for introducing the concepts of tolerance, inclusion, acceptance, and kindness?
There are so many possibilities. One True Way could be part of a unit on bullying. According to statistics compiled by the Human Rights Campaign, LGBT youth are twice as likely as their peers to say they have been physically assaulted. One True Way could also be included when studying Civil Rights by charting the history and struggle for LGBT rights. Another possibility is in a language arts class by having students interview a peer and write a profile like the ones Allie does for her school newspaper in One True Way.
http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/qa-acclaimed-author-shannon-hitchcock
Listen to Shannon’s podcast interview about the book, its inspiration, and her process on #SoBookingCool here.
https://www.podcastone.com/episode/Jorge-Ramos-and-Shannon-Hitchcock
(24:57)
MIDDLE GRADE MAFIA
MGM: With “Ruby Lee & Me” and now “One True Way” you’ve chosen to write about controversial topics of that time period. Why?
SH: All of my books have an equality theme. My first book, The Ballad of Jessie Pearl, is set two years after women got the right to vote, and it’s about Jessie’s right to an education. Ruby Lee & Me has a Civil Rights sub-plot, One True Way tackles LGBTQ issues, and I have two completed manuscripts which my agent is currently shopping. One deals with immigrant rights, and the other is about the current political climate in our country. I’m an activist at heart, and the way I choose to protest is through my stories. http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2018/02/interview-shannon-hitchcock-giveaway/
MGM: In the book, you do a wonderful job with a few characters who have to reconcile their religious teachings with the notion of homosexuality. Can you tell us how you came to formulating those ideas presented?
SH: Three books were invaluable to me: Defrocked: How A Father’s Act of Love Shook the United Methodist Church by Franklyn Schaefer, Crooked Letter i: Coming Out in the South by Connie Griffin, and When Christians Get It Wrong by Adam Hamilton. Once I had formulated my own opinions, I discussed my beliefs with the Reverend Vicki Walker. I knew I was on to something when she said, “You have no idea how many parents have sat where you are, struggling to accept their gay children, and how many children have sat in the same seat, afraid of disappointing their parents.” If ONE TRUE WAY can help those families in any way, I will consider it a success.
https://jenreadstherainbow.blogspot.com/2018/09/one-true-way-what-she-needs-to-know-is.html
http://www.anchoragelibrary.org/media/1497/2018-2019-battle-brochure-tentative.pdf
“One of 5 upcoming MG novels featuring LGBTQ characters”
Included on SLJ’s 18 2018 Middle Grade Books to Have on Your Radar
What’s New in LGBTQIA+ YA February 2018
Some of the Books We’re Looking Forward to in 2018
Books We Can’t Wait to Read/ Lydia’s 2018 Middle Grade Picks
A Conversation with the Author
Issues, history and politics surrounding gay rights in the 70s South are beautifully woven into the heartfelt struggle of Sam and Allie as they face what they know is true about themselves.
Like her highly regarded Ruby Lee & Me, One True Way is historical fiction mixed with some true-to-life elements from Shannon’s own life. For me, this mixture of elements creates a highly accessible view into history that tugs at the heart. For this novel, Shannon delves into the “climate in 1977” as Anita Bryant’s SAVE OUR CHILDREN campaign traveled the country with messages to deny equal rights to homosexuals. You Tube clips of Bryant’s speeches are a great introduction to set the scene for this book, according to Shannon.
Together, Shannon and I discussed One True Way and her inspiration for the book via email. As you peruse this interview, you will notice how cognizant Shannon was of her audience’s maturity level. (This former school librarian appreciates that and her dedication to research when writing historical fiction.)
K: What was your inspiration for this novel?
S: I got the idea for writing ONE TRUE WAY at the 2014 National Council of Teachers of English Convention. As I listened to a diversity panel, the moderator spoke about the lack of middle grade books dealing with homosexuality. There are picture books, think HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES, AND TANGO MAKES THREE, and of course in YA literature, authors like David Levithan, Bill Konigsberg, Benjamin Alire Saenz, and Becky Albertalli have written beautiful books, but at that time, there were very few books available in the Middle Grade realm. The moderator went on to praise Tim Federle’s novel, BETTER NATE THAN EVER, and as she spoke, I made a note to read Tim’s book. Tim had found a way to write about a gay character for a middle grade audience, and I wanted to do the same.
K: What personal experiences did you draw upon to create this story?
S: I was drawn to the topic for a very personal reason. When we were in our early twenties, my best friend came out to me. I have never been more shocked in my life. Prior to that, I thought I had no prejudice toward gay individuals, but when it struck so close to home, it was a different matter entirely. I had to let go of “my dreams.” I had had dreams of someday vacationing together, my friend and her husband, and me with mine, of being godmothers to each other’s children, of a future that would now look different than the one I had imagined. Finally, my husband said to me, “You are making this all about YOU, and it’s not. You have a choice to make: you either have a best friend who is gay, or you don’t have a best friend anymore.” After that the answer was crystal clear. My friend was just fine, but I needed to change. All these years later, I am still ashamed of my initial reaction.
K: I’ve read both of Tim’s books, and agree that he found the perfect formula to showcase Nate! What process did you take then?
S: After NCTE, my first order of business was to read BETTER NATE THAN EVER. I adore Tim’s book, but could never have written it. Tim Federle is hysterically funny, and well, that’s not my strength. So I looked at my two prior books, THE BALLAD OF JESSIE PEARL, and RUBY LEE & ME. Those books hold the key to who I am as a writer. My modus operandi is to use history and write about a girl who lived in that time period, to explore how history affected her. I write simple, heartfelt stories. That’s what I do.
K: How does Allie’s story fit into middle grade?
S: There is a huge difference in writing about homosexuality from a Middle Grade perspective. Probably the biggest is there is no sex. ONE TRUE WAY is about a first crush. I pitched it to Scholastic this way, “From the moment Allie Drake meets Samantha Johnson at Daniel Boone Middle School, she knows there is something special between them. But Allie never knew a first crush could be so wonderful…or cause so many problems.”
K: Tell us more.
S: Allie loves being around Sam. Her heart beats faster, she can’t wait for the phone to ring, she wants to hold her hand. It’s innocent and exciting, but the problems ensue when Allie’s mom finds out about her same sex crush. The feelings are the same whether the crush is between two girls, two boys, or a boy and a girl. The difference is in the way the adults around them react to it. One of my favorite lines in the book is when Allie says to her mom, “If I’m not too young to have feelings for a boy, then I’m not too young to have feelings for a girl.” I think this is very true, but we as children’s writers have tended to steer clear for obvious reasons.
K: Are there more books you can recommend on this topic?
S: Since that fateful session at NCTE, several Middle Grade books dealing with homosexuality have either been published or acquired. In addition to ONE TRUE WAY, be on the lookout for STAR-CROSSED by Barbara Dee, P.S. I MISS YOU by Jen Petro-Roy, and HURRICANE CHILD by Kheryn Callender.
K: Any parting words for us?
S: I have no way of knowing how ONE TRUE WAY will be received, but I’m reminded of a quote from MG author, Donna Gephart, “Being brave doesn’t mean we’re not afraid. It means we are afraid, but choose to do what feels right anyway. I promise to keep writing bravely. If you promise to keep sharing books bravely. Together, we’ll make this world a kinder, gentler, more inclusive place.”
For more on Shannon Hitchcock, find her on twitter here, her blog here, and check out Patty Toth’s post on RUBY LEE.
Reviews
In 1977 North Carolina, a mutual crush is not so simple for seventh-grade girls Allie and Sam. Following the death of her older brother, Allie and her mom leave New Jersey and Allie’s father behind. At her new school, Allie joins the newspaper staff and befriends charismatic, tomboyish Sam. When the girls’ feelings for each other bloom beyond friendship, they feel pressured to keep their secret from kids and adults who would think they’re “freaks.” The (nearly all-white) town’s animosity toward two lesbian teachers is a harrowing example for how some view same-sex relationships. The narrative leans into certain coming-out tropes, but Allie’s levelheaded narration is refreshingly nuanced. Hitchcock unflinchingly characterizes the emotional struggles of being young and lesbian; Allie feels shame for disappointing her mother and snaps a rubber band against her wrist whenever she thinks about kissing Sam, while for Sam it may never be safe to come out in her conservative Christian household. Throughout, Allie asks “hard questions” about whether homosexuality is right in the eyes of the Bible or her community. Ultimately and affirmingly, her adult role models encourage her to be true to herself. A compelling and honest addition to the few existing stories about gay middle schoolers. – Kirkus, starred review
Shannon Hitchcock’s important story shines a bright light on the struggles LGBT kids had to deal with in the mid-1970s, giving us a context with which to understand more fully the same struggles that are happening today. In straight-forward prose, this honest look shows us how far we’ve come, and at the same time doesn’t deny how far we have to go.
Kathi Appelt
– Newbery Honor-winning author and National Book Award finalist for The Underneath
Shannon Hitchcock brings a light touch to a very complex era in history, revealing how the “one true way” is the path to unconditional love for two girls. A brilliant and powerful story!
Gayle E. Pitman, Ph.D.
– Stonewall Award-winning author of This Day in June
SLJ
When a friendship between two girls in a small 1970s Southern town grows into something more, the community reacts in ways that will resonate with many youths today. After her older brother’s death and parents’ separation, seventh grader Allie Drake moves with her mother to rural North Carolina. She is taken under the wing of Samantha “Sam” Johnson, a confident, popular, gender nonconforming girl. A keenly observant aspiring reporter, Allie notices and wonders about those around her, using in-depth profiles in the school paper to get to know her new classmates. (Strangely, while several students open up to her about deeply personal topics that make them feel different from their peers, the single non-white character in the story never mentions race as a factor in his life.) As it becomes clear that she and Sam are in love, Allie is baffled by the unpredictable responses of family and friends, particularly the discomfort of her mother who has been vocally supportive of her lesbian teachers and gay uncle, and the unexpected support and acceptance from others. The sweetness of the girls’ tender feelings for one another contrasts with the fear and secrecy they realize they must live with. Clear, unfussy writing and expert pacing will keep readers absorbed in this appealing novel that strikes a balance between being character- and plot-driven. VERDICT Compassionate and engaging, this may be a work of historical fiction but its depiction of prejudice remains relevant. Highly recommended for middle grade collections.–Laura Simeon, Open Window School Library, Bellevue, WA
Booklist:
Hitchcock—The Ballad of Jessie Pearl (2013) and Ruby Lee & Me (2016)—is no stranger to writing about the tumultuous lives of young people. Reminiscent of Nancy Garden’s Annie on My Mind (1982), Hitchcock’s novel follows Allie and Samantha as they navigate a newfound friendship and slowly budding romance against the backdrop of religious intolerance, family discord, and school drama—complete with a plethora of ’70s pop culture references. Religion bumps up against self-discovery and early romantic fulfillment, but with an accepting minister and supportive friends, both Allie and Sam work to understand their place in the rural South. The story explores the delicate dance of coming out at a young age, and while the book is reminiscent of early LGBTQ fiction for young readers—family strife, alienation, quickly wrapped-up endings, and so on—the 1970s time frame provides something of a justification for the southern attitudes. Young readers will find this novel to be ultimately uplifting and inspirational, particularly considering the current lack of middle-grade books with LGBTQ content. — Rob Bittner
PW:
After moving from New Jersey to a conservative North Carolina town, Allie Drake has two goals for her first day at Daniel Boone Middle School: make a friend and join the newspaper staff. She accomplishes both after meeting a girl named Sam, “probably the friendliest person I’d ever met,” who introduces Allie to the newspaper’s editor. Allie has felt invisible ever since her brother, Eric, died in a car accident; her grieving parents separated; and her mother became oppressively overprotective. She’s instantly drawn to Sam (and the attraction is mutual), but Allie is afraid to confide in her mother, for fear of causing her “the kind of pain that Eric’s death had.” Setting her novel in the 1970s, Hitchcock (Ruby Lee & Me) sensitively explores the hurdles facing the girls’ tentative romance, including the teachings of Sam’s parents’ church and the realization that the dismissal of their favorite teachers, a lesbian couple, doesn’t bode well for their future together.
A believable supporting cast helps deliver potent messages about the dangers of intolerance and the importance of being true to oneself.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33382228-one-true-way
This book will be joining my classroom. Set in the 1970’s in the South, Allie deals with a lot of intense topics for this time period including divorce, the rising power of mega-churches, women’s rights and the struggles many homosexual people faced in small, southern towns during this period. Through a wit and charm that’ll have you forgetting her age, Allie wrestles with what it means to follow her heart and if a person can honestly choose to be gay or straight. I’m sure some critics will say the supportive teachers and friends depicted here are unrealistic and many more people would be like Ms. Johnson, but without giving too much away, I believe Hitchcock is teaching young people inclusion and equality through the voices of her characters and she does it so well.
This feels like an innocent, yet complicated love story mixed with a family drama, and truly, that’s the magic formula for kids ages 10-14.”
One True Way is a great addition to diverse middle school collections.
Add it to Barakiva’s One Many Guy, Federle’s Better Nate Than Ever, Sayre’s Husky, Wittlinger’s Saturdays with Hitchock, Gino’s George, Hennessey’s The Other Boy, Polonsky’s Gracefully Grayson, and other books that show different experiences with sexual orientation and gender identity in a way that will make middle school readers more understanding of the challenges faced by the people in the world around them. — Ms. Yingling / Librarian
Hitchcock sensitively explores the girls’ romantic relationship the story in relation to family, community, and faith. Despite varying levels of pushback from their parents, Allie and Sam are surrounded by allies at every junction of their life: Sam’s older sister Melissa, who shields them from their mother; Allie’s minister, Reverend Walker, who counsels Allie and encourages her to read the Bible more openly; and Coach Murphy and Ms. Holt, a lesbian couple who teach at the girls’ school. Allie’s feelings for Sam leads readers through the complicated tangles of adolescence life and first love, demonstrating that no one should have to walk alone and there really is no one true way to walk. –From Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Homosexuality is not the only taboo topic openly discussed in One True Way; Christianity plays a central role in the story and its characters, a subject not often discussed in mainstream middle grade fiction. The depictions of people’s religious beliefs are quite diverse, reflecting the realities of differing beliefs under the umbrella of Christianity. The result is a gentle portrayal of differing beliefs, a welcome change from more heavy-handed rhetoric.
These familiar pangs of understanding reinforce my belief that One True Way is sorely needed, for not just young gay and lesbian readers but for all young readers. Hitchcock has tried to create work that speaks to gay kids and those who care about them.
But the best part of One True Way is the gentle tickle of first love, the moment when two people realize the other feels something too. When Sam and Allie acknowledge their feelings for each other and touch hands, the moment fairly lifts off the page, taking my young, romantic heart with it. One True Way works because it reinforces the universality of the human experience, in religion and in love. Readers are fortunate to have a book like this one.- Christian Feminism Today
“…A rare fictional look at historical LGBTQ identities for this age range. There’s little in it that couldn’t still happen today (unfortunately, in some cases), but the spectre of Anita Bryant, even shakier employment protections, and in-passing mentions of pop culture figures of the time help convey the important lesson that girls falling in love with girls is nothing new.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33382228-one-true-way
This book will be joining my classroom.
Set in the 1970’s in the South, Allie deals with a lot of intense topics for this time period including divorce, the rising power of mega-churches, women’s rights and the struggles many homosexual people faced in small, southern towns during this period. Through a wit and charm that’ll have you forgetting her age, Allie wrestles with what it means to follow her heart and if a person can honestly choose to be gay or straight. I’m sure some critics will say the supportive teachers and friends depicted here are unrealistic and many more people would be like Ms. Johnson, but without giving too much away, I believe Hitchcock is teaching young people inclusion and equality through the voices of her characters and she does it so well. This feels like an innocent, yet complicated love story mixed with a family drama, and truly, that’s the magic formula for kids ages 10-14.”
One True Way is a great addition to diverse middle school collections.
http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2018/02/mmgm-one-true-way-and-votes-for-women.html
One True Way is a great addition to diverse middle school collections. Add it to Barakiva’s One Many Guy, Federle’s Better Nate Than Ever, Sayre’s Husky, Wittlinger’s Saturdays with Hitchock, Gino’s George, Hennessey’s The Other Boy, Polonsky’s Gracefully Grayson, and other books that show different experiences with sexual orientation and gender identity in a way that will make middle school readers more understanding of the challenges faced by the people in the world around them.
https://middlegrademafia.com/2018/03/05/4-1-1-author-interview-shannon-hitchcock/
One True Way is a great addition to diverse middle school collections. Add it to Barakiva’s One Many Guy, Federle’s Better Nate Than Ever, Sayre’s Husky, Wittlinger’s Saturdays with Hitchock, Gino’s George, Hennessey’s The Other Boy, Polonsky’s Gracefully Grayson, and other books that show different experiences with sexual orientation and gender identity in a way that will make middle school readers more understanding of the challenges faced by the people in the world around them.
https://middlegrademafia.com/2018/03/05/4-1-1-author-interview-shannon-hitchcock/
Hitchcock sensitively explores the girls’ romantic relationship the story in relation to family, community, and faith. Despite varying levels of pushback from their parents, Allie and Sam are surrounded by allies at every junction of their life: Sam’s older sister Melissa, who shields them from their mother; Allie’s minister, Reverend Walker, who counsels Allie and encourages her to read the Bible more openly; and Coach Murphy and Ms. Holt, a lesbian couple who teach at the girls’ school. Allie’s feelings for Sam leads readers through the complicated tangles of adolescence life and first love, demonstrating that no one should have to walk alone and there really is no one true way to walk.
-from Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
https://eewc.com/one-true-way/
Homosexuality is not the only taboo topic openly discussed in One True Way; Christianity plays a central role in the story and its characters, a subject not often discussed in mainstream middle grade fiction. The depictions of people’s religious beliefs are quite diverse, reflecting the realities of differing beliefs under the umbrella of Christianity. The result is a gentle portrayal of differing beliefs, a welcome change from more heavy-handed rhetoric.
These familiar pangs of understanding reinforce my belief that One True Way is sorely needed, for not just young gay and lesbian readers but for all young readers. Hitchcock has tried to create work that speaks to gay kids and those who care about them.
But the best part of One True Way is the gentle tickle of first love, the moment when two people realize the other feels something too. When Sam and Allie acknowledge their feelings for each other and touch hands, the moment fairly lifts off the page, taking my young, romantic heart with it. One True Way works because it reinforces the universality of the human experience, in religion and in love. Readers are fortunate to have a book like this one.
“It (ONE TRUE WAY) may well be the first ever historical fiction title to capture queer life for this age group.”
https://medalonmymind.com/2018/10/01/middle-grade-fiction-roundup/
“ …one of the sweetest and most honest books about young queer love I have ever read.”
https://www.scarymommy.com/20-lgbtq-books-preschoolers-to-high-school-kids/
