BAD QUEER

A gender-subversive verse novel that puts self-love first.

This coming-of-age story centering on Surya, a genderqueer teenager from London, offers a thoughtful and nuanced take on relationships within and outside family. Surya’s immigrant grandparents left Sri Lanka to escape the oppression of its Tamil population. The novel explores with compassion the conflict between their dream—to provide Surya with opportunities they never had—and their expectation that Surya conform to their binary framework of gender and sexuality. Debut author Kamalakanthan deserves kudos for unraveling the nature of intergenerational trauma and the aftermath of colonization that lives on through laws criminalizing queerness and transness in former British colonies. The book’s greatest strength is that Surya isn’t consigned to victimhood but instead is given space and time to find their own voice through theater and a queer network that includes their parents; ardent cheerleader and drama teacher Mr. Ali; and caring (if imperfect) Ghanaian British boyfriend Blessing. Also noteworthy are the book’s celebration of Tamil language, culture, and food; clear exposition on how sex education in schools excludes queer and trans students; the questioning of norms surrounding menstruation in Tamil society; and clever references to books that affirm queer and trans identities. The verse format heightens the story’s emotional impact, and Nwosu’s delicate line drawings, scattered throughout, extend the meaning of some poems.

A deeply resonant story that celebrates the power of apology and making amends.