ACE OF HEARTS

Alvin plans to enter grade 11 out and proud, but when he befriends a group of queer students at his new school, he finds that he still doesn’t quite fit in.

At his old school, the suburban Ontario teen was the only gay kid. At his new Catholic school, he has three potential boyfriends: perfect Alistair, mysterious Rowan, and popular jock Jesse. As Alvin tries to navigate his crushes, a new issue arises: Everyone seems to be obsessed with sex, and Alvin isn’t sure he’s ready to have sex yet. In fact, Alvin isn’t sure he ever wants to have sex. This apparently straightforward teen romance also explores the hurdles of coming out as asexual. What does asexuality mean for Alvin’s romantic life? How can he know he’s gay if he doesn’t want to have sex? Augustine presents the intersection of identities in a way that will hit home for teen readers. Alvin is Caribbean Canadian with a South Asian surname and must confront the whiteness of the queer community he finds himself in. One of Alvin’s crushes is a trans boy, and when he discloses, Alvin is surprised and a little awkward but quickly takes it in stride. Alvin’s best friend, Melissa, is proudly fat positive. Readers will find a lot to like in this book.

A fun romance for reluctant teen readers that explores asexuality.