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Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom

by Emily Franklin, Brendan Halpin (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 223 ratings · 73 reviews

Lucas and Tessa’s friendship is the stuff of legend in their small Midwestern town. So it’s no surprise when Lucas finally realizes his feelings for Tessa are more than friendship and he asks her to prom. What no one expected, especially Lucas, was for Tessa to come out as a lesbian instead of accepting his heartfelt invitation. Humiliated and confused, Lucas also feels be...more

Hardcover, 257 pages

Published March 27th 2012 by Walker Childrens

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Oct 14, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, for-review, glbtq, netgalley, ereader, contemporary

I like reading books that seem to be inspired by current events. Y’all remember back when that school in Mississippi wouldn’t let that girl Constance go to prom because she was gay? Well, Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom by Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin explores this sort of story in greater detail.

Read the rest of my review here

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Jul 29, 2012 Trisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt, romance, ya-literature, dual-narrators

I am a bit fond of these authors' collaborations. And this is about so much more than Tessa's outing: community, acceptance, and the scariness of people throwing the notion of values around in ways to suit themselves.

But ultimately, Tessa's friendship with Lucas is key, so I did wish they spent less of the book annoyed with each other.

Nothing like the grand gesture in YA lit.

Highly recommended.

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Mar 17, 2012 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: yaf, glbt, read-in-2012, reviewed

So great, I teared up a lot. I loved Luke and Tessa's relationship. It was interesting to see both sides of Tessa's coming out and how it affected not just her and her family but also her best friend. I could have used more about the impact on her not-quite-girlfriend, and that was one of the main reasons I couldn't quite give it 5 stars. (That and even though Tessa certainly struggled, something about the way the school board meeting and other big confrontations were written didn't quite captur...more So great, I teared up a lot. I loved Luke and Tessa's relationship. It was interesting to see both sides of Tessa's coming out and how it affected not just her and her family but also her best friend. I could have used more about the impact on her not-quite-girlfriend, and that was one of the main reasons I couldn't quite give it 5 stars. (That and even though Tessa certainly struggled, something about the way the school board meeting and other big confrontations were written didn't quite capture the struggle for me.) Luke was a fascinating character, a baseball playing boy with a single mother who's watched too many chick flicks but undoubtedly has a good heart, even if he loses his way for awhile. Towards the end I was tearing up a lot. Not quite crying, but definitely had tears running down the face. So touching.

Now, I'm not gay myself, but I suppose you would call me an "ally" because I have many gay friends and their struggle is something close to my heart. I've never known someone before they came out, but I imagine that this book captured that feeling to an extent. Luke's feeling that Tessa betrayed him by lying, his effort to explain to people that she's still the same person, his struggle to find something to do to help Tessa through a difficult time. I don't know if it's because I'm coming to the book from a straight perspective, but on looking back it seems like Luke's viewpoint was more real. I did like Tessa's voice a lot, but at the same time it seemed like coming out was hard for her, but it didn't really have the level of emotional struggle that I would expect. Still, maybe it's because in the world of this story, Tessa seemed awfully focused on Luke. (Did I mention that I loved their relationship?)

I think this could be a good book for a gay teen. Like I said, I don't know how realistic it was, but at the same time I think that it gives an overwhelmingly hopeful perspective of coming out. Even though there is certainly a lot of opposition to Tessa, her best friend, king of grand statements, and other select members of the community are just SO supportive that the hate pales in comparison to all that love. It's definitely a feel good story by the end. As you can probably tell from the rest of my review, I really think this would be a good book for the straight friend of a gay teen who is unsure of how to react to the changed reality brought on by the revelation of the truth.

Just wow. This one goes up there with Will Grayson, Will Grayson.(less)

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Apr 08, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tessa and her best friend Lucas have been tied at the hip since they were young children. Regarded by most in their small town as the "it" couple that haven't quite gotten it together romantically it is surprising to most when the unimaginable happens. Lucas and the rest of town discover, after his humiliating billboard sized invite to the prom is declined, that Tessa is gay. This sparks a town-wide revolt when Tessa decides she wants to go to prom with a girl and *gasp* wants to wear a tux to b...more Tessa and her best friend Lucas have been tied at the hip since they were young children. Regarded by most in their small town as the "it" couple that haven't quite gotten it together romantically it is surprising to most when the unimaginable happens. Lucas and the rest of town discover, after his humiliating billboard sized invite to the prom is declined, that Tessa is gay. This sparks a town-wide revolt when Tessa decides she wants to go to prom with a girl and *gasp* wants to wear a tux to boot. The furtherance of the book goes on to show the conflict between Tessa and just about everyone -- her parents, Lucas, her high school and the townspeople. She even has to deal with the matter seeping out into larger US population as a whole.

Halpin and Franklin have crafted a quite serious book wrapped in a somewhat light package. What do I mean by this? Well, they touch on a young girl's coming out, the fall out of it as it were, in a way that gives the subject matter appropriate depth and meaning while still making the story entertaining. This is done not through the plot (which is pretty straight-forward and not all that unique) or the setting (typical small town fare) but rather the dynamic characters. Specifically Tessa, who (as one would expect) has a pretty tough go of things after her proclamation to Lucas that she's just not that into him.

So let me start there. Tessa was a great girl-power kind of character. She was inspirational in her actions while still being a regular teenaged girl with problems. What made the book for me wasn't that Tessa was struggling with her sexuality. Because, she really wasn't. She knew she was gay and didn't have any problem embracing it. Where she encountered the struggle was in timing her admission, helping those around her deal with her it and and making sure that her relationships remained in tact. It took her quite some time to make her sexuality known to the public but once done she did she was willing to fight for her rights regardless of her preference.

Enter the great prom debacle. Once it was discovered that Tessa was going to go to the prom in a tux and with a girl all hell broke loose. School tried to ban her and then the prom got canceled all together. As a result her life at school suffered (kids blamed her for the prom not happening), her life at home suffered (her parents livelihood was put in jeopardy), and her friendships undoubtedly suffered (Lucas wanted nothing to do with her). It's in the latter that the most enjoyable portions of the book occurred. Seeing Tessa experience and overcome the loss of a lifelong friend was both emotional and enjoyable. Watching her journey of self-discovery as it related to the trust and loyalty issues Lucas brought up was quite interesting. While he initially struggled with the fact that she was gay he felt the ultimate in betrayal because she waited so long to tell him. He was under the impression that their friendship was based on complete honesty. He shared everything with her only to find out she did not return in kind. It was devastating for him.

Which brings me to Lucas. I found him realistically painted. He was so conflicted over it all. A true and loyal friend he was genuinely hurt by Tessa's refusal of his love but then even more so when he discovered she'd been holding back the truth for so long. Then how widespread that lie by omission really was. He had his moments of jackassery as a result. He was childish, spiteful, rude and self-involved when it came to the aftermath of Tessa's admission. But, for me, that is what made him true. He was dependable when it counted and angry when it suited him.

There was some touching family interaction, some sweet romance, and great friendships portrayed throughout Tessa Masterson's story. A quite little book that teaches a lesson loud and clear.(less)

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Apr 12, 2012 Davina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-fiction-coming-of-age, teen-realistic-fiction, teen-fiction-sexual-identity

One element of Halpin's books that I appreciate is that the parents are always involved. Too often with teen books the parents have little or no value, which just isn't true to life. Halpin (and his co-writer when the case may be) always takes the time to create parental characters who have an important affect in the teen(s) character's life. I'll finish this edit later..;library closing. ;)

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May 04, 2012 Preet rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sure, the subject matter is somewhat "controversial",but that isn't why I enjoyed it.

I liked how both authors took an event that's been happening in present times and first gave us an inside look into the subject matter and made it humorous to read. I can't say how on point the story was as I haven't been through anything similar, but I felt this story was very real. This is mostly due to the characterization.

I loved Tessa's character because she wasn't a girl who...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Jane Litte rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While I liked the dual narration, I was fairly disappointed in Tessa’s narrative. Tessa is the pivotal person in the story. She decides she wants to go to prom with her girlfriend. She decides that she will sue the school. Her actions result in large and unintended consequences. Yet we receive very little insight as to why Tessa is making these decisions, particularly given the type of character we are to believe she is. When the news crews come to interview her, Tessa can barely manage two word...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Khris Sellin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great YA book about a serious issue.
Tessa and Lucas have been best friends their whole lives, growing up in a small Midwestern town, when Lucas suddenly realizes (after some prodding from others) that they were meant to be more than friends. Prom is coming up, so he decides to ask her in a big, grand way... AND she turns him down. Because, best friends or not, she's got a secret. She likes girls. And there's one particular one she's had her eye on and wants to take to prom as her date. Lucas is...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Jules rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of “Tessa Masterson Goes to Prom” because, well … I'm cool like that. (Stop laughing. That shtick got me this far, sweetheart. The point is, I got to read it before you did and therefore, get to tell you how kick-ass it is.)

A simple plot summary might suggest that “Tessa...” is merely a ripped-from-the-headlines retelling of the events surrounding Constance McMillan's 2010 Mississippi prom controversy. However, in the deft hands of Brendan Halpin and...more I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of “Tessa Masterson Goes to Prom” because, well … I'm cool like that. (Stop laughing. That shtick got me this far, sweetheart. The point is, I got to read it before you did and therefore, get to tell you how kick-ass it is.)

A simple plot summary might suggest that “Tessa...” is merely a ripped-from-the-headlines retelling of the events surrounding Constance McMillan's 2010 Mississippi prom controversy. However, in the deft hands of Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin, Tessa's characters come alive and the story becomes something unique, specific and utterly delightful.

Set against the backdrop of conservative small town which is slowly disintegrating, Tessa and her best friend Lucas struggle with questions of honesty and love. The poignant relationship between the pair, best friends since early childhood, was for me, a reminder of that bittersweet moment in time when romantic interests first overthrow the deep bonds of friendship in their emotional importance.

The big messages here are those of acceptance and loyalty. It's not hit-you-over-the-head stuff, but clearly woven through the unfolding events in a manner that should be accessible for both the intended Young Adult audience and the adult readers who love them. As a cultural commentary, I can only hope that this lovely little book will feel dated within the next decade, and be read then as a peek into what it was like BEFORE.

Halpin shines here (as always) with his ability to create teenage characters who walk, talk, think and behave like teenagers. It is one of the things which drew me to his work initially and one of the things which keeps me coming back.

“Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom” has taken up residence on my bookshelf, and not the casually overstuffed bookshelf in the bedroom, but the Here-To-Stay shelf in the living room. In this house, that's saying something. Mostly, it says, “These are the books we DON'T want the dog to pee on.” but in the story of our lives, that's kinda important.(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom...

Shortest Summary Ever...

Girl says she's gay. Her best friend loses it. Chaos reigns.

My Thoughts...

Loved this book...loved it...it was sweet, sad, snarky, funny, clever and filled with soul.
Tessa and Luke have been best friends for forever. They do everything together. Then Luke thinks they must be a match made in heaven and asks Tessa to prom. Wherein Tessa tells Luke that she would rather go with a girl.

Kind of weird for Luke...he obviously feels betrayed and s...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-reads-of-2012, youngadult

I have a love/hate relationship with books dealing with plots where one partner of an opposite sex friendship admits ‘love’ and finds out that their friend is gay. I think Tessa Masterson did a wonderful job of tying in all sorts of issues, without being weighted down with too much moral high ground.

Luke’s realized that he and Tessa are perfect for each other, and in true romantic fashion has decided to “go big or go home” and asked her out to prom in the most public way possible. Only to find...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, contemporary

~This review is of the ARC sent by Netgalley~

Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom is not your typical high school romance, though it is about high school and there is a bit of romance. The two main characters--narrated alternately in a he-said/she-said format (written by Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin, respectively)--are not the quintessential star-crossed couple. Instead, they are star-crossed friends.

Lucas and Tessa have been besties since grade school but new circumstances are challenging their...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, favorites-contemps

Last year, I read Notes from the Blender by Brendan Halpin and Trish Cook. It was completely adorable, with excellent teen characters and touching on real issues. Halpin has done it again, this time partnering with Emily Franklin.

Multiple points of view can either be amazing in a book or completely awful; there doesn't seem to be too much of an in between. Both of Halpin's books that I have read are great examples of good ways to do it. Of course, it's a bit easier with two authors, each writing...more Last year, I read Notes from the Blender by Brendan Halpin and Trish Cook. It was completely adorable, with excellent teen characters and touching on real issues. Halpin has done it again, this time partnering with Emily Franklin.

Multiple points of view can either be amazing in a book or completely awful; there doesn't seem to be too much of an in between. Both of Halpin's books that I have read are great examples of good ways to do it. Of course, it's a bit easier with two authors, each writing their own character. Still, I love it entirely, because it gives both of the characters their own unique voices.

The opening scenes, where Luke becomes convinced that Tessa is crushing on him, are absurd but in a totally true-to-life way. His analysis is way off, obviously, but who's isn't? He starts evaluating everything, reading only the things that add up to the answer he expects to find. Of course, none of this would have happened without the prodding of other people. This is clearly an argument against matchmaking.

The controversy about whether Tessa and Josie should be allowed to go to the Prom just makes me fighting mad. I mean, how could that possibly hurt anyone else? Of course, even worse is that I know there's a book about this because things like this really happen, because so many people in this country are still so parochial that they think it matters who people fall in love with. Come on, America, get over it! Oh, and at this point, I need to include a fantastic quote from Luke's part of the narration; keep in mind that it could be different in the final copy of the book:

"There are people who think I'm a hero because I'm standing up for biblical values. Like I've ever read the Bible in my life. Maybe if I did, I could find the part about how making a girl's life into a living hell is something that God thinks you should do."

Really, this was just the sweetest book. I completely love the message, one of acceptance and open-mindedness. There's no hating on Christianity or religion in general. Halpin and Franklin aren't trying to demonize anyone. I want to add a copy of this to my personal library and shelve it metaphorically next to Will Grayson, Will Grayson, though not literally, because I shelve alphabetically by author. This book made me cry and laugh out loud. Not many do that.

Now, go listen to some Lady GaGa (aka Miss Kaboom) and let your freak flag fly, be it what it may. We're all better when we're ourselves!(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Audrey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, humor, romance, ya

I loved what this book was about -- even though it ended up not completely being about what I thought it was going to be about. It's written from alternating perspectives, and I think Halpern's character Luke had the stronger chapters. There was just something about Franklin's writing and Tessa's character that didn't click with me. Tessa came more to life through Luke's description of her than she did through her own thoughts and actions.

In the end, although it still is the story of Tessa's str...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Sally rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: glbt-girls, country-america, small-town, ya, e-own, e-read, ugh-so-narrow-minded, friendship, challenge-ya-a-to-z

So this book is pretty damn cool :D Although there were quite a few times where I seriously wanted to leap into my kindle and go a little postal on most of that town... but then there were also a couple of times where I legit fist-punched the air.

Seriously though, WHAT a town. What a horrible cess-pit of discrimination and narrow-mindedness and just plain nastiness. Tessa could have totally grabbed a machine gun and gone nuts in the town centre, and any sensible judge would have patted her on th...more So this book is pretty damn cool :D Although there were quite a few times where I seriously wanted to leap into my kindle and go a little postal on most of that town... but then there were also a couple of times where I legit fist-punched the air.

Seriously though, WHAT a town. What a horrible cess-pit of discrimination and narrow-mindedness and just plain nastiness. Tessa could have totally grabbed a machine gun and gone nuts in the town centre, and any sensible judge would have patted her on the back and let her off on a few hundred counts of justifiable homicide. This is a book that WILL make you angry - but it will also make you fist-pump in triumph when the stupid characters have their stupidity thrown back in their faces. Although sadly this doesn't happen enough.

Boy, I really wanted to punch Lucas - before he grew a pair (and a brain) and started thinking things through, and finally making amends. (Also, wow he's kind of blind... I mean they're watching TPC and Tessa's talking about making out with Katharine Hepburn and he doesn't even twig!) I like how you only get to really know Lucas and Tessa, and a little of their nears and dears like Danny and Kate. AND that all their parents are good guys. I like how none of the nasty jerks are the main characters, so their slurs are a bit less hurtful to read, a bit more distanced.

Oh my god, the school staff though. I seriously can't believe that adults could be so heartless and prejudiced but I guess there are some of them in the world.

The crux of the story btw is that the school board decide to CANCEL that year's Prom, rather than let Tessa take her female date along. Seriously. Tessa, give me that imaginary gun and let me finish them off. So Tessa then ends up the most hated girl ever because it's HER fault the prom was cancelled. Not the fault of all the narrow-minded idiots who have no arguments that I can possibly understand... And Tessa's family's store ends up another victim of all the gay-bashing, with people boycotting it and protesting outside it and everything.

There luckily is a more or less happy ending on the cards. The store gains support through Luke finally deciding to do something good. When the class bitch organises a "straight" fake prom, Luke organises a gay one on the same night so Tessa can still go to prom. And the gay prom ends up packed with gay kids from all over the state, and a famous singer turns up, and it's all awesome. But I would have liked to see something like the straight prom ending up being boring, and half the kids there wandering over to the gay one or something. And I'd have liked for all the people who were being idiots to maybe wake up and realise that they were too stupid to live and maybe apologise to Tessa. Wishful thinking, I know. But seriously, these are adults! Freaking out because a girl wants to bring another girl to her prom. They freak out so hard they have town meetings over it and, as I said, end up canceling the whole event.

I get kind of het up about certain issues. ;) But just because I can't understand. I really can't. How does it bother anyone else in the world who a person decides to kiss, you know? Okay, I'm gonna start ranting. No one wants that.

ETA: I just found out that this was actually based on a true story. I absolutely can not believe it.(less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Terri rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Another addition to LGBTQ literature for teens, "Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom" by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin centers around Tessa Masterson and Lucas Fogelman. Best friends since the age of eight, they are now just about to graduate from high school. Prom is looming, and Luke realizes that his feelings for Tessa go much deeper than friendship. When he makes a "grand gesture" to ask her to prom, she reveals a secret to him that will change both of their lives dramatically - she is gay,...more Another addition to LGBTQ literature for teens, "Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom" by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin centers around Tessa Masterson and Lucas Fogelman. Best friends since the age of eight, they are now just about to graduate from high school. Prom is looming, and Luke realizes that his feelings for Tessa go much deeper than friendship. When he makes a "grand gesture" to ask her to prom, she reveals a secret to him that will change both of their lives dramatically - she is gay, and wants to ask her crush, Josie, to prom and wear a tux. Luke feels that Tessa has lied to him and betrayed him and ends up making some poor choices. They both must deal with the consequences as a community and national battle ensues. As a result, prom is cancelled.

While the isssues presented here are of great importance, I think the authors missed the boat in some ways. Certainly everyone deserves to go to prom, not just the straight, popular, beautiful, and wealthy. Having worked in a school where an almost identical situation occurred, I didn't feel that the situation and the way in which it was resolved were necessarily realistic. First of all, the relationship between Tessa and Josie didn't seem like it was worth going to battle over. Yes, Tessa gets dragged into something she didn't intend to because of Lucas's actions, but she ends up going to Tessa's Big Gay Prom by herself. It would have been more meaningful had she actually gone with another girl. And the idea that Tessa's Big Gay Prom went on within an empty building owned by one of the loudest nay-sayers in the community until sunrise with absolutely no issues seems far-fetched - and the Miss Kaboom put it way over the top. Finally, had the ACLU (or groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center) been involved, it is unlikely that the school board would have cancelled prom. In our case a lawsuit to protect the rights of the girls involved was brought forth, even when the girls were allowed to attend an event together.

The concept of the book is certainly relevant and important. There are definitely those far right "Christian" groups who do and say the horrific things suggested in this book in the name of God and the Bible. And there definitely are present, involved, supportive parents like Tessa and Luke's parents. There is much here to inspire good discussion. However, the resolution isn't satisfactory or realistic. In terms of characterization, Luke's narration is much stronger than Tessa's. We get inside his head and see all of his conflicted feelings, which seem realistic for a boy that age. Tessa, however, doesn't seem as nuanced or believable. She just stumbles along without any plan or grit. For someone so smart, she sure doesn't act like it. In terms of writing, there are fluency issues at times. I had to go back and reread sections to figure out what was going on.

The fact that the authors manage to talk about issues of sexuality in a way that isn't unnecessarily graphic is refreshing - just some kissing, talk of "boners," and some mild language - making the book appropriate for grades 9 -12 for sure, maybe even younger. This is important, as these are issues relevant to a younger audience.

I will recommend this book, despite its flaws. Given the history at the high school where I teach, I think it will be of interest.(less)

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Jul 22, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

I picked this up at my local library without reading the back. When I started reading I realized what the book was about and thought, ‘OK I’ll give it a few more pages.’ Well I’m glad I did. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry and it will make you think about how you treat people who are not the same as you are. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will also.

Who said that we all have to be the same to get along? I hope no one because it isn’t possible for one thing and it w...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Becky Moe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, contemporary, ya

I absolutely loved this book! I didn't realize at first the exact premise of the story (for some reason when I first glanced at the synopsis all I saw was "girl wants to go to prom, her best (male) friend will make sure she does") and completely missed the entire fact that she was recently come out of the closet and therefore her school was forbidding her to go because of her "deviant tendencies", so the first chapter or so was a bit...surprising. The story, though, written both from Tessa and L...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is all I wanted it to be and more! I loved each and every character, the plot, easy-breezy writing, and the overall theme of acceptance. Tessa is a girl just trying to blend into the wallpaper so no one will learn of her secret, while her best friend Lucas is the funny, outgoing, star baseball pitcher. When Lucas plants a giant kiss and makes a grand gesture of asking Tessa to the Prom, Tessa comes out to him right then and there. His reaction, to say the least, is despicable. Lucas fe...more This book is all I wanted it to be and more! I loved each and every character, the plot, easy-breezy writing, and the overall theme of acceptance. Tessa is a girl just trying to blend into the wallpaper so no one will learn of her secret, while her best friend Lucas is the funny, outgoing, star baseball pitcher. When Lucas plants a giant kiss and makes a grand gesture of asking Tessa to the Prom, Tessa comes out to him right then and there. His reaction, to say the least, is despicable. Lucas feels betrayed that his best friend of a zillion years never confided in him even though he shares every detail of his own life, while Tessa feels like maybe Lucas already knew and just didn't say anything. Tessa had been throwing signs out there and she figured that Lucas had paid attention to them. Wanting to make out with Katherine Hepburn is a sign, right? Yeah, Lucas missed that one and several more. Lucas freaks out, to put it mildly, and vows that the friendship is over.

Watching Lucas basically out his best friend to the whole school, disown her, and drag her name through the mud was heartbreaking. I wanted to reach through the book and wring his neck. The only saving grace for Lucas was that at the time he didn't exactly know what kind of situation (and there is a giant situation) in which he puts Tessa. He was only concentrating on his feelings of betrayal (was it betrayal?) and nothing more. Lucas is given an opportunity to redeem himself and he once again does a grand gesture, and lucky for him he is back in my good graces. Tessa is the one my heart went out to. I love that she stood strong and took the moral high road when everyone else around her did not.

This book was a breeze to get through, not only because I wanted to see if, indeed, Tessa Masterson would going to the Prom, but also because of the believable dialogue throughout the whole book. Even the side characters made up of Tessa's family were incredible authentic. Lucas's mother reminded me of myself, actually, and I love her sense of humor and overall reality based parenting skills. The humor throughout the story kept this book light considering the heavy theme.

Strong edition to the LBGTQ community and I'm going out to buy myself a tux right now! This is one book that my sixteen-year-old and I will be reading together this summer. Five giant stars...or jazz hands, whichever!(less)

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Nov 25, 2012 Lo♪ rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: switching-narration, lgbtq, 2012, annoying, yes-and-no, wtf-sexism

It's not that I have a problem with LGBTQ folk, but I do with the book.

I started dog-earing "areas of concern" near the middle of the book. I ended up picking almost every single page. These points stood out the most to me:

1. Tessa's stereotypical lesbian style
2. Lucas's huge "typical guy" ego

I have no problem reading stories about religious small-towns. One I particularly liked was Small Town Sinners by Melissa C. Walker, which I realize now wasn't as up close as this one was, but either way yo...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Jenni French rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtqia-lit, age-5-grades-9-12, favorites

Tessa's best friend invites her to prom, using a giant marquee to display his question to the small-town world where they live. Tessa turns him down and reveals the thing she's hidden from everyone but herself: Tessa is gay. This private admission turns into a public spectacle when the townspeople protest Tessa's plans to come to prom in a tux and with a female date.

I don't want to spoil the rest of the story, so I'll stop my summary there. This book was fun and funny and adorable and had a gre...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Sonja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although Tessa is the title character and one of the narrators in this two-voice story, I found more interest and depth in Lucas. He is best friend who has to absorb the shock after his declaration of love results in Tessa's confession that she is a lesbian.

The action revolves around her community's outrage when she buys a tux to wear to Prom and invites her girlfriend. They go really, really nuts in a way that seems a bit unrealistic for modern times, until I recall my earlier life in rural Il...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom. I thought it was a good story filled with drama, but I also felt that the authors did not fully develop Tessa as a character. Readers really only know that she is a lesbian who has a best friend until she comes out of the closet once he asks her to prom and she has to say no. Otherwise, in my opinion, the writers of the book did not develop her as a character. We do not know her feelings, other than upset that she cannot go to prom. Also, it is not clear...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sweet story based on real events in the news. Lesbian heroine with her male BFF is a welcome change from the usual LGBT YA standard of gay boy and his gal bestie. I also liked how this book looked at how the main character's coming out affected not only her, but her brother, friends, girlfriend, family, family business, and entire community. I'd love for all teenagers to be able to come out in the gay utopia setting of Boy Meets Boy, but in the real world the process is painful and scary and eve...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Potassium rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This is the story of Tessa and Luke. Luke wants to ask Tessa to prom because she is his best friend but Tessa has a secret that will turn their small town upside down...

I really liked the idea of this book - I think it is a good story that people need to hear - about how being hateful and judgemental towards someone can just totally destroy their life - but I reallllllllly didn't like Tessa. I thought she was one-dimensional and severely lacking in personality. Towards the end she started to get...more

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May 27, 2012 Deborah Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction, 2011-12-school-year

This is not a book I would have read even a couple of years ago. Today, however, I was ready to see a different world from my own. This book definitely introduced me to that world. Tess Masterson, loved by Luke, wants to go to the prom, as any senior girl would. Only Tess is a lesbian. Lucas feels betrayed when he finds out and goes beserk.

However, what makes me like this book is how Lucas stood up to the mistake he made...letting down his best friend in the whole wide world...and sets about to...more

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May 20, 2012 Candielouhoo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Probably one of the best coming of age novels about a gay relationship I have ever read! The story has more true feeling than any novel of its kind I have read in quite some time! It's story is quite believable and doesn't leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth or a feeling of "Oh we'll that was cute but it could never happen!" I found myself hoping for the best and crying when it turned out in the end not at all how I had fathomed! Well worth the read and a great one for any teen or young...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Ms. B rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book opens with Luke's grand romantic gesture of asking his long-time best friend Tessa to the prom ... and getting rejected because she doesn't like him (or any guys) that way. She likes girls.

After Luke unintentionally outs Tessa and her potential date Josie to the entire town, the entire prom is called into question. Tessa is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight, and Luke feels as if he needs to step up to the plate to make things right.

Told in alternating viewpoints, Tessa Masterson Wil...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Clementine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fiction, ya, glbtq

Lucas and Tessa have been friends forever. Everyone in their small Indiana town thinks they’ll eventually get together–and no one is surprised when Lucas asks Tessa to their senior prom. What is surprising is that Tessa says no–and comes out to Lucas. Humiliated, Lucas feels betrayed. As gossip about Tessa spreads, things get worse–her decision to take a girl to prom and wear a tuxedo doesn’t go unnoticed–and soon the school board is weighing in on the controversy. Lucas has to decide if he will...more Lucas and Tessa have been friends forever. Everyone in their small Indiana town thinks they’ll eventually get together–and no one is surprised when Lucas asks Tessa to their senior prom. What is surprising is that Tessa says no–and comes out to Lucas. Humiliated, Lucas feels betrayed. As gossip about Tessa spreads, things get worse–her decision to take a girl to prom and wear a tuxedo doesn’t go unnoticed–and soon the school board is weighing in on the controversy. Lucas has to decide if he will stand up for Tessa’s right to go to prom, or if he”ll stand idly by and watch the town turn on her.

This is the third split-POV from Halpin and Franklin (they collaborated most notably on Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance), and while it is unapologetic about its ripped-from-the-headlines story, it’s also a really really important novel for teens. Although it occasionally dips into overly-didactic territory, the authors manage to craft a sweet, funny, and absolutely heartfelt tale about friendship, identity, and our right to love.

The novel’s relatively short chapters, alternating between Lucas’s and Tessa’s narration, make the story fairly accessible to a wide range of readers. There are some moments of genuine humor present, and both narrators are inherently likeable. Readers will sympathize with both Tessa and Lucas as they struggle to come to terms with Tessa’s coming out.

Although Lucas’s ultimate gesture is a bit of a stretch, the novel’s climax and denouement offer a happy, hopeful resolution to a story that is emotional on a number of fronts. It’s cautiously upbeat, which is a message that is especially important given the political climate and the issues that GLBTQ teens face today.

Recommended. Although it probably won’t blow readers away, it’s authentic and important enough to be on library shelves all over the country.

Tessa Masterson is out TODAY.

Tessa Masterson WILL Go to Prom by Brendan Halpin & Emily Franklin. Walker & Co.: 2012. Electronic galley accepted for review via NetGalley.(less)

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Mar 22, 2012 Rowena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

This book was a surprising read for me. I went into it thinking that it was going to be a fluffy read but it wasn't, not really. It was a book that made me stop and think. It made me evaluate the way that I treat others and the way that I want to be treated. While both Tessa and Luke drove me nuts in the book, I ended up liking their characters. I really felt that they learned a lot throughout this book and I enjoyed getting to know them. There were a few things that drove me crazy but I'm glad...more

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About Emily Franklin

Growing up, Emily Franklin wanted to be “a singing, tap-dancing doctor who writes books.”

Having learned early on that she has little to no dancing ability, she left the tap world behind, studied at Oxford University, and received an undergraduate degree concentrating in writing and neuroscience from Sarah Lawrence College. Though she gave serious thought to a career in medicine, eventually that ca...more Growing up, Emily Franklin wanted to be “a singing, tap-dancing doctor who writes books.”

Having learned early on that she has little to no dancing ability, she left the tap world behind, studied at Oxford University, and received an undergraduate degree concentrating in writing and neuroscience from Sarah Lawrence College. Though she gave serious thought to a career in medicine, eventually that career followed her dancing dreams.

After extensive travel, some “character-building” relationships, and a stint as a chef, Emily went back to school at Dartmouth where she skied (or fished, depending on the season) daily, wrote a few screenplays, and earned her Master’s Degree in writing and media studies.

While editing medical texts and dreaming about writing a novel, Emily went to Martha’s Vineyard on a whim and met her future husband who is, of course, a doctor. And a pianist. He plays. They sing. They get married. He finishes medical school, they have a child, she writes a novel. Emily’s dreams are realized. She writes books.

Emily Franklin is the author of two adult novels, The Girls' Almanac and Liner Notes and more than a dozen books for young adults including the critically-acclaimed seven book fiction series for teens, The Principles of Love. Other young adult books include The Other Half of Me the Chalet Girls series, and At Face Value, a retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac (coming in September 2008).

She edited the anthologies It's a Wonderful Lie: 26 Truths about Life in Your Twenties and How to Spell Chanukah: 18 Writers Celebrate 8 Nights of Lights. She is co-editor of Before: Short Stories about Pregnancy from Our Top Writers.

Her book of essays and recipes, Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, 102 New Recipes ~ A Memoir of Tasting, Testing, and Discovery in the Kitchen will be published by Hyperion.

Emily’s work has appeared in The Boston Globe and the Mississippi Review as well as in many anthologies including Don't You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes, When I Was a Loser: True Stories of (Barely) Surviving High School by Today's Top Writers, and Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers on the Mother-Daughter Bond. Emily writes regularly about food and parenting for national magazines and newspapers. She travels, teaches writing seminars, and speaks on panels, but does not tap dance. Emily Franklin lives outside of Boston with her husband and their four young children. (less)

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The Principles of Love (The Principles of Love, #1)

It's a Wonderful Lie: 26 Truths About Life in Your Twenties

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“I feel like our whole friendship was a lie. She's probably the only person I've ever really opened up to, and the whole time she was hiding stuff from me. I just don't feel like I can trust somebody like that.” — 5 people liked it

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