Annie on My Mind
by Nancy Garden
published
February 20th 2007
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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binding
Paperback, 272 pages
isbn
0374400113
(isbn13: 9780374400118)
description
This groundbreaking book, first published in 1982, is the story of two teenage girls whose friendship blossoms into love and who, despite pressures fr...more
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Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Nancy Garden's ANNIE ON MY MIND, originally published in 1982, was recently re-released. (It includes an interview with the author herself.)
The book represents an early example of realistic young adult fiction depicting a lesbian relationship between two high school seniors. It is still a fitting portrayal for today's teens.
Liza and Annie meet in a New York museum and develop a fast friendship. Both seem to ...more
Nancy Garden's ANNIE ON MY MIND, originally published in 1982, was recently re-released. (It includes an interview with the author herself.)
The book represents an early example of realistic young adult fiction depicting a lesbian relationship between two high school seniors. It is still a fitting portrayal for today's teens.
Liza and Annie meet in a New York museum and develop a fast friendship. Both seem to ...more
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Read in July, 2008
I can respect that this book was, at one point, the only lesbian book out there marketed toward teens. I can see the value in the story and can certainly respect the work as groundbreaking and understand that lots of readers will have a sort of nostalgic attachment to this book. However, I don't really feel that books like this (groundbreaking, but not that great--think Heather Has Two Mommies) should still be the cornerstone of GLBTQ collections in our libraries.
I didn't think this book ...more
I didn't think this book ...more
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Congratulations! You're a new lesbian! Don't forget to:
1.) Watch Ellen's stand-up,
2.) cut your hair really short,
3.) see the movie Bound, and
4.) read Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden.
In many ways that is the best way to describe this book. Probably this was one of the first books of this kind, and certainly the first modern book of this kind. This "kind" being an accessible and simplistic young adult novel about two teenage women who fall in love with each oth...more
1.) Watch Ellen's stand-up,
2.) cut your hair really short,
3.) see the movie Bound, and
4.) read Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden.
In many ways that is the best way to describe this book. Probably this was one of the first books of this kind, and certainly the first modern book of this kind. This "kind" being an accessible and simplistic young adult novel about two teenage women who fall in love with each oth...more
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Read in February, 2008
A lovely coming-of-age story from the late 70's/early 80's. Liza and Annie meet in a museum and feel an instant connection. As they become closer, it's obvious that what they feel for each other is more than friendship. Being 17, they both struggle a bit comparing the concept of "homosexuality" as perceived by those around them with the reality of their own feelings.
When their relationship is outed at Liza's conservatively run high school, Liza is horrified to see the effects the ...more
When their relationship is outed at Liza's conservatively run high school, Liza is horrified to see the effects the ...more
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Read in February, 2008
The award-winning and ground breaking novel, Annie on My Mind, is unquestionably affecting. The character development is rich, and as Liza and Annie realize their love for one another, the writing isn’t contrived. (You won’t find it on a Hallmark card.) Garden created two likable characters who are “girls next door.” They both have a lot going for them, they are loving towards their families, and kind to others. Yet, they are “extreme” persay because they are gay. When their rel...more
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Read in April, 2007
No surprise that this is a challenged book, as it's a lesbian coming-of-age tale set (and published) in the early eighties. The bulk of the relationship is well-developed, tender, and affecting, although the author shies away from writing legitimate and involving scenes when it comes to the girls' sexual experiences. It's sad to see an author resort to such prudish "...I moved closer to annie and soon felt glad. Later, as we lay together..." depictions of moments that could have truly ...more
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i didn't read this book until i was in my mid-twenties, though it is a book written for a teen audience. it was published in 1982, but i never even heard about it until i was in a queer women's book club in dc. we decided to read this as one of our selections (as well as "are you there, god? it's me, margaret.") it is truly a beautiful story and perfect for teens struggling with their sexuality. the author, nancy garden, doesn't shy away from many of the difficulties of being queer,...more
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Read in November, 2007
omg i loved this book when i first discovered it. it was the first really romantic contemporary lesbian young adult fiction I'd encountered. Not that there is a whole lot more today, but this was certainly one of the first. I was going to give it 5 stars, because i remember how much it meant to me when i first read it--i was really in love for the first time with a girl, so were annie and liza, it was all so beautiful. i'm reading it again for a YA lit class, and while i still love it, I am ...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who likes YA fiction and/or 1st love stories and/or lesbian love stories
The depiction between the two young main characters Liza and Annie was sweet and realistic. They meet, they have a strong friendship that grows into the something more. They struggle with possibly being gay and what that means. The longer term implications of that and the shorter term, as far as telling parents, and taking their relationship further along into the physical. There are things going on at Liza's school (a lot of things in regards to this that I don't want to give away) and the...more
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Read in November, 1998
recommended to Megan by:
Dee, my first college girlfriend
At the time I read this I thought it was pretty amazing, but I had never read any lesbian fiction then. It's still a great book to read when you're young and just coming out, as it has good angst value and takes a relationship from girl-meets-girl through girl-loses-girl and back to girl-gets-girl and even has some tasteful and titillating sex in it. (It's not fully described; this is a YA book. But the idea of it, when you're a teenager, is more than enough.)
Looking back I can say that tho...more
Looking back I can say that tho...more
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Read in September, 2008
This is a wonderful story and I can't believe I just got around to reading it! When Garden won the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2003, Award Committee Chair Rosemary Chance said, "Nancy Garden has the distinction of being the first author for young adults to create a lesbian love story with a positive ending." This IS a love story. So many GLBTQ teen books (especially the early ones) focus on the troubles the teens face when trying to tell those around them that they are gay. This b...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
any teen 14+
I was scrolling down and reading some of the reviews of this book and I just want to say that I don't feel that the author was being "prudish" in regards to not really fleshing out any sexual scenes between the two girls. Given the year that she wrote it I would say it was groundbreaking. Authors NOW really feel that they can be more explicit when it comes to the sexual relationship in YA books. I feel that this is still an important books for young people because she really stresses t...more
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Well, I read this novel as a teenager, while questioning my orientation and my place in the world as a result of it. I mean, I knew I was into women, but I didn't know if I was bi or all the way les or what. This book is about two friends who fall in love and, from what I remember, it all resolves so easily, I was disappointed with it. It was quite clearly a work of fiction as far as I was concerned, and I was living in a liberal area with a strong queer presence. I am glad this book was out the...more
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![Paige [eastIndies.]](http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1198822921p2/719629.jpg)
The first thing I have to say about this book- it doesn't matter if you're gay. Or straight. Or bisexual. This story is about love- not your sexuality. Although, it does deal with the struggle of not knowing if you're gay, bisexual, or straight, it's main focus is on a girl who falls in love. There were times in the story where I would get frustrated with Liza or Annie because I knew they would be doing something stupid or things they were acting on with their just their minds and not their he...more
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Read in August, 2006
Had to read for controversial/banned books lesson for YA lit. class. Review: Dated (1982) book about a girl in high school who falls in love with another girl. Aside from being confused about their sexual orientation, the girls are not very good at practicing restrain or self-control. Personally, a disturbing subject and more so because of the point of view.
I am forever grateful for my friends in BYU 32nd ward who were with me throughout the day helping me get through this book. It was a ser...more
I am forever grateful for my friends in BYU 32nd ward who were with me throughout the day helping me get through this book. It was a ser...more
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Read in July, 1986
The Plot: Liza and Annie meet and fall in love. Both girls struggle with prejudice and self doubt, but they come out stronger in the end. The Background: Until this book was written, young adult literature rarely mentioned gay or lesbian teenagers. The few that did usually cast the characters in a negative or tragic light. This was the first novel for teens with a lesbian protagonist whose sexuality is portrayed in a positive and hopeful light. While the book is over 25 years old, it doesn't fee...more
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Read in March, 2008
I thought that this was a very bold look at teens and homosexuality. I applud it for trying. I initially read this book because it is on the awesome cool banned books bracelet that Sarah Fields got for me. However, I just didn't find the characters that real. I thought that their emotions were very one dimensional and that the relationship between the two characters was a bit unbelieveable. It isn't that I didn't like the book, I just didn't love it.
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Read in January, 1992
I read this when I was in high school. It's an excellent story about first love, focusing on the feelings of the protagonists and portraying realistic consequences of their relationship, which is not welcomed by their parents or peers. If I remember right, I picked it up off the shelf to browse and couldn't put it down. I finished it that afternoon sitting in the library's new YA area.
Books like this are why I'm a librarian.
Books like this are why I'm a librarian.
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
glbtf and beyond
A great teacher friend told me about this book. I read it and fell in love. It is a great high school love story. I wish I would have had a book like this in high school because it would have given me the strength and courage I needed to come out.
As a teacher, this book is always borrowed from my room and never returned. I always buy a couple of copies because I know that the students borrowing it are the ones who need it.
As a teacher, this book is always borrowed from my room and never returned. I always buy a couple of copies because I know that the students borrowing it are the ones who need it.
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Read in January, 2003
I read this book during a time I was reading as many banned and challenged books as I could find. I was and wasn't surprised that this book is challenged. I wasn't because it wasn't offensive, especially since the sex wasn't descriptive. But, the fact that it was about two girls realizing they were lesbians didn't surprise me that it was banned, even thought that is sad.
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