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Meet Me at the Picket Line
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26Unionizing his job wasn’t on Eli Goldstein’s summer bucket list—but neither was falling for his irritatingly self-righteous and handsome school rival. Sparks fly on the picket line in this hilarious, coming-of-age rom-com that’s perfect for fans of Jason June, Page Powars, and A.M. Woody!
All’s fair in love and solidarity...
Eli Goldstein might be the only teenager looking forward to earning minimum wage at his objectively terrible summer job. Not only will he be working at the kitschy roadside museum he loves, he’ll finally have the down payment for his top surgery with a first-class surgeon.
But the museum really is a late-stage capitalist hellscape, and Eli’s co-workers—led by his irritatingly self-righteous and annoyingly attractive school rival, Efraín—plan to unionize. With his sanity and safety at risk on the job, Eli knows he has to join their campaign.
If he and Efraín can stop bickering long enough to keep their ragtag union together, they might actually have a shot. But when management begins to grow suspicious, Eli will have to make a choice: Is he willing to stand in solidarity with his friends and the boy he’s starting to fall for, even if it means risking his job and the key to his life-changing surgery?
All’s fair in love and solidarity...
Eli Goldstein might be the only teenager looking forward to earning minimum wage at his objectively terrible summer job. Not only will he be working at the kitschy roadside museum he loves, he’ll finally have the down payment for his top surgery with a first-class surgeon.
But the museum really is a late-stage capitalist hellscape, and Eli’s co-workers—led by his irritatingly self-righteous and annoyingly attractive school rival, Efraín—plan to unionize. With his sanity and safety at risk on the job, Eli knows he has to join their campaign.
If he and Efraín can stop bickering long enough to keep their ragtag union together, they might actually have a shot. But when management begins to grow suspicious, Eli will have to make a choice: Is he willing to stand in solidarity with his friends and the boy he’s starting to fall for, even if it means risking his job and the key to his life-changing surgery?
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
138 people want to read
About the author
Jasper Sanchez
5 books72 followersJasper Sanchez is the author of The (Un)Popular Vote, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. He earned his BA in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and his MA in cinema and media studies from UCLA. While neither degree prepared him for the neoliberal hellscape of late-stage capitalism, they did push him to join the IWW as a red card-carrying Wobbly. He is a Californian by birth, disposition, and more recently, choice. When he's not writing, he can be found kvetching about capitalism and conversing with his cat. You can visit him online at www.jaspersanchez.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 7, 2026
Sometimes I read a story at the exact right moment. A novel gets published at the right time. Its characters fit the current world so well—the current US. Meet Me at the Picket Line is such a book. Because what’s more relevant these days than a story about teens fighting back against inhumanity, micro-aggressions, and marginalization? Teens who fight for their rights. Meet Me at the Picket Line is a story about resilience, resistance, and change. About finally speaking up and not accepting no for an answer.
I loved Jasper Sanchez’s writing. I am always so happy when the prose is vivid and colorful enough that I, someone whose mind usually only sees things in vague gray shapes, can picture the scenes so clearly. And Elisha, Eli, an autistic trans teen who is saving for top surgery, is incredibly relatable. He’s angsty at times. Egotistical. He spits out words. His interiority is wordy and fast. I laughed out loud at Efraín’s remark at one point:
”Elisha. In ten words or less.”
So yes, Eli is flawed. But his struggle to be seen as a trans guy is so real, and this book should land in the hands of all trans teens. And in the hands of parents. Teachers. Friends of trans teens. It’s informative and educational without being preachy.
I really adored the side cast too. I would have liked to see a bit more of Naomi, but maybe there’s a reason the reader does not see much of her. Eli tends to claim attention without meaning to. He simply doesn’t notice.
And then there is Efraín, that opinionated, compassionate guy I wanted to shout at from time to time. Doing so much for others and not caring about himself at all.
Do not read this book if you hate messy, flawed teens. But if you love boldness and a group of friends who believe it’s worth fighting for each other AND for others, I urge you to pick up this wonderful story.
Thank you, Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this important ARC!
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I loved Jasper Sanchez’s writing. I am always so happy when the prose is vivid and colorful enough that I, someone whose mind usually only sees things in vague gray shapes, can picture the scenes so clearly. And Elisha, Eli, an autistic trans teen who is saving for top surgery, is incredibly relatable. He’s angsty at times. Egotistical. He spits out words. His interiority is wordy and fast. I laughed out loud at Efraín’s remark at one point:
”Elisha. In ten words or less.”
So yes, Eli is flawed. But his struggle to be seen as a trans guy is so real, and this book should land in the hands of all trans teens. And in the hands of parents. Teachers. Friends of trans teens. It’s informative and educational without being preachy.
I really adored the side cast too. I would have liked to see a bit more of Naomi, but maybe there’s a reason the reader does not see much of her. Eli tends to claim attention without meaning to. He simply doesn’t notice.
And then there is Efraín, that opinionated, compassionate guy I wanted to shout at from time to time. Doing so much for others and not caring about himself at all.
Do not read this book if you hate messy, flawed teens. But if you love boldness and a group of friends who believe it’s worth fighting for each other AND for others, I urge you to pick up this wonderful story.
Thank you, Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this important ARC!
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dnf
February 6, 2026Unfortunately, I had to dnf this one. There's nothing wrong with it, but I'm just not in the mood for such heavy subject matter right now. Maybe I'll give this one another shot later on.
January 28, 2026
First Thank you for allowing me the chance to read the arc and review this book.
Second, this book was well written as well as the plot was wonderful. I love the idea of speaking up and fighting for yourself and rights. I know right now in the climate we are in and we see this live it seems to be told differently but we need the truth. We need our voices heard.
The love story was second and I felt that was a good way to showcase it. I enjoyed the characters and their relationships within the story.
This is my first for this author and won’t be my last.
Second, this book was well written as well as the plot was wonderful. I love the idea of speaking up and fighting for yourself and rights. I know right now in the climate we are in and we see this live it seems to be told differently but we need the truth. We need our voices heard.
The love story was second and I felt that was a good way to showcase it. I enjoyed the characters and their relationships within the story.
This is my first for this author and won’t be my last.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews