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When Words Grow Fangs
All Jude wants to do is play Bandits online with his friends, write articles for his blog, get good grades, and hopefully, get accepted into a university with a decent journalism program. After all, his dream is to become a first-rate journalist, writing about the issues the young people of the world deal with every day. As far as he’s concerned, he’s crushing his goals.
When the typically liberal administration at his school decides they won’t allow a student to start an LGBTQ+ after school club, Jude’s track to achieving his goals suddenly veers off course.
No one is standing up for what’s right and everyone seems to accept that an LGBTQ+ club just isn’t appropriate for the students of Whitmer Central High. Jude tries to talk some sense into the principal, but he quickly finds that finding an ally to help him reverse the decision about the club will be difficult.
One night, in a fury over what is going on at his high school, Jude writes a scathing, yet fair, rebuke of his school’s decision. The next thing Jude knows, he’s the subject of a national news article, he’s gone viral on the internet, and he’s become both a hero and a pariah at his school.
Quickly, he starts to realize that his dream career may not be as honorable and honest as he once thought, universities will avoid students who rock the boat, friends don’t always stick up for friends, and adults don’t always know what’s best.
What’s Jude to do? His moms couldn’t be prouder of him, but what does all of this mean for a teen who hasn’t quite figured out his own sexuality?
When the typically liberal administration at his school decides they won’t allow a student to start an LGBTQ+ after school club, Jude’s track to achieving his goals suddenly veers off course.
No one is standing up for what’s right and everyone seems to accept that an LGBTQ+ club just isn’t appropriate for the students of Whitmer Central High. Jude tries to talk some sense into the principal, but he quickly finds that finding an ally to help him reverse the decision about the club will be difficult.
One night, in a fury over what is going on at his high school, Jude writes a scathing, yet fair, rebuke of his school’s decision. The next thing Jude knows, he’s the subject of a national news article, he’s gone viral on the internet, and he’s become both a hero and a pariah at his school.
Quickly, he starts to realize that his dream career may not be as honorable and honest as he once thought, universities will avoid students who rock the boat, friends don’t always stick up for friends, and adults don’t always know what’s best.
What’s Jude to do? His moms couldn’t be prouder of him, but what does all of this mean for a teen who hasn’t quite figured out his own sexuality?
Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2021
7 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Chase Connor
39 books316 followersBANG BANG HE SHOT HER DOWN - the fourth book in the Head Rock Harbor Mystery series - can be pre-ordered here!
https://mybook.to/HRHM4BBHSHD
GHOST IN THE CUPBOARD - the first book in the NEW Silas Erie Paranormal Cozy series - can be pre-ordered here:
https://mybook.to/SEPC1GitC
Chase Connor spends his days writing about the people who live (loudly and rent-free) in his head when he’s not busy being enthusiastic about naps and Pad Thai. Chase started his writing career as a confused gay teen looking for an escape from reality. Ten years later, one of the books he wrote during those years, Just A Dumb Surfer Dude: A Gay Coming-of-Age Tale, was published independently. Chase has numerous projects in various stages of completion lined up for publishing. Chase is a multi-genre author, but always with a healthy dollop of gay.
https://mybook.to/HRHM4BBHSHD
GHOST IN THE CUPBOARD - the first book in the NEW Silas Erie Paranormal Cozy series - can be pre-ordered here:
https://mybook.to/SEPC1GitC
Chase Connor spends his days writing about the people who live (loudly and rent-free) in his head when he’s not busy being enthusiastic about naps and Pad Thai. Chase started his writing career as a confused gay teen looking for an escape from reality. Ten years later, one of the books he wrote during those years, Just A Dumb Surfer Dude: A Gay Coming-of-Age Tale, was published independently. Chase has numerous projects in various stages of completion lined up for publishing. Chase is a multi-genre author, but always with a healthy dollop of gay.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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May 17, 2021Wait for me, okies?
April 29, 2021
A very, very ruminative high schooler named Jude with two moms calls his principal a "homophobe" for refusing to sanction an LGBTQ+ club at school.
But is he himself gay?
Tune in for 24 chapters, but only if you can tolerate high school melodrama squared. The ending is sweet, but you'll have to slog through an everglades of emotions in an Iowan winter to get there. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
But is he himself gay?
Tune in for 24 chapters, but only if you can tolerate high school melodrama squared. The ending is sweet, but you'll have to slog through an everglades of emotions in an Iowan winter to get there. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
March 13, 2021
Sweet and Darling YA Novel Digs Deep on LGBTQ+ Identity
This charming and breezy YA book features a 16-year-old protaganist questioning his sexuality. It's not yet another coming out book - "When Words Grow Fangs" is special because teenager Jude doesn't know what he is sexually. He likes the idea of sex. But he doesn't feel drawn to any particular gender. And this is a puzzle that concerns him, and his two moms. And by extension his high school principal because Jude loudly calls the principal a homophobe after the authority figure rejected a request for this small-city Iowa high school to create an LGBTQ+ Student Union. And our hero Jude inadvertently becomes a viral sensation when the boy calls out the principal on his blog. Jude's blog creates an uproar and national media coverage. But Jude is a reluctant hero because he has an anxiety disorder and all he really wants to do is be a normal teen and hang out with his friends. But Jude always seems to stand out - and his dyed magenta hair doesn't help with the blending in. More so than any other YA LGBTQ book that comes to mind, "Fangs" makes a strong point to investigate the grey areas of sexual identity and remind readers that who people are, who people love, and how people seek physical intimacy is a very wide spectrum, far more nuanced than simply gay+straight. The book delves into real issues and takes Jude's anxiety traumas seriously but there is also a simplicity and lightness to the book's style that makes it a joy to read.
This charming and breezy YA book features a 16-year-old protaganist questioning his sexuality. It's not yet another coming out book - "When Words Grow Fangs" is special because teenager Jude doesn't know what he is sexually. He likes the idea of sex. But he doesn't feel drawn to any particular gender. And this is a puzzle that concerns him, and his two moms. And by extension his high school principal because Jude loudly calls the principal a homophobe after the authority figure rejected a request for this small-city Iowa high school to create an LGBTQ+ Student Union. And our hero Jude inadvertently becomes a viral sensation when the boy calls out the principal on his blog. Jude's blog creates an uproar and national media coverage. But Jude is a reluctant hero because he has an anxiety disorder and all he really wants to do is be a normal teen and hang out with his friends. But Jude always seems to stand out - and his dyed magenta hair doesn't help with the blending in. More so than any other YA LGBTQ book that comes to mind, "Fangs" makes a strong point to investigate the grey areas of sexual identity and remind readers that who people are, who people love, and how people seek physical intimacy is a very wide spectrum, far more nuanced than simply gay+straight. The book delves into real issues and takes Jude's anxiety traumas seriously but there is also a simplicity and lightness to the book's style that makes it a joy to read.
April 4, 2021
I thought the book was cute, but it was too short for my tastes, and it spent too much of its already limited time narrating stuff that wasn't really plot important. I think I expected the book to focus on the whole thing about how what was meant to be a regular blog post becomes a huge viral internet sensation, but it's all mostly glossed over by the MC hiding out at home. Which I guess is a realistic response to it for a teenager, but I still found it odd considering there's a lot to work with there. It was pretty easy to figure out who sent the anonymous advice question at the start, but I thought the relationship that develops was still pretty cute. Overall, I think I just expected and wanted more from this book, but it wasn't bad.
May 10, 2021
I love Chase Connor books, across the genres and age groups. WHEN WORDS GROW FANGS is a thoughtful YA contemporary about Jude and his family and friends, and how they handle when a blog post that Jude wrote goes viral.
Jude’s reaction was exactly like a reaction from a teen and felt genuine. His Mom and Mama have different views and ways of handling things, both legit, and his friends are all over the place with the HS drama. Jude seeks out a dorky dude who usually sort of annoys him, as he separates from school and his usual life until the controversy he stirred dies down. This forced break from his regular high school life opens Jude’s eyes to new friendships, and he learns to accept himself and embrace the solitude for a bit. (Bonus: Lita Ford’s Kiss Me Deadly is mentioned and has been stuck in my mind ever since!)
Nobody does all the feelings like Chase Connor, especially with family relationships and developing romances. WHEN WORDS GROW FANGS teaches important lessons and manages to entertain at the same time, while examining the question of what it means to be a “hero.”
Loved this story and adore this author.
.
Jude’s reaction was exactly like a reaction from a teen and felt genuine. His Mom and Mama have different views and ways of handling things, both legit, and his friends are all over the place with the HS drama. Jude seeks out a dorky dude who usually sort of annoys him, as he separates from school and his usual life until the controversy he stirred dies down. This forced break from his regular high school life opens Jude’s eyes to new friendships, and he learns to accept himself and embrace the solitude for a bit. (Bonus: Lita Ford’s Kiss Me Deadly is mentioned and has been stuck in my mind ever since!)
Nobody does all the feelings like Chase Connor, especially with family relationships and developing romances. WHEN WORDS GROW FANGS teaches important lessons and manages to entertain at the same time, while examining the question of what it means to be a “hero.”
Loved this story and adore this author.
.
March 11, 2021
At first I felt that too much time was spent narrating mundane activities and I was impatient to get to the meat of the story. To my delight, this turned out to be a fresh, well told, coming-of-age story with interesting characters and family dynamics. References to sexuality and gender are honest. And, conversations between characters felt natural, not contrived.
What also stands out is how well the book was edited. There were no typos, no missing words and no confusion over “there”, “their” and “they’re” to distract me.
What also stands out is how well the book was edited. There were no typos, no missing words and no confusion over “there”, “their” and “they’re” to distract me.
March 18, 2021
What an enjoyable and fun, funny read!!
I'm so glad I got this book. There was just something about the description that caught my interest and I'm so happy I bought it.
Jude and all his friends are so much fun and are really cool characters and his moms are awesome. The whole book was perfectly written with a really unique storyline and really great, funny dialog.
And I think best of all, as bleak as everything was starting to look, Jude ended up with a nicely written happy ending!!!
I'm so glad I got this book. There was just something about the description that caught my interest and I'm so happy I bought it.
Jude and all his friends are so much fun and are really cool characters and his moms are awesome. The whole book was perfectly written with a really unique storyline and really great, funny dialog.
And I think best of all, as bleak as everything was starting to look, Jude ended up with a nicely written happy ending!!!
August 18, 2021
Good book on making a stand
Jude was a typical 16 year old who believes in standing up for others starting with his magenta hair. I like how he questions and stays confused about his sexual preference or lack of one. I think there are probably more kids like that out there who do things from peer pressure instead of knowing that’s what they want to do. I think this book would appeal to both teens and their parents whether lgbtq+ or not as this is an important subject for all teens.
Jude was a typical 16 year old who believes in standing up for others starting with his magenta hair. I like how he questions and stays confused about his sexual preference or lack of one. I think there are probably more kids like that out there who do things from peer pressure instead of knowing that’s what they want to do. I think this book would appeal to both teens and their parents whether lgbtq+ or not as this is an important subject for all teens.
September 1, 2021
Life with pink hair
Chase has done it again, written a very enjoyable book to read. His characters are so real it is easy to identify with them. The conflict represented in this book is so real and it is easy to believe it could happen. Entertaining read, I found at times I couldn’t put it down. Read and enjoy.
Chase has done it again, written a very enjoyable book to read. His characters are so real it is easy to identify with them. The conflict represented in this book is so real and it is easy to believe it could happen. Entertaining read, I found at times I couldn’t put it down. Read and enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews