Felix Ever After
 | This article needs a plot summary. (August 2024) |
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| Author | Kacen Callender |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult novel |
| Publisher | Balzer + Bray |
Publication date | May 12, 2020 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 978-0-06-282025-9 |
Felix Ever After is a young adult novel written by Kacen Callender and published in 2020 by Balzer + Bray. The story is narrated by a Black trans teen as he grapples "with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time".[1]
Summary
[edit]It follows trans teenager Felix Love, grappling with identity issues as a Black, queer boy, unsure if he’s too complicated to find love.
Reception
[edit]Time named Felix Ever After one of "The 100 Best YA Books of All Time" alongside Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders, and others.[2]
Reviews
[edit]The book was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist,[3] Publishers Weekly,[4] and School Library Journal.[5]
Booklist's Kaitlin Connor noted, "Felix's hard-fought and dramatic journey toward self-discovery will resonate with teens looking for narratives about diverse LGBTQIA characters learning to love themselves."[6] Amanda MacGregor, writing for the School Library Journal, praised the book's diverse cast of characters and the protagonist MacGregor calls "achingly relatable".[5] The Publishers Weekly said Callender created "an exhilarating cast of queer characters, many of whom are people of color, who are as relatable as they are realistic."[4] The magazine also praised the whodunit plot and all its twists, concluding the review with an overall praise of the main character and the story.[4]
Reviewing for The Horn Book, Luann Toth mentioned the "sound information and responsible psychological guidance" present in the novel without detracting from the overall experience.[7] Shelf Awareness's Kieran Slattery, noted, "Callender ... adeptly weaves a poignant bildungsroman that builds suspense as, layer by layer, new dimensions of Felix's identity are unmasked with each failed attempt to identify his tormentor."[8] Slattery continued, stating, "In a society where the lines between in-person and social media interactions blur, Callender believably captures this interconnectivity with teenagers whose identities are shaped, dismantled and reconfigured by their social media use."[8]
Kirkus Reviews offered a negative review, calling it "an exhausting read" due to the complicated story and the "devastating episodes of self-doubt and anxiety" Felix goes through.[9] The reviewer concluded Felix Ever After is a "trauma- and drama-filled demiboy's story that's not for the faint of heart."[9]
Banning
[edit]In 2023, the book was challenged but kept at Old Rochester Regional High School.[10] In 2024, the book was banned in Beaufort County, South Carolina.[11]
Awards and honors
[edit]| Year | Award/honor | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Booklist Editors' Choice | Books for Youth | Selection | [12] |
| Goodreads Choice Award | Young Adult Fiction | Nominee | [13] | |
| 2021 | ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults | — | Top 10 | [14][15] |
| Stonewall Book Award | Children's & Young Adult | Honor | [16][17] | |
| YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers | — | Selection | [18] |
References
[edit]- ^ "17 sublime books by Black LGBT+ authors you should read this Black History Month". PinkNews. October 1, 2021. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ "The 100 Best YA Books of All Time". Time. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Bittner, Rob (May 15, 2020). "Felix Ever After". Booklist. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Children's Book Review: Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ a b MacGregor, Amanda. "Felix Ever After". School Library Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ Conner, Kaitlin (June 5, 2020). Felix Ever After. Retrieved February 13, 2022 – via Booklist.
- ^ Toth, Luann. "Review of Felix Ever After". The Horn Book. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Slattery, Kieran (May 22, 2020). "Felix Ever After". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ a b "Felix Ever After". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ "UPDATED: Two challenged books to remain in Old Rochester libraries". Sippican. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Pelley, Scott; Chasan, Aliza; Schuster, Henry; Turcotte, Sarah (March 3, 2024). "See the full list of 97 books parents tried to ban from Beaufort, South Carolina school library shelves - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2020. January 1, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2022 – via Booklist.
- ^ "Felix Ever After". Goodreads. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2021. March 15, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2022 – via Booklist.
- ^ "2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Morales, Macey (January 25, 2021). "ALA announces 2021 Youth Media Awards". American Library Association. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Morales, Macey (January 25, 2021). "'We Are Little Feminists: Families' wins 2021 Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award". American Library Association. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "2021 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 5, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2022.