Annie on my mind

Garden, N. (1982).  Annie on my mind.  NY:  FSG

Summary:   In this realistic fiction tale we meet characters Liza Winthrop and Annie Kenyon.  These two girls form an extraordinary bond that consists of the same interests such as history and art.  They realize that there is a deeper connection between them that neither want to escape.  In spite of their natural attraction towards each other, they seemed to constantly worry about hurting their parents and disappointing them.  Their friendship soon becomes a relationship that neither of the girls had ever experienced before.  Not being able to escape these feelings towards one another they unexpectedly find a way to deal with their mutual feelings and forget about the world around them. 

Strengths:  This book is geared or intended for grades 9-12.  In this story even though written through the eyes of Liza there is turmoil in her coming to terms and accepting the fact that she is indeed a lesbian.  In this story we can see Havighurst’s Theory of developmental.  Each girl struggled with the norms of what society expects from a girl and their appropriate sex role.  They were cautious when out in the “world” and try to keep to minimum the holding of hands or even a peck on the cheek.  They were afraid of what their friends might think of them or even say about them. 

Teaching Resources:

• Students dealing with acceptance can use this book as a resource. 
• This book can be relatable to the young adult audience and can be used as a discussion collaborative group activity.
• A pre-reading example of anti-bullying.

• Author: Nancy Garden Website

Other Books by Author: 

 Awards:
1982 Booklist Reviewers' choice; nominated for Gay Book Award and Golden Kite Award; 1982 ALA Best Books; 1983 ALA Best of the Best 1970-1983; Best of the Best renewed, (1987?); Booklist Best Books of the 1980s; Booksellers' Choice list, 1993; ALA Best Books for YAs for past 25 Years, 1994; One of the Best of the Best Books for YAs of the last 4 decades of the 20th Century, ALA, 2000. Won Mock Printz Award for 1982 in contest held at ALA Midwinter in 2002. Translated into Chinese, Slovenian, Italian, and Korean. (12-up)