Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Summary:

     Annie on My Mind tells the story of how Liza Winthrop first meets Annie Kenyon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The two become best friends even though they come from different backgrounds.  Liza is the student body president at Foster Academy where she is working hard to maintain her grades to be able to be admitted into MIT.  She lives with her parents and younger brother in the upscale neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights.  Annie goes to public school where she is hoping to be admitted to the University of California at Berkley; where she would want to be able to develop her singing talent.  She lives with her parents and grandmother in the lower income side of Manhattan.  Even though these two young girls have different backgrounds; their friendship develops quickly which then turns into love. 

     The two become close during Thanksgiving break and Liza’s three day suspension from school.  During spring break; the girls house sit for two of Liza’s teachers. Their relationship is found out by one of Liza’s administrator which leads to Liza coming out to her family and face the possibility of expulsion.  Though they end up splitting apart at their end of their high school years; they are able to get back together while at college. 

Commentary on the Strengths

     Annie on My Mind is a Young Adult novel written by Nancy Garden.  This fiction romance book deals with GLBT issues.  This book was first published in 1982, a time in U.S. history that frowned upon homosexual relations.    Annie on My Mind has been praised by being named as one of the Best of the Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association as well as the 2003 Margaret A. Edwards Award Winner.  But also has been one of the most controversial books of it’s time; landing it on the  most frequent challenged books list.  This book has helped many young GLBTQ find someone like them and lets them that it is o.k. for who they are; and that it does get better. 

Readers also liked: Dare, Truth, or Promise by Paula Boock; Am I Blue Coming Out of Silence by Marion Dana Butler; Empress of the World by Sara Ryan; grl2grl by Julie Anne Peters; and Hello, Groin by Beth Goobie

Additional books written by the author are Good Moon Rising; Molly's Family; Endgame; They Year They Banned Books; and Nora & Liz

Ideas for incorporation this book in your lesson plans can be found at https://youngadultliterature.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/annie-on-my-mind-book-blog/ and
https://thesecretbookshelf.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/annie-on-my-mind-by-nancy-garden/

Garden, N. (2013). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Book Trailer: