The Fights That Make Us

By Author / Illustrator

Sarah Hagger-Holt

Genre

LBGTQ+

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Usborne Publishing

ISBN

9781801315791

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

01-02-2024

Synopsis

An unputdownable read about LGBTQ+ history and standing up for what you believe in, from award-winning author Sarah Hagger-Holt.

'Maybe there was a place in history for people like me, not on the edges of the story, but right in the centre.' Jesse has recently come out as non-binary, and is struggling to find their place at school, and ideas for their project on lost stories from history. 35 years earlier, Jesse's cousin Lisa is falling for her best friend, but with new laws being introduced to restrict LGBT people's rights, they'll have to fight for the world to accept who they are.

When Jesse stumbles across Lisa's teenage diary, they are fascinated and horrified by her stories of living a secret life and protesting in the streets. Now it's Jesse's turn to find a way to shine a spotlight on a history that mustn't be forgotten.

"The Fights That Make Us is a thought-provoking, heartwarming wonder." Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out? "Highly engaging, completely relatable and truly empowering, I loved this book." Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.

Praise for Sarah Hagger-Holt: Winner of the Little Rebels Award, twice-nominated for the Carnegie Medal. "A heartwarming and empowering read that amplifies LGBTQ+ voices from the past and present." Tamsin Winter, author of Being Miss Nobody. "An empowering, eye-opening and empathy-boosting book written with great sensitivity." Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How To Be Extraordinary. "Gentle and compassionate" The Times Literary Supplement. "A fantastic book - I absolutely loved it!" L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency. "Warm, funny and believable" The Guardian.

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Reviews

Louisa

Jesse has recently come out as non-binary and is finding it hard to feel they belong and are accepted in school, despite staunch support from their best friend, Simran, and their parents. They also need to find a good subject for a history project to impress their inspiring new teacher, Mrs Grant, before she goes on maternity leave.

By chance, Jesse stumbles on a teenage diary, written by her cousin Lisa in 1988 as she was beginning to fall in love with her best friend, Nicky. As Jesse compulsively reads the diary, they are appalled to discover how Lisa was forced to cover up her feelings and then risked everything to join the fight against the introduction of Clause 28. Suddenly, the history project dilemma is solved. Of course, it is up to Jesse and Simran to make sure that Lisa's fight for acceptance of difference is continued and that the history of Section 28 and its repeal is not forgotten.

Although the style is readable rather than heavy, the plot is quite predictable and moves fairly slowly; this is a book driven more by its underlying ideas than by excitement or suspense. It is written in the first person, but the voice of the author never feels far away. Nevertheless, hearing the story from the perspective of Jesse provides an opportunity to highlight the difficulties of LGBTQ+ students in schools today in a relatable way.

The Fights That Make Us encourages readers to engage with these difficulties with empathy and seek out tolerant solutions. It is always welcome to have a wider range of inclusive books for the library shelves and anything that encourages constructive listening and mutual acceptance can only be a good thing.

352 pages / Reviewed by Louisa Farrow, teacher