Blog Tour - Music From Another World by Robin Talley

Synopsis:

It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk…until she’s matched with a real-life pen pal who changes everything.

Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others—like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom—and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for…and who they’ll rise against.

A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.

My Thoughts:

I really didn't know much about Harvey Milk and 1970's LBGTQIA history before reading this book. Now I'm so glad I did! Talley is a genius at making history come alive through her characters, and pen pals Tammy and Sharon are no different. Both are from very religious backgrounds, and are assigned to write to each other in order to bond over Christian values, and keep from sinning during the dangerous time also referred to as summer break.

They have more in common than they know - Tammy has realized that she's a lesbian, and Sharon's brother just confided that he's gay. These are both dangerous truths in the background of Anita Bryant and Proposition 6, a law that would make it illegal for LGBTQIA folks or alliances to teach. Tammy's aunt, a minister's wife, maliciously puts Tammy in charge of fundraisers and pep rallies in favor of Prop 6.

Through their letters, the girls bond over a mutual love of punk rock and their struggle to find themselves in a world that has already narrowly defined them. I loved both of them, and in equal measure despised Tammy's aunt from hell!!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC and a chance to be part of Music From Another World's blog tour.