Alice Austen Lived Here Book Signing with Author Alex Gino

ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE by Alex Gino (Scholastic Press; On Sale April 5, 2022; Ages 9-12) · From the award-winning author of the groundbreaking novel Melissa (formerly published as George), a phenomenal novel about queerness past, present, and future. With astonishing queer representation, this celebration of queer history and community is incredibly timely as we as a society are reexamining how to shape and define our historical narratives. · A DEEPLY PERSONAL STORY: Alex Gino also grew up on Staten Island, and lived in one of Alice Austen’s former residences! · PRAISE FOR ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE o «“Gino, author of 2015’s award-winning Melissa, crafts another tour-de-force about the ways in which modern LGBTQIA+ kids are connected to our community’s history…An essential story to non-LGBTQIA+ and LGBTQIA+ kids alike, offering a timeless reminder to readers of all ages: like Alice Austen, we lived—and continue to live—here and everywhere.” –Booklist, Starred Review o « “A testament to the power of intergenerational queer community.” –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review · PRAISE FOR MELISSA: o #1 banned book in children’s literature year after year o Winner of the Children’s Stonewall Award o Winner of the Lambda Literary Award o «««« FOUR starred reviews · PRAISE FOR RICK, companion to MELISSA: o «««« FOUR starred reviews · A CELEBRATION OF QUEERNESS PAST AND PRESENT: Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity. They’re nonbinary, and their best friend, TJ, is nonbinary as well. Sam’s family is very cool with it… as long as Sam remembers that nonbinary kids are also required to clean their rooms, do their homework, and try not to antagonize their teachers too much. The teacher-respect thing is hard when it comes to Sam’s history class, because their teacher seems to believe that only Dead Straight Cis White Men are responsible for history. When Sam’s home borough of Staten Island opens up a contest for a new statue, Sam finds the perfect non-DSCWM subject: photographer Alice Austen, whose house has been turned into a museum, and who lived with a female partner for decades. Soon, Sam’s project isn’t just about winning the contest. It’s about discovering a rich queer history that Sam’s a part of—a queer history that no longer needs to be quiet, as long as there are kids like Sam and TJ to stand up for it. · ALEX GINO loves glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of being alive. Melissa (formerly published as George) was their first novel. Melissa was a winner of the Children’s Stonewall Award, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Children’s Choice Book Awards, among a host of others. Melissa was also featured on several Best of the Year lists. For more about Alex, please visit alexgino.com.