Dear Gossips,
As mentioned last week, I will be defending Raziel Reid’s When Everything Feels Like The Movies on Canada Reads in March. The book was inspired by the true story of a 15 year old boy called Larry who was bullied at school for wearing makeup and heels. In 2008, Larry asked another boy to be his Valentine. Larry’s intended Valentine ended up rejecting him. By shooting him twice in the head the next day. There are kids like Larry who are surviving in silence all the time.
“I don’t want to survive. I want to live.” Solomon Northup, 12 Years A Slave
Jude, our anti-hero in When Everything Feels Like The Movies is trying so hard to go beyond survival and to find a life. His story is provocative but relatable. His thoughts are irreverent but true. His words are important.
Which is why the Canada Council honoured Raziel Reid with a Governor General’s Award last year, making him the youngest person ever (24) to win the prize. However, there is now a petition being circulated requesting that the Canada Council revoke the award because they consider When Everything Feels Like The Movies too “vulgar” for young adult readers age 12-18. Click here to read more about the protest.
Oh Jude would love a controversy. Jude knows that drama sells. But it also gets people talking. And, hopefully, in this case, reading. Also… sharing.
When Everything Feels Like The Movies by Raziel Reid.
Yours in gossip,
Lainey
