Publishers Weekly
03/22/2021
When white, openly queer Piper Kitt has her heart broken seven weeks prior to the start of the novel, the pining Olympic dressage hopeful decides to flee Massachusetts for a summer in Harmon, N.C., “a haven for retirees from colder places and the horse show elite,” where her maternal grandmother can introduce her to “new trainers at a world-class facility.” Meanwhile, Harmon local Kat Pearson, 18, also white, isn’t one to experiment publicly, so she keeps her possible queerness quiet. Then Piper’s grandmother insists Piper learn to drive, and Kat seizes the opportunity for a job. Their mutual attraction is apparent, but Piper is not over her ex-girlfriend, and Kat just wants someone to talk to about her sexuality. As different as the two rising seniors are, they are also clearly right for each other, enough that readers may initially be impatient with their hesitation. Brown focuses on a horse scene without explaining dressage, which may leave some readers confused about specifics, but witnessing the slow-burn relationship play out through alternately narrated chapters ends up working not only for the characters, but for readers, whose impatience will be replaced by satisfaction. Ages 14–up. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM Partners. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
"Piper and Kat are imperfect, but always trying their best—aren't we all?—and Brown had me rooting for them all the way through this sweet, slow burn romance. Their triumphs, their blunders, and the way they swing between confidence and self-doubt are utterly relatable." — Misa Sugiura, award-winning author of It's Not Like It's a Secret
"Such a sweet story with compelling family relationships, awesome female characters, a satisfying mix of coming out and already-out-and-proud, and lots of equestrian goodness!" — M-E Girard, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Girl Mans Up
“A sweet and joyful representation of family, friendship, and two girls falling in love.” — Sarah Prager, author of Rainbow Revolutionaries and Queer, There, and Everywhere
"The story, told through alternating chapters narrated from each girl’s first-person perspective, gracefully and generously engages with gender and sexuality. Readers will laugh, cry, and cheer." — Kirkus Reviews
"A sweet slow-burn romance built on a foundation of friendship and self-discovery. Readers will love being swept along for the ride." — Booklist
"The Key to You and Me reminded us of what the best relationships are built on, what we’d like to see more of when it comes to LGBTQ ships, and that the place you’re in when it comes to being queer might not be the same place where someone else is at. That doesn’t make their story any less worth telling or exploring.” — Fangirlish
PRAISE FOR The Meaning of Birds: “An evocative story of the thrills of first love and the anguish of first loss. This will break you and heal you.” — Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’
“An unforgettable story that resonated deep in my bones, The Meaning of Birds will break your heart and then put it right back together again. Jess and Vivi’s relationship was so beautiful and true. I loved them and didn’t want the story to end.” — Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be
“A profoundly moving and exquisitely written story of love, loss, grief, and healing. These characters have imprinted on my heart and will be with me for a long, long time.” — Amy Reed, author of Beautiful and The Nowhere Girls
“A heart-wrenching journey through anger and grief, balanced on the sharp edge of hope.” — Malinda Lo, author of Ash and A Line in the Dark
“Prepare to cry, often—and to be thoroughly swept away into this subtle and utterly real story of grief and love and heartbreak and finding yourself in the middle of it all.” — Robin Talley, New York Times bestselling author of The Lies We Tell Ourselves and Our Own Private Universe
“Told in alternating “then” and “now” chapters, the moving narrative captures well the nonlinear progression of Jess’ grief and emotional growth. Frank and accessible, this gritty drama realizes with great compassion and empathy the ways reckoning with loss can manifest.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Affectionately rendered. Brown depicts Jess with raw realism.” — Publishers Weekly
“Brown’s exploration of loss is raw and devastating, placing readers directly into Jess’s turbulent experience. Captures the ambivalence of grief in this searing and ultimately hopeful novel. For fans of Jandy Nelson, Adam Silvera, and Nicola Yoon.” — School Library Journal
Praise for Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit: “Funny, thoughtful, compassionate Jo is a delightful narrator. The frank portrayals of swearing, sexual activity, underage drinking, etc., neither titillate nor condemn; they just depict teens being authentic teens. While Jo and Mary Carlson are white, the rest of their friends display considerable diversity portrayed with nuance through each character’s words and actions. A sweet, sexy, honest teen romance that just happens to involve two girls—all the more charming for being so very ordinary.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Faith matters in this book, but so do family, friends, and being funny. The dialogue is snappy—Joanna is sharp tongued and sometimes bratty—and the characters aren’t types. Rather, they’re individuals navigating a complicated world, which makes for a rich and satisfying read.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Brown orchestrates a fast-paced narrative that is powerful, moving, and relatable. This work will resonate with those who enjoy a female protagonist who is bold, brave, candid, and thoughtful. The language is realistic, and the author accurately captures queer and Southern cultures. Brown expertly describes the complex nuances of faith and sexuality. This plot-driven story is humorous, and the characters are effortlessly likable. Teens who root for underdogs will be pulling for this dream team of characters. For fans of David Levithan and John Green’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson; this title is a worthwhile purchase for all YA collections.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“Readers will appreciate the compelling characters, the humor, and the romance. Anyone who enjoys the writing of John Green or Rainbow Rowell will find a sense of familiarity in Brown’s writing, and will be left longing for more.” — teenreads.com
Sarah Prager
A sweet and joyful representation of family, friendship, and two girls falling in love.
Amy Reed
A profoundly moving and exquisitely written story of love, loss, grief, and healing. These characters have imprinted on my heart and will be with me for a long, long time.
M-E Girard
"Such a sweet story with compelling family relationships, awesome female characters, a satisfying mix of coming out and already-out-and-proud, and lots of equestrian goodness!"
Fangirlish
"The Key to You and Me reminded us of what the best relationships are built on, what we’d like to see more of when it comes to LGBTQ ships, and that the place you’re in when it comes to being queer might not be the same place where someone else is at. That doesn’t make their story any less worth telling or exploring.
Amber Smith
An unforgettable story that resonated deep in my bones, The Meaning of Birds will break your heart and then put it right back together again. Jess and Vivi’s relationship was so beautiful and true. I loved them and didn’t want the story to end.
Malinda Lo
A heart-wrenching journey through anger and grief, balanced on the sharp edge of hope.
Misa Sugiura
"Piper and Kat are imperfect, but always trying their best—aren't we all?—and Brown had me rooting for them all the way through this sweet, slow burn romance. Their triumphs, their blunders, and the way they swing between confidence and self-doubt are utterly relatable."
Booklist
"A sweet slow-burn romance built on a foundation of friendship and self-discovery. Readers will love being swept along for the ride."
Julie Murphy
PRAISE FOR The Meaning of Birds: “An evocative story of the thrills of first love and the anguish of first loss. This will break you and heal you.
Booklist
"A sweet slow-burn romance built on a foundation of friendship and self-discovery. Readers will love being swept along for the ride."
Robin Talley
Prepare to cry, often—and to be thoroughly swept away into this subtle and utterly real story of grief and love and heartbreak and finding yourself in the middle of it all.
teenreads.com
Readers will appreciate the compelling characters, the humor, and the romance. Anyone who enjoys the writing of John Green or Rainbow Rowell will find a sense of familiarity in Brown’s writing, and will be left longing for more.
Misa Sigura
"Piper and Kat are imperfect, but always trying their best—aren't we all?—and Brown had me rooting for them all the way through this sweet, slow burn romance. Their triumphs, their blunders, and the way they swing between confidence and self-doubt are utterly relatable."
School Library Journal
02/01/2021
Gr 9 Up—Aspiring equestrian Piper is excited to spend the summer with her grandmother, training with a former Olympian and distancing herself from the ex-girlfriend who broke her heart. Kat is spending the summer before her senior year trying to make money to fix her car and help her sister achieve her dancing dreams while questioning whether she might be a lesbian. When Kat is hired to teach Piper to drive, she immediately feels a connection to Piper and sees an opportunity to test her interest in girls. Piper sees it as an opportunity to make her ex-girlfriend jealous and possibly win her back. Piper and Kat's romance is somewhat predictable. Piper is the out and proud lesbian willing to do anything to win back her ex-girlfriend, while Kat is very anxious about her feelings towards girls, though her friends and family are extremely supportive and have already guessed that she is gay. Readers may grow a little weary of the main characters' internal dialogue as they go back and forth questioning their feelings. Secondary characters are fun but are only explored at a surface level. Kat and Piper are cued as white. VERDICT An LGBTQIA romance that is sweet yet predictable. An additional purchase.—Ashley Leffel, Griffin M.S., Frisco, TX
Kirkus Reviews
2021-02-05
Piper is a queer equestrian from Massachusetts with her eye on the Olympics.
When her girlfriend breaks up with her and her trainer is forced to take a break from riding and teaching for health reasons, Piper escapes to Harmon, North Carolina, for a summer of riding, working, and training at a competitive horse show barn while living with her maternal grandmother, MaMolly. MaMolly is wealthy, connected, and invested in Piper’s equestrian dreams, but she sets one condition: that Piper overcome her fear of a childhood car accident and learn how to drive. MaMolly hires local teenager Kat, who is responsible and dependable and works odd jobs to help her single father and three younger siblings. Kat is also questioning her sexuality. When Piper and Kat meet, sparks fly, but the two are caught up in a net of misunderstanding. Piper is still hung up on her ex, and Kat isn’t sure she’s ready to come out yet. As the summer unfolds, the two realize they have a lot to learn, including how to trust themselves and each other, as Piper figures out how to let go and Kat discovers how to take risks. The story, told through alternating chapters narrated from each girl’s first-person perspective, gracefully and generously engages with gender and sexuality. Main characters read as White; there is some diversity in the background cast.
Readers will laugh, cry, and cheer. (Romance. 14-18)
