I loved Sam's family and the magical aspects of the story. They were really charming. I thought Sam acted like an insensitive idiot, which is a realistic part of being a teenage boy, but I felt like his apology to Tom really didn't cut it. I'm amazed that Tom forgave him so easily, but honestly Tom lacked depth as a character. I was prepared to rate this book a little higher, because I did enjoy the reading experience, but after reading some opinions of trans people on the trans rep, I had to knock it down. It has some serious issues that need to be acknowledged. ( )

This was funny, heart warming, mysterious and sad. The story flows beautifully and drew me in from the very first page. I loved the characters ... all of them. What a remarkable job this author did to have such a cast in one story and yet still make me want to know them all.

I know that this book isn’t everyone’s experience of being trans ... but I KNOW some of these stories. I have friends who have lived some of them, friends who have made mistakes, friends who have said and done things they regret.

This is a beautiful book. ( )

This was funny, heart warming, mysterious and sad. The story flows beautifully and drew me in from the very first page. I loved the characters ... all of them. What a remarkable job this author did to have such a cast in one story and yet still make me want to know them all.

I know that this book isn’t everyone’s experience of being trans ... but I KNOW some of these stories. I have friends who have lived some of them, friends who have made mistakes, friends who have said and done things they regret.

This is a beautiful book. ( )

This was funny, heart warming, mysterious and sad. The story flows beautifully and drew me in from the very first page. I loved the characters ... all of them. What a remarkable job this author did to have such a cast in one story and yet still make me want to know them all.

I know that this book isn’t everyone’s experience of being trans ... but I KNOW some of these stories. I have friends who have lived some of them, friends who have made mistakes, friends who have said and done things they regret.

This is a beautiful book. ( )

Literary Merit: Great
Characterization: Great
Recommended: Yes
Level: High School

I have inadvertently continued a theme with my reading for Pride Month, as this is yet another fantastic LGBT YA title. Though certain parts of it made me a tad bit uncomfortable (mostly the sexual stuff, which I hate reading while in public), I really enjoyed the premise, characters, and overall subject matter of the novel. Like Starworld, this book tackles many issues at once, but I believe they're important issues that teens need to see represented honestly in fiction.

Love and Other Curses follows the story of sixteen year old Sam Weyward, whose family has lived with a terrible secret ever since his great great grandmother was cursed by her former best friend. The Weyward Curse doesn't affect the Weyward family directly, but rather the people they love, killing Sam's great great grandfather, great grandfather, and grandfather, as well as sending his mother away when he was too young to remember her. However, if Sam can make it to his seventeeth birthday without falling in love, the family will be free from the curse forever. Sam, who spends his days working at his father's restaurant and his nights spending time with the drag queens at Shangri La (a local gay bar), hasn't quite figured out who he wants to be yet, but he knows he wants to escape his family curse. With just one week left, Sam meets a new boy named Tom Swift with his own set of problems, and the two strike up a friendship that might just inspire Sam to find an end to the curse once and for all.

I absolutely loved the sheer amount of representation in this book, from the drag queens who were all at different stages in their lives, to Sam's questioning, to Tom's transition from female to male. From the Author's Note at the end of the novel, it seems that Michael Thomas Ford himself is part of the LGBT community, and he references many of the things he and his trans friends have experienced to further authenticate the events of the story. As he explains, however, Tom and Sam's journey is only one journey, and isn't meant to be representative of every gay and transgender person in the world. I appreciated this little disclaimer, as it reminds those of us who are heterosexual and cisgender that there are many ways to experience being part of the LGBT community, and no one story can perfectly capture everyone's individual story.

One thing about this book that made it a little uncomfortable for me, however, was the sexual content. While I fully support the frank and open discussion of sex in YA literature, it felt a little weird for me to be reading about two fictional teens exploring their sexuality while sitting at work or across the table from one of my parents. One such scene is the scene in which Sam surprises Tom with an artificial penis, wanting him to experience what it's like to both have one and use it for sexual stimulation. While it's likely meant to be a little awkward for the reader (the scene, after all, does not end well for Sam), I felt that this scene in particular was definitely meant for a teen reader instead of an adult, as I felt very creepy after reading it. I whole-heartedly applaud its inclusion in the book, however, as it's extremely important for teens (especially those in the LGBT community) to see sex represented in a healthy, positive, realistic way. If we take the taboo away from sex and instead focus on teaching teens about their bodies and natural urges, it will help prevent the spread of STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the relationship Sam had with both his family and the other drag queens at the Shangri La. This book features two very different families: one that is supportive and loving, and one that is toxic and unwelcoming. Sam's family is extremely open-minded, giving him the space to explore his sexuality and be himself. Tom's family, on the other hand, refuses to accept that he is transgender, referring to him as "she" and sticking him in a mental ward for what they believe to be a mental disorder. Tied into this is Sam's second family at the Shangri La, with the three drag queens (Paloma, Lola, and Farrah) reminding him that family doesn't always have to be blood-related. In fact, sometimes the closest families are the ones we choose, not the ones we were born into. This is an important message for LGBT youth to have, as not all of them have supportive families, and need to be reassured that there are people they can turn to if their blood relatives are less than accommodating to their identities.

Along with being a really great work of realistic fiction, this novel also works in a great deal of magical realism, a genre that I absolutely love. Along with the curse, Sam spends his nights chatting with a mysterious girl over the phone named Linda, who he later finds out has been dead since the 1980s. In a weird twist of fate, he ends up meeting her mother and learning that her real name was Persephone, inspiring his drag name while helping the girl he's been talking to move on to the next plane. This was a really clever, really fun little twist, and I loved how it tied into the tiny bit of magic that Sam and the Grands performed near the beginning of the novel. Sam mentions having a dream about a mysterious woman who later turns out to be Persephone's mother, and this inadvertently helps him make peace with his family curse. Unlike most works of magical realism, however, this one is very down to earth and easy to read, which I think most teenagers will appreciate.

Overall, my favorite thing about this book is that it has an extremely heartfelt and touching message. Though the book tackles a lot of issues (loss, transitioning, being LGBT in a small town, etc.), it's main message seems to be embracing who we are in a world that is sometimes messy, scary, and unforgiving. On page 310, Sam recalls Lola's wise words: "There are all kinds of drag. Sometimes it looks like wigs and makeup. Sometimes it's just a face someone shows you when they're afraid to show you their real one." This theme of hiding behind a mask or facade is present throughout the book, from Sam's father hiding his sadness to Tom having to hide who he is from his family. It even comes up again when Sam and his father are going to a Kiss concert, as Sam remarks that, for one night, everyone in the room can enjoy a shared experience without anyone knowing who's who. In the end, Sam is able to feel more comfortable in his own skin, and helps others do the same in return.

There are many heart-warming moments in the book, from Lola's wise words and kind final deeds, to the fate that brings Sam and Persephone's mom together to heal them both. The complex, loving relationships between many of these characters is heartfelt, and Ford's excellent writing made me care for them all individually. Though sometimes Tom can act selfish and reckless, he's still incredibly sympathetic, and readers can easily empathize with the struggle he's going through. Also, it's simply realistic for a frustrated teenager to be a little selfish at times, and to say hurtful things without thinking first or meaning it, something that both Sam and Tom do at times throughout the novel. This adds a very human level to the characters, as they all have both flaws and redeeming qualities. I found myself wanting to know more about where their lives ended up when I turned the final page, which is always the mark of a great book.

I honestly can't decide whether I liked this book or Starworld more, as both were exceptional works of YA fiction, due especially to their fabulous depiction of issues facing LGBT youth. Love and Other Curses, like Starworld, tackles many issues in a humorous, down to earth way, and is full of heart-melting and hopeful moments to keep the reader invested. Due to the sexual content, I would definitely recommend this to older teens, but it contains a wealth of healthy representation of consensual sex, masturbation, and frank discussions and questions about sex in relation to LGBT youth. It's a fairly easy and fast read, and full of enough humor to keep even picky or reluctant readers invested in the action. After reading this book, I'm definitely adding Michael Thomas Ford to my author radar, as I love his style and would love to read more of his work in the future. ( )