Boys I Know

Praise

“[A] complex coming-of-age story about identity and sexuality.”—The New York Times

★ “Gracia employs a whirlwind pace that complements June’s myriad triumphs and failures; a large, vibrant cast; and a true-to-life teen voice to explore societal gender roles, racism, and sexuality while artfully depicting one teenager’s search for herself amid cultural and familial pressures.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ “The panoply of supporting characters in this story that explores sexuality, gender roles, and relationships is finely drawn, and June is a winning protagonist with a lively, appealing voice that renders the repartee between her and her flinty, anxious mother simultaneously infuriating, hilarious, and poignant. A fresh tale about a teen’s struggles to define herself.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ “[A] refreshingly sex-positive coming-of-age YA novel. . . . June’s cultural backdrop is poignantly prominent. . . . Microaggressions and other characters’ questioning of Asian Americans’ authenticity are also tactfully incorporated. Throughout, June’s drive to choose a college for herself–not for a boy or her parents–serves as an accessible framework around which this bold debut takes place, and touts the difficulty and importance of self-reflection.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

“This novel is sure to resonate with teens who haven’t yet found their calling and who are trying to figure out who they are. . . . A good and relevant purchase for all high school ­collections.”—School Library Journal

“In a believable, immersive teen voice, June narrates her complicated feelings about representation and visibility as well as independence and coming of age. . . . Most notably, Gracia’s sophisticated rendering of June’s sexual experiences normalizes sexually active and thoughtful teens, and models behavior that prioritizes consent, choice . . . , and self- care.”—The Horn Book

“There are many paths in life to take, whether it’s the boys you date or the college you choose — and everyone seems to have an opinion on what’s best for June Chu, but she has yet to decide what she thinks is best for herself. Boys I Know is Judy Blume’s Forever for the modern age.” —Andrew King, Secret Garden Bookshop, Seattle, WA

“Fresh, funny, and fearless—a knockout novel about finding the courage to declare your place in the world.” –Sarah Kuhn, From Little Tokyo, with Love

“An honest, humorous story full of candor that explores the pressures of growing up Asian American, teen identity and sexuality, and finding room to forge your own path when you have no life roadmap. Gracia doesn’t shy away from the awkwardness, messiness and confusion of adolescence—perfect for fans of Sonia Hartl and David Yoon.” –Suzanne Park, Sunny Song Will Never be Famous
 
“Funny, sex-positive, and poignant. Boys I Know is an honest coming of age story about identity, sexuality, and the often-complicated parts of growing up and finding yourself. A touching exploration of the way teens navigate different relationships in their lives, and what it really means to not settle.” –Sonia Hartl, The Lost Girls​