Praise for A Place for Us
“LGBTQ+ activist Brandon J. Wolf narrates his heartbreaking yet hopeful memoir with graceful clarity and much tenderness. He recounts his childhood in rural Oregon, where he was the only Black person in his family, and his eventual move to Orlando, Florida, where he found a life-saving queer community. He goes into detail about the night of the Pulse club shooting, the overwhelming grief of losing his best friend, and the trauma of surviving something so horrific. His narration is emotional and rawthis is not an easy book to listen to. But what comes through most powerfully as he's describing those he lost and the work he does today is love. Though devastating, this is a love letter to queer family and queer friendships. A moving, impactful listen.” —AudioFile Magazine
“Wolf narrates his memoir with a level of raw sincerity that captivates.… An honest, profound memoir that speaks to the struggle of belonging and the power of finding community.” —Library Journal
“[A] blazing debut. In stirring prose, Wolf mounts a testament to the power of community and a howling cry for justice. This is unforgettable.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“This heartfelt book will appeal not only to LGBTQ+ readers, but to anyone committed to the fight for social justice for any marginalized community. Poignant, inspiring reading.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Raw, candid, and often uncomfortable.” —Library Journal
“[A] powerful read.” —USA Today
“An essential testament to the togetherness and resilience of the queer community.” —Electric Literature
“One of the most powerful voices of his generation, Brandon Wolf tells a story of race, place, and the struggle for belonging that will drive you to tears and expand your capacity for hope, as well as your appreciation for the power of community. A true inspiration.” —Joy-Ann Reid, host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut
“This book is both a necessary reckoning and a soft place to land. Brandon’s story is a journey that challenges readers to not only find hope but also find the resolve necessary to take action. A must-read for anyone who wants to be filled with the spirit of progress.” —Frederick Joseph, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning activist
“A Place for Us is daring, raw, and necessary. The fight to end America’s gun violence epidemic has long been grounded in the courage and tenacity of those most directly impacted. Brandon’s survivor story will spur you to get up and fight for a better, safer tomorrow.” —Shannon Watts, founder, Moms Demand Action
“A Place for Us is a breathtakingly honest memoir that challenges all of us to rise above our darkest moments in order to courageously live as our most authentic selves.” —Igor Volsky, cofounder and executive director of Guns Down America
06/01/2023
Public speaker/activist Wolf, who survived the 2016 horrific massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL, shares his coming-of-age story. Following a traumatic childhood with the loss of a parent at a young age, he was one of the only openly gay people of color in his small Oregon high school. At age 19, he moved to Orlando to be a part of the Disney College Program. Recounting his life through a series of vignettes, Wolf places his focus on the special people he lost in the shooting, their impact on his life, and how the experience gave him the courage to advocate for legislation that would prevent others from suffering similarly. Fear, anger, sadness, and survivor's guilt plagued Wolf for years, as he strove to make a difference in memory of his lost friends. His memoir is raw, candid, and often uncomfortable, serving as an honest testament to the variety and intensity of emotions that accompany post-traumatic stress. Although chapters bounce around in time, sometimes causing confusion, the message of hope and self-forgiveness shines brightly through. VERDICT A good and recommended addition to memoir collections.—Katy Duperry
LGBTQ+ activist Brandon J. Wolf narrates his heartbreaking yet hopeful memoir with graceful clarity and much tenderness. He recounts his childhood in rural Oregon, where he was the only Black person in his family, and his eventual move to Orlando, Florida, where he found a life-saving queer community. He goes into detail about the night of the Pulse club shooting, the overwhelming grief of losing his best friend, and the trauma of surviving something so horrific. His narration is emotional and raw--this is not an easy book to listen to. But what comes through most powerfully as he's describing those he lost and the work he does today is love. Though devastating, this is a love letter to queer family and queer friendships. A moving, impactful listen. L.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2023-03-21
An account of how an activist’s search for community led him to experience a tragedy so profound it changed the course of his life forever.
Wolf’s first experience with death came when his fierce and beautiful mother died from cancer. The loss shattered him: As a “half-Black kid…[with] a knack for musical theater,” he always knew he was different, but his mother had always made him feel safe and accepted in the small Oregon town where they lived. The author’s dark skin and sensitivity made him a target for racist boys “desperate to prove their masculinity,” as they forced him into confrontation with White supremacist propaganda meant to belittle him. Feeling misunderstood by an otherwise sympathetic White stepfather and stifled by bigotry seemingly everywhere he went, Wolf moved to Florida and took a job as a costumed character at Disney World. Adjustment to an independent life, along with a terrifying experience with racial profiling by police, left him disoriented. Despite hardships, however, “the freedom of a new world was intoxicating,” and he found life-affirming camaraderie with other queer people, especially those at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Through Drew, Wolf learned how to love another gay man as a “confidant…accomplice…[and] brother” and also to celebrate Drew’s passionate commitment to Juan. When a lone gunman killed Drew, Juan, and dozens of others on a June night in 2016, Wolf’s life was shattered again. He was assailed with guilt for having survived the massacre and for having been the one to invite both men to the club that night. Yet rather than allow himself to succumb to fear and grief, Wolf helped found the Dru Project, an organization dedicated to creating safe spaces for all queer youth. This heartfelt book will appeal not only to LGBTQ+ readers, but to anyone committed to the fight for social justice for any marginalized community.
Poignant, inspiring reading.