10/31/2022
Wanting to establish LGBTQ representation in the hit sci-fi TV show Galaxy Spark , lead actor Lily Ashton—a queer, white 17-year-old—advocates to canonize the romance between their character, Morgantha, and white 17-year-old costar Greta Thurmway’s character, Alietta. The showrunners grant this request, but when they also reveal a plan to kill off Alietta in the next season—“Bury your gays. They buried their gays,” Lily says—the duo take a show writer’s motorcycle for a joyride. The teens use the resulting media attention to deploy a fake-dating scheme, hoping that public investment in their pretend relationship will inspire the writers to revise the problematic arc. When increased scrutiny and Lily’s developing crush on Greta overwhelm, Lily escapes via video game Swordquest Online , and begins unearthing previously unexamined feelings regarding their gender identity. Through Lily’s persistence to improve working conditions for their castmates, Ellor (May the Best Man Win ) adeptly centers Galaxy Spark ’s script and crew to address themes of homophobia, misogyny, and white privilege. Lily’s gender identity exploration and relationship with Greta are rendered via earnest dialogue, making for an inviting tale of self-expression and discovery. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kaitlyn Johnson, Belcastro Agency. (Dec.)
"This queer coming-of-age story offers a high-appeal, fandom-inspired romantic subplot with a prickly, enemies-to-lovers dynamic involving an asexual love interest. The central conflict diverges from the path of a straightforward savior narrative, focusing instead on confronting privilege, setting healthy boundaries, and unlearning gendered expectations." — Kirkus Reviews
"Ellor adeptly centers [fictional sci-fi show] Galaxy Spark ’s script and crew to address themes of homophobia, misogyny, and white privilege. An inviting tale of self-expression and discovery." — Publishers Weekly
"Ellor's novel will resonate with anyone who has explored who they are and who they want to be." — Booklist
"Acting the Part takes the fun of fake dating and fandom to tell a thoughtful, nuanced story about stories. Ellor asks—and answers—charged questions about who holds the power when writing queer characters and what it takes to flip the script." — Jasper Sanchez, author of The (Un)popular Vote
Praise for May the Best Man Win: "Ellor delivers an intense story about self-discovery, pain, and forgiveness. [A] nuanced conversation about the challenges that coming out as trans brings for the transgender person and the relationships they must navigate. Fans of Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me in a Crown (2020) won’t want to miss this thoughtful lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers high-school dramedy with a romantic core." — Booklist (starred review)
"Roaring, raging, and riotous, May the Best Man Win is a queer lovers-to-exes-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you rooting for both Jeremy and Lucas to win homecoming king―and each other’s hearts." — The Nerd Daily
“Earnest, charming, and completely unafraid to dive headfirst into the beautifully messy complexity of grief, gender, and growth. May the Best Man Win won my heart completely.” — Becky Albertalli, New York Times –bestselling author of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
“…an utterly fresh romance with messy queer teens falling in and out of love, finding their community, and fighting to be seen. ZR Ellor’s debut puts him on the map as a new, exciting voice.” — Molly Knox Ostertag, author of The Witch Boy
"With effervescent writing and bold, stereotype-defying characters, ZR Ellor crafts a much-needed, nuanced depiction of both gender identity and neurodiversity. May the Best Man Win taught me a little about myself, and had me feeling the school spirit more than I ever did for my own high school!" — Jackson Bird, YouTuber and author of Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place
Praise for May the Best Man Win: "Ellor delivers an intense story about self-discovery, pain, and forgiveness. [A] nuanced conversation about the challenges that coming out as trans brings for the transgender person and the relationships they must navigate. Fans of Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me in a Crown (2020) won’t want to miss this thoughtful lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers high-school dramedy with a romantic core."
Booklist (starred review)
"What a fun ride! What starts out as a story about fandom and adventure turns into a thoughtful exploration of queerness, privilege and identity – all set against the backdrop of Hollywood glamour and teenage fame. It gave words to feelings I've had about my own gender for years, and I know it will be the story so many other readers will see themselves in, too."
Earnest, charming, and completely unafraid to dive headfirst into the beautifully messy complexity of grief, gender, and growth. May the Best Man Win won my heart completely.”
…an utterly fresh romance with messy queer teens falling in and out of love, finding their community, and fighting to be seen. ZR Ellor’s debut puts him on the map as a new, exciting voice.”
"Roaring, raging, and riotous, May the Best Man Win is a queer lovers-to-exes-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you rooting for both Jeremy and Lucas to win homecoming king―and each other’s hearts."
"Acting the Part takes the fun of fake dating and fandom to tell a thoughtful, nuanced story about stories. Ellor asks—and answers—charged questions about who holds the power when writing queer characters and what it takes to flip the script."
"With effervescent writing and bold, stereotype-defying characters, ZR Ellor crafts a much-needed, nuanced depiction of both gender identity and neurodiversity. May the Best Man Win taught me a little about myself, and had me feeling the school spirit more than I ever did for my own high school!"
12/01/2022
Gr 8 Up— A Hollywood star fights to determine their own future in this romance centering gender identity. Frey, who everyone knows as Lily, is thrilled to provide fans with queer representation as the fierce female warrior Morgantha on the sci-fi show Galaxy Spark . But Frey feels more like themself when they escape Morgantha's wigs and makeup by playing a male huntsman in a fantasy video game, and begins to wonder what that means about their gender identity. When the writers of Galaxy Spark use problematic tropes and stereotypes in the show's upcoming season, Frey must decide whether to keep quiet to protect their career or to push back against the writers and the assumptions people have made about them. Ellor's novel offers an exploration of nonbinary identity through a raw first-person narrative, capturing Frey's fears that people will question their gender identity and realistically portraying their struggle to accept themselves as trans. A tense relationship between Frey and their perfectionist costar Greta is undermined by Frey's lack of perspective, and while Frey eventually becomes more aware of their privilege as the white child of a Hollywood producer, readers may struggle to connect with a character who comes off as oblivious to the experiences of others. VERDICT Despite much-needed nonbinary and asexual representation, clumsy, distracting metaphors and a predictable plot twist make this a secondary purchase.—Emily Yates
2022-09-14
#Morganetta means everything to Lily, and so does Galaxy Spark : In the soon-to-premier fifth season, Lily convinced the producers to canonize a romance between Morgantha and Princess Alietta. Although despising perfectionist co-star Greta and dreading mom Kate’s plans for next career steps, Lily knows how important representation like #Morganetta is to so many fans. When the script for Season 6 reveals a violent death for Alietta—among other problematic plot points—Lily and Greta go on an impulsive joyride that results in a real-life plot twist: a fake relationship to smooth over the resulting PR scandal. Overwhelmed by the responsibility and messy feelings, Lily retreats into the video game Swordquest Online. Meeting and befriending Aida, another queer gamer, awakens Lily’s unexplored feelings about gender identity. This queer coming-of-age story offers a high-appeal, fandom-inspired romantic subplot with a prickly, enemies-to-lovers dynamic involving an asexual love interest. The central conflict between Lily and the Galaxy Spark producers diverges from the path of a straightforward savior narrative, focusing instead on confronting privilege, setting healthy boundaries, and unlearning gendered expectations. Both Lily and Greta are White; the broader cast of characters depicts racial diversity.
A satisfying balance of self-discovery and enticing drama. (Romance. 14-18)
