A Million Quiet Revolutions

by Robin Gow

Overview

Robin Gow's A Million Quiet Revolutions is a modern love story, told in verse, about two teenaged trans boys who name themselves after two Revolutionary War soldiers. A lyrical, aching young adult romance perfect for fans of The Poet X, Darius the Great is Not Okay, and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe.

For as long as they can remember, Aaron and Oliver have only ever had each other. In a small town with few queer teenagers, let alone young trans men, they’ve shared milestones like coming out as trans, buying the right binders—and falling for each other.

But just as their relationship has started to blossom, Aaron moves away. Feeling adrift, separated from the one person who understands them, they seek solace in digging deep into the annals of America’s past. When they discover the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers who they believe to have been trans man in love, they’re inspired to pay tribute to these soldiers by adopting their names—Aaron and Oliver. As they learn, they delve further into unwritten queer stories, and they discover the transformative power of reclaiming one’s place in history.

Further reading on trans history is included in backmatter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374388416
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	03/22/2022
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	240,581
Product dimensions:	5.55(w) x 8.52(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Robin Gow is a trans and queer poet, editor, and educator from rural Pennsylvania. Their books include A Million Quiet Revolutions and Blue Blood. They are the supportive services coordinator at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and founder of Trans-cendent Connections, an organization that provides trans education resources to support trans youth. Gow also founded the New York City trans and queer reading series Gender Reveal Party. They live in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with their partner, best friend, and pugs, Gertrude and Eddie.

Editorial Reviews

01/24/2022

In three sections, Gow’s (Our Lady of Perpetual Degeneracy, for adults) bittersweet novel in verse centers two rural 17-year-old trans boys in love navigating romance, family, and finding themselves as life tries to pull them apart. The boys celebrate their trans identities by renaming themselves Aaron and Oliver, after two trans soldiers who fought side by side during and possibly lived together after the Revolutionary War. Aaron, who is Puerto Rican, grapples with his conservative Catholic family’s failure to accept his gender identity. Oliver, whose white, Jewish family is more supportive, is fascinated with the American Revolution—specifically the experiences of queer people at that time. But Aaron’s family suddenly moves away from Kutztown, Pa., to Queens, N.Y., when the family priest’s abuse of Aaron’s brother is made public. Using the names and stories of the soldiers who inspired them, Aaron and Oliver communicate in the form of letters, texts, and imagined conversations, which alternate with Gow’s fluid stream-of-consciousness verse. Though the dual points of view can be difficult to distinguish, sweet details (a sibling “writes little poems for you and leaves them in your shoes”) and steadfast romance make for a compelling journey. Back matter includes an author’s note and recommended reading list. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jordan Hamessley, New Leaf Literary. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Truthful, romantic, and compulsively readable, A Million Quiet Revolutions is filled with a million quiet revelations about living as your true self—whoever, wherever, and whenever you happen to be. I loved it.” —Dashka Slater, New York Times bestselling author of The 57 Bus

“Gow effortlessly reminds us that we queer people join a long lineage of historical queer people who might have dreamed of us as much as we dream of them.” —Eliot Schrefer, author of National Book Award finalists Endangered and Threatened

“Told in achingly beautiful verse, Gow tells the story of two trans-teens, both boys, as they struggle with identity and family and most of all, first love.” —Donna Freitas, author of The Big Questions Book of Sex & Consent, The Healer, and The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano

“Robin Gow's A Million Quiet Revolutions is a stunning, lyrical love story about discovering our identity (and what that means for us) and the importance of seeing ourselves reflected in history. A gorgeous debut.” —Nicole Melleby, author of Hurricane Season and In The Role of Brie Hutchens

“An aching love letter to trans relationships that is equal parts nostalgic, raw, and hopeful.” —H.E. Edgmon, author of The Witch King

“A beautifully written novel in verse about self-discovery and first love...A stunning YA debut.” —School Library Journal Online, STARRED REVIEW

"Aaron and Oliver are frustrated that much of history ignores “what it was like to live as someone / other than a / white / Protestant / land-owning / man,” and as they discover that life needn’t follow gender binaries, their revelations ring with authenticity.” —BookPage, STARRED REVIEW

“A sweet and highly earnest transgender love story.” —Kirkus

“Sweet details...and steadfast romance make for a compelling journey. —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

★ 03/01/2022

Gr 10 Up—A beautifully written novel in verse about self-discovery and first love. Aaron and Oliver are trans boys beginning their senior year of high school. They're happy to have each other in their small town devoid of any other LGBTQ+ teens, or even adults, and have always looked to each other for comfort, understanding, and love. Their plans of a future together come to a halt when an incident causes Aaron's family to move away. To cope with his loneliness, Oliver dives into history to find stories of queer people. What he finds is a tale of two Revolutionary War soldiers who may have been trans men in love. Aaron and Oliver decide to adopt the names of these soldiers and write letters to each other, hoping to keep their love alive until their next meeting. Gow delivers incredibly realistic and well-developed characters in Aaron and Oliver. Secondary characters also feel authentic; both boys' parents are aware of their sons' feelings, and while Oliver's parents want to listen, understand, and accept him, Aaron's parents have a difficult time accepting him once he transitions. Readers will enjoy embarking on the roller coaster of emotions this title evokes and learning about a history rarely explored in fiction. Aaron is Puerto Rican; Oliver is white and Jewish. An explicit sex scene is included. VERDICT A stunning YA debut, this is a first purchase for high school libraries.—Lisa Buffi

School Library Journal

2021-12-15
In their last year of high school, trans boys Oliver and Aaron are separated when Aaron’s family moves, but they keep their relationship alive through texting and letters.

Oliver, who is White and Jewish, is fascinated by American history, particularly wondering about the stories of non-White, non-Christian, noncisgender men. Aaron, an artist, is Puerto Rican and one of the only brown faces in their high school. They have grown up together, discovered their genders together, and soon they will graduate together. Oliver discovers a story about two trans male soldiers who were in love during the Revolutionary War, and the boys decide to take on their names. But when Aaron’s cisgender older brother discloses abuse at the hands of the priest of their church, the family decides to leave Kutztown, Pennsylvania, for Queens, New York. The move is hard on the boys’ relationship, but at the same time, it may open a new world for Aaron. The book is a quick read, written in breathless verse. There is no strong central plot but rather a series of reflections on history, relationships, and gender loosely structured around Oliver and Aaron’s correspondence and the ultimate question of whether they will still want to be together when they meet again at the end of the school year.

A sweet and highly earnest transgender love story. (author's note, websites, further reading) (Verse novel. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews