Frannie and Tru

Debut author Hattrup delves into several hot-button issues with the story of Frannie, a 15-year-old white former Catholic school student who fears her upcoming enrollment in a predominantly black magnet school in Baltimore. With her father working odd jobs and her mother pulling double shifts, Frannie is lonely, having pushed away her Catholic school friends and finding nothing in common with her older brothers. When her 17-year-old gay cousin, Tru, visits for the summer, Frannie is determined to spend time with him, despite his caustic demeanor. Through Tru, Frannie meets cousins Sparrow and Devon Jones, as well as Devon’s band, making friends across racial and economic boundaries. Just when Frannie thinks she has matured and is ready for her new school, she learns that her understanding of race is skewed, and her belief that her homophobic aunt and uncle are the reason for Tru’s visit is upended. Though the minutia of Frannie’s daily life encumbers the novel’s otherwise brisk pacing, Hattrup’s confrontation with white privilege and Frannie’s misguided assumptions surrounding social class and sexual orientation avoid easy platitudes, creating insights ripe for further exploration. Ages 14–up. Agent: Steven Chudney, Chudney Agency. (May)