Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl

A newly out queer teen recruits her “resident Queer Girl™” classmate to help navigate her burgeoning sexual identity in this playful romance by collaborators Shrum and Waxelbaum. When autistic student body president Margo Zimmerman, 17, realizes she’s gay, she struggles with “being gay correctly” despite extensive googling (“Query: how to be gay. Query: gay tips. Query: queer culture?”). Meanwhile, 18-year-old Abbie Sokoloff—who is bisexual and who Margo views as “perfectly, comfortably, gorgeously gay”—has been contending with poor grades. The girls make a deal: Margo will tutor Abbie in AP history in exchange for “Queer 101” lessons. Over the course of Margo’s queer education, the teens are forced to confront preconceived notions about each other, and accept the fact that there’s no one way to express one’s sexual identity. Some key relationship moments occur off-page, leading to deflated romantic tension. Nevertheless, flirty banter and Margo and Abbie’s candid alternating narration positively depict myriad facets of neurodiversity and dating, including attraction, consent, masturbation, and safety. Seamlessly integrated contemporary media references and LGBTQ cultural touchstones admirably explore the repercussions of internalized bias and community gatekeeping. Margo and Abbie are Jewish and read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Rees Literary. (May)