Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Farrar Straus & Giroux (1992), Edition: 4tj, Paperback
Description
Liza puts aside her feelings for Annie after the disaster at school, but eventually she allows love to triumph over the ignorance of people.
User reviews
LibraryThing member silenceiseverything
I found Annie on My Mind to be a sweet and tender love story. I liked that neither Liza nor Annie looked like what people presume ALL lesbians look like: short hair, tomboyish, and more than a little butch. Good to Nancy Garden for not falling directly into the stereotype and showing that lesbians
All of that being said, while I liked Annie on My Mind, I didn't love it. I just didn't think the story was enough. I felt like more could have been added. I felt like something was missing to make it truly spectacular to me. I don't know what, though. I just felt like the book just sort of meandered along and it didn't leave me with any strong impression either way.
I do feel that Annie On My Mind shows how far we've come when it comes to the tolerance of other people's sexuality, but it also shows how much farther we still have to go. There are still tons of people who react to homosexuality in a negative way, regardless of the fact that more people are informed on the subject. I do think that Annie on My Mind was a good starting point in that regard.
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come in all shapes and sizes and don't fit into any one particular mold. Another thing I liked was that Annie on My Mind showed Liza and Annie slowly falling in love. Sure, they both realized that there was some spark between them, but they didn't automatically jump into the relationship. They became friends and gradually fell in love. That made it all the more sweet to me. All of that being said, while I liked Annie on My Mind, I didn't love it. I just didn't think the story was enough. I felt like more could have been added. I felt like something was missing to make it truly spectacular to me. I don't know what, though. I just felt like the book just sort of meandered along and it didn't leave me with any strong impression either way.
I do feel that Annie On My Mind shows how far we've come when it comes to the tolerance of other people's sexuality, but it also shows how much farther we still have to go. There are still tons of people who react to homosexuality in a negative way, regardless of the fact that more people are informed on the subject. I do think that Annie on My Mind was a good starting point in that regard.
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LibraryThing member inkstained
This book was a pivotal novel of it's time, and while I consider the writing to be trite at times, it's important to recognize that anything other than that wouldn't have been published in the early 80's. The story itself is a genuinely sweet one, with some very romantic scenes, and the author's
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treatment of the consequences of the teachers coming out publicly was honest. Although it would be difficult for teachers to be fired for their sexuality today in a public school system, it's not impossible, or unheard of in private prep schools. This book is still relevant to today's teen reader and doesn't have too much of that icky dated feel that some older teen novels do. I definitely recommend this to any teen wanting to read a reassuring love story. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ynaffit27
This was a pretty interesting book. It got better as the plot developed, but it was somewhat hard to get into. The book dealt with lesbian relationships in a respectable manner and really let you see into the insights of a different perspective.
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Annie on My Mind is a historically important book because it was one of the first, if not the first, to show that lesbian couples could have a happy ending. I liked, however, that the book wasn’t set in a fantasy land where lesbian couples never encountered any problems because of their
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homosexuality. In this book, 17-year-old Liza, a private school girl, randomly meets Annie at a museum and instantly takes a liking to her. Annie, originally from California, doesn’t have any friends at her public school in New York, and the two soon become inseparable friends. Somewhere along the way, the two girls realize that they are falling in love with each other. But all hell breaks lose when officials from Liza’s school find out about the relationship. The story is told from the perspective of Liza but from the distance of almost a year after the events took place. I found the framing device of Liza in college thinking back over her senior year of high school and meeting Annie a bit odd – I couldn’t understand the reason for writing the story like that. The writing style wasn’t bad, but it didn’t astound me either. That is one of the reasons I don’t rate this book higher. The second is that this is essentially a romance novel, and I’m not a huge fan of romances. That being said, I’d certainly recommend the book for anyone who is struggling with coming out, but I’d also recommend it to heterosexuals to get an understanding of what it’s like to be a gay teenager. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Oh for pete's sake. I was going to say that this book is somewhat dated, a little contrived, but overall lovely and still valuable to those who still feel a bit squeamish about lesbian love.
But then I read the gr community reviews. Such bigotry, such hate... I'm appalled that there are still
So, read this book and get the word out so fewer people have to deal with being called 'sinful' or 'disturbed' or 'sick' just because they love someone of the same gender. Some day this book will be only of relevance to historians. Would that day come soon.
But then I read the gr community reviews. Such bigotry, such hate... I'm appalled that there are still
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people, apparently people with access to the English language and to books, who don't recognize that love is what matters, and that it's none of their business what happens in other people's bedrooms. So, read this book and get the word out so fewer people have to deal with being called 'sinful' or 'disturbed' or 'sick' just because they love someone of the same gender. Some day this book will be only of relevance to historians. Would that day come soon.
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LibraryThing member RavenWingedWolf
"Annie on my Mind" is a truely inspirational novel.
It teaches its readers that they can love and be loved, no matter the gender. But the book also tells its readers that love is not all butterfly kisses and frolicking through the meadows. It show that there are still many people out there who
It did not take me long to read through and finish this book but as I read I could feel he emotions of the characters and found a little piece of myself hidden deep within the depths of the souls of the two main characters. By the end of the I felt the lonliness that Eliza felt and was near tears(weither joyful or sorrowful I cannot say in case thouse who have not finished stummble upon my comment).
I hope to find more books with a genre similar to this novel and written just as well.
It teaches its readers that they can love and be loved, no matter the gender. But the book also tells its readers that love is not all butterfly kisses and frolicking through the meadows. It show that there are still many people out there who
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discriminate against homosexual relationships.It did not take me long to read through and finish this book but as I read I could feel he emotions of the characters and found a little piece of myself hidden deep within the depths of the souls of the two main characters. By the end of the I felt the lonliness that Eliza felt and was near tears(weither joyful or sorrowful I cannot say in case thouse who have not finished stummble upon my comment).
I hope to find more books with a genre similar to this novel and written just as well.
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LibraryThing member sshadoan
Thank you, Nancy Garden, for tackling a taboo. However, I just can't get through this book, no matter how sweet it is.
LibraryThing member kewpie
The Plot: Liza and Annie meet and fall in love. Both girls struggle with prejudice and self doubt, but they come out stronger in the end. The Background: Until this book was written, young adult literature rarely mentioned gay or lesbian teenagers. The few that did usually cast the characters in a
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negative or tragic light. This was the first novel for teens with a lesbian protagonist whose sexuality is portrayed in a positive and hopeful light. While the book is over 25 years old, it doesn't feel dated. Show Less
LibraryThing member electrascaife
The story of two high school girls who meet in their senior year, become fast and close friends, and then move from friendship to love. They try to keep their relationship a secret because they worry that their families and friends won't understand, and when they are discovered, those worst fears
I understand why this book, published in 1982, made the 100 Banned Books list, as I suspect it had all kinds of conservative knickers in all kinds of twists. It's a great book, though, and the love story between Liz and Annie is lovingly and well told, and the uproar caused by their relationship is deftly depicted in what seems to me likely accurate terms. Recommended.
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become reality.I understand why this book, published in 1982, made the 100 Banned Books list, as I suspect it had all kinds of conservative knickers in all kinds of twists. It's a great book, though, and the love story between Liz and Annie is lovingly and well told, and the uproar caused by their relationship is deftly depicted in what seems to me likely accurate terms. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden is number 42 on the list of the most banned / challenged books and according to the description on the 1992 reissue, it was even burned in Kansas City. For all of that publicity, it's an absolutely charming story of love.
The book opens with Liza in college writing a
Although both young ladies are in high school, they like to partake in roll playing and other childish behavior. While it may strike some readers as quaint or unrealistic, it struck a chord with me. My then boyfriend (now husband) once pretended to be Robin Hood to woo me. We were in college at the time — only a year or two removed from Liza and Annie.
As far as the romance goes, it's a pretty tame book. There's one mostly hinted at scene near the end. What is more shocking and saddening (because of its continued timeliness in some parts of the country) is the bigotry Liza faces at her private school.
I read the novel on a BART ride to and from San Francisco. It made an hour and a half round trip journey go by quickly. I plan to check out more of Nancy Garden's novels as I have time.
The book opens with Liza in college writing a
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lengthy letter to Annie. The letter is the segue into a number of flashbacks about how Liza and Annie met. Just as Claudia (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konisburg) finds herself through her adventures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Liza finds Annie.Although both young ladies are in high school, they like to partake in roll playing and other childish behavior. While it may strike some readers as quaint or unrealistic, it struck a chord with me. My then boyfriend (now husband) once pretended to be Robin Hood to woo me. We were in college at the time — only a year or two removed from Liza and Annie.
As far as the romance goes, it's a pretty tame book. There's one mostly hinted at scene near the end. What is more shocking and saddening (because of its continued timeliness in some parts of the country) is the bigotry Liza faces at her private school.
I read the novel on a BART ride to and from San Francisco. It made an hour and a half round trip journey go by quickly. I plan to check out more of Nancy Garden's novels as I have time.
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LibraryThing member RosanaSantana
This book tells the endearing story of Liza and her discovery of her homosexuality. Liza falls in love a girl names Annie. The book takes place in New York. It is told mostly in first person from Liza's perspective (with a couple of pages that are in third person, but still follow Liza). Liza (and
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her teachers) face charges from their school when they are caught together and their secret is exposed. I would recommend this book for teens ages 14-18. Show Less
LibraryThing member ReadAusten11
This book was given to me by my girlfriend since it was her first Lesbian Genre novel. I liked the pace of the book. It made it so that whenever I was reading it at the gym, I would have to cheat and add extra time to the 30 min limit on the cardio machines. I liked the realistic feel of the
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aftermath of the relationship that occurs between the two main characters however, the budding relationship that the book details is a little on the fantasy side. Maybe my perspective is a little skewed because of my personal coming out story, but I feel like the development of the relationship between them was too perfect. I give this book a 3.5/5. Show Less
LibraryThing member dalmador95
This is one of those rare books that I won't give up. It was extraordinarily meaningful to me at an important time in my life. If you're an adult (or a savvy teen) you'll know where the story is going before it gets there, but it doesn't matter. You'll still be drawn in. Just like real life.
LibraryThing member faunia
To be young and in love, with a female and to be out enough to embrace yourself and herself. I read this when I was younger and I haven't gotten my mind off of it. It sits on my self ready for the next reader. I loved it. The sharing in it.. wow... I'm a hopeless romantic and would love for this to
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have been my first experience. Show Less
LibraryThing member mdomsky
Liza is student council president at her snobbish private school in New York, and has plans to go to MIT. However, the school is having financial problems, and the principal is cracking down on "delinquent" behavior for fear of the school's reputation. Liza loves her school, but feels unjustly
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persecuted for an ear piercing incident due to her prominent position in the student council. Then she meets a girl named Annie at a museum. She and Annie find relief from the stresses of their very different lives in each other's company. Their friendship begins to consume Liza's thoughts. One day, they kiss, and must face up to the fact that their friendship is more than just friendship. But in a time where homosexuality is only just beginning to be understood as something other than mental illness, they both stand to lose a lot if their love is discovered. Show Less
LibraryThing member traiecto
Really light, easy read.
Good read for those who can't understand how it really feels to be a teenager and discover love in a person of your same sex.
Good for teenagers who haven't completely lost their innocence, and fall in love with a friend.
Seems a bit outdated, read from a country with legal
Good read for those who can't understand how it really feels to be a teenager and discover love in a person of your same sex.
Good for teenagers who haven't completely lost their innocence, and fall in love with a friend.
Seems a bit outdated, read from a country with legal
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marriage, but it's good to remember what's like elsewhere. Still. Show Less
LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
The first YA novel to feature queer characters with a happy ending, this is now a classic. Liza and Annie's tentative romance takes a serious turn when Liza's private school forces her to publicly acknowledge their relationship, and two teachers are implicated. While the homophobic attitudes may
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seem dated today, the book is still a sweet and positive portrayal of first love. Show Less
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Liza meets Annie and they strike up an immediate friendship. Liza, loves architecture and visiting museums. Annie is a great singer and actress. They quickly begin spending all the time together they can. When they share a kiss, they have to figure out what that means for them. For Liza, she hasn't
The novel is a beautiful love story told in flashbacks as Liza struggles to write Annie a letter the next year while they are apart at different colleges.
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thought much about if she is a lesbian. But the two must address the issue. At Foster, Liza's private school, Liza is the president of the student council and pressured to be a role model. When the girls' relationship is discovered, the headmistress decides to go on the offensive to rid the school of Liza and the teachers on faculty who are a lesbian couple. The novel is a beautiful love story told in flashbacks as Liza struggles to write Annie a letter the next year while they are apart at different colleges.
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LibraryThing member mesmericrevelation
This was the very first book I read after I came out in 2009, so this book means a lot to me. Not only do I love it for that reason, but I also love it because of the struggle Liza goes through at school, which I also went through (sort of). This book is really hard for me to review because of how
Annie on my Mind is an emotional roller coaster. One minute you are laughing, the next you're crying and then out of no where you are so angry you want to toss the book out the window. At least that's how I felt about it. That anger could have just been old memories.
The love that Liza and Annie have for each other is so sweet and innocent, and, I don't know, inspiring? I hope I find someone like Annie someday.
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much it means to me. I can relate to so much in it. Annie on my Mind is an emotional roller coaster. One minute you are laughing, the next you're crying and then out of no where you are so angry you want to toss the book out the window. At least that's how I felt about it. That anger could have just been old memories.
The love that Liza and Annie have for each other is so sweet and innocent, and, I don't know, inspiring? I hope I find someone like Annie someday.
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LibraryThing member leslied
I loved this audiobook. The narration is very well done especially the way the narrator uses different tones and inflections to reflect the characters. It's a coming of age story that was written many years ago and is still relevant today with regard to the challenges faced by young girls when
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first discovering their love for other girls. It is a sweet story, a romance with a happy ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member hannahmcvay
This is a beautifully written book, however, it doesn't exactly tell you why Annie and Liza stopped talking. It just kind of hints at it, and the ending didn't make much sense to me. It has good details, and it's very honest and true, and I felt myself feeling like I knew exactly the way Liza was
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describing the way she felt. Show Less
LibraryThing member JoeTedesco
great book with theme of what is love or how meaningful can love be.
LibraryThing member Kymmie
Fantastic coming of age novel. A must read for LGBTQ youth.
LibraryThing member the_awesome_opossum
Annie on my Mind is a story of two seventeen-year-old girls in a relationship, and their struggle to find their identities as things fall apart when news of their relationship gets out. The writing and the story aren't spectacular - the characters are very flat and the relationship seems to blossom
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in a vacuum, with Liza (the narrator) essentially, unintentionally, forgetting the rest of her life in favor of Annie. However, this book was written in a more conservative time, and would have been a great emotional help to young LGBTQ teenagers. Show Less
LibraryThing member LadyoftheLodge
I can see why this is viewed as a ground-breaking book of its kind. I also see why it is a controversial one, and a taboo topic for some people. I really liked this book as a story, besides its daring topic.
Awards
Margaret A. Edwards Award (2003)
Goldie Award (2014)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 1982)
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (Audiobooks — 2009)
Language
Original publication date
1982
Physical description
7.8 inches
ISBN
0374404135 / 9780374404130