 | This article needs a plot summary.(August 2024) |
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| Author | Kacen Callender |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult novel |
| Publisher | Balzer + Bray |
Publication date | May 12, 2020 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 978-0-06-282025-9 |
Felix Ever After is a young adult novel written by Kacen Callender and published in 2020 by Balzer + Bray. The story is narrated by a Black trans teen as he grapples "with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time". [1]
It follows trans teenager Felix Love, grappling with identity issues as a Black, queer boy, unsure if he’s too complicated to find love.
Time named Felix Ever After one of "The 100 Best YA Books of All Time" alongside Catcher in the Rye , The Outsiders , and others. [2]
The book was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist , [3] Publishers Weekly , [4] and School Library Journal . [5]
Booklist's Kaitlin Connor noted, "Felix's hard-fought and dramatic journey toward self-discovery will resonate with teens looking for narratives about diverse LGBTQIA characters learning to love themselves." [6] Amanda MacGregor, writing for the School Library Journal, praised the book's diverse cast of characters and the protagonist MacGregor calls "achingly relatable". [5] The Publishers Weekly said Callender created "an exhilarating cast of queer characters, many of whom are people of color, who are as relatable as they are realistic." [4] The magazine also praised the whodunit plot and all its twists, concluding the review with an overall praise of the main character and the story. [4]
Reviewing for The Horn Book , Luann Toth mentioned the "sound information and responsible psychological guidance" present in the novel without detracting from the overall experience. [7] Shelf Awareness 's Kieran Slattery, noted, "Callender ... adeptly weaves a poignant bildungsroman that builds suspense as, layer by layer, new dimensions of Felix's identity are unmasked with each failed attempt to identify his tormentor." [8] Slattery continued, stating, "In a society where the lines between in-person and social media interactions blur, Callender believably captures this interconnectivity with teenagers whose identities are shaped, dismantled and reconfigured by their social media use." [8]
Kirkus Reviews offered a negative review, calling it "an exhausting read" due to the complicated story and the "devastating episodes of self-doubt and anxiety" Felix goes through. [9] The reviewer concluded Felix Ever After is a "trauma- and drama-filled demiboy's story that's not for the faint of heart." [9]
In 2023, the book was challenged but kept at Old Rochester Regional High School. [10] In 2024, the book was banned in Beaufort County, South Carolina. [11]
| Year | Award/honor | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Booklist Editors' Choice | Books for Youth | Selection | [12] |
| Goodreads Choice Award | Young Adult Fiction | Nominee | [13] | |
| 2021 | ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults | — | Top 10 | [14] [15] |
| Stonewall Book Award | Children's & Young Adult | Honor | [16] [17] | |
| YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers | — | Selection | [18] |
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