‘Small Town Pride’ by Phil Stamper

Update, Aug. 16, 2022: Recently, I submitted a nomination for this book for the Stonewall Book Award. More information via this video.

I saw this book on display at my community bookstore and it appealed to me as someone who grew up “different” in a small town.

The book centers around Jake, who recently came out and who, as the story opens, is his school’s first openly gay student.

In a show of love and support for Jake, his father hangs a comically large Pride flag in their front yard.

This leads to people expressing that the flag will lead to something “truly outlandish,” a Pride parade in their small town of Barton Springs, Ohio.

Except that Jake doesn’t think that’s a ridiculous idea and, with support from his friends and family (as well as from unexpected places), he decides to hold Barton Springs’ first-ever Pride celebration.

This was such a sweet-natured and uplifting book, and I appreciate it communicating important themes in a way that compliments the maturity of a middle-grade readership. Author Phil Stamper has done a really good job in navigating that balance.

I especially liked this quote, by an adult supporter of Jake:

“Essentially, you’ll learn that there are a lot of queer people out there. And when they don’t receive the support they need, at best? They leave and find a welcoming environment, and they still deal with this trauma their whole lives. At best.”

I featured that quote in a video that I recently posted to YouTube. Be warned, the majority of the video consists of me nattering about librarianship.