This Is Why They Hate Us

Starred review from August 8, 2022
Aceves’s debut balances brash humor and fumbling first loves in an East L.A. narrative that places serious significance on mental health. Bisexual, Mexican American Enrique “Quique” Lunahas, 17, has been head over heels for one of his closest friends, Palestinian Saleem, also 17, for as long as they’ve known each other. But Saleem remains oblivious, so when he heads to New Jersey for part of the summer, Quique vows to get over him. His solution? With the help of his best friend, Afro-Latina Fabiola, find a new man. He has three prospects: white jock Tyler Montana, seemingly straight biracial (Black/white) Sigmund “Ziggy” Jackson, and Latinx-cued bad boy Manny Zuniga. But as the varying dynamics evolve and Quique’s feelings for Saleem deepen, Quique must also decide whether to come out to his family and Saleem, all while his suicidal ideation grows. Quique’s summer drags him through from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other as typical teenage romantic flings juxtapose with a far more serious internal arc. Jokes land and humorous banter abounds among the quirky, distinctively limned cast, but Aceves avoids a shallow flight from boy to boy, granting the romantic and sexual exploration by queer youth of color the gravitas it deserves. Ages 14–up. Agent: Tina Dubois, ICM Partners.

Starred review from June 1, 2022
A young bisexual man in East LA attempts to get over a long-term crush by pursuing other options. High school junior Enrique "Quique" Luna has had feelings for Saleem Kanazi for quite some time, but Mexican American Quique is pretty sure that Saleem is straight, and this crush isn't doing him any favors. In order to move on with his life and finally get some experience with guys, he enlists the help of Fabiola, his Afro-Latina bisexual best friend, to make moves on some quality prospects who might become something more. There's dynamic, wild Manny Zuniga; chilled-out (and well-endowed) Tyler Montana; and even sweet, confident class president Ziggy Jackson. But although Saleem is away with his family for the first part of the summer, he still preoccupies Quique's thoughts. Complicating matters, Quique is dealing with the suicidal ideation that has been plaguing him; he's grappled with his mental health since the end of eighth grade. Tight, fast-paced prose guides readers through Quique's attempts to unpack complicated tangles of desire, sexuality, and depression while laugh-out-loud punchlines pop up on every page. Aceves' debut novel honors queer kids of color with earnest, honest depictions of messy teenage life. The tender portrayal of Palestinian American Saleem and his struggles with his family's displacement in the Nakba is particularly bold and notable. An outstanding portrait of teenage longing, angst, and self-discovery. (Fiction. 14-18)

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Starred review from April 1, 2022
Grades 10-12 *Starred Review* Seventeen-year-old Mexican American Enrique is bi and firmly closeted but, as it happens, is secretly in love with his best friend, Palestinian American Saleem, who is apparently straight. "He is my greatest source of joy," Enrique thinks ruefully, desperately afraid to share his feelings for fear of rejection. When this situation becomes almost too painful to bear, Enrique launches a summer-long "get over Saleem initiative," hooking up with three guys in turn, hoping--unsuccessfully---to find someone to replace Saleem. His failures spark suicidal thoughts that recall the breakdown he had at the end of eighth grade that drove him to find psychiatric help. The severity of his new suicidal ideation sends him back into therapy, where he is diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and, possibly, a mood disorder. Nevertheless, life goes on, and, his initiative in shambles, Enrique returns to his frustrating friendship with Saleem, finally determined to tell his friend the truth. Aceves has written a well-plotted, thoughtful coming-of-age novel featuring a complex, fully realized protagonist--not to mention Enrique's friend Afro-Puerto Rican Cuban Fabiola, a force of life, and, of course, Saleem, whom readers will love as much as Enrique does. LGBTQIA+ literature needs more stories about bisexual boys, especially novels that are as good as this. \

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