Richie Chevat's (The Omnivore's Dilemma, Young Readers Edition) adaptation of Michael Bronski's A Queer History of the United States provides biographical sketches of "LGBTQ people" and their achievements throughout history. Bronski grounds individual narratives in a loose chronology of U.S. history, discussing female soldiers who dressed as men to serve in the Revolutionary and U.S. Civil Wars, the beginnings of "modern LGBTQ life" after World War II, and influential gay rights activists amid the feminist, civil rights and women's movements. Other profiles mark critical moments in queer history, including the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the 2015 Supreme Court ruling guaranteeing the right to same-sex marriage. Throughout, Bronski calls out notable firsts, such as Victoria Woodhull, an advocate for sexual freedom and the first woman to run for president.
Among stories of lesser-known achievers, Bronski touches on prominent figures whose connections to the LGBTQ community rarely receive mention, including George Washington, Emily Dickinson and Jane Addams. The author and adapter avoid using labels or pronouns their subjects did not adopt themselves, and they incorporate frank reminders of discriminatory laws or homophobia during the periods recounted. A new prologue about Bronski's emotional and political reaction to Stonewall and a revised introduction titled "What Is Normal?" kick off a people-focused history distilled for a teen audience. Poems, excerpts, letters, song lyrics and illustrations, as well as sidebars detailing tangential events, enhance various chapters. With its focus on individuals who dared to fight for their rights, A Queer History of the United States for Young People will serve as a touchstone for LGBTQ readers seeking proof of the greatness that preceded them and confidence in the success that awaits in their future. --Samantha Zaboski, freelance editor and reviewer