Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

 genre: young adult historical fiction

In San Francisco’s Chinatown, there are a lot of rules for Lily to follow. Be obedient to your parents and teachers. Be respectful. Don’t act like you have the same rights as someone who “looks” American. But never, don’t ever, act like you might “like” girls. In the 1950s, there is a line in the sand that no one has ever had to show Lily - she knows that these feelings she has can never leave her own head. But when an advertisement for the Telegraph Club catches her eye and a classmate also seems interested- Lily has to find a way to explore what she’s feeling.

This is a poignant and powerful coming of age novel for a young queer woman trying so desperately to understand who she is and what she deserves - and what cost she is willing to pay to make that happen. My heart ached for Lily’s limited choices and I felt so much compassion for the lengths she went to be true to herself. Those huge feelings of first love were so beautifully portrayed - Lily's inner world felt so authentic.  I didn’t need the backstory for the older generation, I don’t feel like it was necessary for the plot, but those sections were short and the rest was so worthwhile. 4 stars.