“A Million Quiet Revolutions,” is a queer YA romance with historical fiction elements told in verse. This may sound like a distractingly complex story, but it is actually a really simple one about two small town trans men navigating identity, coming out and first love.

Kudos to Robin Gow for writing a deeply affecting and personal story. There were elements of the transgender experience I’ve never seen discussed in such a frank manner. Obsession with war reenactments aside, this felt like a real portrayal of trans teens and one that I hope helps them feel seen.

There were three things I really loved:
1. The writing is gorgeous and pure. Told through letters and texts primarily, it allows our characters, Oliver and Aaron, an opportunity to pour their hearts out to one another in a way that teenage dialogue doesn’t usually allow.
2. We get two different coming out experiences that both felt organic. Oliver is a history buff raised in a supportive Jewish household. When he comes out, both his mother and father quickly accept his gender transition and offer multifaceted support. Aaron, a Puerto Rican raised in a staunchly Catholic household, is not so lucky. His parents still use his deadname and frequently bring up clothing, make-up and other situations that ignore his truth.
3. It celebrates forgotten history. When a situation outside of their control pulls them from one another at a time when they need each other the most, it’s the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers that may have been trans men that keeps them bonded even when texts and letters become less frequent due to new schools, college admissions and family commitments.

The story builds to a reconnection, and when Oliver and Aaron finally meet again the love between them is palpable. I didn’t leave the story thinking they would be together forever – a reality of first loves – still, Gow provides a positive, honest and hopeful message for trans teens about life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

Okay, now to the tough part. My enjoyment of the story was hindered by the format. Specifically, the book-in-verse as an audiobook. Even with two narrators – Salem Corwin (Oliver) and Kaden Catalina (Aaron) -- I spent the first 25 percent confused as to who was whom and what was happening.

Once they adopted the Oliver and Aaron names, it was easier to follow along, but not all of the epistolary elements made for riveting reading. The production added a few audio cues to help the listener understand who was talking during a text conversation, but it often pulled me out of the story.

This really isn’t a fault of the narrators, really the structure of the book itself. I never attempted a book-in-verse in audio before, and I can’t say I will again. Even with the shortcomings of the format, it’s clear that Gow is an author to watch.

This audiobook was honestly one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever read, listened to, seen, had the pleasure of being close to, you name it. Aaron and Oliver live rent free in my heart, and their story is taking up so much real estate in my head 🦋

This book is amazing, it is an absolute must read, the writing is so stunning and I loved the characters. It is not a story without pain, and pain specifically surrounding trans individuals. But luckily there is no deadnaming, in the audiobook it is bleeped out and that made my heart soar. I was so worried in the first sentence leading up to what felt like an impending name reveal, and then instant happiness. Protecting the dead name of a book character is important, that is a hill I will gladly die on. Aaron and Oliver deserve protection.

A Million Quiet Revolutions is a wonderful novel-in-verse about two young transgender men (turning 18) who must find a way to stay connected to one another as their Senior year of high school changes unexpectedly. They connect with the story of two Revolutionary soldiers they believe could have been transgender men, too. They decide to name themselves after the soldiers, Aaron and Oliver. As a long distance couple, they write one another letters and plan to reunite.

I absolutely loved this book! Gow does a wonderful job of depicting Aaron and Oliver in such authentic ways. They avoid deadnaming the characters by blocking out the names with asterisks, which I've never seen before. This book is why I love reading so much. I felt that I was Aaron and Oliver as I read from their perspectives. I stepping into their lives and saw what brought them joy or pain.

It made me so happy to see young folx discussing underrepresented people in History. Gow also includes resources for further reading on LGBTQ+ History at the end of the book, which is awesome!

I highly recommend this book to folx 14 and up due to the content warnings below:

CW: Deadnaming, sex, sexual assault (mentioned...)

I am beyond taken by this book. It is told in verse, and is one of the most romantic and reflective stories I've read. Highly, HIGHLY recommend the audiobook especially—the narrators do beautiful job of bringing these characters to life.

This is a coming-of-age story of two trans teens, best friends Aaron and Oliver, who adopt the names of Revolutionary War soldiers they believe were trans men in love. The story is an exploration of love, identity, culture, and religion, as well as navigating the intersection of communities and reclamation of one's self and history. I am all in my feels right now and the in verse format, as well as exchange of letters between characters is so easy to sink into and find yourself lost within.

This book was a beautiful coming of age told in verse that I couldn’t stop listening to.

The narration was amazing…with different voices for each character.

What did I love about this story?

This book was written by an author who is trans and we DO LOVE an #ownvoices novel on this page…

BUT BESIDES THAT…

I loved seeing both characters on their journey and the contrast in their experience as coming out as trans boys/men.

Oliver comes from a white Jewish family who accepts their coming out right away, while Aaron comes from a Puerto Rican Catholic family who has a little more trouble in their journey to acceptance and the juxtaposition of their experiences made this book all the better.

I loved to see them coming into their own and their identity and the different things they grapple with.

I loved the emphasis on how important representation is! How important it is in History, in particular, the sense of knowing people like you have been around for a long time, that people like you have always been real and mattered. The fact that history is constantly only told from a white cis-gendered lens is infuriating and so harmful to youth, and I think this book talks beautifully about how powerful representation can be for kids.

This book was perfection and I highly recommend!

💕Favorite quote💕

“I’ve been thinking of all the ways the world makes us feel not real. I think people imagine transphobia & queer phobia as people shouting at us and hurting us, which it is sometimes, but mainly in school and in town I feel like people are trying to erase us, like they don’t want to see us, which is just another form of violence.”

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TW: deadnaming, mentions of the Catholic Church and molestation
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This is the first story I’ve read in verse and I loved the writing style. Told through two POV’s I enjoyed getting to know both Aaron and Oliver. The narrators did a great job bringing the charters off the page.

And that’s a DNF for me. I love novels in verse, but I absolutely hate second person point of view. It’s an instant DNF for me due to sensory processing.