Libby is the oldest of six children, with another baby on the way. Adherents to the "quiverfull" lifestyle, the family follows a strict Christian set of rules, especially in regards to familial roles. Her father is the patriarch, and her mother is the "helpmeet" in charge of keeping the home together, giving birth, and homeschooling all the children. Libby is mostly satisfied with her life, at least until gender-fluid Zo moves in next door. Zo and Libby develop a fast friendship, but when their fathers begin to argue over religion and gender roles, Libby's father starts doing things that give her pause, causing her to question the very foundation of her beliefs. Zo and Libby's discussions of religion, gender, and sexuality often sound more like Watts (Finding H.F., 2001; Secret City, 2013) is trying to speak directly to the reader. Ultimately, this is an examination of friendship and events in life that make us reconsider why we believe what we believe.

When genderfluid Zo moves in next door to Libby and her evangelical Christian family in rural Tennessee, their unlikely friendship changes Libby's life.Libby, who has five younger siblings, has little exposure to life outside her family's isolated home, where her father's word is law. She's prepared to fulfill her duty of marrying young and bearing children, even if she's beginning to realize that's not what she wants. Things change when Zo's family moves into the neighborhood and the two teens strike up a friendship. Zo's family, liberal and fully supportive of Zo's genderfluidity, are the antithesis of Libby's family. When Libby's parents cease contact with their neighbors, Libby must decide whether to obey her parents or maintain her friendship. Crucially, neither teen attacks the other's beliefs or way of life; instead, Zo gently challenges Libby's teachings about a woman's subservience. Although the somewhat stiff narration alternates between Libby's and Zo's perspectives, the story belongs to Libby as she questions what she's been taught ("The only way I've ever been is the way I've been told to be"). Disappointingly, readers don't gain much insight into Zo's genderfluidity and are never introduced to Zo's personal pronouns (Libby presumes she/her/hers). The primary cast assumes a white default except for Zo's friend Claire, a Thai-American transgender girl.Despite some issues, the novel opens important conversations about faith, family, independence, and identity. (Fiction. 13-16)

Libby-s evangelical Christian family lives in rural Tennessee, raising their -quiver- full of children while trying to avoid what they view as worldly corruption. Zo-s hippie family moves next door to embrace a back-to-the-land lifestyle. Both families homeschool, and with few opportunities to meet other kids, Libby and Zo and their younger siblings (Zo has one; Libby has five and a sixth on the way) become friendly. Sixteen-year-old Libby is being groomed for marriage, in which she-ll have to obey her husband; gender-fluid Zo is still getting over a girlfriend. The novel alternates between their voices, but it really becomes Libby-s story as she wonders if her family-s behaviors are what God wants. Zo-s family (vegetarian, LBGTQ-friendly, crafting folks) are likable, though they scan more like foils and lightning rods for Libby-s authoritarian father than as fully developed characters. The book feels a bit heavy-handed, with clear villains and heroes; even so, Watts (Rufus + Syd) is interested in the ways people connect across differences, and both Zo and Libby are sympathetic and believable, as is Libby-s mother, who represents a range of life experiences and in some ways serves as the story-s fulcrum. Ages 16-up. Agent: Janna Bonikowski, the Knight Agency. (Oct.)

Gr 8 Up-Libby's family are Quiverfull Christiansa strict sect that requires firm gender roles, lots of children, and the rejection of most modern society. When new neighbors move in to their secluded rural Tennessee area, they begin a tentative move toward friendship. The newcomers, however, have chosen this escape for very different reasons, including social turmoil of their gender-fluid child Zo. Both starved for company, Zo and Libby become friends despite their extreme family differences. Zo's family of liberal vegetarian feminists show themselves to be kind and loving even as Libby's father declares them sinners and heathens. Despite being told in alternating voices, this novel showcases Libby as the real star of the show as she navigates complicated doubts and contradictions. Zo's family is not without its own faults, and hir recent past is full of problems surrounding hir gender and sexual identities; but there is no real conflict or resolution to be had there. Watts, a Lambda Award winner, describes both families in great detail. While the extent of information is helpful for readers unfamiliar with the identities, most of it would be better presented as the story unfolds through character interaction. The ending is far from a surprise, but finding out how the characters, particularly Libby, get there is still fulfilling. VERDICT A slow story about families and the difference between love and obedience. Give to thoughtful readers and purchase for medium YA collections. Amy Diegelman, Chicago Public Library