Dave Schaafsma's Reviews > Kiss Number 8

I really liked this National Book award nominee a lot. The art is lively and the dialogue is even livelier. Amanda (Mads) is a student at a small Catholic high school and she is part of a devout Catholic family. The book is attractively framed by a series of head shots of the seven boys and one girl she had at that point kissed (which reminded me of Mari Naomi's Kiss and Tell: A Romantic Resume, Ages 0 to 22). The eighth kiss was by far the most dramatic for her, as her family has a history of denouncing their transgendered grandfather. They are decidedly trans-and homophobic, but guess which way Mads is leaning at this point. (Yeah, and the best kiss was with Laura, though Laura was not into it. Mads kissed (and more) Adam, Laura’s brother, but eh, no electricity. Maybe her friend Cat?

Get this: Amanda’s best friend is her Dad, who is way fun, but also, unfortunately, hates the whole range of glbtq humans as immoral. Until Mads comes out, using the family history to in part address the issue. I like the q part of the process, her exploring what she wants, who she is, and even after she comes out she crushes on a gay boy and sure enough, kisses him. We also get pictures of other boys and girls she kisses, too, at the end. Mads’s sexual identity seems fluid at this still early point.

Like I said, lively, brings the energy, great dialogue, good and ultimately positive, queer-affirming story. It takes its sweet time getting going, but the sweetness wins you over, ultimately.