Rave

In the early 2000s, Lauren, a fifteen-year-old devout member of an evangelical church, studies at her schoolmate Mariah's house, where they have a queer encounter. This experience causes Lauren to question her faith and sexuality, and the author uses frankness and dark humor to articulate her crisis. Rave is a coming-of-age story about the secret spaces young women create and the wider social structures that fail them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 12 April 2022
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly

In the early 2000s, Lauren grapples with her body shame as a devout member of an evangelical church. When her parents forbid her from bringing evolution textbooks home, she finds solace in studying at her schoolmate Mariah's house. Mariah's home offers a unique setting with dial-up internet, an absentee mom, and a Wiccan altar, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable study session and sleepover. That evening, Mariah gives Lauren a makeover, sparking a profound connection between the two girls. However, a mix of Christian guilt and internalized homophobia clouds Lauren's perception of the encounter, leading her to question its validity.

Author Jessica Campbell (XTC69) adeptly weaves together frankness and dark humor to convey Lauren's escalating crisis of faith and sexuality. Through her astute comedic style, she skillfully captures the essence of teenage antics and banter, simultaneously critiquing bullies, perpetuating a culture of slut-shaming, and shedding light on the devastating consequences of religious zealotry. Rave emerges as an instant classic, a poignant coming-of-age story that delves into the secret spaces young women create amidst societal structures that often fail them.

Dimension: 165 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781770464605