ANNIE ON MY MIND

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Although this novel was published 35 years ago its subject matter and themes are still as relevant today as they were three decades ago.

The protagonist of the book is senior Eliza Winthrop. She is the student body president at the exclusive, if somewhat rundown private school, Foster Academy. One Saturday, she meets Annie Kenyon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The girls immediately strike up a friendship, although they come from different backgrounds and are fundamentally different- Liza is more straight-laced and Annie is more of a free spirit.

The girl’s friendship quickly morphs into something more. They are both aware of their feelings, but they are aware of the disdain their early 1980’s society has towards gay people. The girls awkwardly fumble through their relationship and when their relationship is discovered, it is more than just their lives that are effected.

And even when Liza’s father tries to come to accept his daughter’s love and relationship he reflects society’s views: “…I want you to be happy in other ways too, as your mother is-to have a husband and children.”

This book is intended for high school readers and would be a great starting point for students to discuss the way American society has evolved in their views towards homosexual couples and the ways that those views have stayed the same.