About this book
From the award-winning author of Melissa, a phenomenal novel about queerness past, present, and future. Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity. They're nonbinary, and their best friend, TJ, is nonbinary as well. Sam's family is very cool with it... as long as Sam remembers that nonbinary kids are also required to clean their rooms, do their homework, and try not to antagonize their teachers too much. The teacher-respect thing is hard when it comes to Sam’s history class, because their teacher seems to believe that only Dead Straight Cis White Men are responsible for history. When Sam’s home borough of Staten Island opens up a contest for a new statue, Sam finds the perfect non-DSCWM subject: photographer Alice Austen, whose house has been turned into a museum, and who lived with a female partner for decades. Soon, Sam's project isn't just about winning the contest. It's about discovering a rich queer history that Sam's a part of -- a queer history that no longer needs to be quiet, as long as there are kids like Sam and TJ to stand up for it.
Censorship history
In 2025, "Alice Austen Lived Here" by Alex Gino was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States due to its LGBTQ+ content. This ban was part of a broader trend of challenges against books featuring queer themes, often initiated by parents and local advocacy groups. Specific instances included formal complaints lodged during school board meetings, leading to votes that upheld the bans in multiple states. The ongoing debate surrounding the book reflects the contentious climate regarding LGBTQ+ representation in educational materials.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | LGBTQ+ |