A Million Quiet Revolutions follows Aaron and Oliver, who are best friends and boyfriends. Forever bonded by coming out to the other as trans and being accepted and loved unconditionally, their relationship seems unbreakable. But when Aaron’s older brother José blows the whistle on the sexual abuse he’s experienced in the Catholic church in their small town, their friendship is put to the test as Aaron’s family decides to move away to escape the backlash.
Aaron and Oliver are devastated. Just as their relationship started to blossom, they are torn apart. Seeking solace in America’s past, they discover the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers who they believe to have been trans men in love. Inspired to pay tribute to these soldiers—and the queer people that history all too often glosses over—they decide to adopt their names and learn more about the history of queer people—and how to make your own place in the world in the process.
Quite like its title, A Million Quiet Revolutions is a very quiet and emotional book. Sometimes I don’t know why books are written in verse but in this case, I completely understood that narrative choice because it added a lot to the emotional impact of the story. Gow’s writing is both immersive and down-to-earth which made the pages fly by. I really liked the juxtaposition of familial support we get to experience in this novel. While Aaron’s family doesn’t accept his transition and deadnames him, Oliver has really supportive parents who might make the occasional mistakes but are always open to learn from him, even discussing binders without judgment. Gow really showcases how much support from your family and loved ones can shape your experience as trans and I think that readers will be blown away by the impact it will have on them. it’s hard to write an ultimately uplifting story when one point of view has the opposite trajectory after coming out than the other, but it’s this juxtaposition that made me even more invested in Oliver and Aaron finding their way back to each other.
There’s also something timeless about A Million Quiet Revolutions. I really liked how, alongside Aaron and Oliver, the reader learns about queer history and the way queer people have been erased in history—yet how much they, even unnamed, shaped the fabric of society. It was so validating to read about Aaron and Oliver connecting with their queer ‘ancestors’ and finding a way forward that would allow them to stand up to their parents and make them realise that love is and should be unconditional. I can see myself returning to this story in the future just to have that life-affirming feeling returned to me.
Following two trans boys reclaiming their place in history (and the present), Robin Gow’s A Million Quiet Revolutions is a timeless, haunting yet ultimately invigorating novel written in verse, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Mason Deaver.
A Million Quiet Revolutions is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of March 22nd 202.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
For as long as they can remember, Aaron and Oliver have only ever had each other. In a small town with few queer teenagers, let alone young trans men, they’ve shared milestones like coming out as trans, buying the right binders–and falling for each other.
But just as their relationship has started to blossom, Aaron moves away. Feeling adrift, separated from the one person who understands them, they seek solace in digging deep into the annals of America’s past. When they discover the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers who they believe to have been trans man in love, they’re inspired to pay tribute to these soldiers by adopting their names–Aaron and Oliver. As they learn, they delve further into unwritten queer stories, and they discover the transformative power of reclaiming one’s place in history
