Linus, the new kid at school, prefers blending into the background after navigating the spotlight of coming out as trans at his old school. Meanwhile, Etta proudly stands out with her vibrant green hair, embracing her uniqueness amidst a friendship fallout. When Etta gets challenged to get Linus elected student body president by one of her classmates, Linus finds himself thrust into the spotlight once again. What begins as a bet transforms into a genuine friendship between Linus and Etta, but secrets threaten to unravel their bond. Can their friendship survive the truth behind their connection?
After devouring Huntoon’s debut Skating on Mars and falling in love with their writing, I was so antsy to get my hands on their second book and surprise, surprise, I loved it just as much! This book felt like a cool mix of The Election meets She’s All That but queerer and definitely more appropriate for a younger audience.
Etta is a menace, but in the best way possible. After a hurtful breakup with her best friend, she’s become a bit of a loner and while she’s fine with that and unapologetic about how she now acts, you can tell from the beginning that her heart isn’t in it when she takes up the dare to get Linus elected. I loved how quickly Etta realised just how much of a friend and ally she has in Linus and that you don’t have to know someone forever to be on the same wavelength. It’s heartwarming how they both came to be so supportive of each other and even when they messed things up—as is the way of life, especially in middle school, they eventually found their way back to each other. Similarly, this book also talked about old friendships and what it means to lose this part of your identity and connection you’ve had with someone who seemed to always be on your side—especially when that came down to peer pressure and wanting to be cool. When really, the cool thing is to spend your time with the people you actually love.
Linus, too, stood out as a fully fleshed-out, relatable cinnamon roll. The struggles he is facing not just with being in the spotlight once again, if somewhat more favourably than the last time, not to mention the tensions with his grandmother felt so relatable. I can’t imagine being that young and having to deal with all the questions that come at school with transitioning and then going to a new school only to be the main point of attraction once again. More so, though, I can imagine and relate to Linus and his fear of being misgendered by his grandmother and my heart hurt for him every time he had to listen and wait for his parents to correct her when it happened. If you don’t speak up about wrongdoings when they happen, you become complicit to them and especially to Linus, this feels like he has no one who is on his side anymore. Actions matter and Huntoon showcases here just how important it is to listen to your kid’s needs. There’s a lot to say about parenting, of course, but I adored how brave Linus was in standing up for himself and openly communicating that this fraught situation is hurting him and that he needs more support from his parents. There’s also a lot of growth in this novel, not just on the side of Linus’s family but of course also with our main characters. It’s tough being unique when you’re so young but then again, that’s exactly what you’re supposed to be: you. This novel celebrates that and shows that adversity may always exist but that as long as you have a supportive network of friends and family, you can tackle anything.
Huntoon’s sophomore novel Linus and Etta Could Use a Win charms its readers with queer joy, a high-stakes dare, an unlikely alliance and the transformative power of friendship. Perfect for fans of Jude Saves the World and the classic movie Election with Reese Witherspoon.
Linus and Etta Could Use a Win is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 7th 2024.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A hot-headed cynic befriends the new kid―a shy trans boy―when she takes on a bet to get him elected student body president in this new middle grade contemporary novel from Caroline Huntoon, author of Skating on Mars.
Linus is the new boy at school, and he’s trying to keep it quiet. After coming out as trans last year and managing the attention that came with it, he’s more than happy to fade into the background of his new middle school.
Etta isn’t like other kids at school, and she’s proud of it. The class misanthrope and the owner of the greenest hair at Doolittle Middle School, she’s still reeling from a painful friendship breakup, making her more than happy to burn middle-school bridges before she heads off to the local alternative high school next year.
When Etta’s over-it-all attitude sparks a challenge from her ex-best friend, Marigold, to get Linus elected student body president, Linus is thrust back into the spotlight. But what started out as a bet quickly turns into a true friendship between Linus and Etta, one that could be in jeopardy if Linus finds out the real origins of his and Etta’s connection. Can Linus and Etta’s friendship withstand the betrayal of the bet?
