Annie on My Mind

by Nancy Garden

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. NY: FSG. 

One day as Liza is strolling through the museum, she overhears Annie singing and upon meeting her realizes that this girl is unlike any she has ever met.  They soon strike up a friendship, first talking on the phone then eventually spending all their time together.  The girls become inseparable and begin to realize that their feelings of friendship have evolved into something more.  While Annie is ready to take the next step romantically, Liza struggles with these new feelings facing inner turmoil and confusion.  She slowly comes to realize that on some level she has always known she was different.  When two teachers from Liza’s school, who happen to be a lesbian couple unbeknownst to everyone, go on vacation and ask Liza to feed their cats, the girls get carried away.  They begin to use the couple’s home as their own private hang out daily until one day things become more heated and passion ensures.  It is during this moment the two girls are discovered leading to trouble not only for them but for the teachers as well.  The story is told through Liza’s flashbacks during her first year of college as she is attempting to write a letter to Annie to reestablish contact.  A major strength of this book is in the way it showcases what life is like for teen girls as they try to figure out and make sense of their feelings.  Books about the LGBT community are very popular right now, and although this book is quite a bit older, it is still applicable to today’s high school students as it discusses the issues and concerns that go along with being gay.

Interview with Nancy Garden