We Contain Multitudes

Two high school students, Jonathan Hopkirk and Adam "Kurl" Kurlansky, begin exchanging letters for an English class assignment. Jonathan is a Walt Whitman-obsessed sophomore who faces bullying, while Kurl is a senior football player repeating his final year. Their correspondence moves beyond the requirements of the assignment as they share details about their lives, families, and struggles. The epistolary format reveals their growing connection through candid letters that document both everyday moments and significant events. The relationship between Jonathan and Kurl develops against a backdrop of family obligations, school pressures, and their contrasting social positions within the school hierarchy. Each must navigate personal challenges while determining what their connection means. The novel examines themes of identity, masculinity, and self-discovery through the lens of two voices finding ways to express themselves on paper. Through references to Walt Whitman's poetry and the power of written words, it explores how people contain multiple truths and contradictions within themselves.

Readers describe this LGBT coming-of-age novel as an intimate portrayal of two teens connecting through letters. The epistolary format allows deep character development and emotional resonance. Readers highlighted: - Authentic teen voices and dialogue - Natural progression of the relationship - Complex family dynamics - Poetry integration and Walt Whitman references - Mental health representation Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in middle sections - Some plot elements feel contrived - Letter format sometimes limits scene descriptions - Side characters need more development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.2/5 Reader quote: "The letter format perfectly captures teenage vulnerability and first love without feeling artificial." - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "Beautiful writing but the plot relies too heavily on convenient timing and coincidences." - Amazon reviewer

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🌟 Sarah Henstra won the Governor General's Literary Award for her adult novel The Red Word before writing We Contain Multitudes 📝 The book's title comes from Walt Whitman's poem "Song of Myself": "Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes." 💌 The entire novel is written in epistolary format through letters between the two main characters, making it one of few YA novels to use this literary device exclusively 🎨 The cover art features pressed flowers, reflecting Jonathan's interest in botany and the Victorian language of flowers that appears throughout the story 🏳️‍🌈 The novel tackles multiple complex themes simultaneously, including PTSD in veterans, domestic violence, grief, coming out, and the lasting influence of Walt Whitman's poetry on LGBTQ+ literature