We Are Lost and Found

Michael is a gay teenager navigating life in New York City during the early 1980s AIDS crisis. His older brother has been thrown out of their home for being gay, leaving Michael to deal with his strict parents alone while keeping his own sexuality hidden. Michael finds refuge in the local club scene with his two best friends, James and Becky. As AIDS begins to cast a shadow over the gay community, Michael searches for connection and identity in a time of fear and uncertainty. The novel follows Michael's journey through first love, family tensions, and the complexities of friendship during a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history. His evolving relationships force him to confront difficult choices about truth, safety, and self-acceptance. Set against the backdrop of an emerging epidemic, this historical YA novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and courage in the face of societal pressure and medical crisis.

Readers note the authentic portrayal of 1980s NYC gay culture and AIDS crisis fears, with detailed descriptions of the music, fashion, and club scenes. Many appreciate how the story captures the uncertainty and anxiety of the era without becoming overwhelmed by tragedy. Liked: - Strong character relationships, especially between brothers - Accurate historical details and cultural references - Balanced handling of serious themes with moments of joy - LGBTQ+ representation that feels natural Disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the ending abrupt - Multiple readers wanted more plot development - Characters sometimes feel distant or underdeveloped Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (30+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 (12 ratings) Common reader comment: "Creates a vivid snapshot of a specific moment in LGBTQ+ history without feeling like a history lesson."

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian The story follows three teens in 1980s New York as they navigate first love, friendship, and LGBTQ+ activism during the AIDS crisis.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan A Persian-American lesbian teen comes to terms with her identity while falling in love at her private high school in the 1980s.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan A chorus of gay men lost to AIDS narrates the stories of several gay teens navigating love, identity, and acceptance across different time periods.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera A teenage boy in the Bronx grapples with his sexual identity and considers a memory-alteration procedure to forget his feelings for his male best friend.

The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg Two boys work together on a food truck during an Arizona summer while dealing with past trauma and discovering their growing feelings for each other.

🔖 Set in 1983 New York City during the early AIDS crisis, when the disease was still known as "gay cancer" and had no official name 📚 Author Helene Dunbar drew inspiration from her own experiences living in New York during this era and witnessing friends struggle with fear and uncertainty 🎭 The book's protagonist, Michael, finds solace in the city's emerging club scene, particularly at a fictional venue inspired by the real-life Paradise Garage 🌟 The story captures a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history when many young people were simultaneously dealing with their emerging identities and the terrifying reality of a mysterious deadly disease 📖 Dunbar incorporated real newspaper headlines and public health announcements from 1983 into the narrative to maintain historical accuracy and show how misinformation spread during the early days of the AIDS epidemic