He only has one good friend, he’s never fallen in love, his mom abandoned him, and his father-despite being outwardly supportive-deliberately avoids using his real name and correct pronouns. I’ve read two of the nominated books now in addition to Felix Ever After, I’ve read Cemetery Boysby Aiden Thomas and I loved it.įelix Love, despite his name, feels unlovable. Also, while it’s too late to read the nominees before the winner is announced ( The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley won), I do want to eventually read them all. After all, I did like Callender’s other book, and I figured that Felix was likely better as it is the one that gets all the attention. But then Felix was on the shortlist for Barnes and Noble’s YA Book Award and I figured I’d give it a shot. I liked This is Kind of an Epic Love Story well enough, but it wasn’t a book that overwhelmed me and inspired me to go out and find all the author’s other work. I found out that it is written by the same author who did This is Kind of an Epic Love Story.

Despite that, I didn’t read it immediately. The cover is bold and colorful and unabashedly queer. I don’t think I’ve ever read one that wasn’t great.įelix Ever After by Kacen Callender caught my eye when it was first released. Callender debuted their new name when announcing their next young adult novel Felix Ever After in May 2019.I love reading Stonewall Honor Books. Their fantasy novel, Queen of the Conquered, is the 2020 winner of the World Fantasy Award and King and the Dragonflies won the 2020 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.Ĭallender is Black, queer, trans, and uses they/them and he/him pronouns.

Kacen Callender is a Saint Thomian author of children's fiction and fantasy, best known for their Stonewall Book Award and Lambda Literary Award-winning middle grade debut Hurricane Child. Callender debuted their new name when announcing their next young adult novel Felix Ever After in May 2019.

Callender is Black, queer, trans, and uses they/them and he/him pronouns. Their fantasy novel, Queen of the Conquered, is the 2020 winner of the World Fantasy Award and King and the Dragonflies won the 2020 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Felix ever after