Forward March

Forward March is a YA book that truly focuses on contemporary issues many young adults (and younger) and that is 'identity'. I can guarantee that whilst this is fictional, readers will no doubt relate to situations and characters as it's so well written that you can imagine yourself attending school with them.

There is representation of many gender and sexual identities such as asexual, lesbian, gay, pansexual, poly, and (cheers because it's rare to see my own identity on the page) nonbinary characters. Situations are often ones you can relate to whether it's your identity being written about or incidences that you can see come to life - because Skye Quinlan really brings both the world and characters of Forward March to life and the reader can easily immerse themselves alongside Harper McKinley and her friends, frenemies, and bandmates as her life takes make twists and turns.

I need to add that whilst there is a lot of positivity in Forward March, there is also the dark reality of living openly as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and that is homophobia and transphobia though it's primarily the former and whilst a book should be well-rounded in the realities of life? I am aware that reading about homophobia for anyone who has been on the receiving it can be extremely upsetting and potentially triggering for real-life memories.

If you're in need of a book that you can relate to where representation truly is well-done? Forward March is a book for you and you're going to love it. I couldn't relate to the marching band elements as it's something that isn't in UK schools so the scenes that do focus on that went a little over my head though I could visualise it from the many chic-flics I've loved over the years.

I also have to say, I loved the other realities of Harper's characterization is she's asthmatic and has allergies which again? Isn't something that occurs too often in books and yet, is a reality for many many people going through their day to day lives.