Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before

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Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before
Final Cover Art for Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before.jpg
Cover Art for Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before
Author
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung adult
Publication date
2014
ISBN9781932010732

Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before is a Young Adult LGBT coming of age story written by Karelia Stetz-Waters. The book is set in a 1992 rural Oregon town during the middle of the campaign against homosexual equal rights known as the 1992 Oregon Ballot Measure 9. The book was first published on October 9, 2014 by Ooligan Press.[1] Parts of the book are based on an unpublished memoir by Stetz-Waters.[2]

Book synopsis[]

The book features Triinu Hoffman, a shy and intellectual teen who lives in 1992 rural Oregon. She has troubles fitting in and does her best to hide her true self; all in an attempt to hide from the bullying behavior of fellow classmates. The principle of her school is no help against her poor treatment because he tends to treat her just as bad as the school bullies.

Within the book Triinu experiences new feelings of attraction towards other women, she finds her first love, and establishes her teenage independence. Triinu struggles with her differences during a time where Oregon is voting on the discrimination rights in Oregon's 1992 Ballot Measure 9. Triinu comes to realize that these differences will make her a target during this fight for equal rights but she also realizes that if she accepts her differences, she will finally be set free.

Triinu learns to stand for what she believes in, she learns how to love, and she learns what it means to have her heart broken.

Awards and critical reception[]

Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before was one of the top ten books on the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table's 2016 Rainbow Book List.[3][4] Lambda Literary called the book "an ambitious mix of politics, first loves, lost friends, family, grief, cultural heritage, and identity."[5] The book also received positive reviews in Curve Magazine and School Library Journal.[6][7]

Alternate versions[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before". Ooligan Press. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  2. ^ McInally, Mike (October 26, 2017). "Magic Barrel preview: Fighting hunger with hope". Corvallis Gazette-Times.
  3. ^ "2016 Top Ten Choices | Awards & Grants". www.ala.org. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  4. ^ "Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before | Awards & Grants". www.ala.org. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  5. ^ "'Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before' by Karelia Stetz-Waters | Lambda Literary". Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  6. ^ Fradkin, Allison (December 20, 2014). "Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before by Karelia Stetz-Waters". Curve.
  7. ^ Alexander, Karen (November 1, 2014). "Forgive me if I've told you this before". School Library Journal.
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