SMALL TOWN PRIDE Hardcover

Eliot Schrefer's "Small Town Pride" is a moving and relevant middle-grade novel that tackles themes of identity, acceptance, and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in a rural setting. The story follows eighth-grader Jake Blatnik, who just wants to blend in and continue his quiet life in his small, sports-obsessed town. However, his older sister, Chloe, returns home from college determined to make a difference by organizing the town's first-ever Pride march. As Jake tries to navigate his own burgeoning understanding of sexuality and identity, he finds himself caught between his desire for invisibility and his sister's passionate activism. The book explores the challenges and triumphs of fostering inclusivity in a community that isn't always open to change, showing how even a small act of defiance can ignite a movement and lead to unexpected alliances and self-discovery.