Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Locations
Call Number: Teen Fiction / Lo, Malinda, Teen Book / Fiction / Historical / Lo, Malinda
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Traverwood Branch

When Lily realizes she has feelings for a girl in her math class, it threatens Lily's oldest friendships and even her father's citizenship status and eventually, Lily must decide if owning her truth is worth everything she has ever known

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Really good but prepare yourself submitted by laursanc6 on June 24, 2021, 5:21pm I read a lot of historical romance but most of it is based in the regency era and follows straight white love stories so I was really looking forward to breaking out of my comfort zone. This book was a great way to start reading about a different historical era while still focusing heavily on romance which I loved. I have to admit that I think this is the first story I've read that focuses on a WLW relationship and I am here for it. Lily and Kath made my heart ache as their connection felt so pure and their fondness for one another was so human (if that makes sense). I felt like I was right there with them experiencing their journey. Lo's writing drew me in and I could always visualize exactly where she wanted the reader to be whether it was bustling Chinatown or the Telegraph Club filled with warmth and new experiences. The classroom scene with Kath and Lily was probably the highlight of this book and I literally can't describe the feelings it gave me. Watching Lily figure out her sexuality and discover herself was so poignant and the way that Lo wrote everything was so nuanced. I sped through the last chunk of the book anxious and greedy for more as there were so many questions I had that needed an answer.

There are a lot of chapters that follow Lily and her childhood best friend Shirley as they navigate their bumpy friendship. This in itself isn't a bad thing as I think it added to the story and helped readers understand Lily and her relationships better. The problem is there were so many unnecessary (in my opinion) scenes with them including random picnics, dress shopping, and more preparation for Miss Chinatown. While all of this is happening there is a huge part of the climax that is yet to be answered and we as readers have to suffer through these chapters while still hoping our questions are answered. Unfortunately, I really feel like my questions were never answered. There is a big conflict scene towards the end that is very important and emotional but the actual ending left me unsatisfied. I was disappointed and I felt like the epilogue came way too quickly. What happened? Time passes and we never really get answers which left a lackluster ending for me. Furthermore, there are a few chapters that include POV switches to Lily's aunt, mom, and dad that I felt pretty unnecessary. If anythingLily's aunts chapters made some kind of sense for the plot but the mom and dad just felt out of place.

So while I spoke of quite a few negatives above my overall enjoyment of this book kind of outweighed them. This love story will stick with me and I encourage others to read it. It was beautiful book filled with love and heartache and it exposed me to a different time with different culture

Mature YA submitted by flemingj on June 26, 2021, 9:03am So much to learn: San Francisco, Chinatown, gay nightclubs in the 1950's. It was a whole new world for me and I am so glad I was able to visit this place and time through the main character Lily. Many really discriptive love scenes make this mature YA.

Queer love in the 50’s submitted by mowjac on July 16, 2021, 9:33am A well crafted, atmospheric historical queer romance that sinks the reader in the homophobia, racism and political paranoia of the 1950’s. Lo breathes life into Lily and Kath, young women exploring love and desire in a world that rejects homosexuality, as well as exploring the nuances of being Chinese during the onset of communism. The portrayal of butch/femme culture was welcome, as was giving a broader experience of being Chinese in America.

Necessary work submitted by redwood on June 13, 2022, 6:27pm I wish I'd had this when I was a teenager. This compassionate portrayal of a historical queer Asian girl--based on real women who are still living today--is beautifully done and sorely needed. The 50s Chinatown setting is beautifully rendered and captivating.

A must read submitted by ellec on July 13, 2022, 5:31pm Lo does an amazing job of capturing the nuances that come with the intersection of Chinese and queer identities in a young girl. As another reviewer stated, I wish I'd had a book like this when I was a teenager. It is a must-read for anyone who has understood the struggle of reconciling culture and queerness.

Interesting read about non-white queer history submitted by Jadie on June 11, 2023, 10:18am This was a great pick for the Big Gay Read. Learned a lot and listened to the audio book in one long sitting.

Fantastic! submitted by Xris on June 14, 2023, 2:19am Fantastic novel about an Asian-American girl living in the 50s during the Red Scare, who also wants to be a rocket scienist and is a lesbian. High school level content though, because of underage drinking, smoking, and implicit sex scenes. There's a companion novel that I'll be requesting now.

Two years later I still think about her and hope she’s okay submitted by kermitpertz on June 22, 2024, 11:06am What a gift of a book. Interweaves of Asian American and lesbian history. So romantic in teen fiction. Could not put it down.

Could Not Put It Down submitted by justjenn1975 on July 8, 2024, 5:59am Well developed characters in a great plot.

5/5 stars submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on July 29, 2024, 6:26pm I don’t love historical fiction for the history. I love a great story, and if it happens to teach me some history along the way, then I consider that an outstanding bonus.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club delivers both in spades. It’s the story of a Chinese-American teen in San Francisco in the 1950’s who is discovering that she is not the “good girl” that her family and community think that she is, because actually, she is attracted to women. There are few models for her or places to explore her growing sense of self, and we see the edges and corners where she sees possibilities, as well as the pressure to conform. Larger cultural context is woven in in many fun (pulp fiction) and not so fun (McCarthyism) ways, plus a good dose of LGBTQ and Chinese and Chinese-American history.

But all of this is directly in service to great characters and an excellent storyline that never stops moving. No wonder this book won the National Book Award, Printz Award, Stonewall Book Award, and Youth Literature Award (from the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association). Highly recommended.