Annie on My Mind

Annie on My Mind

By: Nancy Garden

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Summary:

Our narrator Liza lives in an upscale neighborhood and attends a private school. One day she goes to the MET and meets Annie, a child of immigrants who lives in a much poorer area and attends public school. the first half of the book is an enchanting story of Liza and Annie's growing friendship. It is in this part that they and the readers see their friendship blossom into love. Once they have proclaimed and accepted their feelings for each other they realize that they have to hide their relationship. During this time, being a lesbian was not something that people understood or accepted. As the story progresses they are soon "found out" and face some tough decisions. Liza ends up suspended from school. Eventually Liza makes her way back to school, graduates, and heads off to college. We see Liza reflecting on her relationship with Annie and begins to write her letters but cannot send them. She finally calls Annie and we are left with the warmth that they will see each other again.

Response:

This story was published in 1982, a time when being "different" was pretty much frowned upon. Nancy Garden did an excellent job at showing the relationship between Liza and Annie. One of the major strengths in Garden's book is that of the characters. Sometimes in realistic fiction novels the characters can end up doing or saying things that do not quite seem believable in our lives but only in the perfect ideal life. Liza and Annie are true people that exhibit qualities of people I personally know. This made the story relatable. This is a great novel to teach the theme of identity and finding your way.