num_pages: 375
description: A debut novel about a genderqueer teen who finds the courage to stand up and speak out for equality when they are discriminated against by their high school administration.Carey Parker dreams of being a diva and bringing the house down with song. But despite their talent emotional scars from an incident with a homophobic classmate and their grandmother's spiraling dementia make it harder and harder for Carey to find their voice.Then Carey meets Cris a singer/guitarist who makes Carey feel seen for the first time in their life. With the rush of a promising new romantic relationship Carey finds the confidence to audition for the role of Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West in the school musical setting off a chain reaction of prejudice by Carey's tormentor and others in the school. It's up to Carey Cris and their friends to defend their rights--and they refuse to be silenced.Told in alternating chapters with identifying pronouns debut author Steven Salvatore's Can't Take That Away is both a romance and an affirmation of self-identity.
language: English
title: Can't Take That Away
publisher: Bloomsbury YA