Small Town Pride

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

A heartwarming LGBTQ middle grade debut from acclaimed author Phil Stamper about a boy named Jake who loves his rural town, but he doesn’t always feel supported by the people there. So, he fades into the background. That is, until he comes out and his overly-supportive dad puts a comically huge pride flag in their yard, suddenly turning all eyes on him. When controversy bubbles over, Jake fights his urge to hide and does the unthinkable: he fights to throw their town’s very first pride festival. Now available in paperback!

We will do it. We’re going to throw Barton Springs’s first Pride.Jake just starting to enjoy life as his school's first openly gay kid. While his family and friends are accepting and supportive, the same can’t be said about everyone in their small town of Barton Springs, Ohio. When Jake’s dad hangs a comically large pride flag in their front yard in an overblown show of love, the mayor begins to receive complaints. A few people are even concerned the flag will lead to something truly outlandish: a Pride Parade.Except Jake doesn’t think that’s a ridiculous idea. Why can’t they hold a Pride Festival in Barton Springs? The problem is, Jake knows he’ll have to get approval from the town council, and the mayor won’t be on his side. And as Jake and his friends try to find a way to bring Pride to Barton Springs, it seems suspicious that the mayor’s son, Brett, suddenly wants to spend time with Jake. But someone that cute couldn’t possibly be in league with his mayoral mother, could he?From acclaimed author Phil Stamper comes a poignant coming-of-age story about finding your place, using your voice, and the true meaning of pride. Perfect for fans of RICK by Alex Gino and THE BEST AT IT by Maulik Pancholy. Now available in paperback!

About the Author

Phil Stamper is the bestselling author of The Gravity of Us, As Far As You’ll Take Me, Golden Boys, and other queer books for kids and teens. He currently works in author development for a major book publisher in New York City, where he lives with his husband and their dog. Small Town Pride is his debut middle grade novel. Visit him at philstamper.com.