Let Them Stare has found itself firmly planted in my heart because despite being far older than the intended age range of young adult readers, I was captivated from the moment I heard about it and saw the synopsis, never mind when I got to read it. So let me introduce you to this wonderful book from Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy. We are in small-town America and there’s a haunted vintage designer bag (that sounds wonderful), a gender non-confirming teen wanting to escape, and the ghost of Rufus who is a 1950s drag performer. This sounds like the recipe for losing yourself in a book, doesn’t it? Ideally with some treats to snack on… because there’s always room for treats! I couldn’t put this down, I began to read after breakfast and didn’t stop until I reached the final page and was sad that there wasn’t more because the authors have given us a wonderful story. Let Them Stare blends the world of a modern-day LGBTQIA teen alongside the realities of why we need to always remember those who came before us and the horrors they often faced for simply being themselves. It’s done in a quirky manner by having a ghost who lives in his old bag, but the flashbacks as our wonderful Rufus slowly remembers who he is had me growing emotional. Sometimes I was sad, but there were moments where I felt angry over what a fictional character endured because we know these things happened to real people whose very existence as a gay man etc would be against the law. I thought the way Jonathan and Julie wrote these memories, and the letters we see through the book were handled with the care and respect that is needed because this is part of our history. Sully, our 18-year-old protagonist, has their own battles, and to many they seem small; things like not having to work out their bathroom etc, and I wanted to reach into the pages and give them a big hug because even in my 40s? I could relate to some of Sully’s issues as people didn’t try to understand who they are; and how often Sully feels infuriated at having to repeat themselves to deaf ears. I loved how their personality came through the pages, and couldn't help but smile as they navigated a budding Summer romance, because honestly? It was adorable. They are larger than life in a wonderful way, and I loved seeing how supported they were by their parents because that’s not always shown in books and it needs to be, because there are many parents out there who are supportive of their transgender or gender nonconforming children. Let Them Stare is a wonderful story, and it is also a statement. We should be able to live our lives as we want, and feel safe to do so, because we’re supposed to have come so far from the world Rufus lived in. Sully is a wonderful character who deserves happiness and I loved how insightful their journey is as they learn more about their home and themselves as a person. But it’s Rufus I loved so much - whoever came up with him deserves a huge hug and a plethora of thanks because he’s everything in this book - fun at times and the epitome of the performers you still see in some clubs out there. But also, he’s fragile and experienced the worst things a human could endure because he loved a man, and wanted to be who he was far away from his small intolerant home. I will read this again, and suggest it to anyone who wants a story of love, joy, and the reminder to never forget where we came from.