Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution

Lark Winters is, American, seventeen year old and identifies as non-binary. They have been best friends with Kasim for as long as anyone can remember. Lark and Kasim are aspiring writers though Lark seems to be more consistent and passionate about it. Will Lark ever get their novel published and are they and Kasim destined to be more than friends?

There is much confusion when a social media thread about unrequited love goes viral. Who wrote it and why is at the crux of Callender’s novel. The most memorable part of the novel is its discussions of the role of social media in teen society and the risks and benefits of writing from personal experience. Lark’s character is at least partially autobiographical. 

The weakness of the novel is that the emphasis is more on Lark and Kasim’s relationship struggles rather than the other important themes such as the power of social media, truth and lies and polyamory (being partner to two separate people simultaneously) all of which are featured in the book and could be discussed in PSHE.