Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Marie Arendt
Categories
Children’s, Teenage & Educational

LION'S LEGACY

Lev AC Rosen

Against the backdrop of a sunlit Greek summer, author L.C. Rosen masterfully weaves together adventure, romance, magic, and a long-overlooked chapter in ancient history in this reclamation and celebration of the legendary Sacred Band of Thebesa troop of queer warriors.

Seventeen-year-old Tennessee Russo's life is imploding. His boyfriend has been cheating on him and all his friends knew about it. Worse, they expect him to just accept his ex's new relationship and make nice. So when his father, a famous archeologist and reality show celebrity whom he hasn't seen in two years, shows up unexpectedly and offers to take him on an adventure, he only has a few choices: Stay, mope, regret it forever Go, try to reconcile with Dad, become his sidekick again Go, but make it his adventure, and dad will be the sidekick The object of his father's latest quest, The Rings of the Sacred Band of Thebes, is too enticing to say no, so he heads to Greece. Finding artifacts related to the troop of ancient Greek soldiers, composed of 150 gay couples, means navigating ruins, deciphering ancient riddles, and maybe meeting a cute boy while doing it. But will his dad let Tennessee do the right thing with the rings if they find them? And what is the right thing? Who does queer history belong to?

Available products
Book Published 2023-05-02 by Union Square & Co.

Comments

[G]ripping series kickoff from Rosen (Lavender House) that's both thrilling escapade and simmering romance . . . . Through Ten and Leo's visits to a museum of queer history and culture, and the meticulous detail with which the author recounts underreported events in Grecian history, Rosen makes an insistent case for recognizing and teaching LGBTQ history and understanding legacy.

Flirtatious friendships and a fun summer romance, Indiana Jones-esque booby traps, and the logistics of filming reality TV mesh seamlessly with heavier discussions of rightful ownership of historical artifacts, erasure of queer history, and the power of an actual apology. Rosen emphasizes the importance between connecting the historical existence and contributions of queer people to the queer community in the present and includes many small tidbits of queer history throughout . . . . [A]ction-packed and illuminative.

A New York Public Library Best Book of 2023 Booklist Editors' Choice 2023: Books for Youth

This action-packed adventure inspired by history and legend engages in a conflict-driven exploration of the ethics of archaeology. Tennessee grapples with tangled emotions about his relationship with his father, his longing for community, and what it means to be in love . . . . An entertaining, emotional rush tackling critical subjects.