It can be very tempting, when meeting someone who you would like to be THE ONE, to try to come across as who they're looking for rather than who you actually are. But if this tactic works it can leave you vulnerable. What if they learn the truth? That's the plight of Nala, protagonist of Renee Watson's Love Is A Revolution.
Nala lives with her aunt and uncle and "cousin-sister-friend" Imani. It's the first weekend of the girls' summer vacation before their senior year. Nala has agreed to do whatever Imani wants on her birthday. Too bad it's going to a talent show.
It's not what it is; it's who's putting it on.
"Inspire Harlem is an organization for Harlem teens that does community service projects and hosts awareness events about various social issues. Imani has been trying to get me to join for the past year. But I don't know, they're a little too...well, let's just say I don't think I'm a good fit."
When she sees the night's emcee Nala no longer regrets coming. Tye is fine. When Nala meets him she tries to present a persona he could fall in love with. The problem is it's all based on lies. As she finds herself making the untruths more and more elaborate Nala knows that she can't deceive him forever...
...What will happen when he discovers the truth?
But romantic love isn't the only kind the book is centered on. Nala is also dealing with the complexities of her other relationships. And maybe to sustain an authentic romantic relationship she must first learn to love herself.
On a purrrsonal note, in the bad old days when I was a teen romantic relationships were supposed to be based on deceit. It was all about him. His interests were the only important ones. And if you were smarter than him you never let on. It would scare 😱 him away. I didn't play that game. And I found boys who shared my concerns about the war, the environment, feminism, and racism (as opposed to say being obsessed with football) and weren't scared off by my grades.
A great big shout out goes out to the many boys and men today who don't expect a relationship to be all about males.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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