Can't Take That Away

Ages 12 And Up

A powerful debut about a non-binary teen finding the courage to speak out when discriminated against by their high school administration.

Carey Parker dreams of bringing the house down with song. They can hit every note of all the top pop and Broadway hits. But emotional scars from an incident with a homophobic classmate and their grandmother's spiraling dementia make it hard for Carey to find their voice.

Then Carey meets Cris, and with the rush of a promising new romance, Carey finds the confidence to audition for the lead in the school musical. But this sets off a chain reaction of prejudice by Carey's tormentor and others in the school. It's up to Carey, Cris, and their friends to defend their rights—and they refuse to be silenced.

Told in alternating chapters with identifying pronouns, debut author Steven Salvatore conducts a powerful, uplifting anthem that’s a swoony romance and an affirmation of self-identity.

About the Author

Steven Salvatore is a gay, genderqueer author, writing professor, Mariah Carey lamb, and Star Wars fanatic. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. They currently live in Peekskill, New York, with their amazingly patient husband, whose name is also Steve. They are the author of And They Lived. . . stevensalvatore.com • Twitter: @StevenSSWrites • Instagram: @StevenSalvatoreBooks