2021 EDIT: 'Our Own Private Universe' is a good, nice LBGTQ YA book, although I'm not as interested or as invested on the second read. Maybe it's too long and meandering? Maybe this time I had less tolerance for all the characters being liars and deceivers? But maybe that's to teach readers that lying causes far more unnecessary pain and suffering than just telling the truth in the first place ever could? Maybe it's all a little contrived? And shallow? That I didn't like the characters, but notably certain adults, being idiots to each other, for really no good reason? Maybe I didn't want to read about a fifteen-year-old having sex, even if it's with someone her own age? (Seriously, I had to keep reminding myself how young Aki actually is!)
But regardless, the rep is great. It acknowledges all kinds of sexualities (I don't recall asexuality being mentioned, however), and romantics. It's a coming-of-age recommendation from me.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
One of the best-written contemporary LBGTQ YA books I've read. It's funny, warm, current in the issues it talks about, and, for a book full of liars, it's refreshingly honest.
'Our Own Private Universe' follows the story of Aki Simon, an American preacher's kid who, whilst volunteering in a church charity group in Mexico, has a summer fling with Christa Lawrence, as part of her many theories she wants to finally try out. This theory has to do with her bisexuality, and she puts this identity, her very sense of self, to the test. No hypothesising. Her rocky relationship with Christa, who hides her true self due to a conservative Christian upbringing, very soon grows into real love, temporary or not. Aki's life-long friendship with the more bold and daring (so she thinks) Lori is also tested, and the development of Aki's finding her purpose, and how she affects the lives of others in the process, is set in motion.
It's more complicated than what I've described, but it's a start. 'Our Own Private Universe' gets better with each chapter, so addictive and easy to digest it can be read in one day - you need to fully experience and appreciate this sweet meal. I never would have thought that from reading the first line alone:
'The stars above me danced in the cool, black Mexico sky. So I started dancing, too.'
Yeah, very YA-lite and borderline pretentious. But I'm glad I kept at it. There is more to the book than looking up at the depths of the sky and stars. It is about looking to the depths within ourselves. (Does that sound equally as cheesy? Did I intend it to? Who knows).
With its unique summer setting in the poorer areas of Mexico - with a weekend in Texas - described authentically, transporting me there, and its brilliantly-wide and diverse cast of memorable characters, 'Our Own Private Universe' is a smash hit. Robin Talley is an exceptionally talented writer.
It introduces topics that are vital for everyone to understand the world at large - they are much, much larger than ourselves. And it talks about and discusses the experiences of different sexual identities (that also include safe sex options) - straight, male and white is definitely not the default here (Aki and her awesome family are black). The intimacy and/or sex scenes between two teenage girls are written in not too much detail - nothing too graphic or coarse - but there's enough to let us know the fully-bloomed passion (there's a euphemism in there somewhere).
'Our Own Private Universe' can be frustrating with its realism. Aki, as cool and likeable as she is, is selfish, shallow, hypocritical, and she lies to Christa about her interests throughout the majority of the novel. Then you find out that practically everybody in the novel is a liar for no good reason, even the adults. Aki doesn't even seem to care about being a Christian - she follows her dad as an obligation, and there's nothing really about her revaluating her religious upbringing and questioning what she knows, bizarrely. Her ignorance of what she quickly deems as unimportant if they don't affect her personally is maddening.
But as much of a pain Aki can be sometimes, she is only fifteen - who wasn't a giant mess of contradictions at that age? She's learning that not everything is about her, that it is not only her problems and the issues she cares about that matter. Every issue deserves equal consideration in this world. At first Aki thinks she can't handle so many debates and feelings at once, but she underestimates herself, like all of us who are confused and have low self-confidence. Age has nothing to do with it. She stops badgering Christa to come out to her parents (which is Christa's choice, and can be potentially dangerous), and understands that every family circumstance is different, too.
The message of how religion can and should be about loving everyone, and that everyone deserves help from others no matter who they are and where they come from, is hopeful. Not many people caring if Aki is gay or bi is an example of this, whether it is realistic or not.
'Our Own Private Universe' is about the importance of truth, peace and love. Lies hurt, and so does hate; they don't help anyone. We can all build a private world for ourselves, and maybe not be afraid to let people in, as long as there's trust on both ends.
Final Score: 4/5
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