Mean by Myriam Gurba is the Junior High Book Club’s pick for September 2026.
Mean by Myriam Gurba
Myriam Gurba's debut is the bold and hilarious tale of her coming of age as a queer, mixed-race Chicana. Blending radical formal fluidity and caustic humor, Mean turns what might be tragic into piercing, revealing comedy. This is a confident, funny, brassy book that takes the cost of sexual assault, racism, misogyny, and homophobia deadly seriously.
We act mean to defend ourselves from boredom and from those who would cut off our breasts. We act mean to defend our clubs and institutions. We act mean because we like to laugh. Being mean to boys is fun and a second-wave feminist duty. Being mean to men who deserve it is a holy mission. Sisterhood is powerful, but being mean is more exhilarating.
COMMUNITY | FREE | ALL AGES | We're throwing it back to bring us forward. The ancestors gave us invaluable tools for us current organizers, but it's up to us to make sure they're adapted to these times. Similarly, it's our obligation to ensure the seeds we plant come to fruition for future generations, even if we aren't around to watch them bloom. In THE NOSTALGIC FUTURES BOOK CLUB — facilitated by Xueyou Wang (she/they) & Ray Carroll (they/them) — we explore a variety of literature — fiction, poetry, theory, memoir, and more — that asks us what part of our collective histories are worth carrying forward, and what change is required for a liberated future.
Get this month’s reading selection and sign up for Book Club emails here.
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This event will be indoors.