Last Night at the Telegraph Club — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
“Lush, ambitious and layered, Malinda Lo’s sweeping historical novel is the queer romance we’ve been waiting for.”—Ms. Magazine
Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root—that desire to look, to move closer, to touch. Whenever it started growing, it definitely bloomed the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. Suddenly, everything seemed possible.
But America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.
Meticulously researched, emotionally stirring, and startlingly brave, Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a standout work of historical fiction that has taken the world by storm.
Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature • A Michael L. Printz Honor Book • A We Need Diverse Books Walter Dean Myers Honor Book • A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist • A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Century
Frequently asked questions
Is Last Night at the Telegraph Club appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No explicit violence is mentioned in the search results related to the narrative of the book. The content focuses more on personal and societal struggles rather than physical violence. The book is described as a gentle and captivating love story without elements that would be considered scary.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have violence?
No explicit violence is mentioned in the search results related to the narrative of the book. The content focuses more on personal and societal struggles rather than physical violence.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have scary content?
The book is described as a gentle and captivating love story without elements that would be considered scary.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have religious themes?
Lily's family is described as Christian and active in their church, which is a part of the narrative that highlights the cultural expectations and identity struggles faced by the characters.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have racial/cultural content?
The narrative addresses Lily's identity as an American-born Chinese girl and explores themes of racism, microaggressions, and societal expectations within her community, particularly during the era of McCarthyism.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have profanity?
No profanity is explicitly mentioned in the search results related to the book's content.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have climate change?
No climate-related themes or activism are mentioned in the search results related to the book's narrative.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have sexual identity?
The book contains several brief but graphic sexual images and encounters, depicting the exploration of sexuality between the main characters, which is integral to the narrative.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have gender roles?
The book explores traditional gender roles and expectations, particularly through Lily's experiences as she navigates her identity and interests in a conservative family setting, contrasting with her budding queer identity.
Does Last Night at the Telegraph Club have lgbtq+ themes?
The book is described as a queer love story set in 1950s San Francisco, focusing on the relationship between Lily Hu and her classmate Kathleen. It explores Lily's gradual realization of her sexuality and her experiences in a lesbian bar, normalizing LGBTQ+ themes and representation.
