When the mystery was solved at the end of Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary, I thought it was a bit silly.

What keeps the story fun and interesting are several mysteries that Bobby is compelled to find answers to, and a hot bed of crushes and romances between the varied and quirky characters. You just keep reading and become part of a world in which no one is straight, and it all is perfectly normal.I don’t think I’ve read a book in which all notable characters are Queer, that’s a really interesting concept, especially for a book set in the 60s. I found the characters' clunky understanding and application of adolescent psychology annoying - Bobby would read one textbook and suddenly understand her students (including obvious things that she should've understood before), and all the teachers went around quoting psychology texts. Lois Lenz took 80% of the novel to figure it out (despite making out with women through the whole thing). Coach Marino gave us a pep talk before we got off the bus, reminding us to swing fast and to always keep our eyes on the ball. With a fearsome field hockey team to build and the suspicious death of the former Maths Mistress to solve, Bobby Blanchard has her hands full.

Keep in mind, they’re talking about whether or not Elaine is a traitor to lesbians, and if Bobby is sexually experienced enough. In her Lesbian Career Girl series, Monica Nolan attempts the same sort of seemingly effortless feat. I’m not sure if all academies have the same labels, but instead of “gym teacher,” Bobby is the “Games Mistress.As Games Mistress at Metamora Academy, she's dismayed to learn that sports take a backseat to literary and artistic pursuits. I understand that seventh-graders need supervision in the locker room, but it seems to me the school should know that it may not be appropriate to have a lesbian in the locker room with young girls.