2018 young adult novel by Becky Albertalli
Leah on the Offbeat is a 2018 young adult novel by American author Becky Albertalli. It is the direct sequel to her 2015 debut novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" and the third novel in the "Simonverse", the shared universe in which Albertalli's books take place and which also includes 2017's "The Upside of Unrequited." The audiobook was read by actress Shannon Purser.
"Leah on the Offbeat" focuses on Leah, the best friend of Simon Spier, and her attempts to deal with various personal issues including friendships and relationships, body image, sexuality, self-esteem, going to college and feeling like an outsider. Leah was portrayed by Australian actress Katherine Langford in "Love, Simon", the 2018 film adaptation of "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda".
Synopsis.
Leah Burke is a drummer, usually on the beat drumming in the band Emoji. However, Leah has kept something from all of her friends, even from her openly gay best friend, Simon: she is bisexual. The only person to know about her sexuality is her mother, whom Leah is very close to. When her friend group starts to rock, Leah doesn't know what to do, with prom and graduation coming up. In between her friends fighting and graduation, Leah then realizes she might like one of her friends more than she first thought.
Critical reception.
"Leah on the Offbeat" received positive reviews. Booklist noted that Albertalli "has a fantastic ear for voice, and it’s beautifully on display in Leah’s funny, wry, and vulnerable first-person narrative." The entertainment site Hypable praised the story, Leah's characterization, and "a voice to another wave of LGBTQ+ youth". Bustle praised the story as well as depiction of social anxiety.
Albertalli won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction in 2018 for "Leah on the Offbeat". "Leah on the Offbeat" was included on the American Library Association's 2019 Rainbow Book List. It was a #1 "New York Times" best seller upon publication.
Book Banning Controversy.
The book was permanently banned from libraries and classrooms in Clay County School District, Florida, and temporarily banned (pending investigation) in Escambia County Public Schools, Florida, and Beaufort County School District, South Carolina.
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;