Music from Another World

By: Robin Talley

Narrated by: Jayme Mattler, Emily Lawrence

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk...until she’s matched with a real-life pen pal who changes everything.

Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others - like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom - and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for...and who they’ll rise against.

A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times best-selling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.

©2020 Robin Talley (P)2020 HarperAudio

for those of us how lived it

if you don't know the fair of living or growing up in the time of Anita Bryant this is a book you need to read. I grew up gay in a religious house and this book hits the mark in so many ways. It brought back so much pain, but left me with hope seeing how far we have come

loved it

Books that show me what it is like to live in the past are amazing. As a product of all the past struggle I love learning about our queer history and this book does a really good job of weaving a captivating love story into it.

Loved this

Its just good, you should listen to it. Also kind of bittersweet if you're listening to this in 2022 like me.

An Excellent Listen

Beautifully written and researched. This book is both a compelling coming of age narrative as well as an engaging window into an important chapter of LGBTQ+ history. The narration brings an already engaging and poignant story off the page. It’s always such a treat to have more than one narrator. Beautifully done!

Cute!

I thought it was a really cute love story and I love the historical elements. I’m not sure how I felt about all the letter writing but that’s just a apart of the story. I would recommend! (:

SOOOO GOOD!!

I loved it from beginning to end. I didn’t want it to end. I still feel Sharon and Tammy with me. It left me wanting more. And this book is still relevant today and especially during this time. I love the story, writing, characters, and the performance by the readers. Overall amazing!!! Can’t wait to read/listen more from this author!!!!!

Amazing!

Such a great book! A mix of story and LGBTQ+ history that I couldn't put down.

Coming of Age Story

Two girls growing up during the time of Anita Bryant and Harvey Milk. The each write in dairies and bare their souls. Tammy Larsen writes to Harvey Milk about her gayness and hiding in an anti gay community in Orange County, Ca. Sharon Hawkins spills out all the secrets she has to keep about her gay brother and her involvement with a women’s bookstore and punk rock.
Assigned to be pen pals as part of high school English they find themselves becoming each other’s best friend and confidant. Suddenly a whole new world is out there. A dangerous and exciting world that may not be safe
A wonderful depiction of friendship and falling in love and fighting to blossom in a world of Harvey Milk and California’s Propositions on Gay Rights.
Marvelous performances by both readers and a brilliant story. Recommend.

Coming out told well

I felt my story in these pages. I experienced a similar difficult time with my family when I came out, only I cane out on 2002, and this is set in the 1970s....oh well, progress is happening, it’s just so slow! Great, great book!

Amazing in every way

More than "young adult" story, Music from Another World is a story filled with moments of hope, love, laughter, and so much courage. Brilliant in its format, you just become one with the well rounded characters. A must listen!