One True Way by Shannon Hitchcock (review)

Twelve-year-old Allison Drake’s world fell apart when her older brother Eric died in a car accident, her mom and dad split, and she and her mom moved from their New Jersey home to North Carolina. Determined to give herself a fresh start, Allison sets out with two simple goals: make a best friend and join the school newspaper. With the help of horseback rider and basketball star Samantha Johnson (Sam for short), Allie quickly achieves both her goals. The relationship between Allie and Sam takes off as well, but soon the girls realize that they are more than just friends, a challenging complication given that both girls attend churches opposed to gay and lesbian relationships. Hitchcock sensitively explores the girls’ romantic relationship the story in relation to family, community, and faith. Despite varying levels of pushback from their parents, Allie and Sam are surrounded by allies at every junction of their life: Sam’s older sister Melissa, who shields them from their mother; Allie’s minister, Reverend Walker, who counsels Allie and encourages her to read the Bible more openly; and Coach Murphy and Ms. Holt, a lesbian couple who teach at the girls’ school. Allie’s feelings for Sam leads readers through the complicated tangles of adolescence life and first love, demonstrating that no one should have to walk alone and there really is no one true way to walk.