Summary

Finding Your Place in a World Not Built for You

Anna Zoe Quirke’s debut novel, Something to Be Proud Of, is a vibrant and necessary addition to the young adult landscape. Set in the north of England, the story follows Imogen Quinn, a chaotic bisexual 16-year-old who uses she/they pronouns and is autistic. After a disastrous experience at a nearby city’s Pride festival-where sensory overload leads to a panic attack and abandonment by so-called friends-Imogen decides to take action. She sets out to create a Pride event that is genuinely accessible to everyone, sparking a journey of activism, friendship, and self-discovery.

The spark of Activism

The narrative catalyst is Imogen’s rejection of the status quo. At a standard Pride parade, the loud music, flashing lights, and dense crowds prove to be an inescapable sensory nightmare. Rather than accepting that she simply does not belong in those spaces, Imogen channels her frustration into organization. She marches into her school administrator’s office to demand the formation of an activist society.

Her primary goal is clear: she wants to build something that works for neurodivergent and disabled queer people. This motivation is deeply personal. As Quirke notes in interviews, the story is written for anyone who has ever felt like the world was not designed for them. Imogen’s passion is palpable; she is a character who cares deeply and refuses to ‘give a shit’ about polite silence when it comes to injustice.

An Unlikely Alliance

To bring her vision to life, Imogen needs members. She strategically targets Ollie Armstrong, the school’s openly gay soccer captain. Ollie is white and Japanese, popular, and seemingly has it all together. However, his reality is fraught with tension. He is dealing with the painful fallout of his parents’ recent announcement of their divorce and is shouldering heavy responsibilities at home, including caring for his younger sister.

Initially, Ollie agrees to join the Ardenpool Youth Activist Society only begrudgingly. He is sceptical of Imogen’s intensity and consumed by his own domestic struggles. But as the duo begins to collaborate, a beautiful friendship forms. Refreshingly, while a romance subplot exists, the novel centers their platonic bond. Their relationship evolves from a transactional alliance into a genuine support system where they can be their authentic selves.

A Diverse Cast of Allies

Imogen and Ollie are soon joined by a ‘dream team’ of classmates who bring their own grievances and skills to the table. The group includes:

• The Head Girl: A seemingly perfect student who reveals her own frustrations with the establishment.
• Louisa: A Black student with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome who often uses a wheelchair, bringing a crucial perspective on physical accessibility.
• Creatives and Bakers: Musicians, artists, and a star baker who help with the logistics and flair of their planned events.

Together, this motley crew forms a family unit that feels unbreakable. They tackle issues ranging from the school’s refusal to fund their initiatives to the town council’s failure to keep environmental promises. They also push for practical changes, such as the implementation of gender-neutral bathrooms to support non-binary students.

Navigating Systemic Barriers

The club encounters realistic and frustrating setbacks. Readers see the demoralizing effects of administrative incompetence and prejudice. An unsupportive headteacher reallocates funds the students raised themselves, and the group must navigate the bureaucracy of a town council that does not follow through on its word. These conflicts drive the plot and provide a stark look at how power dynamics function in institutions meant to serve young people.

Quirke does not shy away from the heavy emotional toll these battles take. The writing occasionally veers into the didactic as it explains specific accessibility needs, but this serves an educational purpose. It highlights the exhaustion of constantly having to advocate for one’s basic right to exist in a space. For Imogen, this is compounded by complicated relationships with her father, who initially dismisses her needs, telling her she must accept there are things ‘normal’ people do that she cannot.

Growth and Self-Acceptance

Beyond the activism, the novel is a poignant coming-of-age story for both protagonists. Ollie’s arc is defined by his search for answers regarding his parents’ divorce and his exploration of his own gender identity. He learns to deal with his anger in healthy ways and becomes more open to expressing himself. Imogen, meanwhile, grows in confidence. She finds people who celebrate her for exactly who she is, not in spite of her autism, but because of it.

A particularly moving theme is the idea that one deserves to be loved because of who they are. Through their friendship, Ollie learns that love comes in all forms, and Imogen learns to stop taking anyone’s ‘shit.’ The book emphasizes the importance of finding one’s ‘people’-a community that uplifts and accommodates you.

A Rallying Cry for Joy

Ultimately, Something to Be Proud Of is a celebration of queer joy and resilience. It balances the heavy themes of discrimination and family strife with humor, wit, and high-energy scenes like a charity drag football game. Quirke’s background as a librarian and autistic author shines through in the authentic representation of neurodivergence and the clear love for the characters.

The story serves as a hopeful rallying cry. It reminds readers that they have the power to create change and that building a more inclusive world is a worthy fight. For young readers, especially those at the intersections of queer and disabled identities, this book offers a comforting hug and a powerful reminder: they deserve a world that is designed for them, not one they have to constantly fight to survive in.