The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Yami must manage multiple aspects of her identity simultaneously—being Mexican American, lesbian, Catholic, and from a working-class background. Which aspect of Yami’s identity struggle resonated most strongly with you, and why?

2. How does The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School compare to Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, particularly in how both novels explore LGBTQ+ Mexican American identity and found family?

3. The novel balances serious issues like suicidal ideation and deportation with moments of humor and joy. Did this balance enhance your reading experience, or did you find it challenging to navigate these tonal shifts?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Yami describes herself as planning to be “stealthy gay” at her new school. Have you ever felt the need to hide or downplay an aspect of your identity in a new environment?

2. Has someone in your life ever surprised you with acceptance when you expected judgment, similar to Yami’s experience with her mother?

3. The Mayan phrase “In Lak’ech Ala K’in” (25), or “You are my other me,” serves as a motif throughout the novel. What philosophies or sayings have guided your own relationships with others?

4. What places or environments have served as sanctuaries for you during difficult times in your life?

5. Yami and her mother connect through making and selling Mexican jewelry together. What creative activities or traditions have helped strengthen your relationships with family members?

6. Throughout the novel, financial concerns add pressure to Yami’s already complicated life. How have economic considerations influenced your own major life decisions or relationships?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel contrasts how the police treat teens at parties in wealthy, predominantly white neighborhoods with how they treat those in Yami’s community, where similar situations have led to deportations, arrests, and police violence. How does this reflect broader patterns of inequality in law enforcement across different communities?

2. How do you see religious institutions evolving on issues of LGBTQ+ acceptance in contemporary society?

3. How does the storyline of Yami’s father being deported after participating in an immigration protest connect to ongoing debates about immigration policy and family separation?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The broken mirror serves as a recurring symbol in the novel, representing Yami’s fractured sense of self. How does this symbol evolve throughout the story?

2. How does Reyes use the parallel storylines of Yami and Cesar to explore different manifestations of shame and self-acceptance regarding their sexualities?

3. What elements in the novel besides the jewelry business serve dual purposes in advancing both the plot and thematic development?

4. Consider the contrast between Bianca’s betrayal and Bo’s acceptance of Yami. How do these relationships shape Yami’s understanding of trust and authentic connection?

5. How does the confined setting of a Catholic school amplify the conflicts central to the novel?

6. Some critics have compared Reyes’s use of humor to that in Gabby Rivera’s Juliet Takes a Breath, another novel featuring a young lesbian Latina protagonist. How does the humorous narrative voice in both works help address difficult topics while maintaining reader engagement?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to create an “anti-prom” like Bo and Yami do, what would be your theme, and how would you make it inclusive for people who feel marginalized?

2. If you could add an epilogue to the novel that takes place five years in the future, what do you imagine for the characters’ lives and relationships?