We are delighted to welcome Jenny Laden to our humble stage to read from and discuss her new visual novel, This Terrible True Thing! Inspired by Jenny’s personal experiences, this book delves into the life of a high school senior who learns that her father has contracted AIDS. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Jenny will be joined on stage by HVBH associate Zoey Jowers - herself a high school senior. This will be one conversation you won’t want to miss!
This event is free, but we ask you to RSVP here for planning purposes. Copies of Jenny’s book will be available for purchase and signing. The book and event are suitable for teens and adults.
About the Book
This Terrible True Thing! was inspired by Jenny’s personal experiences growing up in the 90s with her dad was one of the first to contract AIDS, and eventually passed away. As you might know, AIDS was the leading cause of death for U.S. men aged 25-44 in the 90s (per the CDC). Jenny wrote her book in the hopes of reaching all generations – including Gen-Z like her own teenage daughter – and providing insight into the emotional toll behind this often overlooked yet monumental time in history. The beautifully written story will both soften your heart and open your eyes to the impact of HIV and AIDS.
Danielle Silver is a Philadelphia high school senior at the dawn of the ’90s. Ever since her parents split up, she has known her father was gay, but she never expected to be hit with the bombshell that he is HIV positive. As he sickens, and AIDS starts to claim the lives of his friends, Danielle searches for silver linings while trying to balance paralyzing fear, grief, her social life, and schoolwork—capturing all the feelings as adolescence and some hard facts collide.
“In This Terrible True Thing, Jenny captures the confusion and sadness of the dark days of AIDS, when the closet was still the norm and those who feared judgment were bound by secrecy. Through her intimate voice and illustrations, she powerfully conveys the experience of being a teenager caught between worlds: the straight world and the queer world, childhood and adulthood, secure love and incomprehensible loss. The novel is also about a young woman’s political awakening and what it means to be an artist not just of the world but in the world. This is a tender story, a beautiful story. I loved reading it.”
–Alysia Abbott, author of Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father
About the Author
Jenny Laden was born in Philadelphia and began painting at the age of nine. She studied art and art history at Barnard College and received her master’s degree in fine art from New York University. She has exhibited in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, McClean, Richmond, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Berlin, and has had work in multiple publications.
About Zoey
Make it stand out
Zoey works at HV Books for Humanity, where her energy and creativity elevate all of us. When she’s not at the store, Zoey attends Ossining High School, writes, reads, works with younger kids around literacy and self-esteem, and plays basketball.