“I think I love you, Annie.”
— Liza confesses her feelings to Annie during a pivotal moment in their relationship.
Archivist's Choice
Annie on My Mind
Nancy Garden (1982)
Genre
Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
200 min
Key Themes
See below
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Two teenage girls navigate the journey of first love, choosing to defy societal pressures and embrace their authentic selves.
Synopsis
Liza Winthrop, a high school senior, tells the story of her first love with Annie Kenyon. Their relationship starts after they meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where they connect over art and shared secrets. As they grow closer, Liza deals with new feelings she comes to understand as love for Annie. Annie feels the same way, leading to a passionate first kiss and the start of a secret romance. They manage their relationship in secret, fearing judgment from their conservative families and school.
Ms. Schaller, a school administrator, eventually finds out about their secret. This leads to severe consequences, including parental involvement and Annie leaving school. Liza feels great despair and isolation. Annie pulls away from their relationship, seemingly overwhelmed. Liza finds comfort in a supportive teacher, Ms. Poindexter, and later reaches out to Annie. After a painful separation, they reconcile, promising to remain true to themselves and their love, even if it means facing ongoing challenges.
Reading time
200 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Introspective, Tender, Angsty, Hopeful
✓ Read this if...
You're interested in a pioneering LGBTQ+ young adult romance, a story about first love, or a narrative exploring themes of identity and societal pressure.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer fast-paced plots or stories without significant emotional conflict and societal pushback.
Plot Summary
A Chance Encounter in the Museum
Liza Winthrop, a bright but somewhat reserved high school senior from a wealthy, traditional family in Brooklyn Heights, often goes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During one visit, she meets Annie Kenyon, a girl with an artistic spirit and an unusual style, sketching in the same wing. Their first talk is awkward but interesting, as Annie playfully teases Liza about being serious. Despite their different personalities and backgrounds – Liza attends the Foster School, while Annie goes to a public high school – they connect right away. They exchange phone numbers, starting a friendship that will change their lives.
Growing Connection and Shared Secrets
After meeting at the museum, Liza and Annie start spending more time together. They explore New York City, visiting galleries, parks, and hidden places. Liza likes Annie's creativity, her honesty, and her ability to find beauty in everyday life. Annie appreciates Liza's intelligence and quiet strength. During these outings, they share personal stories, dreams, and fears, opening up to each other in ways they haven't with anyone else. Their conversations often last late into the night over the phone, making their emotional bond stronger. Liza feels drawn to Annie in a new way, finding a sense of belonging and understanding she lacked in her own social circle.
First Feelings of Love and Confusion
As their friendship grows, Liza starts to feel a new emotion – one that goes beyond friendship. She thinks about Annie constantly, wants to be with her, and feels a strong physical pull. This realization brings both excitement and confusion. Liza had always assumed she would develop feelings for boys, like her friends at Foster. She struggles to match her feelings for Annie with social expectations and her own ideas about love. This internal conflict causes Liza much worry as she tries to understand their bond and what it means for her identity, all while fearing rejection or judgment.
A Confession and a First Kiss
The unspoken feelings between Liza and Annie build. During a vulnerable talk, Liza, overcome by emotion, tentatively tells Annie she loves her. To her great relief and joy, Annie says she feels the same way. This mutual confession is a turning point, making their romantic connection solid. They share their first kiss, a tender and important act that confirms their deep feelings for each other. This intimate experience makes Liza's confusing emotions clear and brings a sense of belonging. It marks the start of their romantic relationship, though they feel they must keep it secret.
The Pressure of Secrecy
With their love confessed, Liza and Annie are in a delicate situation. They understand that their relationship is not what society expects and fear the reactions of their families, friends, and school. They decide to keep their romance a secret, meeting discreetly and making up excuses for their time together. This secrecy, while necessary, also creates constant stress and isolation. Liza feels especially pressured by her parents' expectations for her Ivy League future and social standing. The hidden nature of their love casts a shadow over their otherwise joyful connection, forcing them to live a dual life.
The Discovery by Ms. Schaller
Their secret relationship is broken during a school dance at Foster. Liza, feeling overwhelmed by the public display of heterosexual couples and missing Annie, slips away to a secluded classroom where Annie is waiting. In an unguarded moment, they kiss, only to be discovered by Ms. Schaller, the Dean of Students. Ms. Schaller is shocked and disapproves, seeing their interaction as inappropriate and a serious rule-breaking. This discovery is a devastating blow. It exposes their relationship and brings the school's power down upon them, threatening their academic futures and personal lives.
The Aftermath: School and Parental Intervention
After Ms. Schaller's discovery, Liza is called into the principal's office and questioned. The school administration, especially Ms. Schaller, sees their relationship as a scandal that could harm Foster's reputation. Liza's parents are told, and their reaction is even worse. They are horrified and deeply disappointed, seeing Liza's relationship with Annie as a phase, a rebellion, or even a sign of mental illness. They try to control Liza's social life, forbidding her from seeing Annie and suggesting therapy. Liza feels isolated and misunderstood, struggling to defend her love against the strong disapproval of those she trusts.
Annie's Retreat and Liza's Despair
The intense scrutiny and disapproval from both families and the school affect Annie greatly. Unlike Liza, Annie does not have the same support system or academic pressures, but the public exposure and social judgment are too much for her. She starts to pull away from Liza, finding it hard to cope with the constant pressure and the fear of what their relationship means for their futures. Annie's withdrawal leaves Liza devastated, feeling abandoned and heartbroken. Liza struggles with deep despair, questioning her identity, her love, and her future, as the basis of her happiness seems to fall apart under external forces.
Seeking Solace and Understanding
In her darkest time, Liza seeks help from her former English teacher, Ms. Poindexter, who had always encouraged independent thought. Ms. Poindexter, though careful at first, listens to Liza and offers a non-judgmental space, confirming Liza's feelings and encouraging her to trust herself. Liza also confides in her Aunt Kate, who, while not fully understanding, offers unconditional love and practical support that Liza needs. These interactions give Liza important emotional anchors, helping her deal with her grief and confusion, and giving her the strength to consider how she might move forward and fight for her love, or at least for her own truth.
Reconciliation and a Promise for the Future
After a painful separation, Liza and Annie manage to reconnect. They meet again, carefully at first, then with a renewed sense of urgency. They discuss the pain of their separation and the overwhelming pressure they faced. Both girls realize that despite the external challenges, their love for each other remains strong. They confirm their commitment, promising to be true to themselves and to each other, regardless of the difficulties ahead. They know their path will not be easy, but they find comfort and strength in their mutual love and the belief that they can face the future together, even if it means making their own way.
Principal Figures
Liza Winthrop
The Protagonist
Liza transforms from a quiet, conforming student into a self-aware young woman who courageously embraces her identity and love for Annie.
Annie Kenyon
The Protagonist
Annie initially embraces her love with open enthusiasm, then struggles under pressure, but ultimately reaffirms her commitment to Liza and her true self.
Ms. Schaller
The Antagonist
Ms. Schaller remains static in her disapproval, serving as a constant external antagonist.
Ms. Poindexter
The Supporting
Ms. Poindexter provides consistent support and wisdom, guiding Liza through her crisis.
Liza's Mother (Mrs. Winthrop)
The Supporting
Liza's mother remains largely resistant to understanding Liza's true identity, causing a rift in their relationship.
Liza's Father (Mr. Winthrop)
The Supporting
Liza's father reinforces the traditional expectations and disapproval, creating further distance with Liza.
Aunt Kate
The Supporting
Aunt Kate provides a consistent source of unconditional love and practical support for Liza.
Sally
The Mentioned
Sally remains unaware or unaccepting of Liza's true feelings, highlighting Liza's isolation.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Self-Discovery
The novel explores Liza's journey of self-discovery as she deals with her sexual identity. Her love for Annie makes her confront social expectations, her family's values, and her own ideas of who she is. Liza's internal struggle to accept her feelings for Annie is a key part of her growth, leading her to understand and embrace her true self, even under great pressure. This theme shows when Liza, after Annie leaves, seeks guidance from Ms. Poindexter and Aunt Kate, actively working to understand her own truth.
“"And I knew, I really knew, that I loved Annie. And that was all I knew, all I needed to know, all I wanted to know."”
Love and Acceptance
The story's core is the tender and real love between Liza and Annie. The novel shows their relationship with sensitivity and realism, highlighting the joy, closeness, and challenges they face. It contrasts their mutual acceptance and understanding with the lack of acceptance from their families and school. The theme explores the importance of unconditional love, both from others and for oneself, and how much its presence or absence affects life. The girls' eventual reconciliation and renewed commitment show their love's power to last despite outside hostility.
“"I loved Annie. I loved her, and I loved the way I was when I was with her. And I knew that that was real, and that nothing else mattered."”
Conformity vs. Authenticity
Liza's life at Foster School and with her family is shaped by expectations of conformity – academic success, social status, and heterosexual relationships. Her relationship with Annie directly challenges these norms, forcing Liza to choose between conforming to social expectations and living authentically. The pressure from Ms. Schaller and her parents to deny her feelings shows society's demand for conformity. Liza's eventual decision to embrace her love for Annie, even in secret, shows her journey towards authenticity. This struggle is clear in the school dance scene, where Liza leaves the conventional setting to be with Annie.
“"I wanted to be the Liza Winthrop they all expected, the one who was going to an Ivy League college and marrying a nice young man. But I couldn't be."”
Prejudice and Discrimination
The novel directly addresses the prejudice and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ teenagers. Ms. Schaller's disapproval and Liza's parents' horrified reactions show the social intolerance towards same-sex relationships when the book was written. The girls' need to keep their relationship secret, the school's disciplinary actions, and the parental attempts to 'cure' Liza all show this theme. The book comments on the damaging effects of homophobia and the courage needed to defy it.
“"It was a sickness, they said, a phase, a rebellion. Anything but what it really was: love."”
The Power of Supportive Relationships
While Liza faces much opposition, the novel also shows the role of supportive relationships. Ms. Poindexter offers intellectual and emotional validation, encouraging Liza to trust her own feelings. Aunt Kate provides unconditional love and a safe space, showing that not all adults judge. These figures give Liza the strength and perspective needed to get through her crisis and eventually reconnect with Annie. Their understanding is different from the judgment from her parents and Ms. Schaller, emphasizing the positive impact of acceptance.
“"There were people who would understand. Not many, maybe, but enough. Enough to make a difference."”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
First-Person Narrative (Liza's Perspective)
Provides intimate access to Liza's internal struggles and emotional journey.
The story is told entirely from Liza Winthrop's point of view, allowing readers deep insight into her thoughts, feelings, and internal conflicts. This narrative choice makes Liza's journey of self-discovery and her grappling with her sexual identity particularly poignant and relatable. Readers experience her confusion, joy, fear, and eventual resolve directly, fostering empathy and understanding for her experiences as a young woman falling in love with another girl amidst societal disapproval. This perspective emphasizes the personal nature of her struggle and triumph.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A symbolic setting for initial connection and a refuge.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art serves as a crucial setting where Liza and Annie first meet and where their connection deepens. For Liza, it is a place of solace, inspiration, and escape from her conventional life, reflecting her inner world and her artistic sensibilities. For Annie, it's a place to pursue her art. The museum symbolizes a space where they can be themselves, free from the judgment of the outside world, and where their unconventional love can blossom. It represents beauty, timelessness, and a shared passion that binds them.
Contrasting Backgrounds
Highlights the societal divides and strengthens the unique bond between the protagonists.
Liza and Annie come from distinctly different social and economic backgrounds: Liza from an affluent, traditional Brooklyn Heights family attending a prestigious private school, and Annie from a less privileged background attending a public school. This contrast serves to emphasize that love transcends superficial differences and societal expectations. It also heightens the stakes of their relationship, as Liza's family's disapproval is partly rooted in Annie's perceived lower social status, adding another layer to the prejudice they face.
The School Dance Discovery
A pivotal plot point that exposes the secret relationship and triggers conflict.
The discovery of Liza and Annie kissing at the Foster School dance by Ms. Schaller acts as the central catalyst for the story's major conflict. This specific event shatters their secret world and thrusts their relationship into the harsh light of institutional and parental disapproval. It is the turning point that initiates the external pressures, the disciplinary actions, and the emotional turmoil that the girls must navigate. Without this public exposure, the story's exploration of prejudice and the courage to stand firm would not unfold as it does.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“It's not wrong to love someone.”
— Liza reflects on her feelings for Annie, challenging societal norms.
“I'm not sure what I am, but I know I'm not wrong.”
— Annie asserts her identity and feelings amidst confusion and external judgment.
“Sometimes you have to be brave enough to be yourself.”
— A moment of encouragement between the characters as they face challenges.
“Love doesn't have to be explained or justified.”
— Liza contemplates the simplicity and purity of her love for Annie.
“We were just two people who fell in love.”
— Liza describes the essence of their relationship to counter prejudice.
“It's hard to be different, but it's harder to pretend you're not.”
— Annie shares her perspective on living authentically versus conforming.
“I never knew love could feel like this.”
— Liza expresses the new and profound emotions she experiences with Annie.
“The heart doesn't care about rules.”
— A reflection on how love transcends societal expectations and limitations.
“We have to be strong for each other.”
— Liza and Annie discuss supporting one another through adversity.
“Sometimes the world isn't ready for people like us.”
— Annie acknowledges the challenges they face as a same-sex couple.
“Love is the most important thing, no matter what form it takes.”
— A broader philosophical statement on the universality of love.
“I don't want to hide anymore.”
— Liza declares her desire to live openly and honestly.
“We found each other, and that's all that matters.”
— A moment of reassurance between Liza and Annie amidst external pressures.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Annie on My Mind' follows Liza Winthrop, a senior at a private school in New York City, who meets Annie Kenyon, a public school student, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their friendship deepens into a romantic relationship as they navigate first love, but face intense pressure from Liza's school administration and family when their relationship is discovered, forcing them to confront societal prejudice and their own identities.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
