Milo Todd's debut novel, The Lilac People, is set in Germany before and after World War II. That timeframe evokes a lot of feelings in the queer community, but I didn't realize how potent those feelings would become when informed through a historical fiction trans and queer story. In dense, powerful prose, Milo conveys the depth of depravity the Nazis embodied, the moralistic drivers in the victorious Americans, and the resilience and joy of the queer and trans folks who existed and persisted.

I found the primary character, Bertie, to be so beautifully whole. From his pre-War joy in Berlin, tempered with fear for the future, Bertie's actions and words speak to the excitement of freedom to be oneself and associate with the best chosen family. The romance of Bertie and Sofie was suffused with longing, the dance, the headiness, so artfully described. I think that most of the main characters were written exceedingly well with clear voices. One voice that rang out is Karl, who tells his story in an absolutely brilliant chapter in his own distinct voice. 

This book does not just tell the story of Bernie, Sofie, and Karl. It's impressively researched and calls upon the remarkable archives that tell the story of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld and the Institute of Sexual Science (which was nearly totally destroyed by the Nazis). This book, along with Secret City and it's description of the Lavender Scare, remind me of how much effort, strength, and time it takes to make progress as a society around queer and transgender rights and how fast that can be reversed during reactionary times. Unfortunately, we're in a period like that right now.

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