Lion’s Legacy (Tennessee Russo #1)

A gay teen pairs up with his estranged treasure hunter father to seek out a Grecian artifact in this gripping series kickoff from Rosen (Lavender House) that’s both thrilling escapade and simmering romance. White Jewish 17-year-old Tennessee Russo and his renowned archaeologist father, Henry Johnson, haven’t spoken for two years following a fight over the proper guardianship of the artifacts they uncover: while Henry feels that those with money are best able to protect these objects, Ten believes that it’s wrong to remove them from their native country. But when Henry appears with a proposal to track down a magical item rumored as once belonging to an army of queer Greek soldiers, Ten agrees. In Athens, Henry hires 17-year-old Athenian Leo, a queer history buff, to be their translator, and there’s an immediate spark between the two teens. After they discover that Henry’s colleague wants the artifact, Henry, Ten, and Leo must race against the clock to find it first. Through Ten and Leo’s conversations about queer history, and the meticulous detail with which the author recounts underreported events in Grecian history, Rosen makes an insistent case for recognizing and teaching LGBTQ history and understanding legacy. Ages 12–17. (May)

Correction: This review has been revised for clarity.