Mean

Finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in LGBTQ Nonfiction
Finalist for the Publishing Triangle Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Nonfiction
Nylon, “Our Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2017”
Book Riot, “The Best Genre Bending Fiction of 2017”
NBC, “8 Great Latino Books of 2017”
BuzzFeed, “The 19 Best Nonfiction Books Of 2017”
Autostraddle, “The Top 10 Queer and Feminist Books of 2017”
Remezcla, “These Were the Best Books From Latin American & Latino Authors in 2017”
The Riveter, “The Riveter’s Top Ten Books of 2017”

GURBA GROWS UP QUEER, CHICANA, AND TAKE NO PRISONERS. HER STORY IS A REVELATION, A DELIGHT, AND AN EYE-OPENER.

True crime, memoir, and ghost story, Mean is the bold and hilarious tale of Myriam Gurba’s coming-of-age as a queer, mixed-race Chicana. Blending radical formal fluidity and caustic humor, Gurba takes on sexual violence, small towns, and race, turning what might be tragic into piercing, revealing comedy. This is a confident, intoxicating, brassy book that takes the cost of sexual assault, racism, misogyny, and homophobia deadly seriously.

“[Gurba's] dark humor isn’t used for shock value alone, offering instead a striking image of deflection and coping in the face of real pain and terror.” Publishers Weekly

“With its icy wit, edgy wedding of lyricism and prose, and unflinching look at personal and public demons, Gurba’s introspective memoir is brave and significant.” Kirkus

“With unconstrained, inventive, stop-you-in-your-tracks writing, Gurba asserts that there is glee, freedom, and, perhaps most of all, truth in meanness.” Booklist

Myriam Gurba lives in California and loves it. She teaches high school, writes, and makes “art.” NBC described her short story collection Painting Their Portraits in Winter as “edgy, thought-provoking, and funny.” She has written for Time, KCET, and the Rumpus. Wildflowers, compliments, and cash make her happy.