The New York Times bestselling author of Every Day delivers an emotional and politically charged novel that’s perfect reading for an election year—and for every year—but most especially for those times when the very democratic process is called into question and basic rights are at risk .   In the not-too-impossible-to-imagine future, a gay Jewish man has been elected president of the United States. Until the governor of one state decides that some election results in his state are invalid, awarding crucial votes to the other candidate, and his fellow party member. Thus is the inspiration for couple Jimmy and Duncan to lend their support to their candidate by deciding to take part in the rallies and protests. Along the way comes an exploration of their relationship, their politics, and their country, and sometimes, as they learn, it's more about the journey than it is about reaching the destination. Only David Levithan could so masterfully and creatively weave together a plot that's both parts political action and reaction, as well as a touching and insightfully-drawn teen love story.   A MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD WINNER “Levithan’s latest reaches out to shake readers awake, showing them how each person’s life touches another, and another, until ultimately history is made.” —Booklist, Starred “In conjuring a world where every vote actually counts, Wide Awake stands with Levithan’s extraordinary Boy Meets Boy in sheer creativity of plot, setting, and message.” —School Library Journal David Levithan is a children's book editor in New York City. The author lives in Hoboken, NJ. “I can’t believe there’s going to be a gay Jewish president.” As my mother said this, she looked at my father, who was stillstaring at the screen. They were shocked, barely comprehending. Me? I sat there and beamed. I think it was the Jesus Freaks who were the happiest the next day at school. Most of the morning papers were saying that Stein’s victory wouldn’t have been possible without the Jesus Revolution in the church, and I don’t think Mandy or Janna or any of the other members of The God Squad would’ve argued. Mandy was wearing her JESUS IS LOVET-shirt, while Janna had a LOVETHYNEIGHBOR button on her bag, right above the STEIN FOR PRESIDENT sticker. When they saw me walk through the door, they cheered and ran over, bouncing me into a jubilant hug. I wasn’t the only gay Jew they knew, but I was the one they knew best, and we all had been volunteers on the Stein/Martinez campaign together. After the hugging was done, we stood there for a moment and looked at one another with utter astonishment. We’d done it. Even though we wouldn’t be able to vote for another two years, we’d helped to make this a reality. It was the most amazing feeling in the world, to know that something right had happened, and to know that it had happened not through luck or command but simply because it was right. Some of our fellow students walked by us and smiled. Others scoffed or scowled–there were plenty of people in our school who would’ve been happy to shove our celebration into a locker and keep it there for four years. “It was only by one state,” one of them grunted. “Only a thousand votes in Kansas.” “Yeah, but who also got the popular vote?” Mandy challenged. The guy just spat on the ground and moved on. “Did he really just spit ?” Janna asked. “Ew.” I was looking everywhere for Jimmy. As soon as the results had been announced, I’d gone to my room to call him. “Can you believe it?” I’d asked. “I am so so so happy,” he’d answered. And I was so so so happy, too. Not only because of the election but because I had Jimmy to share it with. I had two things to believe in now, and in a way they felt related. The future–that was it. I believed in the future, and in our future. “I love you,” he’d said at the end of the call, his voice bleary from the hour but sweetened by the news. “I love you, too,” I’d replied. “Good night.” “Very good night.” Now I wanted the continuation, the kiss that would seal it. The green states had triumphed, the electoral college was secure, and I was in love with a boy who was in love with me. “Somewhere Jesus is smiling,” Janna said. “Praise be,” Mandy chimed in. Keisha and Mira joined us in the halls, fingers entwined. They looked beamy, too. “Not a bad day for gay Jew boys, huh?” Keisha said to me. “Not a bad day for Afro-Chinese lesbians, either,” I pointed out. Keisha nodded. “You know it’s the truth.” We had all skipped school the previous two days to get out the vote. Since most of us weren’t old enough to drive, we acted as dispatchers, fielding calls from Kennedy-conscious old-age-home residents and angry-enough agoraphobic liberals,making sure the ESVs came to take them to the polls. Other kids, like Jimmy, had been at the polling places themselves, getting water and food for people as they waited hours for their turn to vote. I felt that history was happening. Not like a natural d