57 pages • 1 hour read
Malinda LoLast Night at the Telegraph Club
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo is a 2021 coming-of-age novel about Lily Hu, a Chinese American teenager in 1950s San Francisco, who navigates her emerging sexual identity and experiences societal racism. Discovering the Telegraph Club, a lesbian nightclub, through an ad, she bonds with her classmate Kath, leading to a secretive and transformative relationship over five months. Sensitive topics include racism and homophobia.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo immerses readers in 1950s San Francisco, exploring themes of identity and belonging. Reviewers praise its rich historical context and nuanced portrayal of Chinese-American and LGBTQ+ experiences. Some find the pacing slow, but the heartfelt relationships and vivid setting make it a compelling read.
Who Should Read Last Night at the Telegraph Club?
A reader who would enjoy Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo appreciates historical fiction with strong LGBTQ+ themes, like The Night Watch by Sarah Waters. They are drawn to coming-of-age stories exploring identity and societal constraints, similar to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
900LBook Details
Historical Fiction
Romance
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
LGBTQ
Love / Sexuality
Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Self Discovery
Identity: Sexuality
Identity: Race