Twist: An American Girl

Adele Bertei’s semi-autobiographical novel follows protagonist Maddie Twist through 1960s-70s working-class American neighborhoods marked by poverty, violence, and systemic oppression. Through her avatar, Bertei deconstructs trauma narratives by emphasizing survival, imagination, and artistic resistance rather than victimhood. The narrative incorporates queer culture, Catholic imagery, rock and roll, cabaret, and encounters with marginalized communities including a drag collective called the Holy Maudlins. Bertei examines the dangerous intersection of queerness, poverty, and misogyny while exploring how art, poetry, and music provide transcendence and salvation. The work functions simultaneously as personal history and cultural commentary on working-class queer life, addressing systemic harm without didacticism. Published by Omnibus Press (272 pages, September 2024), it resonates with readers navigating trauma, foster care, or artistic self-expression.

Published by Omnibus Press — AI-generated summary. Visit the publisher to learn more.