The Trouble with Runaways is a story that centers queer love, joy, and history. No gay characters were buried in the writing of this book. You can't solve all your problems by running away from home and joining the circus, but for 17 year old Simon Dubois, a trans man living in New York in the 1930's, it's the one place he might be able to find acceptance. Escaping his strict parents, Simon moves in with his uncles, fitting right in with the circus troupe at Coney Island. Along the way he meets a boy named Emmett, an up and coming drag queen from Harlem, and the two find connection and first love. Surrounded by talented performers, he finds purpose in supporting his friends and found family from his place backstage. As he builds this new life for himself and discovers what being a man means to him, he can never quite escape the troubles that come with being a runaway: the fear of being caught. Running away from your problems works for a little while, but eventually, Simon will have to face his past head on, but with the support and community he never had before.