Spanking New, by Clifford Henderson. Bold Strokes Books, 288 pages, $16.95 paper.

Spanky, the narrator of this delicious novel, is an unborn baby who can flit from one character’s thoughts and emotions to another’s – a storytelling perspective that, from a less able author, might have come off as a diaper-load of a gimmick. But Henderson, in only her second book, handles the unorthodox point of view with inventive style and charm. Spanky’s parents-to-be are Nina, an aspiring actress without a role in sight, and Rick, a musician paying the rent changing tires in a garage. Nina’s circle of friends include fag florist Pablo and dyke diva Dink – who harbors an unrequited lust for Nina, and who eventually serves as Rick’s best man at a hilarious “Love Happening” wedding, standing in for his best friend Howie, killed in Iraq. These are just a few of a fabulous novel’s well-rounded characters, which also include Rick’s right-wing father, Nina’s censorious sister – and a queer dog. And, of course, Spanky – who thinks she’s going to be born a boy. Already a “best” of 2010.

by Richard Labonte