Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

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Citation

Wittlinger, Ellen. Parrotfish. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007. Print.

Awards

•       Finalist, Lambda Literary Awards, 2008
•       NYPL Books for the Teen Age list, 2008
•       Nominated: ALA Stonewall Awards, 2008
•       Advocate Top Picks for Trans YA Fiction
•       ALA Rainbow List, 2008
•        Nominated: Cybils, 2007

Annotation

Grady, a high school junior, begins to live his life openly as a transgender boy, and deals with the response of his friends, family, and community.

Booktalk

What does it mean to be a transgender teen? To go through puberty and feel like your body is changing, but not in the way you had hoped? To have to explain to everyone else what it means to be transgender when you are figuring it out yourself?


Grady has cut his hair, has a wardrobe of boy's clothes from the thrift store, and has been binding his chest with Ace bandages. Now he's ready to take the next step - asking his friends, family, and school to stop thinking of him as Angela and start calling him Grady. While his dad has no issue with the change, not everyone takes the news as well. His principal thinks it's a phase and won't change his records, his mom is avoiding him, and his best friend and her new mean girl clique are openly calling him a pervert and trying to make his life hell. 


Despite the obstacles, Grady is feeling good about his decision to be himself. What does the future hold for Grady?




*Be sure to check out the back of the book for transgender resources.

(video by pritchwitt at youtube.com)

Teen Perspective

“[It’s my favorite book] because I don't think there are enough books about transgendered people in circulation.” – Liam, 17.

The Misfits by James Howe

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Citation

Howe, James. The Misfits. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. Print.

Awards

•          ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Annotation

Four outcast friends run for student council as the No Name Party as a protest against bullying in school.

Booktalk

Loser. Fatty. Dweeb. Geek. Fag. What names have you been called?

Middle school is tough, especially when you aren’t popular. Bobby Goodspeed lives in a trailer with his dad, and even though he is only 12, works as a tie salesman at the local department store to make ends meet. Addie, Joe, and Skeezie have been his best friends as long as he can remember. Even though there are only four of them, they call themselves the Gang of Five – it sounds cooler. They are used to being outcasts, but when student council elections come around, Addie decides that it’s time for a change. In order to start a third party, they have to prove that they are representing a group of students that isn’t covered by Democrats or Republicans. Bobby thinks of the names he gets called every day for being fat – Lardo, Fatass, Dough Boy. The others quickly join in. Joe’s been called Faggot, Sissy,Twinkle Toes, Fairy; Skeezie gets Retard and Slimeball; Addie is Beanpole, Know-it-all, Big Mouth. Combined with the usual Loser, Geek, Dweeb, and Nerd, they fill a page in no time. This is their angle. They will be the No Name Party. Will the rest of the school stand behind their push to eliminate name calling and bullying?

“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit.” (142)

More Teen Perspectives on LGBTQ Lit

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“I read queer lit because like all art, literature is a reflection of the consciousness of a culture. I enjoy queer art (including literature) because I can relate to it. Also, when I was younger and just coming out, it was comforting to see the LGBT community reflected in books. I knew that I wasn't alone.” – Kai, 17.

“What I like about LGBTQ books is that I can relate to how the main character is feeling.” – Maggie, 13.

“Many of them are homonormative-- portraying upper-middle class white characters (usually male). As a queer person of color, I don't often find much to relate to in YA LGBT lit as it currently exists. Also, many of the books in the genre are about coming out. Because most of the books are centered around homonormative characters, there usually isn't much diversity in the coming out story. The books become predictable. At present, I'm more interested in books that integrate LGBTQ characters without focusing solely on that particular aspect of the character's identity ("tokenizing," if you will). Most LGBTQ YA fiction does not take on this pursuit. Or if a book does, the LGBT characters are stereotypes, "sassy gay friend," or the "butch lesbian bro."” – Gabrielle, 18.


Gabrielle raises some good points! What are your criticisms of the LGBTQ genre? What's your perspective?

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

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Citation

Garden, Nancy. Annie on My Mind. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1982. Print.

Awards

•         1982 Booklist Reviewers' choice
•      1982 ALA Best Books
•         Best Books of the 1980s
•         ALA Best Books for YAs for past 25 Years, 1994
•         One of the Best of the Best Books for YAs of the last 4 decades of the 20th Century, ALA, 2000
•         Won Mock Printz Award for 1982 in contest held at ALA Midwinter in 2002

Annotation

Two high school girls in New York City, Annie Kenyon and Liza Winthrop, find that their friendship is blossoming into a new, sweet love.

Booktalk

Liza Winthrop found Annie Kenyon in the middle of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, singing a song to herself. They find themselves in a spirited jousting battle, dueling their way through the knights in the Hall of Arms and Armor. After that, they are inseparable friends. Soon they realize their friendship has become something more.

“Annie turned around and looked at me and the sadness in her eyes made me want to put my arms around her. “I’ll go, Liza,” she said, standing up. “I – I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t think you want this, so I have hurt you and, oh, God, Liza,” she said, touching my face, “I don’t want to, I – like you so much. I told you, you make me feel – real, more real than I’ve ever though I could fee, more alive, you – you’re better than a hundred Californias, but it’s not only that, it’s…”

“Better than all those white birds?” I said around the ache that was in my throat again. “Because you’re better than anything or anyone for me, too, Annie, better than – oh, I don’t know better than what – better than everything – but that’s not what I want to be saying – you – you’re – Annie, I think I love you.”

I heard myself say it as if I were someone else, but the moment the words were out, I knew more than I’d ever known anything that they were true.” (94)

As their relationship blossoms and their love grows, Annie and Liza deal with becoming intimate, whether or not to come out to their families, and their plans for college and beyond. 

Teen Perspective

“[It’s a]well written, sweet love story about realizing who you are.” – Melissa, 17.

Deliver Us From Evie by M.E. Kerr

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Citation

Kerr, M.E. Deliver Us From Evie. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.

Award

•        National Council of Teachers of English Best Young Adult Novels of the '90s pick
•       Best Book Honor award, Michigan Library Association, 1994
•        Horn Book Fanfare Honor book, 1995

Annotation

Set in 1990s small town Missouri, Deliver Us From Evie tells the story of Evie Burrman and her relationship with the daughter of the most prominent man in town, through the eyes of her younger brother, Parr.

Booktalk

Do you ever feel trapped? Like your responsibilities are holding you in a place you won’t ever be able to leave? Evie Burrman works on her family farm in Duffton, Missouri. She smokes like a chimney and can fix anything. She and her younger brother Parr know that at least one of them will have to stick around after graduation to run the farm. One day, Parr checks the mail to find a postcard to Evie from Patty Duff (daughter of the town-founding Duff family) that says “Here for the weekend with Margaret Leighton.…Wish you were her.” Parr wants his sister to be happy, and doesn’t really mind that she’s gay, but if she leaves, he’s trapped. When news of Evie and Patty’s relationship gets out (news travels fast in a small town), Patty’s father does everything he can with his wealth and power to keep the two of them apart. Will Evie (and Parr) make it off the farm and out of Duffton? Can Evie and Patty stay together despite Mr. Duff’s actions?

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

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Citation

Peters, Julie Anne. Luna. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2004. Print.

Awards

•          2004 National Book Award Finalist in Young People’s Literature
•          2005 Stonewall Honor Book, awarded by the GLBTQ Round Table of the American Library Association
•          An American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 2005
•          2005 Colorado Book Award for Young Adult Literature
•          2005 Lambda Literary Award Finalist
•          2004 Borders Original Voices Award Finalist
•          Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2004, Books for Great Teens
•          Michigan Library Association 2005 Thumbs Up! Award Nominee
•          Rhode Island Teen Book Award 2006 Nominee
•          Missouri Gateway Book Award 2006 Nominee
•          Vermont Green Mountain Book Award 2006 Nominee
•          New York Public Library Books for the Teen-Age List 2005
•          2004 Book Sense Summer Reading List for Teens
•          An ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Annotation

A teenage girl helps keep her older brother’s secret – that she is a transgender girl and wants to live her life as the woman she knows herself to be.

Booktalk

Regan just wants a normal life, with a mom who stays home to be a mom, a dad that provides for the family, and a big brother that looks out for her, but that’s not what she gets. Her mom is busy with her new business, popping pills to stay awake or go to sleep. Her dad got laid off from his job and had to take part time work at Home Depot, and can’t deal with not being the breadwinner. He wants his wife and daughter at home cooking and cleaning, and his son playing sports. Meanwhile, her brother Liam regularly wakes Regan up in the middle of the night so that he can put on wigs and makeup and dresses.

That’s when he’s happiest: when he can be Luna, a true expression of the woman she knows she is inside. Regan doesn’t really understand what it means for Liam to be transgender. She knows her brother has always thought of himself as a girl, and Regan wants to support her. Regan is the only one who knows Luna, but that is about to change. Going out shopping, telling the parents, living her truth – nothing is easy when Liam becomes Luna.

Gravel Queen by Tea Benduhn

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Citation

Benduhn, Tea. Gravel Queen. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003. Print.

Awards

•          2003 Lambda Literary Award Nominee (Children's/Young Adult)

Annotation

Sixteen year old Aurin just wants to spend a summer hanging out with her friends, but when she meets Neila, her heart makes other plans.

Booktalk

Have you ever had feelings for someone that you can’t really explain? Aurin is ready for another lazy summer with her friends Kenney and Jack until a new girl shows up at the park. She’s not sure what it is, but there is just something about that girl that Aurin can’t get over.

Aurin is ready to be frustrated Kenney for forcing the three of them into another one of her inescapable plans. Ballroom dancing lessons are not Aurin’s idea of a good time. Her feelings change though, when she sees her mystery girl walk into the room.  Neila’s halo of yellow hair, her smooth brown skin, her gravelly voice – Aurin could spend all day thinking about her. Could she be falling in love?

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

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Citation

Sanchez, Alex. Rainbow Boys. New York: Simon & Shuster, 2001. Print.

Awards

•            Abraham Lincoln Book Award Master List (IL)
•           ALA Best Books For Young Adults
•            Children's Literature Choice List

Annotation

Three high school boys deal with coming out, their senior year of high school, and their plans for the future.

Booktalk

Jason loves his girlfriend Debra, but he can’t get boys off the brain. When he goes to the Rainbow Youth group meeting, he sees Kyle and Nelson from his high school. Great. He knew it was a mistake. Now everyone at school will know he’s – what, exactly? Jason isn’t even sure himself. Kyle couldn’t believe Jason, basketball superstar and his biggest crush, might be into guys. Does he even stand a chance? Nelson isn’t sure why seeing the way Kyle reacted to Jason is making him so emotional. Nelson and Kyle are gay, and they’re best friends, but it’s not like they’re in love with each other. Right?

Jason, Kyle, and Nelson take turns narrating chapters as they go through their senior year of high school, figure out who they are and who they love, and deal with coming out to their families and classmates. What will the future hold for these Rainbow Boys?

(Be sure to check out the back of the book for resources on starting a Gay-Straight Alliance, support lines, and sexual health.)

Teen perspective:

“[The book is] based on 3 teens who are my age, just starting to go to uni, having new life experiences, probably one of the most informative LGBTQ books I've read in the past.” – Sam, 17.

Teen Perspectives on LGBTQ Lit

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“[I read it] because I find it interesting. I look for queer literature specifically because if I just pick a book at random it seems likely that it will just be about straight/cis people etc.” – Imogen, 16

“They are fun to read because you can actually relate to the character(s).” – Madison, 14.

“It helps me to read about relationships I can relate to, and it helped me come to terms with my sexuality.” – Rosie, 17.


What do you like about LGBTQ lit? What's your perspective?

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

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Citation

Levithan, David. Boy Meets Boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. Print.

Awards

•   2003, Lambda Literary Award, Children/Young Adult
•   ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults
•   ALA Quick Pick

Annotation

Paul meets Noah, the new boy at his high school, and their initial affection blossoms slowly into love.

Booktalk

Paul is a high school sophomore, and has been out since his kindergarten teacher wrote that he was “definitely gay and has a very good sense of self” on his report card. He has a loving family, and a fantastic group of friends. There’s Joni, his best friend since first grade, Tony, who is living his life despite his Christian parents disapproval, and Infinite Darlene, the sassy star quarterback and homecoming queen. When he meets Noah, a senior, sparks fly. It’s like a movie, how easily they understand each other, and how much they enjoy each other’s company. The record skips a beat when Paul’s ex, Kyle, says hello in the hall after months of silence. What does he want? What does it all mean? Things aren’t always easy when Boy Meets Boy.

Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence by Marion Dane Bauer (ed.)

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Citation

Bauer, Marion Dane, ed. Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994. Print.

Awards

• ALA Best Books for Young Adults
• ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• ALA Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual Book Award for Literature, 1995
• Lambda Literary Award for Children and Young Adults, 1995
• Minnesota Book Award for older children, 1995

Annotation

In a collection of short stories, edited by Marion Dane Bauer, Am I Blue? explores the experience of gay and lesbian life through the eyes of young adults.

Booktalk

Am I the only one? At times, growing up, it can feel that way.

The characters in this book come from a myriad of backgrounds. They span different races, religions, forms of family. Some are questioning their sexuality. Some are coming out as gay or lesbian. Some are learning more about a gay friend or parent. They all find comfort in the fact that they are not alone. The authors are able to tell many different types of tales, and in doing so, illustrate that being gay or lesbian is not one sole experience.

Sharing their stories helps illuminate things that are often kept quiet or left unsaid. Learn more about these stories in Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence.

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

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Block, Francesca Lia. Weetzie Bat. New York: Harper Collins, 1989. Print.

Awards

•          2009 Phoenix Award, Children’s Literature Association
•          ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
•          ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
•          ALA Best Book for Young Adults
•          Parents' Choice Gold Award

Annotation

A blonde punk princess from Los Angeles navigates her glitter-filled, fairy tale city with an ever-expanding motley crew in Weetzie Bat, the book that shares her name. This is the first book in Francesca Lia Block’s Weetzie Bat series.

Review

Lanky lizards! Weetzie Bat is not your average teen novel. Although our heroine mentions high school on the first page, we do not spend time in the classroom. Instead, we follow her on adventures across Los Angeles (with a brief pit stop in New York) with her gay best friend Dirk, his grandmother Fifi, Dirk’s partner Duck, and her beau, My Secret Agent Lover Man. A genie pops out of a lamp to grant wishes. A Witch Baby appears on the doorstep. In this surreal world, anything seems possible. 


And yet – the book feels very real. Weetzie has surrounded herself with people she loves, and who love her. Everyone speaks honestly about their emotions, passions, and fears. The book reads almost like poetry and is filled with lush descriptions and catchy slang. Block has created a vibrant, eclectic, surreal world, and I am excited that there are more books in the series to experience it. 

(video by starwarsbuffyccg at youtube.com)