Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

(image via goodreads.com)

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

(image via goodreads.com)

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?

Gravel Queen by Tea Benduhn

(image via librarything.com)

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?

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

(image via goodreads.com)

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.