The Alliance

Surviving Southside

by Gabriel Goodman

"One Down . . . You're Next." Or so said the note Carmen Mendoza found in her locker. Carmen is out, loud, and proud, so the threat doesn't faze her . . . much. Jamie was Scott King's best friend. Jamie was also gay. Scott never imagined Jamie would kill himself. If Carmen and Scott can figure out how to get along, they'll be an unstoppable alliance.

Genres: LGBT, School, Teen, Young Adult

104 pages, Library Binding

First published May 1, 2013

Reviews

[Gina Malanga · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book with a powerful message. When his best friend Jamie kills himself because he was being bullied for being gay Scott knows he had to do something. Carmen is out and proud but still faces bullying. They each want to start a gay-straight-alliance but don’t have all they need to get it off the ground. They will have to work together but is that even possible?

[Valerie Havran · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing book about trying to get a high school a gsa club after a death of a boy. Two different people work together to get the club started.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, low-level book about LGBTQ bullying and creating a GSA and the problems the kiddos have.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Alliance is a short story that tells a personal anecdote about homophobia. The book alternates points of view between Varsity football player Scott King and queer Carmen Mendoza. The book opens with Scott attending his best friends funeral, who was also gay and committed suicide because of the harassment he was receiving. He is furious once he realizes he was being bullied and decides to create a club at school called the Gay-Straight-Alliance. Carmen catches word of this and believes Scott to be a stereotypical dumb jock and wants to start her own GSA so it can be done right. Lots of people at the high school are skeptical or even against the club itself due to not wanting to be thought of as LGBT or for religious reasons. The petition to start the club needs a certain number of signatures, and Scott realizes that he can get the teacher signatures while Carmen can get the student body signatures, so the two join forces. The book's ending is a bit frustrating, but ultimately very hopeful. While this book takes place in high school, it's great for all ages. Younger ages might not understand suicide or the context of the bullying, but it's a great story that could really encourage and guide children in late elementary or middle school in the right direction regarding bullying and LGBT rights. The book itself is very informative and a quick, fast-paced read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who has a passion for or just wants to know more about the LGBT community.

[Jack]

If I were to pick a favorite type of genre, I would say realistic fiction. I decided to read “The Alliance” by Gabriel Goodman. It was a great book, describing what is going on in some places today. It is about Carmen, who finds a note in her locker saying “One down–you’re next.” Carmen happens to be one of the few LGBT students at her school, and they can often be frowned upon in her school. She wants to start a GSL, meaning straight and LGBT people can become friends, but the school’s neutrality policy is making that hard. I loved this book for its reality check for what is going on in many schools today. I enjoyed this book, and I think you will too.

[Angelina Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novel is high on interest and low on extraneous detail. The story is told in alternating perspectives. One perspective is told by Scott, the reformed jock jerk, and Carmen, the popular hispanic lesbian teenager from a well to do family. The characters are genuine if a bit hyperbolized. The message is strong without being preachy.

The array of topics covered in this book include everything from gender issues to positive adult role models. It's a good exploration of relationships and self awareness.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

very short, quick book. more of an idea or concept book, as the characters aren't well-developed, but more representative of varying "sides" of the issue. this kinda works for this book, as i feel like it's meant to capture a moment in the characters lives. I like that things aren't completely resolved at the end.

Writing style, length, etc make me feel like this is written for younger teens, or those at a lower literacy level.

[Andra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a really hard time giving these good ratings. They are so short and while they are relatively meaningful...they lack depth. They are just a very minimal story with one-sided characters. So while the point they make may be genuine...there really isn't too much that you can get out of the Surviving Southside series.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot topic in today's world. But a book that is written with taste and concern for students being bullid

[Ghslibrary]

Scott's best friend Jaimie has just committed suicide. Scott knew that Jaimie was gay, but what he didn't know was that Jaimie was being bullied at school and online.

Carmen is an out and proud lesbian. Read how Scott and Carmen's goal for starting a GSA - Gay- Straight alliance club for their school brings them together as allies.

Surviving South side Series.

August 2018.