Love Rules

Hamilton High #8

by Marilyn Reynolds

This young adult novel accurately portrays the widespread effects of a young lesbian's decision to come out of the closet and live openly and honestly while still in high school. The story line revolves around Kit Dandridge-a young lesbian struggling to be herself in a repressive environment-her best friend Lynn, and their families and friends. Included are plot elements seen in recent headlines that include the often tragic consequences of high school intolerance and bullying as well as the development of support group networks for gay and lesbian students and their heterosexual allies. Ultimately Love Rules is a testament to the power of love--in family, in friendships, and in both gay and straight teen couples, and a testament to the power of gay/straight alliances in working toward the safety of all students.

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Queer

294 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

Reviews

[Montserrat Lemus · Rating 3 out of 5]

When your spirit sister confides to you that she’s a lesbian your whole world shifts. In the book Love Rules by Marilyn Reynolds it tells the story of two teenage girls during their senior year of high school and the stories that unfold during that period. This story is young adult fiction, it brings about a lot of emotions like sadness, anger, acceptance, and realization on heavy topics. We see the story unfold through Lynn's perspective who at first struggles to accept her spirit sister's new “lifestyle” but as the story progresses we get to see her slowly start to accept Kit and who she really is. Through Kit’s decision to come out and Lynn’s growing support, Love Rules shows the importance of challenging the social norm proving that when someone has love and one's acceptance it can drive social change.
The author has an interesting writing style, Lynn is portrayed as an “airhead” and often as she is the narrator her mind will wonder. At first I found it interesting because it felt like it really did add a touch of realism but as the story progresses I didn’t enjoy it as much. In a certain scene where Lynn was in class while a LGBTQIA+ member was telling their story she completely spaced out and got off track so when she got home and Kit asked her if she was listening and Lynn said no, I felt like it was lack of respect and it made me not like her character as much. The way the author describes certain scenes really into depth is something I really did enjoy from this book because these are serious matters that can happen and I like how she didn’t write lightly about it. During one scene in the book as Kit is more open about her sexual orientation the football players trash her locker horribly and said some nasty things, or like when Lynn’s boyfriend gets pulled over by the police and we get a glimpse of racism and how he’s treated unfairly is something I can truly appreciate how she writes in detail or more like the way she describes what happens.
Love Rules I believe is a good book with an important topic being discussed, it is really relevant today as people still face homophobia as well as racism. I feel as though the author's target audience are young adults which I feel like she did reach but honestly you would never think this book would be about what it is because it just looks like a dramatic teenage love story. I would recommend this book to my friends because they’re into stuff like this as well, it’s a good read and it goes into depth on an important topic that most people don’t discuss as much today because it has died down but just because it died down doesn’t mean that horrible things still aren’t happening. Out of 5 stars I would rate this book a 3 ½, the plot is interesting and the characters feel like teenagers, I just didn’t enjoy the writing style all that much.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to see this book on Amazon Kindle.
This book discusses the events following a confession to her best friend that she is a lesbian. Actually discusses all types of discrimination and violence within the school system.

[Amy Perrault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book for everyone in a school working together to show that no matter your sexuality or race or anything that you can work together to help each other. There are groups & people who are against you but a lot who believe in you no matter who you are & be open to who you feel you can tell.

[Erika Worley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in early high school. It's an interesting look into all sorts of difficult social situations.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynn is leading a typical life with her best friend Kit; that is, until Kit explains that she is gay. Together they join a Gay Alliance whose purpose is topromote tolerance and appreciate diversity. Kit eventually gets a girlfriend, Star; and Lynn gets a boyfriend who is on the football team, and is black. With the help of their friends, they work to promote tolerance, even in the face of parental, adult, and peer obstacles.

This book is one in a series that as the tag line of True-to-Life Series from Hamilton High. The problem I had with the book was the feeling that the writing had been sanitized. I really don't mean to dismiss any author, but I truly felt this author was writing from an educational, majority perspective. One of the issues was that the black male refused to introduce his white girlfriend (Lynn) to his family. The other was the scene in which the football players, led by one of the parents who promoted a religious anti-gay platform, literally ran out of the gym area and physically attacked the group of Gay Alliance students. This attack included efforts to rape Kit and physically harm the one gay male who they had promoted a bullying agenda against.

It all just felt staged. This book could be effective as a learning tool in a class dealing with the concepts of school should be a safe environment for every student. But I found the writing truly lacking an emotional feel to such a serious subject.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Rules is a very intense book and I would recommend it to everyone. It is a book about 2 teenage friends in highschool who have a very strong friendship after one reveal to the other that she is lesbian. First it could not be accepted and her lesbian friend went through a very big phase that involve her cutting all her hair off.
Her lesbian friend was very out about her lesbianism and got bullied alot for it. This kind of bullying toward gay people is called gay bashing and it is very painful to go through. Even her ex-boyfriend/ex-crush was in on the bullying which sucks for her even more. But her friend stuck by her side and supported her.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I somehow stumbled upon this book in my sophomore year of high school and I have never forgotten it since. A story about the dangers of coming out of the closet in high school. I remember crying during this book because I've had many friends who were tormented by our peers for simply being gay. I honestly think that this is a great book for teenagers to read. It teaches to not be ashamed of who you are and that a single friend can make a world of difference. This is the kind of book I would give my children in order to teach them acceptance and understanding.

[Denay Dusnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a gay teenage girl who is facing problwems at her school and how her best friend is dealing wiht it. this book is so well written that i started getting mad for the character, it made me want to get involved.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent teen book from the perspective of a heterosexual, white teen who is friends with a diverse group of teens.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

sad.....

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F REY hh bk.8

[Laure · Rating 3 out of 5]

its an interesting book. Im looking forward to finish it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

#55
Borrowed from library.

FS: "I'm Lynn Wright, seventeen, a senior at Hamilton High."

LS: