The Heart Has Its Reasons: Young Adult Literature with Gay/Lesbian/Queer Content, 1969-2004

by Michael Cart, Christine A. Jenkins

Society does not make it easy for young people, regardless of their sexual orientation, to find accurate, nonjudgmental information about homosexuality. It makes it even more difficult for young homosexuals to find positive role models in fiction either written or published expressly for them or―if published for adults―relevant to them and their lives.

The Heart Has Its Reasons examines these issues and critically evaluates the body of literature published for young adults that offers homosexual themes and characters. Cart and Jenkins chart the evolution of the field of YA literature having GLBTQ (gay/lesbian/bisexual, transgendered, and/or queer/questioning) content. They identify titles that are remarkable either for their excellence or failures, noting the stereotypic, wrongheaded, and outdated books as well as the accurate, thoughtful, and tactful titles. Useful criteria for evaluating books with GLBTQ content are provided. Books and resources of all types are reviewed based on a model that uses the category descriptors of Homosexual Visibility, Gay Assimilation, and Queer Consciousness/Community. An annotated bibliography and a number of author-title lists of books discussed in the text arranged by subject round out this valuable reference for teachers, librarians, parents, and young adults.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, Adult, Academic, Reference

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Former Director of the Beverly Hills (CA) Public Library and a Past President of the Young Adult Library Services Association, Michael Cart is a nationally recognized expert in children's and young adult literature. Now a columnist and reviewer for ALA's Booklist magazine, he is the author or editor of eight books, including From Romance to Realism, a critical history of YA literature; MY FATHER'S SCAR, a young adult novel that was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and the anthology LOVE AND SEX: Ten Stories of Truth, also a Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Michael teaches young adult literature at UCLA and is the recipient of the 2000 Grolier Foundation Award. He lives in northern California.

Reviews

[Ocean · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, this book was basically like attaching a funnel to my brain and dumping hundreds of blended-up queer ya novels right inside! extremely pleasurable, if you're a queer-ya lit nerd (which, obviously, i am)

[Pghbekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well researched and informative, while being enjoyable to read. A good feat! Explains my current to-read attack.

What I've learned so far: Between 1969 and 2004, 200 books with LGBTQ content aimed at the young adult audience were published in the US. That's such a miniscule amount! It has increased over the years, of course.

I have other thoughts about how much I love the authors' treatment of this subject, but maybe I'll get back to that later.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a fantastic book for reference, with a little bit of theory to take away, as well. If you're a scholar of YA or LGBT lit (or both), you absolutely need this book on your shelf.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this thinking it was an encyclopedia, and was pleasantly surprised when it was actually a critical review. It was interesting to read how the field develop and I appreciated the fact that authors analyzed both the content of the books and their literary quality. It definitely brought me right back to that horrified moment when I realized that The Drowning of Stephan Jones was, in fact, terrible.

[Adriana Martinez Figueroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant source for Queer YA Lit research! Would love to see a more updated version of it, though!

[Rachel Bernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect reading for my diversity in ya research term paper.
lots of insight that i needed


read for: cor 102

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utilized for the CCS/PFLAG Dayton Rainbow Reading project.

[Lorena Miyuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5 só porque acho que ele poderia ser maior e abordar outros livros - mais da metade dos capítulos se concentra nos mesmos autores e nas mesmas obras.
É uma leitura indispensável, porém, para quem estuda o gênero e tem uma metodologia clara e simples, pronta pra ser usada em outras pesquisas também.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear by anything that Christine Jenkins and Michael Cart have written together (and separately). Their work, this title included, was invaluable to me as I worked on both my general exams and dissertation.
The Heart Has Its Reasons gives a thorough overview of YAL with LGBTQ+ themes without overwhelming the readers. It likewise provides a critical scope of various topics that can be cited by researchers in their own work. I drew heavily from the ideas that Jenkins and Cart voice in this book and Representing the Rainbow (another must-read for researchers and grad students in English lit and/or Education).
Thank you, Jenkins and Cart!!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful more as an annotated bibliography than as a work of analysis.