Let's Get This Straight: The Ultimate Handbook for Youth with LGBTQ Parents

by Tina Fakhrid-Deen, COLAGE (Primary Contributor)

Let's Get This Straight reaches out to young people with one or more gay, lesbian, bi, or trans parents to provide them with the tools to combat homophobia, take pride in their alternative family structures, and speak out against injustice.  This short but thorough book profiles forty-five diverse youth and young adults, all of whom voice their opinions and provide advice for other youth living in LGBTQ households. Let's Get This Straight also includes probing questions, fun activities, engaging quizzes, and reflective journal sections for youth to share their feelings and experiences about having a gay parent.  By reading this book, readers will learn how identify and overcome barriers to having a gay parent; address discrimination and heterosexism; build a strong self-esteem and sense of belonging; communicate effectively with their parents and individuals outside of the LGBTQ community; access resources and support for their families; respond effectively when challenged about being in a sexual minority family; and reduce the isolation, fear, shame, and confusion that can be associated with having gay parents.  As the media brings ever-increasing exposure to gay-headed households, this book is more important than ever. Let's Get This Straight is the perfect blend of wit, sharing of experiences, and "expert" advice that children with LGBTQ parents need to become more self-aware and affirming, and to maintain healthy relationships with their parents.

Genres: LGBT, Young Adult

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2010

Reviews

[Michelle Thomas]

By Michelle Thomas

Fakhrid-Deen, T. (2013). Let’s get this straight: the ultimate handbook for youth with LGBTQ parents. New York: Seal Press.

Professional Review: School Library Journal. (2011). Let’s get this straight: the ultimate handbook for youth with LGBTQ parents.

Reference Type: Handbook

Call number: 306.87408664

Content Scope: The book has seven chapters and includes topics such as families coming out, bullying, and acceptance. The book is geared towards kids from 12 to 15 years old.

Accuracy Authority Biased: The book has interviews with 44 people ranging from age 8-36 from different races. The first-hand interviews make this resource a valuable addition to the library.

Arrangement and Presentation: The book has interviews, poetry, questionnaires, and pages for journaling. It has a glossary of terms as well as activism resources.

Relation to Similar Works: The library does not have a publication similar to this.

Timeliness and Permanence: This publication deals with issues that are a part of the everyday life of a lot of students. Having this book will help students understand a lot of the internal issues that they may be dealing with.

Accessibility/ Diversity: The first-hand stories are reflective of several different races and ages. Students may be able to see their experiences within the stories.

Cost: $16.00

[Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s Get This Straight: The Ultimate Handbook for Youth with LGBTQ Parents is very informative. Tina Fakhrid-Deen begins with an introduction of herself and COLAGE and her goals for this book and how the reader should use this book to get the most out of it. She then provides a glossary of the terms used in the book as well as a note to parents about the book. The chapters cover multiple topics about family structures (married, divorced, separated, single and double LGBTQ* and transgendered families), adoption, surrogacy, etc. The chapters also cover religion as well as what children will go through at middle school and high school (peer pressure, etc.). There are also personal quizzes and empty journal pages for the reader to write in. There are also personal quotes and accounts of people who have LGBTQ* parents which gives the reader a personal connection. Let’s Get This Straight: The Ultimate Handbook for Youth with LGBTQ Parents was awarded a place on the Rainbow List for Young Adult Nonfiction in 2011.

I read this book for a bibliography I was putting together on LGBTQ* literature for children and teens.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

So... this book isnt out yet. But I have read it. Many times. That's because I helped write it. So please help give it a shout out good reads style by adding it to your "To-read" list!

Its an amazing new resource for tweens/teens/YA who have/had LGBTQ parents. word.

[Blackbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A self help workbook for middle and high school students with LGBTQ parents.
The most interesting chapters were Family Structures, Barriers To Accepting Our Parents, How to Survive School and Through God's Eyes.
It was a fast, informative read for kids.