Queer books discussion

I am putting together a booklist of powerful LGBTQ books for teens. I would prefer contemporary titles that are well written. Two of my favorites are:

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

Any ideas?

My favorite lesbian book when I was a teenager was Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden.

I am a huge fan of Nancy Garden. She also has a book called Good Moon Rising which I absolutely adore.

Anything by Alex Sanchez is excellent. Try the Rainbow High series (there are three books) and "God Box" is a great discussion of Christianity and coming to terms with being gay as a teen. Also "Naomi & Eli's No Kiss List" by Rachel Cohn is a great book. I feel that there are so many great books out there written for teens than when I was coming out in the 80's. There's also David Levithan's latest, "How They Met" which is a series of love stories between folks of all gender combinations.

There's also a book called "The Blue Lawn" which I really liked. I don't remember the author.

Also, there's Liquor by Poppy Z. Brite. I recommended that book. There are 3 more books in the series, but they are all pretty similar.

I recently reviewed a new lesbian YA book entitled My Tiki Girl for OurChart.com. It was wonderful and should definitely be included on your list!

My review can be found here: http://www.ourchart.com/content/book-...

Orphan's Quest, by Pat Nelson Childs

And I'd add, off the top of my head (from what I've read):

"Trailblazing" by Eric Anderson
"Bleeding Hearts" by Josh Aterovis
"Gravel Queen" by Tea Benduhn
"Tithe" by Holly Black
"Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat books" by Francesca Lia Block
"Bridge Across the Ocean" by Randy Boyd
"The Perks of a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
"My Heartbeat" by Garret Freymann-Weyr
"Jumping off the Planet" by David Gerrold
"Magic's Pawn" by Mercedes Lackey
"The Year of Ice" by Brian Malloy
"Clay's Way" by Blair Mastbaum
"A Son Called Gabriel" by Damian McNicholl
"Talking in the Dark" by Billy Merrell
"The Mirror of Love" by Alan Moore
"Hero" by Perry Moore
"Virginia Lovers" by Michael Parker
"Keeping You a Secret" by Julie Anne Peters
"How I Learned to Snap" by Kirk Read
"Something Dangerous" by Patrick Redmond
"Funny Boy" by Shyam Selvadurai
"The Silk Road" by Jane Summer
"Outcast" & "Outside In" by Stuart Thorogood
"Please Don't Kill the Freshman" by Zoe Trope
"Hard Love" by Ellen Wittlinger
"Autobiography of a Family Photo" by Jacqueline Woodson

There are probably some lists online somewhere on this topic. I used to work at a GLBT bookstore, so I once read a lot. :)

If I might be so bold, I'll suggest both of my books.

First, A SECRET EDGE. On the surface, this looks like a coming-out book for a gay 16-year-old track star, a runner, who falls for a high-jumper on his team. But the high-jumper is from India and is obsessed with Ghandi, while the runner carries a switchblade. The story explores the concepts of honesty, violence vs. non-voilence, and includes a smattering of Hindu philosophy. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85...

Then, THINKING STRAIGHT. ***** Taylor Adams is a Christian, gay teenager whose parents send him to a summer camp designed to straighten him out. Over the course of the story, he manages to figure out how to remain true both to himself and to his religion. He learns to think strategically about religion. He learns that it's all about love, and he does that in a very surprising way. Per author Mark Kendrick: THINKING STRAIGHT is an indictment of dogma and fundamentalism, a vindication of the power of love, and a fresh interpretation of being Christian and gay in the 21st century.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...

Luna- Julie Anne Peters
Far From Xanadu- Julie Anne Peters
Between Mom and Jo- Julie Anne Peters
Empress of the World- Sarah Waters
Rainbow Boys- Alex Sanchez
Rainbow High- Alex Sanchez
Rainbow Road- Alex Sanchez

Empress of the World is actually by Sarah Ryan. Her other book, Rules for Hearts, is also good - but there's less emphasis on sexuality in it, more of just regular life with a lesbian teenager.

The three "rainbow" books by Alex Sanchez are very good on relationships, and easiliy readble by a 9th grader.

I agree with you Ted... I think the Rainbow Trilogy portrays perfectly what it is like to grow up gay.

Deliver Us from Evie, by M.E. Kerr, is very well written. It's from the point of view of a boy whose big sister comes out. It's neither sugar-coated nor cliche.

Ashley.. yes, perhaps, if you're young and good-looking. After finishing the "Rainbow" trilogy, I emailed Alex Sanchez. Here's what I wrote, and what he wrote in reply (I don't think he'll mind me reproducing it here):

Dear Alex,

I devoured your Rainbow trilogy in a little under 48 hours. As engaging as it's been, it's had the unintended consequence of making me depressed. I am a 57yo gay man. Although I've been out since I was 19, I have never had enough self-esteem to seriously seek a long-term relationship. I wish that I could roll back the clock 40 years and be 17 again. Young gay people today have resources available to them which were unimaginable in my youth, and I envy every Kyle, Jason, Nelson, and Manny. Your novels are very powerful and depict teen angst in a very compelling way. I have only objection: every principal character is good-looking, sexy, and attractive in some way. What about all the gay teens out there who are not so great looking? That was me then. I just thought you'd be interested in a reaction from a 57yo fan with teenage angst!

------------

Hi Ted,

Thanks for your kind words. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. I'm touched that my books have been such a source of inspiration for you.

I understand your grief and sadness in reading the books. I've had a similar response from other adult gay men. At least you finished reading them, some guys I know have had to stop half-way. It was just too painful for them.

I also occasionally hear that objection about every principal character in my books being in some way good-looking, sexy, and attractive. I
guess that's because in real life I usually find something that I think is cute in just about everybody. It's just one of my many quirks.

Keep checking my website for more books!
Warmest wishes,
Alex

Robin, I've added Thinking Straight to my To-Read list. I'm looking forward...

Ted

"Coming Out Spiritually: The Next Step" by Christian de la Huerta.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73...

It's a little up there in terms of reading ability, but it's also incredibly useful for people on the verge of coming out (as well as for the transgendered). It helped me a lot in high school.

There are also a whole bunch of Japanese Manga (comic books) available that could reach teens very well. I would recommend "Gravitation," (12 vol.), "Legal Drug" (3 vol.), and "Only the Ring Finger Knows," (1 vol.). "Gravitation," in particular, discusses real GLBT issues and is quite fun to read.

I hope this helps.

Mark Kendrick's
"Desert Sons" and its sequel
"Into this World We're Thrown"
look perfect for the 16-to-18yo gay guy. Has anyone read these?

I'll throw in Vintage by Steve Berman

I really enjoyed Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby (who wrote the hilarious Alice, I Think series). Another Kind of Cowboy is a story about a boy who wants to learn dressage. It's a great book for teens because it's not about being gay, but the main character knows that he is. Finally a YA book that treats gay characters just like everyone else. Alex isn't extraordinary because he's gay--he's extraordinary because he can make a horse dance!

A great read for anyone who is bored with the plethora of insubstantial coming-out stories that treat homosexuality as an issue of great importance.

Ted -- I've corresponded with Mark Kendrick, but I haven't read his books. Have you? I'd love to know what you think.

Also, have you had a chance to read my THINKING STRAIGHT yet?

No, Robin, I haven't yet, for either question! All in good time. Right now I'm still basking in the afterglow of the Obama win.

best, Ted

Amazing, incredible, a step forward!

As happy as I am, I'm very disappointed in the Prop. 8 news.