Symptoms of Being Human--"I'm only going to talk louder"

Title:  Symptoms of Being Human

Author:  Jeff Garvin

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Riley is gender-fluid and suffers from severe anxiety.  They decide to start an anonymous blog talking about gender-fluidity and is surprised when the blog gains thousands of followers.  Unfortunately, someone at Riley's school finds out about their blog and threatens to out them, which makes Riley's life complicated because their father is a congressman who is working to pass an important education bill.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Symptoms of Being Human is an excellent book. I do not know anyone in real life who is gender-fluid; I know many trans people, but they are all binary.  In fact, the reader never finds out what Riley's biological sex is.

Little and Lion--"A good choice for a literature circle or book club"

Title: Little and Lion

Author:  Brandy Colbert


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Suzette returns to her LA home after spending the school year in a boarding school.  While she was there, she had a romantic relationship with her roommate and is now confused about her sexuality.  While home, Suzette develops a crush on her female coworker, Rafaela, and begins dating her childhood friend, Emil. Lionel, Suzette's bipolar stepbrother, begins dating Rafaela and stops taking his medication.  Suzette is very worried about Lionel, which affects her other relationships.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I just finished reading and am still trying to process all the issues and discussion-able topics in Little and Lion.  If I were still teaching high school, this would be a great choice for a small group discussion literature circle.

Saving Alex--"We still have a lot of work to do"

Title:  Saving Alex:  When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That's When My Nightmare Began

Author:  Alex Cooper with Joanna Brooks

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): When fifteen-year-old Alex tells her parents that she is a lesbian, she thinks her parents are sending her away to live with her grandparents.  However, Alex's parents send her to the Siales, a husband and wife team who take in "rebellious" teenagers and "fix" them.  Until Alex manages to escape with the help of school staff and a lawyer, she is physically and mentally abused in order to "cure" her of her homosexuality.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  Saving Alex that reads like one of those delightfully trashy unauthorized Kitty Kelley biographies that I went through a phase of reading in high school (don't judge).  I do not mean, however, to negate the seriousness of Alex's story by comparing it to a sensationalist novel.  Saving Alex is an autobiography and therefore is authorized, and it is truly horrifying.

Far from the Tree--"A fantastic book, but a tear-jerker for sure"

Title: Far from the Tree

Author: Robin Benway


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Sixteen-year-old Grace has just given her baby up for adoption.  Desperate to connect with someone who knows how she feels, Grace decides to search for her birth mother and finds two half-siblings, Joaquin (who has spent his life in foster care) and Maya (whose volatile parents are getting divorced). Together, the newly-united siblings search for their mother but also learn about love, belonging, and what it means to be a family.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I downloaded this e-book to give me something happier to read while I took a break from the intense angst of Call Me by Your Name.  Ha, ha, ha, the joke was on me--I read Far from the Tree--and cried and cried and cried.  A fantastic book, but a tear-jerker.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit--"A positive representation of an accepting high school youth group"

Title: Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit

Author: Jaye Robin Brown

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): When Jo's evangelical radio preacher dad remarries and moves them from Atlanta to small-town Rome, Georgia, he asks her to be quiet about her sexuality for her senior year. Jo, who has always been out and proud, reluctantly agrees.  At first, she finds it surprisingly easy to fit in with the mainstream straight crowd, but when she falls in love with Mary Carlson, Jo begins to regret the promise she made to her dad and new step-mom.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  Georgia Peaches exceeded my expectations because it was not "Dad makes daughter hide who she is to please shrewish new stepmother.  They move to small town of stereotypes that damn all queer people to hell."

Instead, the characters are well-rounded.

George--"READ IT TODAY"

Title: George

Author: Alex Gino


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): People may think she's a boy, but George knows in her heart that she's a girl.  George's mother claims that she might feel differently in a few years; George's friend thinks she's kidding at first; George's teacher won't let her try out for Charlotte in Charlotte's Web.  But George knows who she really is, and she just needs a chance to prove it to everyone.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  I was going write a long review and complain about the stupid schools  in Oregon that think George is inappropriate, "morally toxic," or will "confuse kids," but I can't. I'm tired of those people.

Boy Meets Boy--"Recommended for those who want a fun, light-hearted read"

Title: Boy Meets Boy

Author:  David Levithan

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Paul's high school is different than the average high school--PFLAG is more popular than the PTO; the cheerleaders ride Harleys; the homecoming queen/football quarterback is a drag queen called Infinite Darlene; LGBTQ students' romances are treated like any other gossip-worthy high school couples.  Paul meets Noah and really likes him but messes things up.  The school bookie says the odds are 12 to 1 against Paul getting Noah back.  Can Paul prove him wrong?

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  Also in the world of the book, the Homecoming pep rally is called the Homecoming Pride rally (with a quiz bowling team featured), the GSA was formed to help the straight kids learn to dance, and the janitors are super rich due to their on-school-site stock market trading.  I don't know about the teachers, but I'm sure they are millionaires.  I want to live in this world.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson--"You kids get off my lawn"

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Authors:  John Green and David Levithan


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Will Grayson is in high school and friends with Tiny, the "world's largest person who is really, really gay."  Will is dealing with Tiny's dramatic life of falling in love every two seconds and is matched up with Jane. Meanwhile, another Will Grayson, the same age, is stranded in Chicago after being catfished by his best friend.  He's bummed, so Will#1 sets him up with Tiny, who's thrilled to date the other "Will Grayson."


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): First, I'd like to say that I'm a big fan of the Greens' Crash Course series but not a fan of Green's books.  Katherines was okay; TFIOS was yuck; Alaska was . . . forgettable, since I'm pretty sure I read it, but . . . ?  On the other hand, I've liked most Levithan books I've read.

Drama Queens in the House--"Please adopt me, Jumbles"

Title:  Drama Queens in the House

Author:  Julie Williams

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Jessie lives right across the street from and has grown up in the Jumble theater and school, along with several biological and surrogate family members.  Jessie's parents opened the theater with another couple and have been running it for over twenty years.  Jessie has just graduated from high school and is figuring out what to do next when she catches her father kissing the theater's male costumer. What other Jumble secrets will Jessie uncover?

What I think (in more than 250 words--too many characters to limit words):  First of all, my summary and all of the other summaries I've read online can't begin to describe what this book is about.  Jessie herself describes her family as a "proverbial French farce" and I can't help but agree.

The Other Boy--"Not that traumatic of a read"

Title: The Other Boy

Author: M. G. Hennessey with cool artwork by Sfé R.Monster


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Shane is a regular twelve-year-old boy: Josh is his best friend, graphic novels are his hobby, Madeline is his crush, and baseball is his favorite sport.  However, Shane has not told anyone at his new school his secret: he was born a biological female, although Shane has always lived as the boy he knows he truly is. When one of his baseball teammates finds out and tells the whole school Shane's secret, Shane experiences bullying.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I was nervous when I started reading this book because it is the one that mirrors my life the most out of the transgender-themed books I've reviewed so far.  Shane is a transgender boy who is completely stealth at school and a star on his baseball team.  He hasn't told anyone about his past, including his best friend, Josh.  Shane's father is not quite as understanding as Shane's mother, and I thought that would be a major conflict, but it was resolved pretty quickly.

Ramona Blue--"Not a free ticket out of queer town"

Title:  Ramona Blue

Author: Julie Murphy


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Ramona lives in Eulogy, a small southern Mississippi town known for its beach and vacation rentals. She, her father, and her pregnant sister Hattie live in a small trailer and can barely make ends meet. When Ramona's childhood friend Freddie moves into town, Ramona and he have a romantic relationship, which confuses Ramona because she identifies as a lesbian. Plus, Ramona struggles with what she wants to do after graduation--will her family survive without her? 


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  I usually don't read any other reviews of a book until I've written my own, but I made an exception when I discovered so many mixed reviews of Ramona Blue. I think it's too far to say that the book is lesbophobic, biphobic, and acephobic, and even though I agree that it's insightful and moving, I didn't think it was perfect.

Honestly Ben--"With a friend to call my own, I'll never be alone"

Title: Honestly Ben

Author:  Bill Konigsberg


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Ben is moving on after last semester.  He's excelling at schoolwork, acting as the captain of the baseball team, and starting a relationship with Hannah, a cool quirky girl he met in the library.  He is even awarded a prestigious scholarship (if he can keep his grade up in calculus!).  But Ben is not sure that he has all the answers, and cannot stop thinking about and missing the close friendship he had with Rafe.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  The tagline is a line from Michael Jackson's "Ben," which has been  recorded   by   lots   of people.  The review contains spoilers, but I tried to be as vague as possible.

After the events in Openly Straight, Ben finds himself without any close friends. Sure, he hangs out with people from the baseball team, but they are not the close friendship he had with Rafe, whom he can't stop thinking about. 

The Upside of Unrequited--"I was Molly in high school"

Title: The Upside of Unrequited

Author: Becky Albertalli


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Molly's had 26 crushes, all unrequited because she just can't get herself to take a chance and possibly be rejected.  But now Molly's twin sister, Cassie, has a new girlfriend with a single friend, Will. Could he be the one Molly takes a chance on?  But what about Reid, the Tolkien and Game of Thrones guy Molly works with?  He doesn't make Molly as nervous as Will does, so is he the right one for her?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  If you are looking for a book with diverse characters, this is a very good choice. Cassie identifies as pansexual. Their family is Jewish.  Molly and Cassie have two moms, Patty and Nadine.  Patty is white and bisexual; Nadine is African-American and lesbian. Cassie's new girlfriend, Mina, is Korean-American. Biracial Abby, from Simon Vs the Homosapiens Agenda, is Molly and Cassie's first cousin. Simon makes a cameo appearance.