Author: Alex Sanchez
**This GUEST POST was written by Alix Adrian**
About Alix, in their own words: As a busy, aging, dyslexic reader, I enjoy YA fiction because I can make solid progress through a book even on early-to-bed evenings. I grew up in New Jersey and have spent the past 30 years in North Carolina. This helps to draw attention to the significant cultural differences found in especially in queer fiction across both time and locations. I have two young adult children, who, sadly, are not voracious readers. I also have three cats who like nothing better than to snuggle with me and a book.
LGBTQ+ Representation: One gay teen, one butch lesbian teen, one questioning female teen, two questioning male teens
Content Warning: Two male characters have mutual hand sex. One main character has had much more sexual experience and this is a concern for the less experienced partner.
What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Four high school students in neigboring schools explore love, sexuality, and friendships, with a lens to their families’ cultural and social views.
What I think (in 250 words or fewer): This book may be showing its age a wee bit.
A rather prominent discussion point is Lance’s belief that people can’t really be bisexual. In his view, people are straight or gay; bi is straight on the way to being gay. His understanding develops throughout the book; however, it is off-putting to circle back around to this narrative repeatedly.
His platonic girlfriend’s story of bisexual discovery is much more interesting and is a refreshing parallel to Lance’s hard stance. Both of these characters have supportive parents and still need the support of one another through emotionally fraught calls and texts to stay open and honest with themselves and others.
The other two main characters (Sergio, from a Mexican family, and Kimiko, from a Japanese family) have less family support and initially keep their relationships more distance from their parents until Lance and Allie's encouragement to be honest and proud of who they are. Thankfully, their parents are accepting eventually, and all four characters are free to continue on their journeys of self-discovery redefining 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' along the way.
This book is on the 2012 Rainbow Book List. Additional awards from Sanchez's website are:
- American Library Association "Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers"
- Bankstreet College of Education Children's Book Committee 2012 Best Children's Books of the Year
- Lambda Literary Award 2011 Finalist
My final takeaway (in 75 words or fewer): I appreciate knowing this was a pick for reluctant readers. Some of the language seemed stilted and simple. I feel the book might have been written especially for this audience. With that in mind, it does introduce expansive ideas about gender, sexuality, and cultural differences and is worth the read for teens who might be questioning.
Memorable quotes/passages from the book:
- "'Me too,' Allie said, smiling across the car as if she didn’t want to leave. 'Let’s talk again soon, okay? Oh, here!' She grabbed the daisy from the little dashboard vase and held it out to Kimiko. 'I’d like you to have it.'
'Thanks,' Kimiko said. She tried to make her heart slow down as she took the flower and opened the door.
And as she watched Allie drive away, she thought about what Sergio had said. Had that been a date? It had almost felt like one."
- "The mere idea of girl sex made Lance feel a little woozy. Not that he had anything against heterosexuals; he just never wanted to be one. He loved being gay."
- "Joy is the wave that swells in your chest and crashes to shore, leaving a trail of foam that blows down the lonely beach and you bound after it, arms outstretched."
- "'No, I don’t want that.' She pulled her head away from his hand. 'Besides, I’m not sure yet that I am bi. I need time to explore first if that’s really who I am. I’m not ready to tell other people or anything. I only wanted to tell you.'"
Other reviews: Dear Author and Bisexual Books
If you liked this book, you should read Autoboyography, Man Up, and I Wish You All the Best.
Are you interested in writing a guest post? Let me know via email, Twitter, or Facebook.
**********
 |
| This book is available here: https://library.greensboro-nc.gov/ |
 |
| Learn more about the Rainbow Book List here: http://www.ala.org/rt/glbtrt |
No comments:
Post a Comment