Ziggy, Stardust & Me--"I wish. I wish with all my might we were up in the stars looking down on us, laughing."

Title: Ziggy, Stardust & Me

Author: James Brandon


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character is gay and another is Two Spirit.


Content Warning: Graphic violence, physical and sexual assault, conversion therapy. Homophobia and racism.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): In the summer of 1973, Jonathan lives with his alcoholic father. Believing that his attraction to boys is a dangerous mental illness that must be fixed, Jonathan endures aversion therapy.  Jonathan tries to avoid bullies and spends his time talking to his dead mother while listening to David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. He feels alone, until he meets Web, a Two-Spirit Lakota boy. Can Jonathan trust the happiness and contentment he feels with Web?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I used to be able to read about topics of sickness and child death, but having kids seems to have wired my brain differently; now I get upset to the point of panic attacks when reading or watching children suffering (It's embarrassing. During one memorable incident at a teacher in-service I left the room sobbing after watching a PSA about children getting injured in a meth lab explosion).

The Best at It--"Being different is what makes us fun, remember?"

Title: The Best at It

Author: Maulik Pancholy


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character is questioning/gay


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Rahul has a great family (even if his dad's Bollywood Supply band and his mom's excitement over the International bazaar are overwhelming) and, along with his bestie Chelsea, is excited to start seventh grade. Rahul's beloved grandfather, Bhai, advises Rahul to find one thing and "be the best at it." Rahul works to find his "best," deals with growing anxiety, avoids the neighborhood bully, and wills himself NOT to stare too much at cute Justin.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I tried super hard to write in a professional voice about the merits of this book: its sensitive portrayals of mental illnesses, questioning sexuality, celebrating Indian culture in majority white small-town Indiana (where I spent my childhood), inter-generational relationships, dealing with middle school bullies, and the correlation of athletic success to high self esteem in youth.

See? I could be a reference librarian.

Leah on the Offbeat--"It's like it doesn't even matter if I like my body, because there's always someone there to remind me that I shouldn't"

Title: Leah on the Offbeat

Author: Becky Albertalli


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character and supporting characters are bisexual; secondary characters are gay.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Leah Burke is getting ready to finish her senior year, and in some ways, she's totally OVER high school, but in other ways, she doesn't want anything to change. Prom is coming up, friends are hooking up and breaking up, and college is starting to seem very close. Also, Leah has not told her friends that she is bisexual and is crushing hard on her friend Abby, who is (probably?) completely straight.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I need to apologize to all of the fanfiction writers out there that I scoffed at when they began to ship Leah and Abby. I was totally NOT on board with that ship; Abby was with Nick and that's where I thought she would stay. However, this book did a good job of changing my mind and wanting Abby and Leah to be a couple.

So I got to meet Bill Konigsberg!

So I got to meet Bill Konigsberg at the Greensboro Bound 2019 Literary Festival a couple of days ago. I was so excited to hear him talk about The Music of What Happens and answer some audience questions. 

He was taller in person, but everyone seems taller in person for me:

Why thank you, I also think we're adorable.

If you are scratching your head and saying "Who's that?" then for shame. Read the following reviews and then come back to this post:

• The Music of What Happens
• The Porcupine of Truth, Part 1 and Part 2
• Out of the Pocket
• Honestly, Ben
• Openly Straight

I Got Issues: Noteworthy--“It's too simple to hate the people who have doorways where you have walls”

I don't know how to introduce this except that . . . I don't hate these books; parts of them I like very much. So I don't think they belong in a Did Not Finish or Did Not Bring Me Joy post.

However, there are just overall issues that I have with the storylines that . . . well, I'll just talk about each book and you can make up your own minds.

I was going to write about three books in one post, similar to how I wrote the Marie Kondo-inspired one, but I ended up writing so much about this first book, I am now going to make this post the first of a three-part (at least for now) series called I Got Issues.

Title: Noteworthy

Author: Riley Redgate

LGBTQ+ Representation: Bisexual main character, supporting character gay (with off-page m/m relationship), girl/girl kiss.

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Chinese-American Jordan Sun is attending an elite boarding school (on a scholarship) for the performing arts but is tired of never getting cast in any musicals (her low alto voice makes her a tough fit). The Sharpshooters, an all-boys a cappella group, is holding auditions for a tenor, Jordan dresses up as a boy and lands the part. But can she continue to hide her identity in such an elite and competitive group?

Debbie Harry Sings in French--"Dépêches-toi, dépêches-toi et attends" OR "I'm sure the gay community will recover"

Title: Debbie Harry Sings in French

Author: Meagan Brothers


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Johnny's life has not been easy, but he has persevered and does not want to leave Florida to live in South Carolina. However, Johnny finds that living with  Uncle Sam is better than he thought it would be, especially when he discovers and falls in love with Debbie Harry and Blondie's music at the local music store. Together with his girlfriend, Maria, Johnny learns that he also enjoys dressing up as and *being* Debbie Harry.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I have so much respect for Johnny: he runs the household after his father's death when his mother is too depressed to deal with it and he successful completes a stint in rehab for alcohol abuse all before he turns seventeen. And my summary above is a bit out-of-order: Johnny discovers Blondie while still in rehab, then moves to SC, where he idolizes Debbie Harry even more.

Just Between Us--"I am not my disease. I am a human being."

Title: Just Between Us
  

Author: J.H. Trumble


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Curtis is home from his freshman year of college, working as a band tech for his old high school band, when he meets band member Luke, and the two are instantly attracted to each other. But just when Curtis decides to act on his feelings for Luke, Curtis takes an HIV test: and it's positive. Depressed and ashamed, Curtis tries to push Luke away, but Luke is determined to be a part of Curtis's life.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  Luke appears as a young, pitiable sophomore in Don't Let Me Go but a mature, confident senior in Where You Are--such a drastic difference; I couldn't wait to read what happened in the year between.

Don't Let Me Go--"You're not going to straighten things out by running away. Take the phone and talk to your boyfriend!"

Title:  Don't Let Me Go

Author: J.H. Trumble


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Adam is in New York appearing in a play, while Nate is still home for his senior year of high school.  Nate has always depended on Adam for support and desperately misses him. Nate makes a new friend, Danial, but is finding a long-distance relationship very difficult to maintain. Nate starts a blog, which causes some controversy, and begins helping naive, closeted Luke, but if Nate's not careful, he's going to lose Adam for good.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Do you like teenage romance novels with angst, an extra side of angst, and angst for dessert?  Then you'll really enjoy Don't Let me Go.

Actually, that's a bit misleading.  Angst to me implies fluffy, over-the-top teenage nonsense, and that's not completely true about Adam and Nate.

Five, Six, Seven, Nate!--"Everything is 'my my my' on Broadway, like a junior high cafeteria but with more glitter"

Title: Five, Six, Seven, Nate!

Author: Tim Federle


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Nate can't wait to leave the bullies of  Jankburg behind and move to New York for his Broadway debut!  Okay, so he's the second understudy for E.T., but a part is a part.  Nate becomes part of the cast of child stars with headshots and pushy stage mothers, video-game-creator-turned-director, constant script re-writes, and a secret crush on Jordan, the star of the show from Nate's hometown. Meanwhile, Libby remains Nate's best friend and biggest fan.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I was so thrilled so spend some more time with Nate; I already loved him before, and now I love him even more. I totally agree the venerable Lin-Manuel Miranda when he said it's "a wonderful evocation of what it’s like to be a theater kid."

Better Nate than Ever--"There's cupcake places, like, everywhere, and boys can dance next to each other"

Title: Better Nate than Ever

Author: Tim Federle


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Thirteen-year-old Nate Foster, tired of the misery of Lankburg, PA, comes up with a plan: he is going to take the bus to New York City, audition for E.T.: the Musical, and become the Broadway star he knows he's meant to be.  With the help of his best friend (the fabulous Libby Jones), Nate borrows his mom's ATM card, loads his backpack with doughnuts and an ancient Nokia cell phone, and bravely forays to NYC.


What I think: I LOVE NATE, and I think I can speak for every mother, teacher, and theatre director when I say that.  Nate is adorable and naive, but incredibly brave!  I know I don't have that kind of bravery now, let alone when I was in eighth grade.  Way to go, Nate!

The Beauty that Remains--"No one ever talks about the living who have unfinished business with the dead. How do they ever find peace again?"

Title: The Beauty that Remains

Author: Ashley Woodfolk


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Logan's ex-boyfriend, Bram, died in a mysterious "suicide."  Shay's twin sister, Sasha, died of leukemia. Autumn's best friend, Tavia, died in a car accident on the way to a party that Autumn (and Tavia's brother, Dante) were supposed to attend. Logan obsessively watches Youtube videos of Bram; Shay struggles to keep up Sasha's music blog; Autumn writes messages to Tavia's email account.  All these grieving teenagers have some connection to the defunct band, Unraveling Lovely.


What I think: I thought I had read some sad, yet moving, books this year, but this one was . . . WOW.  I originally picked it up because it had a blurb from Angie Thomas, the author of The Hate U Give, on the cover: "Be prepared to be broken, be prepared to feel whole again." Since The Hate U Give is one of the best books I've ever read (and I've read LOTS of books), I picked up The Beauty that Remains. And again, wow.