Ana on the Edge--"I don't want them to think girl, but I don't want them to think boy either"

Title: Ana on the Edge

Author: A.J. Sass


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character is nonbinary, secondary characters are gay and transmasculine.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie is a junior figure skating champion. Yet she does not feel comfortable when her new skating outfit has a skirt: she doesn’t feel girly. Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy who assumes Ana is also a boy. Ana finds comfort in a boyish identity but isn’t sure it fits how she feels either. Will living her truth ruin her skating career?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): What sticks with me a lot about this book is how super mature and responsible Ana is, especially for a twelve-year-old. She and her mother, who has sacrificed to help Ana become a successful skater, have a great relationship. 
    

Be Dazzled--"Amazing and whole, the fragments of many moments joined together to create something entirely alive and real. Something incredible, out of nothing."

Title: Be Dazzled

Author: Ryan La Sala


LGBTQ+ Representation: two main characters are gay and lesbian and other LGBTQ+ identities are also represented


Content Warning: cruel parent


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Raffy is an extremely talented cosplayer who designs and builds intricate costumes. He hopes to win a top prize in the year's biggest cosplay competition, which could lead to sponsorships that would allow him to attend art school. However, he finds out that his ex-boyfriend, Luca, is working with another of their friends and has also entered the cosplay contest. But what goes wrong with their relationship? And can Raffy and Luca work together again?

First of all: I must apologize to the world because I have not posted a review on Reverie, La Sala's amazing debut book. I attended the book club meeting where we discussed the terrifying drag queen villainess and messed-up our OWN reveries would be, but then I never wrote a review! I must fix that as soon as possible because Ryan La Sala is my favorite author to follow on Twitter. Seriously, follow him--you won't be sorry. 

Now--prepare to Be Dazzled!

Only Mostly Devastated--"Sure, he hadn't done the one thin I wanted him to do most of all--declare his love for me publicly on the bleachers in a grand musical number--but that didn't mean I had to knock the baby steps, did it?"

Title: Only Mostly Devastated

Author: Sophie Gonzales

LGBTQ+ Representation: Gay and bi characters

Content Warnings: Death of a supporting character, homophobia, obnoxious dude-bro behaviors

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Ollie and Will have a summer fling, but when Ollie enrolls in Will's high school that fall, he finds out that sweet, openly-queer Will is actually a quite obnoxious, closeted basketball star. Ollie tries to keep his attention on his music, new group of friends, and babysitting his cousins (his aunt has terminal cancer), but Will keeps showing up wherever Ollie is. Are they destined to be together, or will Ollie remain only mostly devastated?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): The premise is similar to Grease and there's a "pink ladies"-type girl group but none of the plot aspects of Grease that really bother me; thank goodness Ollie does not end the book wearing leather, quipping "Tell me about it, stud."
  

Man Up--"It was like the secret was slowly eating at me but I didn’t even know it"

Title: Man Up (to be released April 22!)

Author: Kim Oclon


LGBTQ+ Representation: Both point-of-view characters are gay


Content Warning: Homophobic bullying


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  David never thought his sexuality would get in the way of playing on the high school varsity baseball team and earning a college scholarship. But when his coach suspects David is gay and confronts him, and the team bully begins targeting David and his boyfriend, Tyler, and David's best friend reacts by becoming angry at David, David experiences homophobia in sports and school like he never has before. Will he be able to man up?


What I think (some spoilers ahead. Not everything spoilered, though): My jaw about hit the floor when, towards the very beginning of the story, David's coach brings him into the office, alone, and asks him if he's "a homosexual" and tells him parents have been calling who "don't want their play ball with a queer" (pg. 22).

The Boy in the Dress--"It would be boring if we were all the same, wouldn't it?"

Title: The Boy in the Dress

Author: David Walliams (with illustrations by Quentin Blake)


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Dennis's life hasn't been the same since his mother left him, his dad, and his brother John two years ago (and Dad instituted a "no hugging" rule). Dennis finds joy in playing soccer and looking at his secret Vogue magazine. When Lisa discovers Dennis's passion for fashion, she dresses Dennis up in an orange sequinned dress, and Dennis discovers that he not only likes admiring the beautiful dresses, he enjoys wearing them also.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  I picked this book up by judging its cover (literally--hardcover edition is yellow, and I needed yellow for the website cover photo). When I read the title, I realized that it had the same illustrator as the Roald Dahl books I'd grown up on. It was like discovering a new Dahl book!

It's Not Like It's a Secret--"If I don't think it's about race does that make me a racist? If I do think it's about race does that make me a racist?"

Title: It's Not Like It's a Secret

Author: Misa Sugiura


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Sixteen-year-old Sana and her parents move to California, where for the first time, Sana is not the only Asian-American student in her school. Sana befriends the other Asian-American girls quickly, and begins dating Jamie, a Mexican-American girl. However, Sana's happy new life is interrupted by hostility between her groups of friends and her friend Caleb's feelings for her--plus, she's pretty sure her father is having an affair. Should she stay quiet or tell her mom?


What I think: Sana does not feel any anxiety about her sexuality, which was a refreshing change from some LGBTQ-themed books I've read.  Her relationship with Jamie was a typical teenage one (in stories and reality): things seem to be going well, a misunderstanding occurs, jealousy happens, both parties make stupid mistakes, they eventually kiss and make-up.  Sana ends up leading Caleb on, which she feels guilty about, and Jamie and Caleb find out about it in a way that makes my former high-school-self want to cringe and hide.

Social Intercourse--"If I had known losing my virginity would be so nerve-wracking, I would've stayed home and watched the Golden Girls marathon with my dad"

Title: Social Intercourse

Author: Greg Howard


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): High school seniors openly-gay Beckett and star quarterback Jaxon have little in common, but then Beck's dad starts dating one of Jax's moms. Beck is afraid that his dad will get his heart broken again, and Jax wants his moms to get back together and be a family again.  Meanwhile, Beck is planning the Rainbow Prom, Jax is struggling with his bisexuality, and all have to deal with homophobia in their small Southern town.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): My summary doesn't reflect the tone of this book--it is absolutely hilarious!  Sure, it deals with some serious subjects, but the voices of each narrator are so down-to-earth that Social Intercourse is delightful to read.

Out of the Pocket--"All of you sports people: KEEP WORKING to eradicate homophobia in sports"

Title: Out of the Pocket

Author: Bill Konigsberg


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Bobby is the star quarterback of his high school, waiting to hear from schools offering scholarships, dreaming of being a pro football player one day.  However, Bobby has a secret:  he's gay, and he's terrified about how his teammates, friends, and family would treat him if they found out.  And then, while Bobby's dealing with his dad's illness and practicing for upcoming football games, a reporter reveals Bobby's secret to the world.


What I think:  Y'all, I discovered something incredibly disturbing while reading this book:

Bill Konigsberg is . . . a SPORTS GUY.

A sports guy!  I can't believe it. Konigsberg looks like a normal person!  How could he have been hiding this secret?  What will people think if they find out I was reading a book written by a SPORTS PERSON?  Will people think I'm into sports, too?  Or what if someone thinks Konigsberg recruited me or tricked me into liking sports when I really don't?  Oh noes, I MUST do all I can to reassure people that I'm not one of those "sports" people!   😨

Okay, I'm done.  😉

Rainbow Road--"A very Sweet Valley Rainbow High road trip!"

Title:  Rainbow Road

Author: Alex Sanchez


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): In the last book of the Rainbow Boys trilogy, Jason receives an invitation from an all-LGBTQ high school in California wanting him to speak, as a star high school athlete, about his public coming-out.  He, Kyle, and Nelson decide to drive to California to have a last adventure before Kyle goes away to Princeton.  The boys get on each others' nerves and learn more about themselves, as you do on a road trip.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): When I read the premise of the book, all I could think of was the SVH book Perfect Summer, one of my favorites, in which the key SVH characters go on bicycle trip, and Jessica meets a hot guy named Robbie October (seriously), somehow a rich girl gets stuck riding with them and she and Lila fight, and the guest nerdy guy (someone's nephew?) saves the group from a forest fire and a bear attack! Road trips in books are SO much more fun real-life road trips!

Rainbow High--"Sweet Valley Rainbow High"

Title: Rainbow High   (Not to be confused with the Evita song that I've been singing all day)

Author: Alex Sanchez


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Jason, Kyle, and Nelson are back in this sequel to Rainbow Boys.  Jason is still struggling to accept his sexuality and is also working to earn a basketball scholarship.  Kyle is in love with Jason and unsure if he wants to leave him to go to Princeton.  Nelson is scared he is HIV-positive and trying to win the love of Jeremy, an HIV-positive boy.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Sanchez creates some wonderful, multi-dimensional, believable characters. A review that likens this trilogy to Sweet Valley High explains exactly what I think.  I devoured SVH books as a kid and loved them, even when they veered off into stereotype-world. Rainbow High is a fun and important story in spite of my issues with it.

Rainbow Boys--"Its strength is in its well-developed characters"

Title: Rainbow Boys

Author: Alex Sanchez


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Rainbow Boys is a story from the point-of-view of three high school boys:  Jason (the high school jock with the steady girlfriend), Kyle (the quiet kid whose afraid of disappointing his parents), and Nelson (the flamboyant "out" kid).  Jason meets Kyle and Nelson at a meeting for LGBTQ teens, and they become friends and navigate high school while dealing with their homosexuality.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Rainbow Boys was controversial when it first came out (pun intended!), landing at number 48 on the 100 frequently most challenged books of 2000-2009.  Today, Rainbow Boys seems tame compared to other YA books, and its strength is in its well-developed characters.