books
So, i've been on a "read all the LGBT YA lit I can get ahold of" kick. So far, I've read:
Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger: a not cool, not uncool boy finds out there is another gay boy at his school, and they start a club to be able to hang out without it being weird, a club that no one would want to join. The main character learns something, and in the end, the Geography Club becomes a Gay-Straight Alliance. Two characters are gay, one is bi, and one is a lesbian. No T in the LGBT, but three out of four isn't bad.
Money Boy, by Paul Lee: Immigrant Chinese 18 year old in Toronto. Gets kicked out of his house for being gay, and ends up on the street. He ends up becoming a hooker for a few nights, hates it, pukes in an elevator after a john, and eventually reunites with his family, who grudgingly accept him for who he is. It's Canada, you can be gay and still have a family and give the grandfather great grand children. Very interesting portrayal of the immigrant experience, and bonus points for being frank about prostitution. Only G in the LGBT, but kudos for a minority protagonist.
Dream Boy, by Jim Grimsley: Hoooly cow, this is rough. I read it all in one morning, and was brought to tears a number of times. Introverted boy moves in next door to cute, outgoing older boy. They start a thing, they're both in the closet, it's set in the 1960s or so... The writing is dreamy and ethereal. This is not your happy, out of the closet, accepted by family/friends story that rides the wave of post-Will&Grace gayland. The protagonist gets raped in a few awful ways, and hate crimes commence. But it has a happy ending, in a way. Only G in the LGBT.
Gemini Bites, by Patrick Ryan: This is your happy, out of the closet, accepted by family/friends story. Narrated alternately by Kyle and his twin Judy, Kyle is gay, Judy is a bitch, a boy who claims he's a vampire moves in. Dramalama, happy ending, supportive parents, etc. It was a fun read, but not particularly fantastic. Only G in the LGBT.
Weetzie Bat, by Francesca Lia Block: I did not make it all the way through this book. It's not really my style. It's glitzy, LA glam, set somewhere in the 70s? 80s? Sort of fantasy. There's a geenie, some very happy gay boys, babies in ample supply. Read like modern day fairy tales. The protagonist is a straight girl, but her best friend (and his boy friend) are gay. Only G in LGBT.
Tithe, by Holly Black: Very clearly a modern day fairy tale. It even says so on the cover. The protagonist is half Asian, except it turns out that she's really a changeling. Kudos on the apparently-minority protagonist. Her friend is gay, there are gay fairies as well. No much in the way of LBT, but I really do love this book for the fairy-tale-ness of it.
City of Bones, et al, by Cassandra Clare: Only makes the list because one of the supporting characters is gay, and is dating another one of the supporting characters. Really, it's a fantasy story, and the protagonist is a straight, white female who falls in love with the straight, white male. These books get on my nerves, because all the characters behave like petulant teenagers, even the adults, but I keep going back for more. Only G in the LGBT.
I'm currently reading Girl From Mars, by Tamara Bach, which is angsty in the way only Germans can angst. I had to set it aside for Gemini Bites, because it was so morose. But it's good, and I'll read it till the end, and then write about it.
Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger: a not cool, not uncool boy finds out there is another gay boy at his school, and they start a club to be able to hang out without it being weird, a club that no one would want to join. The main character learns something, and in the end, the Geography Club becomes a Gay-Straight Alliance. Two characters are gay, one is bi, and one is a lesbian. No T in the LGBT, but three out of four isn't bad.
Money Boy, by Paul Lee: Immigrant Chinese 18 year old in Toronto. Gets kicked out of his house for being gay, and ends up on the street. He ends up becoming a hooker for a few nights, hates it, pukes in an elevator after a john, and eventually reunites with his family, who grudgingly accept him for who he is. It's Canada, you can be gay and still have a family and give the grandfather great grand children. Very interesting portrayal of the immigrant experience, and bonus points for being frank about prostitution. Only G in the LGBT, but kudos for a minority protagonist.
Dream Boy, by Jim Grimsley: Hoooly cow, this is rough. I read it all in one morning, and was brought to tears a number of times. Introverted boy moves in next door to cute, outgoing older boy. They start a thing, they're both in the closet, it's set in the 1960s or so... The writing is dreamy and ethereal. This is not your happy, out of the closet, accepted by family/friends story that rides the wave of post-Will&Grace gayland. The protagonist gets raped in a few awful ways, and hate crimes commence. But it has a happy ending, in a way. Only G in the LGBT.
Gemini Bites, by Patrick Ryan: This is your happy, out of the closet, accepted by family/friends story. Narrated alternately by Kyle and his twin Judy, Kyle is gay, Judy is a bitch, a boy who claims he's a vampire moves in. Dramalama, happy ending, supportive parents, etc. It was a fun read, but not particularly fantastic. Only G in the LGBT.
Weetzie Bat, by Francesca Lia Block: I did not make it all the way through this book. It's not really my style. It's glitzy, LA glam, set somewhere in the 70s? 80s? Sort of fantasy. There's a geenie, some very happy gay boys, babies in ample supply. Read like modern day fairy tales. The protagonist is a straight girl, but her best friend (and his boy friend) are gay. Only G in LGBT.
Tithe, by Holly Black: Very clearly a modern day fairy tale. It even says so on the cover. The protagonist is half Asian, except it turns out that she's really a changeling. Kudos on the apparently-minority protagonist. Her friend is gay, there are gay fairies as well. No much in the way of LBT, but I really do love this book for the fairy-tale-ness of it.
City of Bones, et al, by Cassandra Clare: Only makes the list because one of the supporting characters is gay, and is dating another one of the supporting characters. Really, it's a fantasy story, and the protagonist is a straight, white female who falls in love with the straight, white male. These books get on my nerves, because all the characters behave like petulant teenagers, even the adults, but I keep going back for more. Only G in the LGBT.
I'm currently reading Girl From Mars, by Tamara Bach, which is angsty in the way only Germans can angst. I had to set it aside for Gemini Bites, because it was so morose. But it's good, and I'll read it till the end, and then write about it.