Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend, by Carrie Jones.

Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend, by Carrie Jones. Woodbury, MN: Flux, 2007. ISBN-10: 0738710504; ISBN-13: 978-0738710501. 288 p.

Plot Summary
Belle and Dylan have been dating for years, and their entire small town things they're destined to be together. So when Dylan tells Belle he's gay, she is shocked. Was their entire relationship a lie? Is it fair to be mad at your boyfriend for being true to himself? Belle journals her journey to acceptance and understanding. She finds that even though her heart really hurts, things will eventually be okay and she will find love again.

Critical Evaluation
Jones is excellent at capturing the emotions a girl feels when her boyfriend comes out to her as gay--wondering if she'll always be the girl that guys date before they come out and wondering how long she's been lied to--but also reminds the reader that life moves on. Belle's voice is compelling and realistic. I did have one quibble with the book--it's set out as the journal of a seven day period after Dylan and Belle break up. I found the timeline to be a little compressed and unbelievable--would Belle really have a new boyfriend that quickly after a breakup with her boyfriend of two years? However, if you ignore the timeline and pretend it's happening more organically as far as time is concerned, it seems very realistic.

Reader’s Annotation
Belle and Dylan were always the perfect couple, and Belle thought they were always going to be together. When Dylan tells Belle he's gay, her world is rocket by the revelation.

Author Information

Carrie Jones grew up in Bedford, New Hampshire, where she once had a seance with the comedian Sarah Silverman. She graduated from Vermont College's MFA program for writing, and has won literary awards in Maine, where she currently lives. After college, she edited newspapers and poetry journals before she published her first book (this one) in 2007.

Carrie's website contains some very funny true confessions about her life. One example: "Carrie lives in Maine. She has a hard time with this in the winter. It is bleak in Maine in the winter. Imagine everything shades of gray and brown and no green anywhere except for in people’s noses. This is Maine in Winter. Maine in summer is the best place in the world, so it’s a trade-off. Feel free to invite Carrie to your house in the winter, but not if it’s in Greenland, Canada, or anywhere north of Florida." For FAQs, links to other writers, and information about her books, visit her website at http://www.carriejonesbooks.com/.

Genre
Realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties
Sociology of homosexuality

Booktalking Ideas
-Read the passage where Dylan confesses that he's gay
-Read the passage where Belle wonders if she's marked/destined by this to always be a "beard"

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9+

Challenge Issues
-Derogatory language toward gays by other high school students
-Open homosexuality and sex among high school students


Challenge Defense
This issue is something I have personal experience with, and if I'd had this book to read a few years ago, I would have found it really helpful. I would share my own experiences.

I included this book because I was browsing the teen area at my public library and the title practically jumped out at me as something I'd like to read.

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder, by Julie Halpern

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder: My Life on the Dork Side, by Julie Halpern. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2009. ISBN-10: 0312382529; ISBN-13: 978-0312382520. 256 p.

Plot Summary
Jessie is a high school sophomore who isn't sure where she belongs. Her two best friends have transformed themselves into punks and left her behind, while her cool brother has shaved his mohawk and started dating the homecoming princess. Where does she fit in? The class dork invites her to play Dungeons and Dragons, but Jessie isn't sure she wants to be labeled a nerd. Everyone else seems so cool with how they are--why can't Jessie? Can being a mathlete, D&D-playing nerd really be that bad?

Critical Evaluation
This first-person narrative is a funny, true-to-life treatment of how teens begin to develop their own sense of self and personality, independent of what friends or classmates are doing. As I was reading it, it felt like something Halpern said hit home on every page. Jessie's observations hit the nail on the head about the challenges of finding yourself in high school.

Reader’s Annotation
Jessie doesn't know where she fits in anymore. With her friends, who have become punk princesses? With her older brother, who is dating the homecoming queen? Or with the class nerds, playing Dungeons and Dragons? Does she care too much what people think of her?

Author Information
A Chicago native, Julie Halpern has been a school librarian for the last seven years. She lives with her husband, illustrator Matthew Cordell, and their Siamese cat. In her free time, she likes to read, travel, watch TV, and play Sims 2. She is also a Dungeonmaster on Wednesday afternoons. She blogs at http://www.juliehalpern.com/blog.

Julie says the ideas for this book came mostly from her own past. "Into the Wild Nerd Yonder grew from the idea that I was always the sidekick growing up, until I found a great group of friends that didn’t need to be so in the spotlight. I usually just try to think of people or funny situations that have stuck around in my brain. I figure, if they’re memories worth retaining for this long, then maybe someone else would think they were entertaining, too."

Genre
Realistic Fiction
Humor
Friendship

Curriculum Ties
Sociology: teen development, friendship, independence

Booktalking Ideas
Have you ever heard of Dungeons and Dragons? What do you think of it? If you think it's nerdy, you're not alone! Read this story of Jessie, who gradually changes her mind about it as she starts playing D&D.

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9-12

Challenge Issues
language, sexual situations

I included this book because I thought it sounded really funny. It was also nominated for the 2009 Cybil Awards.

Angry Management, by Chris Crutcher

Angry Management, by Chris Crutcher. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2009. ISBN-10: 0060502479; ISBN-13: 978-0060502478. 256 p.

Plot Summary
This collection of three novellas follows incidents in the lives of several teens who all participate in Mr. Nak's anger management group. Whether it's the only gay black kid in town facing prejudice and violence, a girl with disfiguring facial burns and her gay best friend, or a teen who doesn't get along with her adoptive father and must stand up to censorship of an article she wrote for the school paper, Crutcher examines his characters' reactions to difficult situations in their lives.

Critical Evaluation
Crutcher has a deft hand at drawing sympathetic, brave, outspoken characters. He manages to put teens in very difficult situations and still make them believable. Sometimes his characters do seem to have a very similar voice, especially if you read a lot of Crutcher books, but even if they all sound similar, they are still engaging characters. VOYA called it “well written, action packed, engrossing, and at times humorous . . . [Angry Management] is vintage Crutcher.” The quality of the three novellas is uneven and teens may not like all of the novellas equally--the first story has the least authorial voice present in the story, while the last is the most emotionally gut-wrenching--but Crutcher's black-and-white approach to controversial issues will appeal to many teens.


Reader’s Annotation
How does a gay black teenager deal with a double whammy of racism and bigotry? How does a teenage girl handle her political and social beliefs when they are the complete opposite of her adoptive father's? How do you fight back when you aren't taken seriously by the adults with the power to do something?

Author Information
Chris Crutcher is an author, educator, and family therapist who is well known for his realistic fiction. He grew up in a small town in northern Idaho, and currently lives in Spokane, Washington. His fiction is known for its unflinching honesty and authentic voice. To date, eight of his novels have been named as "Best Books for Young Adults" by the ALA. Crutcher is known for being outspoken against censorship and as a strong advocate for teen rights. His website can be found at http://www.chriscrutcher.com.

Of his books, Crutcher has said, "I can't think of a subject that is taboo for me, unless it's one I simply don't know anything about. Some teens are too sheltered, and others could use a little shelter. I think the value in books like mine, and a great number by other talented writers, is in the ability to bring dark subjects into the open where they are not so dark, where they can be talked about and considered by teens and adults alike. A lot of things I write about are tougher on adults than they are on teens."

Genre
Realistic Fiction

Short Stories

Curriculum Ties
Psychology/social work: abuse, dysfunctional families, physical disabilities, bigotry and racism, homosexuality

Booktalking Ideas
How would you react if you faced racism or abuse in your daily life? Read this book to read about teens who handle it with strength and humor.

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9+

Challenge Issues
Child abuse, language, medical marijuana, sexual content.

I included this book because I have read everything else Chris Crutcher has written and he is a great writer! I have also read a lot on his stance against censorship and admire him for it. It was also a 2010 ALA Rainbow List selection.

Dairy Queen, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Dairy Queen, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. ISBN-10: 0618683070; ISBN-13: 978-0618683079. 288 p.

Plot Summary
DJ is from a football-playing family. Her older brothers were stars on the Red Bend High School football team, and her dad played football in college until he busted his hip and had to move back to the family farm. So when Brian Nelson, the quarterback of Red Bend's rival team, comes to train with her and help her with the farm, she's not too happy. But as she and Brian work together, she learns more than just football--she learns how to talk about her feelings.

Critical Evaluation
DJ's authentic midwestern voice draws you into this story about football, friends, and family. Every page is laugh-out-loud funny, and as the reader, you can't wait to get to the next page.

Reader’s Annotation
DJ runs her family's dairy farm, plays football with her friends, and manages to go to school at the same time. But one thing she can't do? Talk to people about her feelings. When Brian Nelson comes to help out at the farm, he helps her learn to be comfortable talking about herself. Too comfortable. Doesn't she know Brian is out of her league?

Author Information
Catherine Gilbert Murdock grew up in small-town Connecticut, on a tiny farm with lots of honeybees and only two TV channels. Her sister is the famous memoirist Elizabeth Gilbert (who wrote the book Eat, Pray, Love). She attended Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and Sparky the cat. (Info from here and here). Her website is http://www.catherinemurdock.com.

Catherine came up with the idea for this story in a dream. She says, "it always sounds goofy, but I really did have a dream about a girl playing college football against a boy she loves passionately. When I woke up, my first thought was "What an amazing premise for a story!" Followed by "Babe, you don't know one thing about football." But that kernel stayed with me, just kept growing in me for days, as I thought about it and worked it --- dream or no, the story idea was just a lump, and I had to do a lot of shaping." The story is wonderful, and her shaping worked out!

Genre
Realistic fiction, sports fiction

Curriculum Ties
Sociology: Communication skills, family issues

Booktalking Ideas
A girl playing football with the boys' team? While she also runs the family farm? Would you like to know DJ and get to know why she does the things she does?

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7-12.
ATOS Book Level: 5.3

Challenge Issues
None.

I included this book because it was selected as a 2007 Best Book for Young Adults by YALSA.

Flash Burnout, by L.K. Madigan

Flash Burnout, by L.K. Madigan. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. ISBN-10: 0547194897; ISBN-13: 978-0547194899. 332 p.

Plot Summary
Fifteen-year-old Blake must figure out how to navigate his relationships with his girlfriend and his girl friend. Shannon loves him, but Marissa needs. him. He has a loving, warm family who supports him, but Marissa's dad is in jail and her mom is a meth addict. How can he be her friend without making Shannon jealous?

Critical Evaluation
Blake's voice sounds authentically like a teenage boy's, from his occasional IM-speak to his obsession with sex. His understanding of Marissa's difficult life situation seems very true-to-life. Blake's strong, unique voice will appeal to any boy--or girl--who is learning to navigate the waters of love and lust.

Reader’s Annotation
Blake learns the difference between lust and love as he navigates his relationships with his girlfriend Shannon and his girl friend Marissa.

Author Information
Born and (mostly) raised in Los Angeles, Lisa K. Madigan lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, son, and two big black dogs. Her second novel, a fantasy called The Mermaid's Mirror, is scheduled for a Fall 2010 release. She likes to travel, ride her bike, and take photos. More information can be found at her website: http://www.flashburnout.com/.

Lisa describes how she began writing teen fiction: "During college and throughout my twenties, I tried my hand at “literary fiction,” writing a coming-of-age novel and some short stories. Then I got busy with life, and writing took a backseat. After I had my son, I started reading children’s books. I fell in love with them … so deceptively simple! I took a summer class in Writing for Children, thinking I wanted to write picture books and easy readers. But I couldn’t stop thinking about an idea I had for a novel – about a girl surfer and a mermaid. I started writing the story, and it felt so right. I always felt a kind of self-consciousness when I wrote adult literary fiction – writing for a younger audience just flowed. I was able to lose myself in the characters completely."


Genre
Realistic fiction: school, friendship.

Curriculum Ties
Sociology/social work: the consequences of meth addiction

Booktalking Ideas
For his photography class, Blake took a picture of an addict on the sidewalk. It turns out, it was his friend Marissa's mom! What would you do if you were Blake?

Reading Level/Interest Age
ATOS Book Level: 3.5
Interest level, grades 9-12.

Challenge Issues
Teenage sexual activity.
Mild language.

I included this book because YALSA selected it as one of its 2010 Best Books for Young Adults. It also won the ALA's William C. Morris YA Debut Award in 2010.

How to Say Goodbye in Robot, by Natalie Standiford

How to Say Goodbye in Robot, by Natalie Standiford. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009. ISBN-10: 0545107083; ISBN-13: 978-0545107082. 288 p.

Plot Summary
Beatrice is used to moving a lot. She was expecting her first friend to be one of the usuals: the cheery, popular type. Instead, she is befriended by the class loner, Jonah. Ghost Boy. He hasn't made a new friend since third grade, but he makes an exception for Bea. As they become friends through calling into a late-night radio show, Bea learns more about Jonah's life and the reason he is called Ghost Boy. Can their friendship help Jonah work out his emotional demons?

Critical Evaluation
This book is humorous and packed with cultural references. Focused more on psychological impact rather than action-oriented, the narrator's fresh, original commentary helps the reader identify with Bea and her story. The minor characters are quirky and interesting, and the setting is believable.

Reader’s Annotation
Bea and Jonah are outsiders. They have an unconventional friendship. Jonah's brother died when he was young--or did he? As Bea and Jonah investigate the mystery, they learn about real friendship and the things that can strain it.

Author Information
Natalie Standiford was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and majored in Russian Language and Literature in college. In the Children's Book department at Random House, she worked as an editorial assistant and Assistant Editor for three years, until she quit and became a full-time freelance writer. She plays bass in the all-female rock band Ruffian, as well as in an all-YA-writer band Tiger Beat. She lives in New York City. (Information from the author's website.)

Natalie says, "The idea for the story came from something I heard at a high school reunion which made me start thinking about my high school years and my classmates in a new way. I grew up in Baltimore and went to a small private school like the one in the book, and I loved the intimacy of it. But looking back after many years, I wondered what would it feel like to find yourself in such a closed world when you’re not used to it–to be new in a school where everyone has known each other forever, in a city that can feel like a small town. I wondered how the world I grew up in would look to an outsider. So I made Beatrice that outsider and set her on her way."

Genre
Realistic Fiction: Friendship

Curriculum Ties
Sociology: disabilities, platonic friendship, grief and loss

Booktalking Ideas
1. How Jonah feels about losing his brother.
2. Bea's and Jonah's feelings of loneliness and being weird.

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9+


Challenge Issues
Some references to sexual activity.
Underage alcohol and drug use.

I included this book because it was nominated for a Cybil award in 2009. More information about the Cybil awards can be found here.