Saying No to Stereotypes

[Regina Hoskins]

I have to say that reading this article was kind of depressing. It was sad to hear that much of the young adult literature on homosexuality was negative and often ended in death. I can see how this topic would be difficult to deal with because as a teacher, I don't think I even discuss heterosexual relationships with my students. I do realize that as a future librarian, I will need to offer the kinds of books mentioned in the article in my library. But offering them or having them on the shelf is a lot different than discussing them with a group. I did agree with the statement, "there's an increasing need for books showing families in which the parents are gay or lesbian couples." This is wise as we live in a world where the traditional family of a married couple consisting of one male and one female is not always the case. So, when I looked into the new young adult literature on these topics, I was pleased to find these books which received good reviews:

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez (2007)
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (2005)
Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters (2005)
Bermuda Triangle by Maureen Johnson (2005)
GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel (2003)
Choir Boy by Charlie Anders (2005)

[Diane Caro]

Good list including both fiction and nonfiction. I do feel that more positive GLBT books are being published.