GLBT
Bibliography:
Whistle Me Home
Bibliography:
Wersba, B. (1997). Whistle me home. New York: Henry Holt and Company LLC.
Noli is a tomboy and her best friend since kindergarten is Tracy. Tracy is very pretty and wears new clothes that ate girly that she gets from the big city and Noli wears jeans, a t-shirt and a baseball cap. In September of their junior year in high school, a new student comes to their school and he is as gorgeous as a god. All the girls are immediately in love with him and come to fins out, he is really smart and loves poetry. Noli is amazed one day when TJ talks to her and asks her to hang out. He could be with any of the pretty girls, but he chose her. They start spending time together, eventually Noli introduces him to her parents, which is huge, since Noli doesn't get along with them at all. As she gets to know him, she finds out that he was in some trouble back at his old school and that he doesn't drink, smoke, or do drugs anymore. He get on to Noli about her mild drinking and sh blows him off, thinking he can't really tell. The relationship begins to build, but Noli realizes that he isn't like what she thought most guys would be like. He isn't all over her and looking for sex. He is very gentle and kind and kisses her and hugs her, but that's about it. Well, Noli has fallen for him totally and she has decided to give herself to him- totally. Her parents go out of town,s o they have the house to themselves but when the time comes, he says he can't and Noli asks him if he is gay. He says yes. Noli feels betrayed by TJ because she is in love with him and he won't be with her in that way. He leaves and over the next few weeks, Noli begins drinking heavily to dull her pain and confusion. She has to go to AA meetings or she will be expelled from school, since she has come to school intoxicated several times and there she meets teens that understand her. She slowly makes some friends and they help her see that drinking is not helping anything. Noli has time to reflect and begin to make amends with her mother but Noli has to decide what she wants to do about TJ, who has been leaving her notes and letting her know that he still loves her. She must decide to stay with him, which is what her heart wants, or to break free, which is what she knows she has to do if she ever wants to move on.
Say the Word
Bibliography:
Garsee, J. ( 2009). Say the word. New York: Bloomsbury.
Shawna is seventeen and lives with her dad. Her mother left when she was seven to go live with Fran and they have their own family together. After Shawna's mother dies with no current will, her father takes everything from Fran - the house, the art gallery, and even her son, who Shawna finds out is actually her brother. Her father gains custody of her brother and forces him to live in their home. Shawna really likes her brother but knows her is miserable and is contemplating suicide. Shawna has to decide how to handle this situation since her father doesn't believe there is a problem and she has seen the signs of her brothers downward spiral. She must confront her father about what he did to her mother all those years ago to make her leave and what he is doing now to create the perfect family by forcing her brother to come live with them and keeping him from his other brother and Fran. She finds out who she is and what she is willing to do to make things right for her little brother and for Fran. Great book, I highly recommend.
I am J
Bibliography:
Beam, C. (2011). I am J. New York: Hatchett Book Group.
J who is technically a girl, but considers himself a boy, must deal with the bullying and constant confrontation by peers about the way he dresses and how he acts. J has decided that he was suppose to be a boy, but was born a girl and he now wants to make the change that will make him physically look like a boy to match with how he feels on the inside. His mother wants to help but can't accept this idea and his father thinks that he needs to get over it. J's mother sends him to stay at his b est friends house for a while where he begins to make some needed changes in his life and goes to a new school for gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender kids. Along with school is counseling where J finds there are others who have gone through this same situation and he gains confidence and is supported in his decision to begin taking testosterone to make the masculine changes in his body. J finds out that his mother has lied to his father and that she is the one who can't accept him for what he is and his father has been left out of all the information. J tries to make things work with his parents, but finds that his new friends are actually his new family - supporting and nonjudgmental.
I would highly recommend this book.
Books read for this week were on the topic of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters. I would have to say that I had not read many books on this topic before this week, but I found these books incredibly enlightening. Each of these books discussed an issue that I have not experienced personally, so it opened my eyes to something new - which is always good. I have a new appreciation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. Life is such a struggle anyway, but to experience the cruelty and hatred that some of these characters went through is truly saddening and wrong. I have heightened my belief that we should all be allowed to be who we are and that nobody has the right to judge anyone as being wrong in their identity. I do not believe that anyone has the right to judge another, especially if you have never walked in their shoes. Enlighten yourself and learn about some experiences that are having to be endured. I suggest to everyone that they read some books in this topic area - consider it a broadening of your mind. Go into each book with an open mind and I bet you are touched in some form or fashion.
Breaking Boxes
Jenkins, A. (1997). Breaking boxes. New York: Delacort Press.
Charlie lives with his older brother Trent, who happens to be gay. Charlie doesn't have many friends and one day gets into a fight at school with a guy named Brandon. They both end up having three days if in school suspension and by the time they finish their suspension, Charlie and Brandon end up talking to each other and discovering that they actually like each other. The two start spending time together, with Brandon coming over to hang out at the apartment with Charlie and Trent. Brandon really likes Trent because he is older and smart, but does not harp like a parent. When Brandon finds out the Trent is gay, he is angry and doesn't want to have anything to do with Charlie. Charlie is angry and sad, that Brandon doesn't understand and has chosen to overlook all the qualities he liked in Trent and is obsessed with the fact that he is gay. A situation a while later, leaves Brandon coming to Charlies rescue at the end and they have an understanding about what has happened and how it was handled.
Whistle Me Home
Bibliography:
Wersba, B. (1997). Whistle me home. New York: Henry Holt and Company LLC.
Noli is a tomboy and her best friend since kindergarten is Tracy. Tracy is very pretty and wears new clothes that ate girly that she gets from the big city and Noli wears jeans, a t-shirt and a baseball cap. In September of their junior year in high school, a new student comes to their school and he is as gorgeous as a god. All the girls are immediately in love with him and come to fins out, he is really smart and loves poetry. Noli is amazed one day when TJ talks to her and asks her to hang out. He could be with any of the pretty girls, but he chose her. They start spending time together, eventually Noli introduces him to her parents, which is huge, since Noli doesn't get along with them at all. As she gets to know him, she finds out that he was in some trouble back at his old school and that he doesn't drink, smoke, or do drugs anymore. He get on to Noli about her mild drinking and sh blows him off, thinking he can't really tell. The relationship begins to build, but Noli realizes that he isn't like what she thought most guys would be like. He isn't all over her and looking for sex. He is very gentle and kind and kisses her and hugs her, but that's about it. Well, Noli has fallen for him totally and she has decided to give herself to him- totally. Her parents go out of town,s o they have the house to themselves but when the time comes, he says he can't and Noli asks him if he is gay. He says yes. Noli feels betrayed by TJ because she is in love with him and he won't be with her in that way. He leaves and over the next few weeks, Noli begins drinking heavily to dull her pain and confusion. She has to go to AA meetings or she will be expelled from school, since she has come to school intoxicated several times and there she meets teens that understand her. She slowly makes some friends and they help her see that drinking is not helping anything. Noli has time to reflect and begin to make amends with her mother but Noli has to decide what she wants to do about TJ, who has been leaving her notes and letting her know that he still loves her. She must decide to stay with him, which is what her heart wants, or to break free, which is what she knows she has to do if she ever wants to move on.
Say the Word
Bibliography:
Garsee, J. ( 2009). Say the word. New York: Bloomsbury.
Shawna is seventeen and lives with her dad. Her mother left when she was seven to go live with Fran and they have their own family together. After Shawna's mother dies with no current will, her father takes everything from Fran - the house, the art gallery, and even her son, who Shawna finds out is actually her brother. Her father gains custody of her brother and forces him to live in their home. Shawna really likes her brother but knows her is miserable and is contemplating suicide. Shawna has to decide how to handle this situation since her father doesn't believe there is a problem and she has seen the signs of her brothers downward spiral. She must confront her father about what he did to her mother all those years ago to make her leave and what he is doing now to create the perfect family by forcing her brother to come live with them and keeping him from his other brother and Fran. She finds out who she is and what she is willing to do to make things right for her little brother and for Fran. Great book, I highly recommend.
Bibliography:
Beam, C. (2011). I am J. New York: Hatchett Book Group.
J who is technically a girl, but considers himself a boy, must deal with the bullying and constant confrontation by peers about the way he dresses and how he acts. J has decided that he was suppose to be a boy, but was born a girl and he now wants to make the change that will make him physically look like a boy to match with how he feels on the inside. His mother wants to help but can't accept this idea and his father thinks that he needs to get over it. J's mother sends him to stay at his b est friends house for a while where he begins to make some needed changes in his life and goes to a new school for gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender kids. Along with school is counseling where J finds there are others who have gone through this same situation and he gains confidence and is supported in his decision to begin taking testosterone to make the masculine changes in his body. J finds out that his mother has lied to his father and that she is the one who can't accept him for what he is and his father has been left out of all the information. J tries to make things work with his parents, but finds that his new friends are actually his new family - supporting and nonjudgmental.
I would highly recommend this book.
