Am I Blue?: Coming Out from the Silence

A collection of short stories about homosexuality by such authors as Bruce Coville, M.E. Kerr, William Sleator, and Jane Yolen.

Grade 7 Up-This collection of 18 short stories by recognized children's and young adult authors explores the various meanings of gay/lesbian identity in the lives of teenagers. The book begins and ends with thoughtful commentaries by Bauer, and each story is followed by an afterword by its author that ranges from ho-hum to fascinating; the best tell the "story behind the story" and reveal the ways in which gay/lesbian issues or individuals have touched the authors' lives. Most feature white, middle-class, suburban/urban milieus, although several stories have a more diverse cast than is generally found in YA fiction. All seek to convey the very mixed emotions that accompany the acceptance of sexual difference at an age that places a high value on conformity to an established norm. Although the title story is a humorous fantasy featuring a camp fairy godfather who comes to the aid of a gay-bashing victim, most of the tales are realistic portrayals of contemporary YAs. In Nancy Garden's "Parents Night," an unexpected reconciliation occurs between a young lesbian and her father, while in Bauer's "Dancing Backward," the trauma of two young women's boarding school expulsion is offset by the revelation of their love. In Lois Lowry's "Holding," a young man returns from the funeral of his father's partner and finally tells his best friend that his father is gay, while James Cross Giblin's "Three Mondays in July" captures the isolation of small-town life in the early '50s. As is the case with most short story collections, the overall quality is uneven, but the best stories are memorable. They speak of survival and hope; they say, like the man on the beach in Giblin's story, "You're not alone."-Christine Jenkins, University of Illinois, Champaign
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

For the first-ever anthology of YA fiction devoted to lesbian and gay themes, Bauer ( On My Honor ) has assembled original stories by a stellar list of popular children's and YA authors, among them M. E. Kerr, Nancy Garden, William Sleator, Jane Yolen, C. S. Adler and Bruce Coville. With subjects ranging from first love to coming out, self-discovery to homophobia, the collection offers an eclectic mix of voices. Newbery winner Lois Lowry, for example, contributes "Holding," a poignant tale of a high school student who confides in his best friend after the death of his gay father's lover, while Francesca Lia Block weighs in with the wonderfully quirky "Winnie and Teddy," in which a teenager comes out to his girlfriend during a momentous road trip to San Francisco. Perhaps the book's most powerful moments are provided by Jacqueline Woodson's shimmering "Slipping Away," a painful look at one girl's discovery that there are some tests that a friendship simply cannot withstand; and Gregory Maguire's "The Honorary Shepherds," which deftly employs the language of a film treatment to describe two mixed-race students who collaborate on a school video project. Honest, well-written and true to life, these stories will do much to address the gap in gay literature for teens. Part of the proceeds from the book will be donated to Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

When gay and lesbian adults write about their youthful struggles to come to terms with their gayness, they frequently lament that there was little in books to help them understand their sexuality and accept themselves. In contrast, these stories by 16 luminaries of YA literature will help such young people realize that they are not alone, unique, or abnormal in their sexual orientation. The viewpoint here is sometimes that of a gay protagonist, sometimes that of someone whose life has been affected by a gay person. Bruce Coville's title tale of a modern fairy godfather is wonderfully campy and humorous; in Francesca Lia Block's ``Winnie and Teddy,'' a young man comes out to his girlfriend; in James Cross Giblin's ``Three Mondays in July,'' a young man's chance encounter with an older one turns his life around; Lois Lowry's ``Holding'' depicts a boy whose life has been a lie because he couldn't acknowledge his father's gayness; and the editor tells a delightful tale (``Dancing Backward'') of two young lesbians reacting to the rigid orthodoxy of a Catholic boarding school. Many of the other stories--which include entries by M.E. Kerr, Jacqueline Woodson, Jane Yolen, and William Sleator--are equally fine. Each is followed by comments by the author on his or her life and writing; these can be as interesting as the stories themselves. A book that belongs in every YA collection. (Fiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 8-12. Sixteen short stories by a stellar group of YA writers--some gay, some not--all of whom have something meaningful to say about gay awareness and want to present readers with positive, credible gay role models. Wonderfully diverse in tone and setting, the stories cut across color and class lines to incorporate everything from a contemporary, feminist story about a girl's coming out and a tale written with a nod to the Vietnam War to a fantasy that takes place in a mythical Amazonian kingdom and a story set in a Catholic girls' school. If there's one off note, it's the title tale. A campy, messagey piece by Bruce Coville, the story, which is actually humorous as well as pointed, would have been more effective had it been placed elsewhere in the collection. As leadoff to the anthology, it gives readers the impression they're in for sermons, not good storytelling, and nothing could be further from the truth. Bauer's anthology, with stories recognizing both the physical and the emotional pull of being gay or lesbian, includes a number of particularly good selections. One of the finest, "Three Mondays in July," comes from Jim Giblin, best known for his young people's nonfiction; another comes from Newbery Medal winner Lois Lowry, who gives us a moving tale about a teenager who can't bring himself to be honest about his father's significant other. With stories that go beyond struggle and stereotype to show individuality, pride, and affection, this is an important book that should be in every YA collection. A portion of the proceeds will be shared with the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Stephanie Zvirin