Editorial Review

What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novelfrom Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school--how to make friends, the intensityof a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with his best friend's recentsuicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings: Read more

Reviews (1164)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
My book was called The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It was 213 pages. It was about a freshmen named Charlie, who copes with the world of being a teenager in high school. Charlie is shy and reserved and always observes others, but by the end of the book he learns to socialize and "participate" in life. I chose this book because my cousin recommended that I read it. I liked it because I could relate to it. The intended audience was definitly high school aged teens. The biggest thing I learned from this book was we dont have the power to choose where we come from, but we can still choose where we go from there. I thought this was a pretty good book, but I didnt like it enought to read it again.

love love love
this was an amazing book. it was simple but complicated and the way it's told makes it worth the read. we're really able to get inside charlie's mind. this hit me on an emotional level and i completely understand what he means when he says he feels infinite.
Wonderful Book
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age story about a young man who is a wallflower is his own life. While this gives him some startling insight about his friends, he finds that he's not really participating, not really living his own life.
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Subjects:  1. American First Novelists    2. Bildungsromans    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Epistolary fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Adolescence    9. Social Issues - Death & Dying    10. Social Issues - Homosexuality    11. Fiction / General    12. Modern fiction   

Reviews (30)

SUCH AN AMAZING STORY
It is such a wonderful and true story that teaches kids about all different types of families. One of my favorite books of all time, I suggest it to anyone and everyone!

www.lazyreaders.com book club recommendation for April 2006
A touching story of two penguins at the Central Park Zoo that admire the other penguins having babies but cannot have one of their own. When a zoologist notices their dilemma, he gives them an egg for their nest, where they nurture their egg until the day their new baby is born. A beautiful book with some pretty deep messages (but I'll let you enjoy the deeper message for yourselves). For more cool adult, young adult and children's books under 250 pages, go to www.lazyreaders.com.

And Tango Makes Wonderful
This book is absolutely wonderful: the illustrations are soft, wonderfully executed, and accurate inasmuch as how Central Park Zoo looks.I picked up this book out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised at how the authors emphasize how love and family go hand in hand no matter if it's two moms, two dads, or yes, even two penguins and a ball of fluff that comprise it. It is definitely a book I would pass on to any child to teach them about the nature of love and diversity and any adult willing to teach that lesson. My only regret is that there aren't more books out there like this, and more people willing to open their minds and hearts to its message: bravo Tango, and bravo Parnell. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Birds    2. Animals - Zoos    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Familial behavior in animals    6. Family - General    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Penguins    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. Social Issues - Homosexuality    12. Zoo animals    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Zoos   

Reviews (64)

Could've been better
I had to read this book in a college upper level english course. The language is very simple, it is so simple that it is more suitable for high school. But because of so much cursing in the book, which gets old and boring, it is not suitable for high school kids lol. In her novel Brown completely undermines heterosexuality, marriage and family. Every married woman meets her doom once she gets married. Molly's first love Leota who used to be beautiful, looked 40 at 24as Brown described her. It seems that every woman's solvation from doom aka marriage is homosexuality. Just because Brown had an unfortunate encounter with men and didn't enjoy them, it doesn't mean that it applies to every woman. The book is very biased towards heterosexuality and marriage.

A fun summer read
I read this novel because it is referenced in the Educating Rita.The relevance of the main character saying that this book is her favorite escaped me until I read the novel for myself.
Pick It Up
I would of gave it a 5 but I didn't like the ending. This was comedy at it's best. The main character's life - [...] out of carolina - gets worst every chapter. Not much goes in her direction but she tries hard to succeed. She is looking for her true self and where she belongs. Everytime she finds someplace, something happens. She realizes that, that isn't her. Oddly enough she leaves her mark on so many people along the way.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Lesbian    5. Literary    6. Fiction / Literary    7. Literature of special Gay interest    8. Modern fiction   

Reviews (104)

Just Wonderful
Everytime I read this book, I feel like I have to cry at the end. You just want to hug the characters, and tell them everything will be okay.

Amazing!!!
When i picked up this book i could not put it down. over and over again i read it. this is such a touching,warm story,straight,bi,whatever. there's so much that's already been said,what more can i say than AMAZING! i was totally feeling this book and i'm telling you you HAVE to read it!

Annie on My Mind
What a wonderful book.Nancy Garden not only writes so that you feel as if you are there experiencing every emotion but she is right on target with the typical lesibian hardships. I read this book in two days and the residual effect lasted two weeks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Lesbians    6. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality   

Reviews (26)

Quirky.
The Queen is forcing her son to marry because she is tired of ruling. Her son searching through many princesses only to find he is attracted to one of the princesses brothers. The sketches of the people are strange, thin and a bit scary at times but the message is clear and to the point. No explanation is necessary and one realizes love is love by the end of the book. I enjoyed the rather quirky illustrations of collages mixed with paper cuttings, crazy colors and water colors that provide the reader with lots to look at while the message of the story sinks in.

A glorious thing!
It is an all too rare pleasure to find a book like this one, which is fresh and open to the variety of human experience and, simultaneously, does not sound like an incredibly boring professor giving a lecture. This is a fun, colourful story, with beautiful pictures and a fabulous sense of humour. And it's totally appropriate for young children. Very highly recommended.
Should come with a warning
Imagine an unsuspecting parent of young children reading this book to them and realizing, at the critical point, that the the guy is "into" guys.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Homosexuality    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Kings and rulers    8. Kings, queens, rulers, etc    9. Kings, queens, rulers, etc.    10. Princes    11. Social Issues - General    12. Social Issues - Homosexuality   

Reviews (23)

Not bad but i wouldn't recommend it
Primarily and most improtantly, homophobia wasn't not the true reason behind shaping my ture opinion about this book which i coudn't bear readingtill the end. Although Alex Sanchez does a great job in revealing an introspection of the three protagonists Nelson, Jason, and Kyle including their feelings about their homosexuality and their caring about the view from which society would regard them. Instead of bringing forth the disliked subject of homophobia in American society, Sanchez unreasonably talks sublty about this important issues by narrating the story of Jason's coming out. It is surprrising and hardly believable to accept the courtesy by which Jason's schoolmates regarded his coming out and that their role-model is homosexual. In actual life, it's rarely if never oucurring that a large amount of people would easily accept among them someone who according to religion and common rule, is somehow different. In addition to the unusal attitude of the town people, Jason't being interviewed and acclaimed by many for having the courage of coming out is an extreme prasing of being homosexual. Again, i am not a homophobe and i can prove this by expressing how much i liked Rainbow Boys in talking about a negative thing (homophobia) in American history and in it's valuale message to encourage youth in general and homosexuals in particular to accept their fauts and face society.

There Are No Surprises Here
Nelson, Kyle and Jason whom we met in RAINBOW BOYS are back again, pretty much as we knew them. Well, Nelson has gone from dying his hair lemon-lime to "flame-blue," an appropriate color since he is certainly the flamer of these three. He is the outrageous one who never had a chance of being in anybody's closet, even if he had wanted to. Kyle is still the shy one on the swim team who can "pass" if left alone. Jason, of course, is the high school jock equally attractive to both young men and women.
Could have been better......
Rainbow Boys is a waaaay better book than this.I think the thing that hit me the most was how different this book was from the first book.It had almost no cussing or sexual jokes which were abundant in the first one.That small detail was important because it made it realistic.To have highschool kids not cussing or making the crude jokes was lame because all kids do. In Rainbow Boys Nelson made some of the funniest jokes and said the best lines in this book he comes off as dumb and whiney instead of whiney but cute.It makes no sense why he would want to have sex so badly with Jeremy and that shouldnt have taken up the whole book.Nelson could obviously get another guy and especially after he was afraid he had got HIV.The way he didn't take getting it seriously was dumb too.He was funny and interesting in the first book what happened??
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Homosexuality    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    9. Social Issues - Homosexuality    10. Social Situations - Dating & Sex    11. Social Situations - Homosexuality    12. Fiction dealing with sexuality & relationships    13. Gays & Lesbians    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality    15. Literature of special Gay interest   

Reviews (70)

A terrific book!Very highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having just finished this book, and having identified with many of the situations that Russel, the main character faces, I feel very moved.The book is a page-turner.I'm so glad that books like this exist for teenagers, especially gay teenagers.And for 40-somethings like myself, who still struggle with "what do people think" issues.I certainly learned something from this book, and enjoyed the process as well.

Helps a lot
I am a 17 year gay guy from ohio and let me say, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I felt and feel like I AM the character of Russell in the book, I've gone through so many of the things he has. I even cried after reading the sequel after this one because it made me look at my own situation and how hard it is to be gay and love someone who might never talk to you again if they knew. I feel like this book deserves several awards, it certainly had a touch to me.

Zzzzz
Boring and irritating. Not one character is likable, and not one character is 3D. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Clubs    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Homosexuality    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. School & Education    9. Social Issues - Adolescence    10. Social Issues - Homosexuality    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality   

Reviews (1)

"Getting It" ... in more ways than one
Carlos has a big problem: he feels like the only guy in his high school class who hasn't yet managed to hook up with a girl. While his closest friends seem to be born experts at making arrangements over the Internet and the whole "friends with benefits" scene, Carlos can barely manage even to strike up a text-message convo with the opposite sex. Furthermore, when it comes to Roxy, the girl that he most has his eye on, he is at a complete loss -- he gets as clumsy and tongue-tied as a seventh-grader.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Coming of age    4. Fiction    5. Ficton    6. Friendship    7. Homosexuality    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Social Issues - General    12. Social Issues - Homosexuality    13. Social Issues - New Experience    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Dating & Sex    15. Romance   

Reviews (6)

GOOD BOOK about friendship!
I really liked this book! I liked Chuck and Hal's friendship. I also liked their experiences that they shared on their blog. I mainly got this book for the plot and the blog writings. I would like to see the author write a sequel(in the blog format),maybe 1 of them could be visting colleges and the other in a Study Abroad program?

Fresh and Easy to Believe
OK, I've taught high school for 37 years, and this book captures the dramatics, hyperbole, stunts, depression, hope, and anxiety of being a teen.Mr. Sloan has demonstrated a profound knack for capturing the cadance of adolescent speech, the multiplicity of their thought patterns, and their overall obsessions with becoming who they want to be.Coupled with good humor and insight, this novel reads just like a blog, and most assuredly should be read in that manner.Kudos to this book, and its honest look at contemporary kids; their lives, loves, disappointments, and most significantly, maturation.

He pulled it off...
The format... teens writing on a Blog to describe their summer was an intriguing idea.I've read "journaled fiction" (did I just create a genre) before and found it to be inventive.This is my first with blogjournalizedfic (I totally made that one up).He did.. Mr. Sloan that is.I had a vested interest in the book (enjoy coming out stories and musical theater and spend ample time on the internet and carrying on significant relationships via email while seprated from loved ones to know).Some plot choices the author made - a straight musical theater freak who obsesses about Sondheim ... were quietly inspired.He avoided a cliche there (but there is some reason that drama clubs are so creative - give it up for the gays). He also has a wit about him plugging in cultural references without taking the reader (especially an over 40 guy like me) so far into teen lingo I didn't know what the heck was being said. One of my favorite lines was something to the effect that Hal was dangerously close to having a realtionship with Henri where he was "Whitney to Henri's Bobby" or something like that. ROTFL (I learned that from the book).That's a tase of this author's skill.I'll read more of this stuff and reccomend this book to my teen students and all the kids at the theater conservatory. One not familiar with that arena might be at a loss to Chuck's missives about Sondheim.. but to the initiated we get it.Bravo on this work.
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Subjects:  1. Best friends    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Homosexuality    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Love & Romance    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Social Issues - Homosexuality    12. Social Situations - Teen Lifestyle    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

Reviews (30)

Bitter-sweet.
This book tells about a girl named Reagan who's brother, Liam, is a T-girl or transgender girl.Liam refers himself to Luna when he is in drag.It tells the story through Reagan's eyes of how her brother is trying to come out to people.The struggles and hardship that these two go through actually made me change my perpective on people in drag and homosexuality.It has the best bitter-sweet ending I have ever read and it actually made me cry.This was the first book I ever cried while reading.

Amazing
This book is incredible. It is an amazing story and the book ended far too soon. The author uses flashbacks very effectively and you are able to sympathize with both Reagan and Luna/Liam. It's great to see literature for us teens dealing with topics such as transgender teens because it's not something that's ever brought up. I really loved this book and am going to read it again and again.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
LUNA is the first book I've ever read that deals specifically with transgender issues.Although you get a feel for what the book is about by reading the back copy--in effect, that Regan's brother, Liam, is a woman trapped in a man's body--you don't get the full spectrum of what this actually means until you reach the end of chapter one.
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Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Family - Siblings    5. Family problems    6. Fiction    7. Identity    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    10. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    11. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    12. Social Situations - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    13. Transsexuals    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality   

Reviews (2)

Dealing with Teens? Get this!
This book is a must-have for any Library shelf that serves teens.It is written in a style appealing to teens and includes short, one or two page summaries of ways to cope with the many issues teens face when questioning their sexuality.It also provides excellent, current resources for teens, from crisis lines to 'safe' (moderated) chat sites. I especially enjoyed the section dealing with 'coming out' to parents and family.It provided experiences from other teens who have (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and also possible responses parents might have when a teen tells them he/she is gay.In addition, it listed possible, respectful ways to respond to less-than-accepting parents.A fantastic compilation of stories, insights, and resources for teens.

wonderful book
i remember being a pre-teen, leafing through many books written for young women that followed an "our bodies ourselves" format. these books were ok, but never what i was really looking for. i didn't want information on how to ask boys to dance or how to apply lipstick- i wondered where the chapters entitled "when you don't feel like the rest or the girls" or "but what if i don't like boys?" were. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Coming out (Sexual orientation    4. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    5. Gay teenagers    6. Health & Daily Living - Sexuality & Pregnancy    7. Homosexuality    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Social Issues - Homosexuality    11. Social Science - Psychology    12. United States    13. Gays & Lesbians    14. Personal issues    15. Sex education & the facts of life   

Reviews (1)

Wide Awake
A gay, Jewish president has just been elected to the office of President of the United States.Duncan and his boyfriend are thrilled that the candidate they supported has won, but their relationship becomes strained when the election results are called into question and their fellow citizens start taking sides.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Homosexuality    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Politics, Practical    9. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    10. Social Issues - General    11. Social Issues - Homosexuality    12. Social action    13. Fiction / General   

Reviews (27)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Written over ten years ago, AM I BLUE? is still as important today as it was then.A short-story collection dealing with GLBT (gay/lesbian/ bisexual/transgender) issues by some of 1995's top authors, this book is a true gem for teens searching for their identity--or just looking for a good read.With stories ranging from contemporary paranormal, to ones set in the 1950's, to one based during the Vietnam War, and even one in another world of Amazon warriors, there's something here for everyone.
Overall a great book!
There are some stories in this book that are absolutely phenomenal. "Am I Blue" is one of them, and it is a great first story of the book.This books helps people to understand what it is like to be GLBT from many different viewpoints."The Honorary Shepherd" is probably the story that impacted me the most, as it deals with interracial relationships as well.Having bought this book on accident, I am glad I did.I've probably read the book 15 times through and I don't know if I'll ever tire of it.

Helped me out
Reading this book helped me to figure out who I was, that I am gay. I'd been wondering for years, literally, but afraid to decide and not really sure either what it meant, but one day, at the North Shore Library this book caught my eye and the next day after reading it I came out to myself.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Homosexuality    5. Juvenile fiction    6. Short Stories    7. Short stories, American    8. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    9. Social Issues - Homosexuality    10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Dating & Sex    11. Women's studies   

Reviews (10)

Friends from East to West
In this third installment of Sanchez's rainbow trilogy, we find Kyle, Jason, and Nelson taking a road trip across the country (from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA).
Awesome!
Out of three books I love this one the best. The after high school setting was cool for a change and the maturity levels of the characters was better. In this book, Kyle isn't the perfect boy anymore, Jason sees that he can screw up. I like the readers now see some of Kyles flaws and defects, this is one of the best parts of the book. Jason...oh Jason. I enjoyed reading about how Jason questions hes total "gayness" when he sees naked girls and kisses that girl in the club. Thats a big problem many questioning people have and it was nice to see it brought up in a way. Jason and Kyles relationship goes throught its tough times on this trip with is also nice to see becuase not every relationship in the world is perfect. In many ways even though Kyle and Jason fight, their relationship is growing stronger. Then comes Nelson. Nelson, a friend of Kyle and not really Jasons in the other two books. In this book, I like how Nelson and Jason start to connect and Kyle doesnt like that. This is another big problem many teens hae in their relationships, gays and straights. He also wants to find his true love like Kyle found Jason, but he doesnt know if hes ever going to find that til the end of the book in L.A. My all time favorite part of the book is at the end when Kyle knows he want to spend the rest of his life with Jason and that they are going to take it one day at a time, just like the old couple from the diner. I would recommend this book to everyone!!!

Worse than the first but better than the second
To answer that burning, burning question: Nelson's love life becomes more than unrequited crushes and a past one-night stand. Thank God. Now the world can move on!
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Subjects:  1. Automobile travel    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books - Young Adult    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Homosexuality    8. Interpersonal relations    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    11. Social Issues - Friendship    12. Social Issues - Homosexuality    13. Vacations    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality    15. Literature of special Gay interest    16. Modern fiction   

Reviews (2)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Amazon doesn't seem to like my review of THE FULL SPECTRUM, so please check it out on the TeensReadToo dot com website.This is a great book, and you deserve to read the review.
The Full Spectrum
So what happens when you gather up a group of young, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and other label-full or label-free writers and ask them to share a real life experience to be published in a book?
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Gay youth    4. Health & Daily Living - Sexuality & Pregnancy    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Literary Criticism & Collections    7. Sexual minority youth    8. Sexual orientation    9. Social Issues - Adolescence    10. Social Issues - Homosexuality    11. Social Problems (General) (Young Adult)    12. Social Situations - Homosexuality    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality   

Reviews (71)

Great For GLBTs and their Allies
This book caught my eye at my local library. I love reading books about GLBTs and am a huge gay rights activist. Each chapter rotates about the three guys. Nelson, the activist who is out to everyone; Kyle, a genius who is only out to Nelson; and Jason, the closeted jock. The book deals with coming out, alcoholism, internet predators, HIV, and much more. Also, if you enjoyed this book check out the sequels Rainbow High and Rainbow Road.

Speechless
Such a great book. The characters were very alive, and I felt for each one. As people have said before me, this needs to be mandatory reading in high schools.

Some WhereOver the Rainbow...
Originally, I read this book for a book report, but changed my mind when I finished fearing that it would have been to repetitive after a speech on gay rights I did about a month back.However, I changed my mind yet another time after a friend of mine came out this week and I saw someone holding a sign proclaiming that homosexuality was a sin.I normally don't read "teen fiction" but this book was much different than your typical young adult fiction novel about school and raging hormones.Maybe someday it will be required reading to help promote acceptance.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Homosexuality    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. School & Education    9. Social Issues - Adolescence    10. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    11. Social Issues - Friendship    12. Social Issues - Homosexuality    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality    14. Literature of special Gay interest    15. Modern fiction   

Reviews (1)

For adults too
The story, set against the backdrop of Colombo during the monsoon season, is about Amrith, a fourteen year old orphan who lives with his mother's best friend, her husband and two daughters. Amrith is very much a part of their lives, as he is more of a son and a brother to them than a stranger.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Love & Romance    5. People & Places - Asia    6. Social Issues - Homosexuality    7. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality   

Reviews (4)

Quite Disturbed that this come up under Mentally Ill Parents
I've never read this book, but I'm very disturbed that it came up under a search of mentally ill parents.I think amazon should be ASHAMED to have classified homosexuality as a mental illness.I am SHOCKED!

It's about time!
I loved this book.I found that it's something so new over the past few years, as far as something that people talk about.We've come so far relative to diversity, acceptance, and sharing our personal stories, that a book like this is a breath of fresh air.I'm happy that it talks about things from a child's perspective, and doesn't try to be too clinical or matter-of-fact.My children loved the book (they're teens....and I'm a gay dad) and it put all of the challenges, blessings, and difficulties into perspective for them.We're all walking a different path, and it's great to see what others (and their children have gone through.

almost child friendly
i found the book a good read, but my young daughter has a little trouble with the words not being literacy friendly. she has trouble with adult words (the spelling). otherwise i enjoyed it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children of gay parents    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - Parents    5. Gay parents    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Parent and child    9. Parenting - General    10. Psychology    11. Social Issues - Homosexuality    12. Personal awareness: family, relationship & social issues   

Reviews (8)

Good Book!
I found Far From Xanadu a good reaad, being gay myself and a reader of many books for gay teens, it was wery emotional and I could actutally find a voice.Although I was a little repulsed that a girl would be very buff.But she's a likable character.I mostly liked Jamie because he is most like me I feel.But I liked it, good book.

Good
This book just has so much in it. I no how Mike fells, I am going thought that too. I love how Peters what her books, i have read one other.
Good Book
Mike is instantly lovable and heartbreakingly realistic.Her inner dialogs are not only believable, I couldn't get them out of my head.It was so refreshing to read a book about a gay teen that didn't have to worry about being teased and abused by peers as Mike and Jamie are both accepted and loved in thier home town Coalton. (although, a little too convinient)
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Romance    2. Children's Books - Young Adult    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Family problems    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Homosexuality    8. Interpersonal relations    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Love & Romance    11. School & Education    12. Self-perception    13. Social Issues - Adolescence    14. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    15. Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance   

Reviews (26)

The Order of the Poison Oak
Enjoyed the story that moves along quickly. Characters are developed well and are sympathetic. There are ups and downs to the story, with a satisfying ending.

I think I'm in love
I recently finished this book and the first one, Geography Club. And I think I'm in love with Russel Middlebrook! The stories are fine, really good and everything, but it's the character I can't stop thinking about. Don't tell me doesn't really exist--I don't want to know!

Enjoyable.
Russel "Russ" Middlebrook is a sixteen-year-old who has recently come out of the closet and announced that he is gay. His best male friend, Gunner, is straight and very intelligent. Russ's best female friend, Min, is bi. Summer break has just begun. The three are going to be summer camp counselors. But they have no idea just how wild things will get. The ten-year-old kids they are in charge of are wild, hyper, burn survivors. It's going to take a lot to win their trust.