Category Archives: 2010

The End: Five Queer Kids Save the World

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Daisy

Nora Olsen, 2010. Just what the title says: when a war breaks out in 2014, five queer teens find one another and conspire to save the planet. There’s a weird framing device where the war is actually caused by an … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, biracial, bisexual, black, dystopia, european, fantasy, gay male, gaytopia, lesbian, Nora Olsen, queer adult, queer protagonist, trans | Leave a comment

The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Daisy

Yxta Maya Murray, 2010. Fifteen-year-old Michelle straddles two worlds – her comfortable foster home with a doctor for her guardian, and her old life as Princess P in a family of gangsters. Now Michelle is applying to private school and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, black, gay male, high school, latina/o, passing mentions, queer adult, queer parent, realistic, secondary queer character, sports, Yxta Maya Murray | Leave a comment

Poor Rich

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Daisy

Jean Blasiar, 2010.  It’s challenging to review these books from small presses.  I want to encourage indie publishing (NOT self-publishing!) and give tiny presses and new authors a chance, but it’s really difficult to overlook poor copyediting and, well, poor … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, gay male, high school, Jean Blasiar, problem novel, queer adult, queer parent, realistic, secondary queer character | Leave a comment

The Cardturner: A Novel about a King, a Queen, and a Joker

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Daisy

Louis Sachar, 2010. I grew up with Sachar’s Wayside School stories, and while his award-winning Holes wasn’t really my thing, I enjoyed it nonetheless.  The Cardturner is more my speed – a coming-of-age story with a lot of esoteria around … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, fantasy, lesbian, Louis Sachar, passing mentions, problem novel, queer adult, realistic, romance | Leave a comment

Love Drugged

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Daisy

James Klise, September 2010.  Jamie knows he’s gay, and part of him wants to embrace it, but when he sees all the homophobia happening in the world – and at his school – he doesn’t want to come out of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, fantasy, gay male, gay-bashing, high school, James Klise, latina/o, problem novel, queer protagonist | Leave a comment

Wildthorn

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Daisy

Jane Eagland, September 2010.  Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove thinks she’s on her way to be a paid companion for a rich friend of her family’s, but when her carriage arrives at her destination, it’s an insane asylum – and the staff … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, european, historical, Jane Eagland, lesbian, queer protagonist, realistic, romance, secondary queer character | 3 Comments

The Frenzy

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Daisy

Francesca Lia Block, September 2010. I remember, as a teen, loving the spiky, poppy prose confection that was Weetzie Bat.  I reread it in library school for my YA lit class, and it stood the test of time.  So I … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, black, fantasy, Francesca Lia Block, gay male, secondary queer character, worst ever! | Leave a comment

Jumpstart the World

Posted on October 3, 2010 by Daisy

Catherine Ryan Hyde, October 2010. Hurrah for the recent spate of high-quality books about trans kids!  I really liked Almost Perfect and I Am J, but both fell apart at the end; the former got too melodramatic and the latter … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, Catherine Ryan Hyde, drag, gay male, gay-bashing, high school, lesbian, problem novel, queer adult, realistic, secondary queer character, surprise queer character, trans | 8 Comments

Scars

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Daisy

Cheryl Rainfield, March 2010.  This traditional problem novel manages to be both gruesome and cookie-cutter.  It addresses teen Kendra’s cutting, her parents’ financial problems, her crush on sexy and sassy Meghan, and her quest to remember who raped her when … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, Cheryl Rainfield, gay-bashing, high school, lesbian, problem novel, queer protagonist, realistic, secondary queer character, sexual violence | Leave a comment

Rhythm and Blues

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Daisy

Jill Murray, February 2010.   Here’s a protagonist with her head on straight.  She’s part of a breakdance crew, and comfortable with her place in it – she’s not the star, not the best gymnast, just a solid performer and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, black, canadian, gay male, Jill Murray, lesbian, queer protagonist, realistic, secondary queer character | 2 Comments