I thought about passing on this week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge question. I'm sixty years old, and while I have no problem with reading young adult and even middle-grade books if they appeal to me, most people would probably consider my tastes a bit dated. My only child turns 35 this year, and I don't have any grandchildren. Therefore, my exposure to the young adult and middle-grade genres is somewhat limited at this point.
However, I still want to answer the question, although my answer will be rather niche. I read a fair number of both stories and memoirs written by gay men, and if there were any gay teenage boys in my life, I would recommend they read the following books.
Number one on my list is Jaap Cove's memoir, Boy One. This book does contain explicit material. It also contains a wealth of both cautionary tales that any young gay man or teenage boy should be aware of, and Jaap's journey to self-acceptance is encouraging. This book keeps things real.
From the blurb:
In BOY ONE, Jaap Cové tells the honest and gripping story of a remarkable part of his life. Revealing and outspoken, it is a unique, colorful, and compelling coming-of-age story. It captures the excitement of international gay life in the early 80s, but it is also a troubling saga about morality and intergenerational relationships.
You can read my review of Boy One here.
For a less explicit, more light-hearted memoir about being gay back in the day, I suggest Late Bloomer Baby Boomer by Steve Milliken. While Steve's memories sometimes get a little steamy, the book is less explicit than Boy One.
Read my review of Late Bloomer Baby Boomer here.
Read my review of How To Win a Million Dollars and *BEEP* Glitter here.
Granted, these books might not be what you'd expect to find on your standard list of Books I Want Youth To Discover, but they are the books that this old lady thinks a certain demographic of youth would both enjoy and benefit from. Give 'em a look!
1 comment:
Thanks for this list, Cara. I'm always looking for interesting reads.
A few years back, I got 'The Hunger Games' from the local library. Hadn't seem the movies and wanted to know what the fuss was all about.
TBH, the movies were WAY better. In the books, I found Katniss to be a whiner and foolish. She's facing death in the game yet she's worried about her costume/makeup. I'm not a teen or tween any longer, but I do remember those days. If someone was threatening my life, that would be my main priority, not makeup/clothes.
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