Totally Joe by James Howe. Ages 9 and up. Joe Bunch has to write an alphabiography for his English class in seventh grade. Each section is labeled with a word that starts with each letter of the alphabet and Joe narrates how each word is related to his life. I found Joe's alphabiography funny and original. Joe describes his life as twelve year old boy who comes to his parents. He faces ridicule at school and learns to stick up for himself against these bullies. I feel that this book is perfect for gay teenage boys because it gives them confidence in being who they are and not worrying about what other people may think.
Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters. Ages 14 and up. Johanna is a lesbian in love with this girl Reeve at her school. At the end of the school year, the two girls start talking for the first time and end up in a relationship together. The relationship turns abusive and Johanna seems to blame herself or justify the physical violence Reeve has towards her. Johanna's family and friends get her help and she eventually ends the relationship for good. Johanna learns that she needs to have respect for herself and doesn't deserve that abuse. This book gives hope to all kinds of people in abusive relationships, not just lesbian relationships. It teaches girls to stick up for themselves and stop blaming themselves for the abuse.
Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart. Ages 12 and up. This humorous book is narrated by Ruby Oliver, a senior in highschool. Ruby gives her take on boyfriends, love, and being in relationships. Ruby's sense of humor and version of what a boyfriend should be is relatable for teenage girls. She questions what love and friendship really mean throughout the story. At the end of the story, Ruby learns to love herself and she will be able to understand other people as well. I feel that Ruby can be a good example for teenage girls to have higher self esteem and believe in themselves.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Ages 18 and up. Sophomore Frankie attends a private school with students who have rich parents. Frankie finds out that her new senior boyfriend has a secret and she is determined to find out what he is hiding from her. Frankie finds out that her boyfriend and his friends are part of a male only secret society called the Bassett Hounds. The Bassett Hounds have done small pranks here and there in the past. Frankie wants a part of the excitement and so she pretends to be one of the members through emails and comes up with pranks to send the boys on. The boys don't suspect that Frankie is behind the pranks and her pranks start to upset the administration at the school. I liked how Frankie's pranks symbolized her sticking up for herself and her trying to make a change at the school.
And Tango makes Three by Justin Richardson. Ages 4 and up. I really liked how this book was based on a true story about two penguin fathers. I found it interesting that the two penguins knew from instincts and watching the other penguin couples that they were supposed to be sitting on an egg and waiting for it to hatch. I thought it was funny when the two penguins tried sitting on a rock and seeing if it would hatch. Even though this book may be controversial, I liked how it shows how much the two penguins care about each other and their devotion to the baby penguin, Tango. The book displays that two father penguins can take care of a baby penguin just as good as a mother and father penguin.
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. Ages 5 and up. This silly twist to the well known fairy tale of the Three Little Pigs gives the wolf's version of the story. It is hilarious how the wolf is portrayed in his version of the story as someone who was just trying to bake a cake for his "dear old granny." Children that love the Three Little Pigs will enjoy this version of the story. I think that this book would be a good read aloud for Elementary school students. I believe that this book would tie in well with a fairy tale theme or can be used as a comparison to the real story of the Three Little Pigs.
CinderHazel: The Cinderella of Halloween by Deborah Nourse Lattimore. Ages 4 and up. This book would make a great read aloud during Halloween. This fractured fairy tale is based on the story of Cinderella. Cinderhazel's stepmother and stepsisters go off to a Witches' Halloween Ball and Cinderhazel isn't interested in going because she would rather sit in the dirty fireplace in soot. Cinderhazel's witchy godmother arrives and informs her that the Prince of Dirt is going to be there. Cinderhazel decides to go to the ball after all and her and the Prince of Dirt end up falling in love. The illustrations in this story were goofy and colorful which resembled the characters' traits well.
The Frog Prince Continued by Jon Scieszka. Ages 5 and up. This fractured fairy tale starts off at the end of the Frog Prince stating that the prince and the princess live "happily ever after." However, the two are actually unhappy together and the princess nags the prince about his frog qualities, such as hopping around on the furniture. The frog prince decides he wants to be turned back into a frog, so he goes on a journey looking for someone to turn him back into a frog. In the end, the prince and the princess realize that they do love each other. The two kiss and they ironically turn into frogs and they "hop off happily ever after." I like how this story combined themes from other fairy tales into the plot, including Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Children will be able to recognize the fairy tales that are included in.
Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. Ages 4 and up. Chloe's Uncle Bobby and her do everything together and he is he favorite uncle. However, when Uncle Bobby announces that he is marrying his friend, Jamie, Chloe worries that she won't be her uncles favorite anymore. Chloe spends time with Uncle Bobby and Jamie. Chloe is the flower girl for Uncle Bobby and her new Uncle Jamie's wedding. She realizes that both of them can be special to her, even if their is only one Uncle Bobby. I like how this story is given from the point of view of Chloe. Chloe cares for her uncle Bobby and is open to letting her new Uncle Jamie into her life as well.
King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland. Ages 6 and up. In this picture book, a queen wants her son the prince to get married. She sends for many princesses to come visit the castle, but none of them are of interest to the prince. However, the prince then sees another prince from a different place and falls in love with him. This controversial book addresses gay marriage and it illustrates if the princes are happy and in love they should be able to get married. I feel that this picture book shouldn't be in a school library because some parents who disagree with gay marriage may find it offensive.
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