Am+I+Blue+and+Short+Stories+and+other+sub-genres

=//Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence // and Other Sub-Genres of Young Adult Literature =



[|Am I Blue Rationale]

Short Story Summaries:
1. “Am I Blue” by Bruce Coville — A fairygodfather named Melvin helps Vince deal with his sexual confusion. Vince has been “gay-bashed” by Bruce Corrigan, the school bully and Melvin comes to his aid. Eventually Vince gets three wishes. His final wish is that all the gays in the world turn blue. We see by color shading how wide spread homosexuality is, from light blue to dark blue. Not surprisingly, the great homophobe Bruce Corrigan is “blue as a summer sky.” At the end, Vince is still undecided about his sexual identity, but much more comfortable with himself. Very funny, touching, warm story.

2. “We Might As Well Be Strangers” by M.E. Kerr— Deals with broader issues of prejudice, particularly anti-semitism. Alison writes in her diary about coming out to her grandmother, a Jew who escaped from Nazi Germany. The grandmother shows compassion and understanding in how she relates to Alison’s suffering. Alison’s mother is struggling with Alison’s sexual identity. This book deals honestly with how real families struggle when an adolescent child talks about being gay. Alison is able to cope with her mothers homophobia with the wisdom of the oppressed.

3. “Winnie and Tommy” by Francesca Lia Block—Winnie and Tommy have been going together for a year. They are great friends. During a weekend trip to San Francisco after high school graduation, Tommy comes out to Winnie. Winnie is heartbroken, Tommy leaves and stays away all night. When Tommy returns, Winnie is able to demonstrate to Tommy that she can shift her feelings to the kind of friendship Tommy really needs. Tommy will always love Winnie,he says, though he can only be her best friend, not her lover. This is a story of growing up, love, friendship, and loyalty.

4. “Slipping Away” by Jacqueline Woodson—Mother/Daughter relationships and friendships are explored in this story. Jacina wonders if her best “summer friend” Maria is ouutgrowning their friendship. Jacina senses that her emerging sexuality sets her apart from Maria. Maria doesn’t share Jacina’s acceptance of lesbians. Jacina’s feelings for Maria are much stronger and apparently more physical than Maria’s for Jacina. Maria “slips away.” This is a subtle, sensitive story of childhood transition into adolescence, and how it affects this special friendship.

5. “The Honorary Shepherds” by Gregory Maguire—This story has a unique structure: cinematic and dramatic in effect. The protagonists have multi-ethnic- racial backgrounds. They are both gay and first become friends in their film class. Their friendship grows as they develop a wonderful project for their class. This story deals with myth, religion, friendship, and death. It has a great role model: Ms. Cabbage, their film teacher who is teaching enthusiastically as she is simultaneously dying from cancer.

6. “Running” by Ellen Howard—About a family that harbors a young lesbian whose own family has kicked her out. This story is about friendship, families, and courage. It’s message is about how our biases are really born of ignorance. Once we know and understand someone, our point of view will change. As the younger sister in this family learns to care deeply for the visitor she re-examines her own understanding of friendship.

7. “Three Mondays in July” by James Cross Giblin—This story has a haunting, almost mysterious quality to it, though it is not a mystery. It’s the story of a young man questioning his sexual identity in 1951. He’s a sad and lonely person, alone with his realization. His loneliness is relieved, however, when an older man that David has been spying on at the beach takes the time to talk with him. The man is kind and listens to David confess his unusual interest in men. The man comforts David with words that give him hope and happiness. “You are not alone,” he says

8. “Parents Night” by Nancy Garden —Is about some courageous high school students who want to represent their club’s booth on Parent’s Night. The booth, however, is controversial, and they’re afraid. The Gay-Straight-Bisexual club members suffer some insults and prejudice, but they prevail and are able to open their booth for the night. The characters’ interactions with family and friends reveal many of the common misconceptions and biases about non- heterosexuality. Karen struggles with her parents, but in the end they make valiant, heart-felt moves toward Karen’s point of view. This story is one of the most moving and informative in the collection.

9. “Michael’s Little Sister” by C.S. Adler—16-year old Michael has a good friendship with his sister Becky. Michael is also Becky’s idol. Becky is ten years old and has heard some other kids calling her brother a faggot. Becky wants to E.V. JOHNSON P. 3 know if this is true, but Michael denies it. After Becky witnesses a kiss between Michael and his first male date, Walt, she tells her brother that it’s okay to be gay, to be different. Other themes in this story are single parenting and maturity. The mother in this story has to work a lot because the father is dead. Michael becomes surrogate father and house-husband at a young age.

10. “Supper” by Leslea Newman— Meryl, and her family which include grandmother, mother, and brother reveal some of the family dynamics that encourage eating disorders as related to the beauty myth. For instance, the grandmother insists that Meryl take some of her meat because Meryl won’t be attractive to boys. Grandmother also remarks on her own body image—too fat, she remarks. Newman creates a stereotypical “Jewish family” dynamic with the grandmother as matriarch. From this introductory scene, Newman reveals that Meryl hiding a secret from her grandmother who wants her to be appealing to boys: she is not interested in boys. Meryl’s friend Patty shows her the techniques involved in making out under the pretense that Meryl would enjoy boys if she knew what to do. Meryl discovers that practicing with Patty is pleasureable. Meryl experiences an inner dissonance which is manifested as the early stage of an eating disorder.

11. “Holding” by Lois Lowry—This poignant story is about a teenage boy who has kept his father’s partner’s identity a secret for years. When the partner dies, Willie finds a new respect for his father, and realizes that he has been living a lie. Willie also remembers Chris with a newfound fondness and regard. When Willie returns to school after staying with his father following Chris’s death, he finds the courage to explain the truth to his best friend who is very accepting and supportive.

12. “Blood Sister” by Jane Yolen—a fantasy about Amazon women. A woman warrior comes of age in this dark and mystical story. This is more a story of how an adolescent goes about finding a place in society. Selna comes to terms with her culture and its myths as she discovers her own individuality and identity.

13. “Hands” by Jonathan London—Ray Marlow is a poet who has read for Lon’s English class. Lon and Ray develop a warm acquaintanceship. Once they bump into each other on a bus and in the ensuing conversation Lon learns a little about Ray’s life. Ray’s teaching career was ruined when a male student falsely accused him of “fondling.” Lon and Ray continue their discussion, sharing an interest in writing. Lon learns about the cruelty of life as he sees his proud, courageous, talented friend die from AIDS. Lon is the beneficiery of Ray’s kindness and sensitivity, learning that he also belongs to this sub-culture of artists, poets, writers, musicians, and others who live full, satisfying lives.

14. “50% Chance of Lightning” by Cristina Salat—Malia and Robin are best friends who illustrate typical contemporary adolescent girls. Malia is heterosexual and Robin is gay. They are both concerned with establishing solid love relationships and planning their futures. Malia has a boyfriend, is enthusiastic about going to college, and even has a list of life goals. Robin is impressed. Robin worries because she doesn’t really want to go to college and has no idea what life has in store for her. Robin is clear about her sexuality, but has never had a sexual relationship. When a lesbian approaches Robin at a party, Robin recoils, even though she is restless and curious about sexual discovery. Robin, though confused about the choices life holds for her, is not recklessly experimental. She holds out for someone she truly cares for. This story captures Robin as she “writes her life list.”

15. “In the Tunnels” by William Sleator— This story takes place in underground tunnels during Viet Nam. The characters are male and female Viet Namese guerilla soldiers. This is an interesting story because it is told from the opposition point of view: Americans are their enemies. The narrator is a boy whose lover, Bay, is a famous fighter. They must keep their love secret. There is suspense and action in this unusual love story, especially when Bay is above ground conducting a mission and readers fear he’ll be killed in the gunfire.

16. “Dancing Backwards” by Marion Dane Bauer—Bauer describes herself in this story about a little girl who, oblivious to the other dancers and the audience, literally dances with her back to the audience. Bauer considers her ‘deviation’ a strength. Later (1956), she is expelled from a Catholic private girl’s Academy for trading valentines with another girl. Although the implicit accusation of lesbian activity was false, she and her friend were punished for something as minor as sending valentines to each other simply for what it suggested. In fact this accusation and school expulsion resulted in the genesis of the very activity it sought to deny.

=Other Sub-Genres:=

1. Poetry

2. Nonfiction

a. Nature Writing b. Biography c. Sports Writing d. Science Writing e. Journalism f. History g. etc.