Sanchez, Alex. Rainbow boys.Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. , Pulse. 234p. c2001. 0-689-85770-5. $Z99. SA To quote KLIATT's September 2001 review of the hardcover edition: Jason, Kyle, and Nelson are in high school together, and each is struggling with his sexuality and how others perceive it. Jason is a basketball star with a steady girlfriend, but he has disturbing dreams about naked men. Shy Kyle has always had a crush on Jason, but he has been too afraid to approach him, or even to openly admit that he is gay. Meanwhile, Kyle's friend Nelson is proud of being flamboyantly flam·boy·ant adj. 1. Highly elaborate; ornate. 2. Richly colored; resplendent. 3. Architecture Of, relating to, or having wavy lines and flamelike forms characteristic of 15th- and 16th-century French gay, though he's never even kissed anyone; his supportive mother is active in the PFLAG PFLAG Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (since 1972; Washington, DC) organization (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a group of family members and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. According to PFLAG's mission statement, the organization "promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, ). Nelson has a secret crush on Kyle. When Jason musters his courage to attend a meeting of Rainbow Youth, a group for gay, lesbian, and bisexual bisexual /bi·sex·u·al/ (-sek´shoo-al) 1. pertaining to or characterized by bisexuality. 2. an individual exhibiting bisexuality. 3. pertaining to or characterized by hermaphroditism. 4. young people, he meets the other two, and life changes for all of them. Fed up with all the gay bashing Gay bashing is an expression used to designate verbal confrontation with, denigration of, or physical violence against people thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) because of their apparent sexual orientation or gender identity. he has endured, Nelson decides to start a Gay-Straight Alliance at school, with Kyle's support. Kyle finally comes out to his parents, and he and Jason enter into a relationship. Nelson, jealous of Kyle's relationship with Jason, has unprotected sex Unprotected sex refers to any act of sexual intercourse in which the participants use no form of barrier contraception. Sexually transmitted infections Specifically, unprotected sex with a stranger he met online, and worries about AIDS. Jason's violent father leaves his family, and tormented Jason starts to come to terms with his feelings. The book ends on a hopeful note, as the school's Gay-Straight Alliance becomes a reality. This sympathetic, well-written look at gay teen life and the difficulties of coming out includes detailed information at the back about organizing a peer group, PFLAG and other organizations, AIDS, and more. The subject matter and adult language recommend this to mature students; there are no graphic details of sex. however. YAs who are struggling with some of the same issues will appreciate this realistic, caring portrayal of the relationships between the three boys and their efforts to accept their sexuality in the face of intolerance. |
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