Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Will Grayson, Will Grayson. John Green and David Levithan. New York: Dutton Books, 2010. $17.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-525-42158-0. Grades 9-12.

Reminds me of...

This was a hilarious, yet emotional book that shows how sometimes the paths of two unsuspecting people can cross in such a way that their lives are changed forever. While homosexuality is at the forefront of this novel, friendship, loyalty, and being true to yourself are themes that will make Will Grayson, Will Grayson relatable and appealing to any reader. While reading this book I was reminded of other titles that I have read recently. These titles too feature LGBTQ characters, their struggles, successes, friends, and experiences, but also appeal to readers due to the common problems faced by all today’s young adults. My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steven Kluger, for example, has three main characters similar to Jane, Tiny, and Will. One of these characters is gay and comes out of the closet with little surprise to his friends. This character, Augie, like tiny loves musical theatre and this topic also plays an important role in the self discovery of the book’s characters. The characters of Jane and Will are also present in Kluger’s novel in the form of TC Keller and Ale Perez. These two friends have their own romantic relationship, but also serve as the sounding board and support system to their other bestie. My Most Excellent Year is also told from different points of view, alternating chapters. This style works well when there are so many different facets of the story and allows readers to get to know the ins and outs of each character. I was also reminded of Alex Sanchez’sRainbow High series. This story also follows a group of friends and how their lives intersect due to the challenges of being gay. Friendship is incredibly important in these stories as well, and while there is not an over the top performance in these stories, they do depict the challenges of high school. Alternating view points is also utilized in this series. I also noticed how instant messaging and e-mail is always the preferred method of communication in these stories. I don't know if it is because they are easy to keep hidden or what, but it is a trend I've noticed. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky made an appearance in my thoughts as well when I was reading this book. Perks is a much darker, intense story than Will Grayson, but the group of friends in the story encounter similar problems and experiences. I think that a reader who enjoys one story may enjoy the other. 

Luna

Luna: A Novel. Julie Anne Peters. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2004. 248 pages. $16.95(Hardcover). ISBN 0-316-73369-5. Grades 8-12.

Potential Reactions…

This novel would have never been given to me in school or recommended by any of my media specialists, which is not to say, however, that it should not have been. Students in rural towns in the Bible belt may not have ever heard of let alone personally known a transgendered individual, and if they had they probably think it is an abomination. I think that if these young adults picked up this book they would be shocked, confused, or disgusted because it does indeed expose and discuss the struggles of transsexuals. I think that if put in the wrong hands this book would be ridiculed and condemns just because it does talk about something that parts of society considers wrong or unnatural. Then again, this same group of teens could be touched and inspired and have their eyes open to how hard it is for transsexuals to be themselves and live in a society that is constantly putting them down. I also think this book could give strength to any transsexuals that are struggling with playing a role day in and day out like Liam. I hope Luna’s story can encourage transgendered teens to free themselves and become who they are. I think transgendered teens will be able to relate to Liam/Luna. I do think, however, the fact that Liam does have enough money to up and relocate will aggravate readers because that is not the real world. I think readers would appreciate how Liam dealt with his family and classmates in a away that they too could follow. I think this book is also great for siblings, friends, and family members of transsexuals. I think Regan’s story will appeal to teens in similar situations and that they can learn something from her mistakes and experiences. The same can be said for friends and Aly’s reaction. This book isn’t boring, that’s for sure, and it does have a story for everyone and anyone who is or who knows a transsexual