but I figured you all pretty much either know that I'm interested in GLBTQI issues by now. Anyway, I've been reading through a lot of the books on the "GLBTQ Booklist for Teens" from the King County Library, in addition to a chunk of yuri-themed (female, female relationships-- so far, not a one has had any more affection in it than a chaste kiss) manga (漫画 <- "loose picture"-- Japanese comic book), and as many queer-themed children's PICTURE books as I can find.
Let me tell you, while there are a good number, they tend to suck (major monkey balls- L, you are with me in spirit). The most common thing I find in these tales, whether young adult fiction (mostly US-written so far) , Japanese comic, or children's pic book (mostly European or US-written... I should make a table actually), is a plot that basically takes a well-known fairy tale or love story and just switches the gender of one of the protagonists.
For example, I read Malinda Lo's Ash, which was a retelling of Cinderella with two ladies. (Another- Romeo and Julian- Joey Escobedo -"Shakespeare's literary classic revised for the alternative couple."- "alternative," really?) Hurrah for lesbian romance, but for God's sake, that doesn't mean the author can ignore the hard realities of a same-sex relationship. Honestly, why was everyone so okay with the two ladies being together? She might've put it in a context where same-sex coupling was not considered anything to gawk at, but this was not that setting. It just came across as silly. And having had the basic plotline already written up for her, I'd kind of expected more detail-wise.
Anyway, that's the big thing in most of these children's books-- everyone's so accepting. I don't think children are being prepared at all for the difficulties they will assuredly face even as soon as they hit grade school. The only GLBTQI children's book that has dealt with the harsh realities is X: A Fabulous Child's Story- Lois Gould. The child in this book is raised without gender- nobody knows if "it" is a boy or a girl. X's classmates become accepting but their parents are angry-- a lot of parents WOULD and DO respond this way. Pretending that prejudice doesn't exist seems like it would set kids up for confusion and disappointment. School's rough enough as it is.
Now the young adult books, they are just annoying. Not all of them. I thoroughly enjoyed Geography Club- Brent Hartinger. The protagonist's greatest fear was that the other kids in his high school would find out he was gay. Him and a few other queer kids start a "Geography Club" as a front for a GSA because they figure it sounds too boring for anyone to actually want to join. Not only is it hilarious but it is painfully honest-- the protagonist is an asshole at times. He is not going to stand up for the least popular kid in school even if that kid is called a "fag." The focus is NOT on the romance- thank the stars! I hate romances...
Like Empress of the World - Sara Ryan. The two ladies going out is a-okay with everyone but two boys that nobody likes anyway. Oh, and they go out for two weeks before one breaks up with another. And the dumped gal gets all super depressed and mopey and talks about the hole in her chest for 100 pages. It reminded me of Twilight, which I'm not going to link (you can find it yourself!). I guess I'm making it sound mean, but the truth is, even if it is her first relationship with a girl and that really is how teenagers feel, it was annoying to read. And way too much stupid drama. There doesn't even need to be real drama for teenagers to make drama, so why throw in soap opera-ish cliches?
Anyway, the manga have been the best so far. I read all of Revolutionary Girl Utena (authors are harder for comics, because there usually is at least the artist and the writer- for this one there's a whole production company. Anyway, I'm not writing them, but not because of the Japanese names. I just wanted to point out that I'm not including the names because it would take forever on account of there being so many and it would be very prejudiced to choose a writer over artist over background-sketching company etc.), which was lovely, though I have no idea what happened. Which just goes to show that complicated sexuality stories can have complicated plots as well. Actually, though this is known for its lesbian couple, the couple wasn't really lesbian because one character was secretly intersex.... I think... It was very confusing and a lot of people turned out to be gods. Anyway, it was still sweet. I just wish Utena would protect herself from stupid people kissing her so much! For a "revolutionary girl" she's kinda weak in that regard.
Oooh, I also read Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl. Okay, I love this one and it is extremely silly. Basically, a Japanese high school boy is accidentally killed by aliens so, in order not to get in trouble with some intergalactic space travel commission, the aliens rebuilt the poor lad's body as a girl's. So it gets a lot of media attention and poor lad -> lass has to go back to school in spite of it. But the gal who wouldn't date him before is now hugely crushing on her because she was gay! But he doesn't want to be a lesbian... Oh, but there's also the girl who loved him when he was a boy and still kinda loves him now even though he's a girl. AND there's his best friend who's a guy and has the HOTS for our protagonist because s/he's pretty durned cute and they obviously had a lot in common.
Phew. Anyway, it's interesting because the sex change was unintentional and that prejudice aspect hasn't come in because of it.
Now I've just been reading the first volume of After School Nightmare which I insanely loved. It is CREEPY and stars an intersex highschool student. The intersexuality is a huge element but the plotline is super interesting as well. Basically, some kids at school have to go to this basement infirmary after school and go to sleep-- then BATTLE in their dreams. And they're images in the dreams are they're TRUE SELVES so some of them are terrifying-- one gal has no face or chest, another is just a long hand. Our poor protagonist (who lives as a boy) shows up in girl's clothing. But they kill each other in the dreams because someone will have a key inside. And sometimes it shows memories-- everyone is SUPER traumatized. no more caps...
Anyway, I'll try to write down all that I read of this nature. I haven't included everything here (not by far!) and should write down all the yaoi manga as well (male, male couples), but it's a start.
This is a long post....
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