"Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School" By Sonora Reyes

 "Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School" By Sonora Reyes

Originally Published in 2022

Awards: National Book Award Finalist

Summary: The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes is a novel that follows Yamilet, a mexican American girl from a religious family that happens to be a closeted lesbian. The book takes place just after Yamilet has outed herself to her best friend at her previous school which backfires against her. She is transferred to a new predominantly white catholic school and hopes to create a new start for herself. One that is free of the scrutiny she received from her peers at her first school. The story revolves around Yami's attempt at living a double life. One where she passes for straight to keep her reputation in tact and to protect herself from her religious family. All of her attempts begin to crumble when she meets a new love interest at the all catholic school. 

This book does really well with characterization and addressing themes of young adulthood. The perfect spot for this novel would be 8th and 9th graders. I think in particular this novel explores the relationships of LGBTQ+ young adultsThe Author's Note says what people should be wary of perfectly so I'll include it here: 

Teaching Considerations: 

This novel is particularly strong in its representation of different themes as well as demonstrating good storytelling. While not a unique story about love it does represent love from a new perspective. A perspective that highlights the cultural differences aroudn love and even more so when it crossses LGBTQ+ Lines. This novel would be great for a whole class or small group study. It has easily recognizable plot elements and has many different themes that students can explore. Students can work in groups to start identifying key moments into plot maps as well as have greater discussions around what it means to be closeted LGBTQ+ and how Yami handles it in the book. 

One of  the first passages in the book encapsulates how Yami handles being a closeted Lesbian. The passage is "But that's the problem isn't it? Im not supposed to be thinking about bianca. Or Jenna. Or Bo. Not like that. I'm supposed to be thinking about Hunter, and how he says my name right and buys me cookies. Hunter who blushes when I talk to him. Hunter... who is not a girl. And then Jenna calls me cute again, and she really needs to cut that shit out because she is most definitely straight and I am most definitely Not Gay. Not Here. (p. 42) Yami mentions in the book previously that she only wants to remain closeted until she moves out. This is an important detail that students should examine into Yami's characterization. Questions like what does it say about her as a person? She is fights back against stereotypes of non acceptance especially from a religious household yet still in some ways needs to hide it. Students could have a greater discussion about what this means and make determinations if she adheres to stereotypes or not. 

Another passage worth examining is when Yami and her brother telling each other about their sexualities. Throughout the novel Yami and Cesar demonstrate such a strong bond yet they still hide the fact they are both gay/bi from each other. When this moment finally arrives life seems to get better for the both of them.  The passage that students should look at begins with "The room is completely silent while I let him build the courage. We're both holding our breath. I find my lip mirroring his as it starts to tremble. Whatever CEsar is about to say could change everything. We can be in this together." Then after they share they "Laugh and sing and twerk. It's so gay". (p. 86-87) Looking at this passage can be instrumental in showing students the theme that siblings need to trust and love one another regardless of what they might think/feel. Another theme that students might want to explore here is looking at family dynamics in general. Cesar and Yami learn to confide in one another but their mother is still unidentified as homophobic. It would make for a good study for students to begin to uncover details more about the themes present around this interaction. 

The third passage(s) that students should examine in more detail is the chapter Thou shalt not covet thy brothers life and chapter 22 where Yami finds out that Cesar is having suicidal thoughts. These chapters really spell out the life that Cesar is living all the while Yami is deailng with her own issues. Cesar is chased by homophobic bullies almost to the point where their lives are in danger. Students should examine these chapters in closer to detail to see what kind of lives that hispanic people of the LGBTQ+ community go through. Something to have students look at here too is to think about these moments in terms of a plot map. Where do these events fall on the plot map story. Having students work through this will help them to better understand how specific details add or detract from stories. 

This was a fun read. Getting to know these main characters and how they interact with the world around them definitely resonates with teenagers of all different identity markers. If you enjoy this book another book to consider is the 99 boyfriends of micah summers by Adam Sass. Another book about an LGBTQ+ teen the 99 boyfirends is another contemporary realistic novel that explores life and love. 

"The Realm of Possibilities" By David Leviathan

"The Realm of Possibility" By David Levithan

Originally Published in August of 2004

Awards: American Library Association Margaret A Edwards award in 2016

Summary:  David Levithan's The Realm of Possibility is a novel in verse that explores the lives of 20 different teenagers. He presents different these different voices through the use of monologues, each one distinct yet similar to the others. Leviathan explores topics of love, angst, sexuality, and sense of belonging throughout this novel. It is hard to summarize just what this novel is about but if you had to put a sentence to it this novel seems to explore all the different possibilities that could exist within a teengagers life. 

This novel would be great for any young adult but in particular this feels like a higher grade level read particularly 11 or 12th grade. While is has themes that connect to any 6-12 the way it is written speaks to a more mature audience. There are specific poetic choices that Levithan makes that might be missed from younger readers. This novel does talk about sexuality (both hetero and LGBTQ+) as well as themes of bullying, sexism, racism, etc. which might trigger young readers. I would recommend this novel for any mature young reader. 

Teaching Considerations: 

This is a book that no matter what section you look at you can teach a different aspect of poetry as well as how authors characterize people inside of novels in verse. The amount of literary techniques, stanza building, and overall synthesizing of the lives of these 20 people while still giving them distinct voices is truly impressive to look at and/or study. This book would do well as part of small group instruction. Giving each group a different persons story to study and examine the literary techniques could be immensely powerful in developing students ability to recognize parts of poetry as well as how to write it. As mentioned before you can look at any section of this book and discover different poetic styles being utilized. Students should be made to look and differentiate how theirs are different to others as well as seem what is similar in style and how the stories are connected. 

There are lots of voices to examine but the two passages/ mini chapters that I feel are most impactful are Gail and Jill. 

Gail's chapter is called Gospel and it has every bit of religious undertones and style as you can imagine. The chapter is filled with dedicated stanzas, hallelujah's, repetition of phrases. All the things you might see inside the bible itself. It shows Gails story of living to herself and her religious beleifs even in a sea of people that don't preach or believe the way she does. The cadence changes as events unfold in this glimpse into her life. It culminates in this moment: 

This passage could be a good one for students to closely examine together. It has lots of repetition and unique feels connected to biblical structures. Phrases like I call out, I testify, I rise all seem to give this effect of a large encompassing moment that Gail participates in. It creates this effect of larger than life proportions even though it is a case of bullying inside a classroom. Students could learn a lot about how certain phrases, sentence/stanza structure can aid into the overall tone/feel of a story. 

Another chapter that is worth looking at is Jill's Chapter Titled: Lying awak beside you, these thoughts run through my head. In this chapter we see the inner turmoil that Jill faces in this novel. This would be a great passage to have students examine how language can be vastly different through not just different people but by how it is structured in the poem. 

The passage on page 85 reads: 

"I have never been faithful.

until you. 

but I do not know if that can last, if I can overcome who I 

am. 

you open your arms to me and I want to tell you not to. 

do not expose yourself to me. 

the last boy who did ended up shattered."

These are put into two line stanzas that seem to have breath in ever line. They seem to come in waves. Like thoughts that have a resigned nature to them even in this short passage you can learn a lot about the tone of the person behind the words. It speaks also to the cadence of the thoughts too. Being in two line stanzas adds significant weight to the words within them. Students could look at this and compare this to the passage about Gail. They could examine and even practice how the differences in syntax and structure work to create two uniquely different voices within the same story. 

Overall this was a really great read. It is filled with great literary devices to look at as well as very relatable perspectives that I feel would resonate with a great majority of young adults. For people who liked this book I would recommend Turtle Iland by Gary Snyder. It isn't a book about teenagers but it has the same feel intertwining different voices into poems that all aim around one greater topic. That topic being how we should treat the land that we are on. 

"Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions" by Navdeep Singh Dhillon

 "Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions" by Navdeep Singh Dhillon

Originally Published in 2022 

Summary: Sunny G's series of rash decisions follows the story of Sunny Gill a Sikh high school boy that is just coming of age in his modern world. Sunny is much like any other teenager: hangs out with friends, plays music in a band, and chases after girls. Sunny's life takes an unexpected turn when his brother Goldy passes away from alcohol poisoning. In an attempt to reconcile with his brothers death he decides to live in the moment causing him to make a series of rash decisions including cutting his hair and shaving his beard (Against the tenants of his religion). This novel explores what it might be like if we let go of our preconceived notions of what we are supposed to be and how others see us in a way that is entirely relatable to a young adult (even adults!) audience. 

This novel is based in contemporary realism and would be appropriate for any high school level audience. The language that is used is easy to understand and the novel is filled with many 'nerdy' pop culture references sure to excite any young reader. It does deal with themes of toxic masculinity, racism, and alcoholism that could be traumatic for young readers that deal with or have friends/family that have delt with these themselves. 

Teaching Considerations: 

While this story is very fun and engaging this novel feels more like an individual read vs a whole class or small group read. I found while reading this it very much revolves around the life of a young man. One who struggles with their  own identity and has this growing sense of rebelliousness against who they think they should be vs. who they actually are. Upon reading this novel I immediately thought to myself that this would have been a great book for me to look at as a teenager. To see what it might be like to let go of my own fears surrounding my own identity. There is definitely a case for this to exist in a whole class instruction setting. However, I feel the most powerful aspect of this book is the themes and lessons that can be garnered from it particularly at the individual level. It will really resonate with a lot of young men inside classrooms because of the themes that it outlines as well as how the internal monologue of Sunny G is presented. 

There are lots of examples of these themes as well as Sunny's internal monologue throughout the book. The first passage that I would have students examine is the passage where Sunny G Explains the tumultuous relationship he had with his brother and how he decides to change his life.  

These few pages in the book say a lot and reveal a lot about the main character. They show simultaneously family expectations and what it means to deal with your own sense of masculinity. Sunny later reveals that his ability to make rash decisions will also get him the favor of girls. This passage shows just how Sunny being compared to his brother affected his sense of self. He decides to make an almost 180 turn around to trying to reinvent himself. This passage is important for those that read this to recognize just what happens when you let go of some of the preconceived notions of self. Teaching this passage I would have students look at the inner thoughts of the character and then think about the decisions he is about to make. Do those decisions help him or hinder him and why. Thinking this way even at the very start of the book will start to reveal those moments where Sunny discovers that he can be himself just the way he is. 

The second passage that is worth examining is in the end of the book where he is talking to his brothers friend raj. Raj was good friends with his brother and had this to say about alcoholism: "You do know that I'm still an alcoholic right? I was gonna say, since I worked the night shift at my chacha's store.... I'll always be an addict, man. It's and Illness plain and simple." (p.619) In an effort to understand his brother Sunny asks " Why couldn't Goldy do it?" Raj responds " You gotta remember Goldy was sick. It aint just willpower. It's environment, genetics, habits, and there's the whole punjabi and general dude culture that makes you feel like you're a punk if you admit you have a problem." (p.620)  This passage towards the end of the book really highlights the unspoken masculinity that afflicts many men as well as what was happening to Sunny throughout the book. In an effort to 'be a man' he has decided to try and do things against what people think he should be but may have participated in toxic masculinity in different ways. These few sentences are important thematically because they work to help Sunny address the feelings he has about his brother. In turn too it gives a lens to examine Sunny's behaviors throughout the book. How much was he trying to just 'be a man' vs. do things he actually wanted to do. 

Ultimately this was a wonderful novel and a wonderful examination of teenage masculinity. This novel gives great perspective of the inner thoughts young men go through and what it might actually look like if we were brave enough to choose just being ourselves. 

Readers who enjoyed this book might also enjoy The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian. This novel follows another young male protagonist who is a math and technology prodigy who creates an alter ego named larry who critiques celebrities and consumers alike. This novel also explores what were to happen if we spoke our minds and took action against who we think we are supposed to be. 

"Balcony on the Moon" By Ibtisam Barakat

 Balcony on the Moon by Ibitsam Barakat

Originally published in 2016

Summary: 

This book is a memoir of Ibitsim Barakat. It is the sequel to her first novel Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood. The novel follows Ibitsim, a palestinian girl, through her high school years where she discovers more about what she wants her life to be like while confronting societal expectations of staying at home, raising children, and having nothing to do with education or working outside the home. Ibitsim regularly fights back against societal norms leading her to pursue an education. Funny enough, it inspires her young mother to pursue an education as well. This novel uncovers the details that inspired Ibitsim to become a writer and to share her story with the world. 

I would recommend this for 9th-12th graders as the story follows Ibitsim in her high school years. The language used in the novel has an almost lyrical quality to it which I believe requires a better understanding of language and how it aids to the telling of her story. It also explores themes that many high schoolers go through as well. Coming of age, becoming more independent, educating yourself even against cultural norms. This novel could be used in a middle school setting but I think would be most effective with High schoolers. 

Teaching Considerations: 

This book has a lot of applications for teaching at individual, small group and whole group levels but where I see the most value in this book is in whole and small group instruction. With strong themes of woman empowerment to redefining cultural norms/values this book would do well as a whole class read particularly in learning what details make for a good memoir, exploring themes of sexism and female empowerment, as well as how someone characterizes themselves in their own story. This book definitely tackles some tough topics of prejudice, sexism, and patriarchal systems as well as some traumatic family events, but I feel it is appropriate for 8th and 9th grade audiences and beyond. This book appeals to young women and in particular arabic women considering the protagonist as well as the characters in the story are of arabic descent. Reading this together would be incredibly valuable not only to help students understand worldly cultural perspectives but also learn how to engage with memoirs through a fascinating story.

The first passage to have students look at is on p.199. In this moment we get a glimpse into Ibitsims self discovery and utilizing the education that she fought so hard for. This specific stanza shows a lot about the societal expectations and Ibitsim pushing back against them. "Mother keeps repeating the proverb that does not apply eve to her own life: The shade of a man is better than the shade of a wall... I do not want shade I tell her. 'I like the sun, for it has all colors, and if I must stay away from the sun, there are tress and hats that can provide shade bettern than a man." (Bakarat, 2018, p.199) This passage shows how Ibitsim is fighting back against the expectations set upon her by her culture of becoming someones wife and mother. It is an immensely powerful passage to have students examine not only for the beauty in how the sentence was formed but for thinking about perspectives. She shares two very distinct perspecties that students can examine and make sense. Even more so they can begin to understand and recognize these themes elsewhere too. 

p.46-48 would be another good close read. The chapter is title Ramadan but the passage that I would recommend students to read and discover together is about how Ibitsim talks to her new baby brother. While talking to her baby brother she describes all about their traditions, the world he was born into and ultimately does this while introducing aspects of herself too. In two sentences Barakat describes " Islam is the younger sibling of Christianity and the lunar year is shorter than the solar year by ten or eleven days. I hope that you will grow to love languages and mathematics like I do" Even in this short excerpt from the passage we can tell so much about how Ibitisim characterizes herself as well as introduces aspects of her identity through the proceeding pages. This would be a great passage (or ultimately chapter) to do a close reading on as it reveals a lot about how authors can characterize themselves especialy in this biography/memoir format. This passage would be a great passage to have students look at to begin their own memoir style writing. Having students examine this passage closely would reveal a lot about how an author might show more about themselves than tell. 

An Important theme that occurs in this book is the transition of women with limited rights to opening up what is available to them particularly in the field of education. Ibitsim herself commits to understanding the declaration of human rights to get herself into school. She also helps her mother to understand cotinuing her education much to the dismay of her father. The Chapter: " Separation" does a great job of again encapsulating how her mother behaves but also demonstrates the perspectives that come with such a transition as women receiving higher education. Ibitsim writes what her father says about her mother going to school. " I refuse to let you continue going to this school.... I cant have you sitting near thos emen who spent time in prision, exchanging notes with them and spending hours in the same room breathing the same air! How can I show my face?" This small segment in this chapter speaks a lot to the major cultural shift that was occuring at the time. Her father speaking in this way shows not only the cultural values that are being disrupted but the fear and anxiety surrounding women having more of a say in their own lives. This passage would be great to explore in a group discussion. Students could first determine what the different perspectives are and what to think about them. Students could share out ideas from earlier in the book and compare it to their lives now. This would be a great passage to explore in real time what comes with shifting cultural perspectives in such a drastic way. 

"Beating Bullying at Home and In Your Community: The LGBTQ+ Guide to Beating Bullying" By Clara MacCarald

 Beating Bullying at Home and In Your Community: The LGBTQ+ Guide to Beating Bullying By Clara MacCarald

Originally Published in 2018

Summary: The title of this book summarizes the content well. This is a short read novel (approximately 54 pages long) that anyone can read to discover where bullying happens and how to help/prevent bullying for people in the LGBTQ+ Community. It describes how families, communities, as well as social media are all mediums where bullying occurs and affects peoples lives and how people can address bullying in general. 

This novel would be a great introduction for any secondary students. Because of the shortness of length, and the straightforward content, any student should be able to read this and gather the intended messaging and information. In addition to the shortness of length it provides a series of powerful images that any secondary student would be able to recognize and take meaning from. 

Teaching Considerations: 

This novel is one that I feel would be a perfect novel to cover in a week/ few days class period. In many schools they have bullying awareness/ bullying prevention assemblies and/or teachings around bullying. I think this novel would be a great addition to these small session/mini units and would bring tremendous value to those teachings and introduce a lot of concepts that many students may not be aware of. The first thing that this book brings up is how bullying affects LGBTQ+ people at home. 

A close read that teachers should have students examine is on page 13. It describes the scenarios in which parents can be bullys." 33% of families were not accepting .... parents may make negative comments whenever they see someone who is LGBTQ+... They may try to control an LGBTQ+ teen, thinking they can make their offspring straight..." (p. 13) This is just one example of how the novel addresses bullying that can occur at home. This passage is important for teachers to share with students because it exposes a reality that many teens may not know is happening. For teens that are experiencings bullying at home it can be an immensely powerful tool for recognition. Considering the Power and position families have in youths lives a student that experiences bullyin may not recognize what is happening or may begin to internalize the bullying that happens to them. Looking at this novel may be the small addition to an LGBTQ+ teens life that helps them to find acceptance especially within a family dynamic that they may or may not know is hurting them. 

This novel would also be a great addition to a unit around identity. It could be used as a supplementary text to help students recognize and understand what is happening not only in their own lives but in the lives of the characters they see in novels. One example of how this text could be used is in addition to the text The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis. The Dangerous Art of Blending in follows the story of a young LGBTQ+ Teen that has abusive parents. In short, How to beat bullying can be used in supplementation to this novel to help students understand the perspectives of the main character as well as extend their thinking about how to address these situations moving forward. 

A final passage that would be good for students to look at is on Page 39 in the section title Getting the Message out. Having students read this passage would be transformational because it could help students see the greater picture of how what they learn in school transfers to the outside world. Even the first sentence can have a profound impact on student thinking. MacCarald notes "Schools often run antibullying campaigns but so do community organizations" Having students read through this passage could help them to understand that all the things we do in class have applications outside of school too. This could easily extend in to a research study to find different organizations and maybe how we can help them or how they can help schools to build up their own campaigns. A teaching move that could be good here is creating a presentation about a specific outside program that a school could lean on. It would teach students to be advocates for themselves and in their communities. 

This is a short, to the point book that would be a great addition to any school antibullying campaign, any identity unit, and just overall great information learning to examine. There are some themes that may be difficult for some students including abuse, cyberbullying, etc. so it is important to preface these before having students embark into this novel. 

Mentioned before a great text to consider if you like this one is The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis. It is a novel that would pair very well with this one to provide an example of some of the concepts that are explained in this novel.