Books For High School Libraries & Classrooms

Find OUT! - a list of books and other materials at the San Francisco Public Library related to the topic of gender and sexual orientation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning teens. http://sfpl.org/sfplonline/teen/booklists/findout.htm

The Rainbow Project is a joint project of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table and the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. The Rainbow Project presents an annual bibliography of quality books with significant and authentic GLBTQ content, which are recommended for people from birth through eighteen years of age. Go to: http://rainbowlist.wordpress.com/about/

Recommended LGBT-Positive Titles for BC Schools: a list of recommended books and resources by Glen Hansman, Vancouver BC School Board Antihomophobia & Diversity Consultant. Addresses lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues that schools are encouraged to have in their collection. All of these are suitable for classroom and library use to address the prescribed learning outcomes in Personal Planning K-7, Language Arts, Social Studies, Health & Career Education K-7 and 8-9, Planning 10 – or any effort to make your school a affirming space for all students, staff, and families.
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/VancouverBCSchoolBoardRECOMMENDED-LGBTbooks02006.pdf (pdf format)

Am I the Last Virgin? Ten African-American Reflections on Sex And Love, T. Roberts, ed., 1997. ISBN: 068981254X. A collection of essays discussing issues related to the sexual coming-of-age experiences of ten African-American women. Aladdin Paperbacks. $3.99.

Becoming Visible: A Reader in Gay & Lesbian History for High School and College Students, K. Jennings, ed., 1994. ISBN 1555831034. More than 2000 years of GLBT history across a range of cultures and close with study questions, advice for classroom activities, and suggested readings. Alyson Publications. $9.95 (pbk)

Being Gay and Lesbian in a Catholic High School: Beyond the Uniform, M. Maher, Jr. PhD, 2001. ISBN: 1560231831. Richly seeded with youth’s stories in their own words (including occasional profanity). Sister Jeanine Gramick says, “This is a book to be taken seriously by all who are concerned about high school youth, whether in Catholic schools or not.” NY: Harrington Park Press. $14.95 (pbk)

Bisexual Resource Guide, 4th edition, R. Ochs, Ed., 2001. ISBN: 0965388131. Defines bisexuality, and has chapters on starting a bisexual support group; safer sex; biphobia; bisexuality in literature, film and the web; and bisexual and bi-inclusive organizations in over 50 countries and every state in the U.S. MA: Bisexual Resource Center. $13.95 (pbk)

Gay Men and Women Who Enriched the World, T. Cowan, 1997. ISBN: 1555833918. This is a biographical resource which includes portrayals of 47 gay men and women who are outstanding in art, literature, philosophy, economics, mathematics, music, and entertainment. Boston: Alyson Publishers. $10.95.

Hate Hurts: How Children Learn and Unlearn Prejudice, C. Stern-LaRosa and E. H. Bettmann for the Anti-Defamation League, 2000. ISBN: 0439211212. Very readable book with lots of stories, questions, and quotes, mostly about racial and religious hatred, but handles homophobic hate with dignity, too. Excellent advice for (future) parents on helping your child think about hurtful jokes. NY: Scholastic. $9.95 (pbk)

Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism, expanded edition, S. Pharr, 1997. ISBN 1890759015. Pharr says, “Equality is more than tolerance, compassion, understanding, acceptance, benevolence, for these still come from a place of implied superiority: favors granted to those less fortunate.” Classic, must-read book. Oakland, CA: Chardon Press. $12.00 (pbk)

Is It A Choice? Answers To 300 Of The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Gays And Lesbians, E. Marcus, 1999. ISBN: 006251623X. In question and answer format, this book addresses commonly asked questions about what it means to be gay or lesbian. Answers leave room for further discussion of issues and differing perspectives. San Francisco: HarperCollins. $13.00.

Jocks: True Stories of America's Gay Male Athletes, D. Woog. 1998. ISBN: 1555833993. Dan Woog, himself an openly gay soccer coach, interviewed dozens of gay jocks and offers up over 25 inspiring stories of men who are truly today’s champions. Alyson. $12.95 (pbk)

Journey Across the Rainbow: Inspirational Stories for the Human Race, D. Colclasure and D. Jensen, eds., 2000. ISBN: 0970398808. Fiction, nonfiction and poetry from a diverse group of real people (teen to great-grandmother) addressing love, family, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, coming out, and spirituality. Boulder, CO: Rainbow Pride Press. Web site: www.rainbowpridepress.com; $17.95 (pbk)

Lesbian and Gay Families Speak Out, J. Levy Drucker, 1998. ISBN: 0738204668. Family members, including children, tell their own stories. Includes photos of the families. Also includes thoughtful sections by the author herself about creating family, when and how family members come out, and spiritual journeys. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing. $16.00 (pbk)

The Men With the Pink Triangle, H. Heger, 1994. ISBN: 1555830064. Gay people, like Jews and others deemed "undesirable," suffered persecution at the hands of the Nazis. This is the account of one who survived. Boston: Alyson Publications. $9.95.

Out of the Closet Into Our Hearts: Celebrating Our Gay/Lesbian Family Members, L. Siegel and N. Lamkin Olson, eds., 2001. ISBN: 0-943595-84-3. The first in-depth collection of articles and essays written by the families (parents, siblings, grandparents, children and extended families) of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. With photos. $15.95 (pbk) plus $2 postage/handling, can be ordered directly from the publisher: Leyland Publications, PO Box 410690, San Francisco, CA 94141.

Out of the Ordinary: Essays on Growing Up With Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Parents, N. Howey and E. Samuels, eds., 2000. ISBN: 0312244894. A reviewer for the American Library Association calls this an “outstanding collection.” Personal stories by the children of lesbian, gay and transgender parents. These children include radical activists and conservative Christians. St. Martin’s Press (pbk)

The Preacher’s Son, M. Adams, 1996. ISBN: 1889829005. The autobiographical story of the gay son of a fundamentalist Baptist preacher growing up in rural America. He went off to college (Jerry Fallwell’s Liberty University) to try to become straight, but it didn’t work. He tells of his struggle and ultimate peace. Window Books, $22.95.

Series title: Lives of Notable Gay Men and Lesbians, M. Duberman, ed. ISBN: 07791028844, etc. Expanding series on the lives of notable gay men and lesbians. Currently contains the following titles: James Baldwin, Willa Cather, Marlene Dietrich, John Maynard Keys, k.d. lang, T.E. Lawrence, Liberace, Martina Navratilova, Sappho, and Oscar Wilde. Each title must be ordered individually, $10.00 per book.

She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, Jennifer Finney Boylan, 2003. ISBN: 076791404X. Vickie Countryman, Director of Equity at Spokane Public Schools, says, "This is an excellent book for those [high school students and adults] who want more info, or who would like to have a better understanding of transgender/transexuals as well as a resource. It is beautifully written, honest and full of love. I could NOT put it down and read right through it in one day. I am adding it to our Equity Library - I strongly believe that it is a book that brings 'voice' to this population and is essential reading for people interested in equity/diversity - whether in school, business, medical, social services, etc." Broadway Books.

Baby Be-Bob, L.F. Block, 1995. ISBN: 0064471764 (pbk); 0613021037 (hc). Dirk MacDonald, a sixteen-year-old boy living in Los Angeles, comes to terms with being gay after he receives surreal storytelling visitations from his dead father and great-grandmother. NY: Econo-Clad Books. $4.95 (pbk), $11.70 (hc).

Damned Strong Love: The True Story of Willi G. and Stefan K.: A Novel, L. Van Dijk, translated by E. Crawford, 1995. ISBN: 0805037705. The is a compelling, fictionalized true story of a gay teen imprisoned by the Nazis during World War II for writing a love letter to his boyfriend. NY: Henry Holt & Company. $15.95.

Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian: A Literary Anthology. L.B. Singer, ed., 1993. ISBN: 1565841034. This is a collection of stories, poetry, autobiography, and oral history that shares the struggles and the joys of coming of age in a homophobic society. NY: New Press. $9.95.

"Hello," I Lied, M.E. Kerr, 1998. ISBN: 0064471934 (pbk); 0060275294 (hc). Summering in the Hamptons at the estate of a famous rock star, 17-year-old Lang tries to decide how to tell his longtime friends that he is gay, at the same time struggling with an unexpected infatuation with a girl from France. NY: Harper Trophy. $4.95 (pbk), $15.95 (hc).

No Telephone to Heaven, M. Cliff, 1996. ISBN: 0452275695. Set in Jamaica, this poetic novel explores race, class and sexuality through the eyes of Clare and her inner struggle to seek connection and peace. NY: Plume Books. $12.95.

Trying Hard To Hear You, S. Scoppettone, 1991. ISBN: 1555833675. Faced with the revelation that her best friend is a homosexual, a 16-year-old tries to cope with her own and her friends' reactions toward him. Boston: Alyson Publications. $9.95.

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Books For High School Libraries & Classrooms (some titles also appropriate for adult – parent and educator – collections) This page was last updated on 07/21/09. If you know of errors please click here to let us know.