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[CCBC-Net] Jane's Question
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From: Nel <nelcward>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 15:08:39 -0700
I think that the bisexual content is the secondary character who questions whether he will be accepted and initially rejects the main character because he thinks that she cannot accept his bisexuality.
Although I wish that the treatment of the premise of a boy in a girl's body
(for the four days before menstruation!) was treated differently, the bisexual secondary character is like dipping a toe in the water to test the temperature. Hopefully, more YA books about bisexuals will be published.
Brent Hartinger's character Min was introduced in GEOGRAPHY CLUB and reappears in ORDER OF THE POISON OAK. Other than these books, I think that bisexuality has not been addressed until now in YA literature.
I also want to comment on the ongoing discussion that Jane started about what is appropriate for GLBTQ lists. If a library has an limited budget and a YA librarian who provides knowledgeable readers' advisory (or if the young person reads voraciously), a lengthy list can be appropriate. From my experience as a school librarian, book budgets are becoming tighter every year as the number of dollars shrinks and the percentage of monies allotted to computer technology grows. Also many librarians are unfamiliar with the body of young reader literature in the GLBTQ area.
Thus the librarians I have worked with would need a more focused list that reflects the content of the book that might directly apply to GLBTQ needs and the quality of the book. For example the historical book about Jennie Hodges meets the quality criterion. Yet the theme of the book addresses the female gender role in a society that restricts women, keeping them from both social and fiscal independence. Jennie didn't want to be a man: she wanted to have the rights of men. In order to have the rights that she wanted, she needed to masquerade as a man. She never indicates any sexual interest other than heterosexual.
On the other hand, FREAK SHOW is about a young man who wishes to flamboyantly dress in female clothes. His behavior comes from an inner need to wear these clothes, not from an inner need to make some money and not be oppressed as in the case of Jennie. While there is a place for both these books, the GLBTQ issues are addressed in FREAK SHOW in a way that some young readers can identify with and others can appreciate their colleagues.
I realize that many people dislike "labels" and therefore don't want to separate books on "passing" (those books that show characters dressing as a different gender) from books about transgendered people, etc. Yet, if the question is raised about books about bisexuals (which is a category in itself), then having a list that applies to this need is useful. And if we didn't believe in "labeling," then we wouldn't worry about any books with GLBTQ issues or quality: a list of all books published would suffice.
Nancy mentioned the book PATIENCE AND SARAH. That is the kind of book that belongs on a list for young readers searching for GLBTQ content. People who connect with these characters would not find the same satisfaction reading about Jennie Hodges because of the difference in focus.
I appreciate Nancy's intent to "explore gender variance and transgression over a spectrum: from those characters who choose to disguise themselves as a method of survival or as a means to achieve an otherwise unreachable goal; to those who explore gender transgression as a lark, and find some value and increased knowledge in doing to; to those who feel they have no other choice but to transition if they are to live their lives true to themselves." Yet there needs to be a communication about what different needs books may fulfill. Sad to say, many librarians will have no knowledge of any of the books on the bibliography and need assistance. In fact, most more and more school and small public libraries have no librarians; paraprofessionals or clerks are in charge of selection.
My response above comes from a strong sense of pragmatism and the desire to help people select books that fit their needs.
Nel Ward
----- Original Message ----- From: "jcothron" <jcothron at actionnet.net> To: <derbymiller at fuse.net>; <ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 4:41 PM Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Question about GLSBQ literature
> Sally--
> I can't think of many books about bisexual teens or children just
> now. Hmmm.
> There is a new book due out from Random House this fall by Lauren
> McLaughlin, entitled Recycler. The main character has a girl's body
> (and identity) for most of the month, and when she is due for a
> period, her body and psyche become male--Jack. Gender fluidity, if
> you will. It's a much different premise than anything else I've read.
> I think that Michelle Tea has some bisexual material, but her books
> tend to be for an audience older than high school. Jennifer
> Baumgarten's book, Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics, is a 2007
> nonfiction release that tries to link women's bisexuality with
> feminism, with varying degrees of success. Brett Hartinger's book
> Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies contains two
> stories, one of which is the story of Min, a bisexual girl.
> Suggestions, anyone?
> Jane
>
>>---- Original Message ----
>>From: derbymiller at fuse.net
>>To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>>Subject: RE: [CCBC-Net] Question about GLSBQ literature
>>Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 16:59:36 -0500
>>
>>>When we start questioning whether or not certain books are
>>appropriate for a reading list concerning gender identities, don't we
>>lose sight of the fact that everyone is a person first, more alike
>>than dislike, everyone else in society? I worry that in our quest to
>>help students realize that there are others like him or her, we begin
>>creating boxes, instead of expanding horizons. Why, for example, do
>>we welcome and ask for more books appealing to various alphabetic
>>groups and yet remain silent when it comes to books about those who
>>refuse to be assigned--I am thinking of the individual who is truly
>>bisexual. Are there books for such teens, or is there a sort of taboo
>>against them? Are they considered merely individuals who are still
>>only partly "out"? If asked, would they assent to such a designation?
>>And, most importantly, are there books for them? Have I overlooked
>>resources? Thanks you for your help. Sally Derby
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>CCBC-Net mailing list
>>>CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>>>Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
>>>http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CCBC-Net mailing list
> CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
> http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>
>
> --
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> Checked by AVG.
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> 7:20 AM
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Received on Sat 24 May 2008 05:08:39 PM CDT
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 15:08:39 -0700
I think that the bisexual content is the secondary character who questions whether he will be accepted and initially rejects the main character because he thinks that she cannot accept his bisexuality.
Although I wish that the treatment of the premise of a boy in a girl's body
(for the four days before menstruation!) was treated differently, the bisexual secondary character is like dipping a toe in the water to test the temperature. Hopefully, more YA books about bisexuals will be published.
Brent Hartinger's character Min was introduced in GEOGRAPHY CLUB and reappears in ORDER OF THE POISON OAK. Other than these books, I think that bisexuality has not been addressed until now in YA literature.
I also want to comment on the ongoing discussion that Jane started about what is appropriate for GLBTQ lists. If a library has an limited budget and a YA librarian who provides knowledgeable readers' advisory (or if the young person reads voraciously), a lengthy list can be appropriate. From my experience as a school librarian, book budgets are becoming tighter every year as the number of dollars shrinks and the percentage of monies allotted to computer technology grows. Also many librarians are unfamiliar with the body of young reader literature in the GLBTQ area.
Thus the librarians I have worked with would need a more focused list that reflects the content of the book that might directly apply to GLBTQ needs and the quality of the book. For example the historical book about Jennie Hodges meets the quality criterion. Yet the theme of the book addresses the female gender role in a society that restricts women, keeping them from both social and fiscal independence. Jennie didn't want to be a man: she wanted to have the rights of men. In order to have the rights that she wanted, she needed to masquerade as a man. She never indicates any sexual interest other than heterosexual.
On the other hand, FREAK SHOW is about a young man who wishes to flamboyantly dress in female clothes. His behavior comes from an inner need to wear these clothes, not from an inner need to make some money and not be oppressed as in the case of Jennie. While there is a place for both these books, the GLBTQ issues are addressed in FREAK SHOW in a way that some young readers can identify with and others can appreciate their colleagues.
I realize that many people dislike "labels" and therefore don't want to separate books on "passing" (those books that show characters dressing as a different gender) from books about transgendered people, etc. Yet, if the question is raised about books about bisexuals (which is a category in itself), then having a list that applies to this need is useful. And if we didn't believe in "labeling," then we wouldn't worry about any books with GLBTQ issues or quality: a list of all books published would suffice.
Nancy mentioned the book PATIENCE AND SARAH. That is the kind of book that belongs on a list for young readers searching for GLBTQ content. People who connect with these characters would not find the same satisfaction reading about Jennie Hodges because of the difference in focus.
I appreciate Nancy's intent to "explore gender variance and transgression over a spectrum: from those characters who choose to disguise themselves as a method of survival or as a means to achieve an otherwise unreachable goal; to those who explore gender transgression as a lark, and find some value and increased knowledge in doing to; to those who feel they have no other choice but to transition if they are to live their lives true to themselves." Yet there needs to be a communication about what different needs books may fulfill. Sad to say, many librarians will have no knowledge of any of the books on the bibliography and need assistance. In fact, most more and more school and small public libraries have no librarians; paraprofessionals or clerks are in charge of selection.
My response above comes from a strong sense of pragmatism and the desire to help people select books that fit their needs.
Nel Ward
----- Original Message ----- From: "jcothron" <jcothron at actionnet.net> To: <derbymiller at fuse.net>; <ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 4:41 PM Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Question about GLSBQ literature
> Sally--
> I can't think of many books about bisexual teens or children just
> now. Hmmm.
> There is a new book due out from Random House this fall by Lauren
> McLaughlin, entitled Recycler. The main character has a girl's body
> (and identity) for most of the month, and when she is due for a
> period, her body and psyche become male--Jack. Gender fluidity, if
> you will. It's a much different premise than anything else I've read.
> I think that Michelle Tea has some bisexual material, but her books
> tend to be for an audience older than high school. Jennifer
> Baumgarten's book, Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics, is a 2007
> nonfiction release that tries to link women's bisexuality with
> feminism, with varying degrees of success. Brett Hartinger's book
> Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies contains two
> stories, one of which is the story of Min, a bisexual girl.
> Suggestions, anyone?
> Jane
>
>>---- Original Message ----
>>From: derbymiller at fuse.net
>>To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>>Subject: RE: [CCBC-Net] Question about GLSBQ literature
>>Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 16:59:36 -0500
>>
>>>When we start questioning whether or not certain books are
>>appropriate for a reading list concerning gender identities, don't we
>>lose sight of the fact that everyone is a person first, more alike
>>than dislike, everyone else in society? I worry that in our quest to
>>help students realize that there are others like him or her, we begin
>>creating boxes, instead of expanding horizons. Why, for example, do
>>we welcome and ask for more books appealing to various alphabetic
>>groups and yet remain silent when it comes to books about those who
>>refuse to be assigned--I am thinking of the individual who is truly
>>bisexual. Are there books for such teens, or is there a sort of taboo
>>against them? Are they considered merely individuals who are still
>>only partly "out"? If asked, would they assent to such a designation?
>>And, most importantly, are there books for them? Have I overlooked
>>resources? Thanks you for your help. Sally Derby
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>CCBC-Net mailing list
>>>CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>>>Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
>>>http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CCBC-Net mailing list
> CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
> http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.0/1462 - Release Date: 5/23/2008
> 7:20 AM
>
>
Received on Sat 24 May 2008 05:08:39 PM CDT
