PRIDE GUIDE 2003 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE C-7

Four views of the change from childhood to adulthood

by David T. Ramos

As the sun re-appears over the Ohio sky and temperatures start to soar once again, it's time to start accessorizing-not with fashion, but with fiction (and non-fiction). Great reads from Elizabeth Stone, Jack Fritscher, Kevin Jennings, and Robert A. Bernstein kick off the summer reading season.

quers a cave; sometimes heartily, sometimes cautiously.

30

The reality of Vincent's impending doom is seeded early in the book, so as one turns the pages (which is delightfully easy to doStone does an excellent job of keeping the reader's attention), one is aware that it's going to happen-it's a matter of when. Entertaining and thought-provoking, A Boy I Once Knew is a somewhat gripping tale of in-

Always My Child

In A Boy I Once Knew, teacher Elizabeth Stone recounts the life and times of a forty-something man named Vincent-a man who was her student years ago via a series of very personal and revealing journals. The story of Vincent's life is one that has unfortunately been heard far too often: a vibrant, active, intelligent individual is brought down by a killer that strikes without prejudiceHIV.

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Another tome to toss in your beach bag this summer is Jack

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They Did to the Kid.

Fritscher seamlessly combines comedy. with angst in this Catholic coming-of-age tale. The writer explores the sexual ambiguity and exploration of Catholic adolescents-often entertaining us with witty dialogue and biting commentary. An excellent page-turner for any "recovering Catholic" or fan of religious or political humor, the

Jack Fritscher

WINNER Top 10 Books of the Year

Stone inherits Vincent's journals after his passing, and is anxious to discover why this man, whom she taught years ago, has selected her as his biographer. Stone explores the journals like a spelunker con-

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book is chock-full of wisdom, humor, and adolescent sexuality.

Straight Parents, Gay Children is a work that is an ideal gift. Everyone should buy two copies of the book, one for themselves and one for their parents.

In it, Robert A. Bernstein, former vicepresident of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, lays down the law when it comes to parents understanding their gay children. This should be required reading for anyone with a child-or for that matter, any lawmaker. Bernstein shares with the reader how he came to grips with the sexuality of his own daughter, and how easily prejudice can be overcome.

Gripping accounts from noteworthy individuals such as Candace Gingrich and Betty DeGeneres pepper the novel with entertain-

ing and thought-provoking insight that is for sure to gain a place on the "self-help" shelf of your library.

Always My Child is certainly a "parentsonly" tool for identifying and coping with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning adolescents. Kevin Jennings, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, puts together a wise plan of action for these parents, often spelling out steps for parents to take and plans of action.

More of a "how-to" book than a textbook, Always My Child is an excellent resource for confused parents of GLBT teens.

David T. Ramos is a bon vivant who currently resides in Cleveland.

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