FICTION

Fan Art

256p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. Jun. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062243157.
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Gr 9 Up—Jamie has problems on top of problems. He's not out at school, he's just realized he's in love with his best friend, and everyone seems to know it. Will coming out and coming clean ruin not only the tail end of senior year, but the college future he's planned? This title provides gay teen readers with the sympathetic ache of romance that they may not find with run-of-the-mill heterosexual romantic fiction, and for that reason alone it should be included in collections that are trying to build their LGBQT content. However, as a novel on its own merits, this one falls flat. Outside of the central romantic longing, the relationships are poorly fleshed out and seem stilted and unrealistic. The main character's conflict around acceptance is strange considering all the concrete support demonstrated around him, especially juxtaposed with the challenges his closeted lesbian friend faces. The pacing and plotting are also odd, with events seeming to take place over months instead of days and then days instead of weeks. If a collection of YA LGBQT titles is well developed, there is no need for this uneven book.—L. Lee Butler, Stoughton High School, MA
Everyone in art class knows that Jamie loves Mason...except Mason. Caught between a desire to profess his feelings and a need to preserve the boys' best-friendship, Jamie struggles to come to terms with his complicated emotions. Meanwhile, his art friends are determined to play matchmaker. An exploration of the boundaries (real and perceived) in friendships, this is a refreshing love story.

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