Alex Sánchez (author)

Infobox Writer
name = Alex Sánchez


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birthdate = birth year and age|1957
birthplace = Mexico City, Mexico
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occupation = author
nationality = Mexican-American
period = 2001—present
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website = http://www.alexsanchez.com

Alex Sánchez is a Mexican-American author of award-winning novels for teens and adults. His first novel, "Rainbow Boys" (2001), was selected by the American Library Association (ALA), as a “Best Book for Young Adults”. Two sequels, Rainbow High (2003) and Rainbow Road (2005), were honored as “Books for the Teen Age” by the New York Public Library. Although Sanchez's novels are widely accepted in thousands of school and public libraries in America, they have faced a handful of challenges and efforts to ban them. In Texas, an attempt to ban 'Rainbow Boys' during the 2004-2005 school year was met by a counter-protest from students, parents, librarians, and community members resulting in the book being placed on the 2007 summer reading list.

Life and career

Sanchez was born in 1957 in Mexico City, to parents of German and Cuban heritage, and emigrated to the United States in 1962. Sanchez studied writing at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, under Michael Cunningham, Richard McCann, Allan Gurganus, Peter Ho Davies, Michael Klein, Elizabeth McCracken, and Jacqueline Woodson.

Sánchez’s works explore themes of love, friendship, family, coming of age, and gay, bisexual, and questioning youth. His first novel, "Rainbow Boys" (2001), was selected by the American Library Association (ALA), as a “Best Book for Young Adults”. With the novel’s debut, Publishers Weekly (PW) Magazine deemed Sanchez a “Flying Start”.

Two sequels, "Rainbow High" (2003) and "Rainbow Road" (2005), complete the Rainbow trilogy, portraying the coming of age of three gay and bisexual teenage boys. Both novels were honored as “Books for the Teen Age” by the New York Public Library.

Sánchez’s novel "So Hard to Say" (2004), about a group of 13 year-olds, won the Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult literature. "Getting It" (2006) won second place at the 2007 Latino Book Awards for Best Young Adult Fiction in English. "The God Box" (2007), focuses on the conflict and friendship between two Christian teenage boys, one openly gay and the other struggling to accept his sexuality.

Additional works by Sánchez include his short story, “If You Kiss a Boy’, which appeared in the anthology "13: Thirteen Stories about the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen" (2003), edited by James Howe.

Although Sanchez's novels are widely accepted in thousands of school and public libraries in America, they have faced a handful of challenges and efforts to ban them. Linda P. Harvey of Mission America in Columbus, Ohio, targeted Rainbow Boys in her essay “The World According to PFLAG: Why PFLAG and Children Don’t Mix Unless you happen to like child abuse” (sic). The book was also challenged by citizens in Owen, Wisconsin, but ultimately retained by the Owen-Withee Junior and Senior High School, although the superintendent suggested to create a policy of requiring guardian permission to check out the book (ABFFE). In addition to the Wisconsin challenge, the book was also challenged at the Montgomery County Memorial Library System in Montgomery County, Texas (Doyle 6). The ACLU of Texas also reports that "Rainbow Boys" was challenged in Texas during the 2004-2005 school year (ACLUTX 30). One of the most recent challenges occurred in 2006, when the Webster, New York Central School District removed "Rainbow Boys" from the summer reading list. After numerous protests from students, parents, librarians, and community members, the book was placed on the 2007 summer reading list.

Outside of the U.S., Sanchez was blocked from speaking to high school students in New Brunswick, Canada "after a few parents objected" in 2008. [citation |title= Gay author no longer welcome to address N.B. students: Pressure from parents |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2008/10/10/gay-author-schools.html |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2008-10-10]

Works, Awards, and Achievements

* "Rainbow Boys" (2001): American Library Association 2002 “Best Book for Young Adults,” International Reading Association 2003 “Young Adults’ Choice,” New York Public Library 2002 “Book for the Teen Age,” Lambda Literary Award 2001 Finalist, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Blue Ribbon Winner,” Book-of-the-Month Club InsightOutBooks.com selection
* "Rainbow High" (2003): Lambda Literary Award 2003 Finalist, New York Public Library 2004 “Book for the Teen Age,” Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2004, Book-of-the-Month Club InsightOutBooks.com Main Selection, Quality Paperback Book Club Featured Selection
* '“If You Kiss a Boy”' (short story in the anthology, "13: Thirteen Stories About the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen", James Howe, Ed., 2003). Selected by the Junior Library Guild.
* "So Hard to Say" (2004): Lambda Literary Award 2004 Winner, Borders Bookstores "Original Voices: New and Emerging Writers" selection, Book-of-the-Month Club InsightOutBooks.com Featured Selection, Mi Zona Hispana selection, New York Public Library 2005 “Book for the Teen Age,” Quill Award 2005 Nominee
* "Rainbow Road" (2005): Lambda Literary Award 2005 Finalist, New York Public Library 2006 “Book for the Teen Age,” Book-of-the-Month Club InsightOutBooks.com Featured Selection
* "Getting It" (2006): Myers Outstanding Book Award 2007 Winner, 9th International Latino Book Awards 2nd place Best Young Adult Fiction - English, New York Public Library 2007 “Book for the Teen Age,” Book-of-the-Month Club InsightOutBooks.com Featured Selection
* "The God Box" (2007): New York Public Library 2008 “Book for the Teen Age”

References

* ABFFE: American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression." [http://www.abffe.com/bbw-booklist-detailed.htm The Stories Behind Some of This Year's Book Bans and Challenges] ". Accessed 11 September 2005.
* ACLUTX (American Civil Liberties Union of Texas)." [http://www.aclutx.org/files/ACLUFTX%20Banned%20Books%20Report%202005.pdf Free People Read Freely: An Annual Report on Banned and Challenged Books in Texas Public Schools 2004-2005.(September 25, 2005)] ". Accessed 16 August 2006.
* Doyle, Robert P. " [http://www.ila.org/pdf/2005banned.pdf Books Challenged Or Banned in 2001-2005] " Illinois Library Association. (.pdf format) Accessed 11 September 2005.
* Harvey, Linda P. " [http://www.missionamerica.com/stoppflag2.php?PHPSESSID=0c11a8dd74932f84d7b4a1331a266c5f The World According to PFLAG: Why PFLAG and Children Don't Mix Unless you happen to like child abuse] ". Accessed 11 September 2005.
* Lewis, Jeni. " [http://www.wisinfo.com/newsherald/mnhlocal/289017267748913.shtml Owen-Withee board rejects book-ban request] " "Marshfield News Herald." 5 January 2005. Accessed 11 September 2005.

External links

* [http://www.alexsanchez.com Official site]
* [http://www.atlantaboy.com/gay_atlanta/2004/11/alex_sanchez_ex.html Alex Sanchez Interview]