Lesbian teen fiction

Lesbian teen fiction is a subgenre of young adult fiction and LGBT literature. Books that fall under this category include themes of romance or attraction between female teenagers, including bisexual teenagers. Authors of such novels may or may not be female, gay, or bisexual. Novels that deal with the topic of lesbianism but not in teenagers (such as Julie Anne Peters's "Between Mom & Jo") are generally not classified as lesbian teen fiction.

History

1970s

In "Ruby" (1976) by Rosa Guy, the main character is a girl from the West Indies. The novel tells the story of her relationship with another girl. Other young adult novels with lesbian characters and themes that were published during this time include Sandra Scoppettone's "Happy Endings Are All Alike" (1978). According to the author, it "barely got reviewed and when it did it wasn't good," unlike Scoppettone's novel about gay boys, which was better received.cite news
last =Hart
first =Ellen
coauthors =
title =ELLEN INTERVIEWS SANDRA SCOPPETTONE
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =EllenHart.com
date =
url =http://www.ellenhart.com/int_scop.html
accessdate = 2007-06-24]

Frequent themes in books published during the 1970s are that homosexuality is a "phase," or that there are no "happy endings" for gay people, and that they generally lead a difficult life.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title ='Targeted' young adult fiction: the need for literature speaking to gay/lesbian and African-American youth
work =
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url =http://www.crowbold.com/homepage/topic5.htm
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accessdate = 2007-03-04 ]

The School Library Journal reported,

Judy Blume has been cited as a catalyst in the 1970s for an increase in inclusion of "taboo" topics in children's literature, which include homosexuality.cite news
last =Goodnow
first =Cecelia
coauthors =
title =Tacoma writer's gay-theme teen novel offers insights to young adults
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = April 7, 2003
url =http://www.brenthartinger.com/pi.html
accessdate = 2007-02-25 ]

1980s

In 1981, Jane Futcher published "Crush", about a high school senior who falls in love with another girl. The book shows the conservatism and homophobia of the 1960s boarding school where it takes place. Although the book does not end tragically, homosexuality is treated by the people around the protagonist as a mental illness.

Nancy Garden's "Annie on My Mind", published in 1982, tells the story of two high school girls who fall in love. The novel, which has never been out of print, was a step forward for homosexuality in young adult literature.cite news
last =Jenkins
first =Christine A.
coauthors =
title =Annie on Her Mind: Edwards Award–winner Nancy Garden's groundbreaking novel continues to make a compelling case for sexual tolerance
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =School Library Journal
date = June 1, 2003
url =http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA300723
accessdate = 2007-02-25 ] It was published in hardback and by a major press. In the book, homosexuality is seen as something permanent and to be explored, not "fixed."

In Kansas, a minister led a public burning of "Annie on My Mind" following a controversy after it was donated to a school library.cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Books in Trouble: Annie on My Mind
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =National Coalition Against Censorship
date =May 1996
url =http://www.ncac.org/literature/related/19960501~USA~Books_in_Trouble_2.cfm
accessdate = ]

1990s

During this decade the number of lesbian-themed young adult novels published rose. Nancy Garden published two novels with lesbian protagonists, "Lark in the Morning" (1991) and "Good Moon Rising", and received positive sales and reviews. In 1994, M.E. Kerr published "Deliver Us From Evie", about a boy with a lesbian sister, which was well received by the public. Other books published during this decade include "Dive" by Stacy Donovan (1996), "The Necessary Hunger" (1997) by Nina Revoyr, "The House You Pass On the Way" (1997) by Jacqueline Woodson, "Girl Walking Backwards" (1998) by Bett Williams, who intended the novel for an adult audience though it was popular among teens, "Hard Love" by Ellen Wittlinger (1999), and "Dare Truth or Promise" (1999) by Paula Boock.

2000s

The 1990s represented a turning point for young adult novels that explored lesbian issues, and since 2000, a flood of such books has reached the market.cite news
last =Warn
first =Sarah
coauthors =
title =Lesbian-Themed Young Adult Novels On the Rise
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =AfterEllen.com
date =December 2003
url =http://www.afterellen.com/archive/ellen/Print/yafiction.html
accessdate = 2007-02-25 ] Each year since 2000, an average of 10 to 12 young adult novels with gay or lesbian content has been published in the United States.

The public attitude towards lesbian themes in young adult literature has grown more accepting. In 2000, the "School Library Journal" included "Annie on My Mind" in its list of the top 100 most influential books of the century.cite news
last =Staff
first =
coauthors =
title =One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =School Library Journal
date =January 1, 2000
url =http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleId=CA153035
accessdate = 2007-02-25 ]

In the past, most books portrayed gay people as "living isolated lives, out of context with the reality of an amazingly active community." Today books have progressed, with gay characters not as stigmatized and separate.

There are fewer books about female homosexuality than male homosexuality,cite book
last =Woolls
first =Blanche
authorlink =
coauthors =David V. Loertsche
title =The whole school library handbook
publisher =American Library Association
date =February 17, 2005
location =
pages =109-112
url =http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0838908837&id=ZcjyWHAHuRMC&pg=RA1-PA110&lpg=RA1-PA110&ots=S5Jh-UpjgU&dq=%22gay+young+adult+fiction%22%7C%22books+for+gay+teenagers%22&sig=Wn143Sj_5uFqxFBDuCR0p1pV6Do
doi =
isbn = 0838908837 ] and yet fewer books on bisexuality are published. Despite the fact that availability of books with lesbian and bisexual themes has increased since the 1960s, books with non-white characters are still difficult to find.cite news
last =Warn
first =Sarah
coauthors =
title =That was Then, This is Now: Young Adult Books for Lesbian and Bisexual Teens
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =AfterEllen.com
date = May 2002
url =http://www.afterellen.com/archive/ellen/Print/yabooks.html
accessdate = 2007-02-25 ]

List

*"Gravel Queen" (2003), Tea Benduhn
*"Dare Truth or Promise" (1999), Paula Boock
*"Sugar Rush" (2004), Julie Burchill
*"Crush" (1981), Jane Futcher
*"Annie on My Mind" (1982), Nancy Garden
*"Good Moon Rising" (1996), Nancy Garden
*"Ruby" (1976), Rosa Guy
*"Heart" (2004), Lexi Harris
*"Good Girls Don't" (2004), Claire Hennessy
*"Out of the Shadows" (2000), Sue Hines
*"Kissing Kate" (2003), Lauren Myracle
*"Keeping You a Secret" (2003), Julie Anne Peters
*"Empress of the World" (2001), Sara Ryan
*"Happy Endings Are All Alike" (1978), Sandra Scoppettone
*"Tomorrow Wendy" (1998), Shelley Stoehr
*"Allison" (1998), Tatiana Strelkoff
*"The Last of Eden" (1980), Stephanie Tolan
*"The Year of Freaking Out" (1997), Sarah Walker
*"Girl Walking Backwards" (1998), Bett Williams
*"The House You Pass on the Way" (1997), Jacqueline Woodson
*"I've Known Since I Was Eight" (2003), Sophie Glasser
*"Rosemary and Juliet" (2004), Judy MacLean
*"Bermudez Triangle" (2004), Maureen Johnson
*"Far from Xanadu" (2005), Julie Anne Peters
*"The Will of the Empress" (2005), Tamora Pierce
*"Split Screen" (2007), Brent Hartinger
*"The Rules for Hearts" (2007), Sara Ryan

ee also

*Class S
*Gay teen fiction
*Homosexuality in children's literature
*Lesbian fiction

References