Rainbow High

Infobox Book
name = Rainbow High


image_caption = Front cover of "Rainbow High"
author = Alex Sánchez
country = flag|USA
language = English
series = "Rainbow" trilogy
genre = Young adult
publisher = Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
pub_date = November 2003
media_type = Print (Hardback, Paperback)
pages = 272 pp
isbn = ISBN 9780689854774
oclc = 52203415
preceded_by = Rainbow Boys
followed_by = Rainbow Road

"Rainbow High" is the second novel in a trilogy by Alex Sanchez, focusing on the issues gay and questioning youth face as they come of age. This book is the sequel to "Rainbow Boys" and followed by "Rainbow Road".

Plot summary

It is the final semester of Jason Carillo's, Kyle Meeks's, and Nelson Glassman's senior year of high school. They face the issues of coming out to the public, deciding which college to go to, and the ever-present threat of HIV/AIDS. It is the second in a trilogy. The first one is Rainbow Boys and the third one is Rainbow Road.

Nelson Glassman

Nelson is relieved to discover he does not have HIV, but his boyfriend Jeremy is HIV-positive. Nelson thinks Jeremy is pushing him away when Jeremy is just afraid of infecting Nelson. Nelson's mother keeps wanting to meet Jeremy and likes him until she finds out that he is HIV-positive. After a while, Nelson suspects Jeremy wants to break up with him, so decides to break up with Jeremy first. He is hurt when Jeremy is immediately content with the idea. Jeremy and Nelson stay friends (or try to), and go to the prom on a platonic date. He is also upset because his best friend Kyle might be going to Princeton without him, leaving him to go to Tech (a boring, nerdy school in his opinion) alone. He feels insecure about his loneliness and his friends, and feels a little left out sometimes.

Kyle Meeks

Kyle faces the problem of deciding which college to go to: Princeton or Tech. Jason may be going to Tech, so Kyle wants to go to Tech with him. Kyle is afraid of losing Jason when they leave for college. He's willing to give up Princeton for him. Kyle encourages Jason to come out and hopes that he and Jason will be able to be open about their relationship. There are also problems on the swim team. Someone on the team had their parent write a letter to the coach saying that they don't want to shower with a homosexual (Kyle). Kyle just waits until he gets home to shower until the big swim meet. Kyle gets upset from guys bashing him and almost leaves. Coach threatens to take him out of the meet and calls Kyle's father. Kyle apologizes (his father told him to) and he's able to swim in the meet. Later Kyle's father talks to the swim Coach and defends his son and his homosexuality. Kyle and Jason go to prom. Kyle decides to go to Princeton.

Jason Carillo

Jason wants to come out to the team but is afraid that he will lose his scholarship from Tech. He tells his Coach who handles it very well and so does the team. The teams wins state. Jason and Debra have a civil conversation. Jason's confused on why Kyle would give up Princeton for him. He doesn't want Kyle to throw his life away. Jason gives a TV interview about his homosexuality and when asked if he had a boyfriend he says no. Kyle is upset about this. When the team wins state he and Kyle kiss on the court which makes up for the interview. Jason's mother is still having a hard time accepting his sexuality. Tech takes his scholorship away saying that it was due to an altercation earlier that year. Jason thinks that this is false. He and Kyle finally go to the prom together.