SUGGESTED READING FOR LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES

The following titles are suggested for lesbian and gay youth and for parents who want to educate themselves and their non-gay children. YounG lesbian and gay people have very little access, if any, to accurate information about themselves. Our young lesbian and gay adolescents need desperately to know that they are valued and loved individuals who have a special place to fill in the world as they grow older.



GENERAL FICTION

SPIDERWOMAN'S GRANDDAUGHTERS: TRADITIONAL TALES AND CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS BY NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN by Paula Gunn Allen. (Beacon Press, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108. 1989.)

OTHER WOMEN by Lisa Alther. (A Signet Books, NAL Penguin Inc., 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. 1984. Available in paperback.)

BORDERLANDS/LA FRONTERA by Gloria Anzaldua. (Spinsters/Aunt Lute Book Co., P.O. Box 410687, San Francisco, CA 94141. 1988. Available in paperback.)

GIOVANNI'S ROOM by James Baldwin. (Dell Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc., 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10103. 1956. Reprinted 1988. Available in paperback.) Love story of two young men, set in Paris.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. FORSTER? by Gary W. Bargar. (Houghton Mifflin/Clarion Books, New York, 1981.) Set in the 1950's this story features a boy who comes into his own during sixth grade with the help of an understanding teacher who is eventually fired for being gay.

AM I BLUE? COMING OUT FROM THE SILENCE edited by Marion Dane Bauer. (HarperCollins Publishers New York, 1994.) This anthology of short stories dealing with gay and lesbian addressing teen sexuality. The stories all address questions of sexuality or being a gay/lesbian youth. A stunning collection and a wonderful read.

WEETZIE BAT by Francesca Lia Block. (Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1989.) This series also includes Witch Baby (HarperCollins, 1991.), Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys (Harper Keypoint, 1992), and the most recent Missing Angel Juan (HarperCollins, 1993). Block has created unique and very contemporary characters. The characters include both gay and straight young people who build their own family and chart the structure of their relationships.

RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE by Rita Mae Brown. (Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10103. 1973. Reprinted 1988. Available in paperback.) A joyous coming out story. One of the first explicit lesbian novels.

JUST HOLD ON by Scott Bunn. (Delacorte, New York. 1982.) The warmth and acceptance of a teenage friendship group is contrasted with the screwed-up families of the two protagonists of this novel.

THE JOURNEY by Anne Cameron. (Avon Books, The Hearst Corp., 959 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10019. 1982. Available in paperback.) Two young women brave the Canadian Wild West in the 1800s. They outwit the bad guys, have adventures, and become lovers.

ABENG by Michelle Cliff. (Crossing Press, Trumansburg, NY 14886. 1984. Available in paperback.) Set in Jamaica., with a 12-year-old girl as protagonist.

NO TELEPHONE TO HEAVEN by Michelle Cliff. (Vintage International, Random House, Inc., New York. 1987, 1989. Available in paperback. A recent novel by Jamaican-American lesbian author Michelle Cliff. Set in Jamaica.

SOME SOUL TO KEEP by J. California Cooper. (St.Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. 1987. Available in paperback.)

INDEPENDENCE DAY by B. A. Ecker. (Avon, New York. 1983.) Sixteen-year-old Mike comes out to his family and friends when he realizes he is gay.

ANNIE ON MY MIND by Nancy Garden. (A Sunburst Book, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, NY. 1982. Reprinted 1988. Available in paperback.) Love story of two teenage girls that captures the magic and intensity of first love.

ANNIE ON MY MIND by Nancy Garden. (Farrar Straus & Giroux New York, 1982.) The lesbian teen romance novel that has set the standard for all others. Sweet, realistic, and heart-rending. Garden is a vocal and "out" lesbian writing for children and young adults.

LARK IN THE MORNING by Nancy Garden. (Farrar Straus & Giroux, New York, 1991.) Garden seeks to include gay and lesbian teens as a matter of course in this novel, not as a central theme. 17-year-old Gillian Harrison loves her best friend, Suzanne but the plot centers around two young runaways, Lark and Jackie, that Gillian discovers in the woods near their summer vacation home.

TWO WEEKS WITH THE QUEEN by Morris Gleitzman. (G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1989.) Colin, an upper elementary age boy, is sent from his parent's home in Australia to stay with relatives in the U.K. Colin's younger brother has cancer and Colin wants to see the Queen to enlist her help. In his travels he meets a gay man whose lover is in the hospital with AIDS. A friendship develops and Colin learns about love, caring, and terminal diseases.

RUBY by Rosa Guy. (Viking, New York. 1976. Available in paperback.) A West Indian family moves to Harlem and the youngest daughter has a romance with an American girl. While their relationship is short-lived, it has an ultimately positive influence on the young girl.

NOTHING HAPPENED by Ebba Haslund. (Seal Press, P.O. Box 13, Seattle, WA 98111. 1948, 1987. Available in paperback.) Translated by Barbara Wilson, this is one of a handful of novels with a lesbian theme ever written in Norway. Set in 1939 Oslo, it explores the love and friendship between three women students.

JACK by A. M Homes. (Macmillan, New York, 1989.) 15 year old Jack discovers that his father is gay, his best friend's mother is a victim of domestic violence, and that he's a better coper than he had imagined. Told with great humor and sensitivity. This is a fun read and a very well done piece of fiction.

PALOMINO by Elizabeth Jolley. (Persea Books, 225 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012. 1980. Available in paperback.) Elizabeth Jolley, one of Australia's leading novelists, writes about an unconventional relationship between two women.

REAL HEROES by Marilyn Kaye. (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, San Diego, CA, 1993.) Kaye uses this novel as a vehicle to provide AIDS information. Her message of, get the facts, know the facts, this disease affects us all cannot be disputed, yet gives the novel a preachy tone. The main character, 6th grader Kevin Delaney, suffers a family split. The plot revolves around Kevin's gym teacher Jeffrey Logan who is HIV+.

DELIVER US FROM EVIE by M.E. Kerr. (HarperCollins Publishers, New York: 1994.) This well crafted, interesting, and believable novel features a midwestern farm family with a lesbian daughter. Kerr creates a character that knows who she is and feels at home in her difference. Evie's younger brother Parr narrates the story.

NIGHT KITES by M.E. Kerr. (Harper & Row, New York: 1986.) An AIDS story that is now dated. This is Erick Rudd's coming of age story. His brother Pete is gay and has AIDS. AIDS info is dated now and Pete leads a closeted, narrow, stereotyped life. Important for Kerr's willingness to tackle this subject for young adults in 1986.

BREAKING UP by Norma Klein. (Pantheon/Random House, 1980. Available in paperback.) A teenage girl lives in New York City with her mother and her mother's lover. The only young adult book available that includes a lesbian mother.

MY LIFE AS A BODY by Norma Klein. (Knopf, New York. 1987.) Charts the course of a group of friends, including a young lesbian woman, through their senior year of high school and into college.

NOW THAT I KNOW by Norma Klein. (Bantam, New York. 1988.) A ninth-grade girl comes to terms with her parents' divorce and her father's gayness.

THE ARIZONA KID by Ron Koertge. (Joy Street/Little, Brown. 1988.) A heterosexual teenager visits his gay uncle in Tucson and their relationship is strengthened as the boy furthers his understanding of stereotyping and sexual identity.

MY DEEP DARK PAIN IS LOVE: A Collection of Latin American Gay Fiction. edited by Winston Ley (Published by Gay Sunshine Press, P.O. Box 40397, San Francisco, CA 94140. 1983.)

PATIENCE AND SARAH by Isabel Miller. (A Fawcett Crest Book, Ballantine Books, Random House, Inc. 1969. Reprinted 1985. Available in paperback.) Set in 19th century New England, two women live together and love each other.

THE LOVE OF GOOD WOMEN by Isabel Miller. (Naiad Press, Inc., P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302. 1986. Available in paperback.) Two women falling in love in World War Two America.

ALL-AMERICAN BOYS by Frank Mosca. (Alyson Press, Boston. 1983.) Seventeen-year-old Neil tells the dramatic story of the first months of his relationship with Paul. Melodrama with a happy ending.

THE CAT CAME BACK by Hilary Mullins. (The Naiad Press, Inc., Tallahassee, FL. 1993.) From an adult perspective the writing is boring and repetitious but given that it is written as a 17-year-old's journal it may still appeal to young adults. Stevie, the hockey playing main character, falls for Andrea, a feminist conference going fellow student from Northampton, MA whose mom works at Smith. Stevie is an incest survivor who spends 3 years of her prep school career sleeping with the male teacher who seduced her. Her relationship with Andrea is rocky and rough. Of mediocre quality.

TWELVE DAYS IN AUGUST by Liza Ketchum Murrow. (Holiday House, New York: 1993.) Murrow approaches issues around homosexuality from a straight jock point of view. A general message of tolerance is conveyed and directed to heterosexual male readers. Todd struggles with his homophobia when a new member of his soccer team is ostracized by the team leader/tough guy. Todd's understanding grows when he discovers that his favorite uncle is gay.

THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE by Gloria Naylor. (Penguin Books, Viking Penguin Inc., 40 W. 23 Street, New York, NY 10010. 1980. Reprinted 1988. Available in paperback.) The lives of eight Black women in New York City, including a lesbian couple. Now a television movie.

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT by Leslea Newman. (Firebrand Books, 141 The Commons, Itaca, NY 14850. 1986. Available in paperback.) A novel about bulimia (bingeing on food and then purging through dieting, fasting, etc.)

SMALL CHANGES by Marge Piercy. (A Fawcett Crest Book, Ballantine Books, Random House, Inc. 1972. Reprinted 1989.) Set in the late 1960s, it describes two women and the choices they make, against the background of the early Women's Movement. One chooses a new world and the love of another woman.

THE MILKMAN'S ON HIS WAY by David Rees. (Gay Men's Press, London. 1982.) Distributed in the U. S. by Alyson Press.

OUT OF THE WINTER GARDENS by David Rees. (Olive Press, London. 1984.) Sixteen-year-old boy visits his long-absent father and the two establish a warm relationship as the son learns about his father's gayness.

THE BEST LITTLE BOY IN THE WORLD by John Reid. (Ballantine Books, NY.)

THE LAST OF THE WINE by Mary Renault. (Vintage Books, Random House, New York, NY. 1956. 1975. Available in paperback.) Story of two young Greek men coming of age during the time of Socrates.

THE FRIENDLY YOUNG LADIES by Mary Renault. (Pantheon Books, Random House, Inc. New York, NY. 1944. Available in paperback.) Two young women in 1930's London live together as more than friends. A romantic comedy.

THE CHARIOTEER by Mary Renault. (Pantheon Books, Random House, Inc., New York, NY. 1959. Available in paperback.) Moving and sensitive portrayal of a gay male relationship, set against the backdrop of the Second World War.

DESERT OF THE HEART by Jane Rule. (Naiad Press, Inc., P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee FL 32302. 1964. Reprinted 1987. Available in paperback.) Love story of a young woman and an older woman beginning a new life after her divorce. Used as the bases for the movie, "Desert Hearts."

LIVING IN SECRET by Christina Salat. (Bantam Skylark, New York, 1993.) Realistic look at the problems associated with custody struggles where one parent is gay or lesbian. 11 year old Amelia wanted to live with her lesbian mother when her parents split but her father was awarded custody by a homophobic court. The novel has a fast paced plot of new identities, and secrets. Although realistic, with no happy ending, the lesbian aspects are a bit stereotyped, i.e.: crystals and sprouts. The writing is choppy and the sentence structure not varied enough but the book does fill a gap.

MRS. STEVENS HEARS THE MERMAIDS SINGING by May Sarton. (W. W. Norton & Co., Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110. 1965. Available in paperback.)

THE EDUCATION OF HARRIET HATFIELD by May Sarton. (W. W. Norton & Co., Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110. 1989. Hardcover.) Starring a 60-year-old lesbian protagonist, Sarton explores a woman's introduction to the disturbing world of homophobia when she opens a women's bookstore in Boston.

TRYING HARD TO HEAR YOU by Sandra Scoppettone. (Harper & Row, New York, 1974.) When high school students Phil and Jeff fall in love in a summer stock theater they encounter confused and hostile reactions from their friends. Superficial portrayal of Black people and stereotypic ending, but contains positive messages.

UNLIVED AFFECTIONS by George Shannon. (Harper & Row, New York, 1989.) At Grom's death, 17 year old Willie finds letters from his dad. Willie's mom died when he was 2 years old and his grandmother who raised him kept his father's history and existence a secret. Willie now discovers that his father is alive, loved his mother very much, and is gay. Some nice aspects but generally mediocre.

HAPPY ENDINGS ARE ALL ALIKE by Sandra Scoppettone. (Harper & Row, New York, 1978.) Two teenage girls confront and surmount the problems of being lesbians in high school.

THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH by Marilyn Singer. (Harper & Row, New York. 1983.) Teenagers rehearsing for a school play are in the midst of various relationships, both romantic and friendly. Singer does an excellent job of integrating gay and straight teenagers in a believable way.

THE TRUTH ABOUT ALEX (originally titled "Counterplay") by Ann Snyder and Louis Pelletier. (NAL, New York. 1981.) A novel about friendship between two teenage boys, one gay, in the world of high school football.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE by Jean Ure. (Delacorte, New York. 1986.) The story of two teenage runaways, Bonny and Richard. Both eventually return home--Bonny to her lesbian foster parents and Richard to his male lover.

THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Walker. (Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1230 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10020. 1982. Available in paperback.) This bestseller by Black poet and writer Alice Walker describes a woman's life as she leaves an abuse marriage and has an affair with another woman. Now a movie of the same title.

PETER by Kate Walker. (Houghton Mifflin, Boston: 1993 [published 1991 in Australia].) Peter enjoys photography and BMX motorcycle riding. He hangs out with the guys and struggles through the macho environment peer isolation, and ridicule endemic to the life of a 15-year-old. Walker provides a good, realistic sketch of the emotional roller coaster teen's experience while questioning their sexuality. She makes a strong point for tolerance. Her piece on the limits that labels impose is grounded in feminist writings on subjectivity and holds an important message.

BAD BOY by Diana Wielder. (Delacorte Press, New York: 1992.) A.J. Brandiosa, a high school senior, and his best friend Tully make the Cyclones hockey team which serves as a backdrop for the internal conflict A.J. experienced while he questions his sexuality. The ice hockey theme is strong. The characters all have flaws are quite alive, and three-dimensional. Very well written.

A BOY'S OWN STORY by Edmund White. (E. P. Dutton, Inc., 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016. 1982.) Available in paperback. Novel by one of America's leading gay male writers about a gay boy's coming of age.

MISS VENEZUELA by Barbara Wilson. (Seal Press, P.O. Box 13, Seattle, WA 98111. 1979. Available in paperback.) Twenty-two short stories by Barbara Wilson.

ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT by Jeanette Winterson. (Atlantic Monthly Press, Distributed by Little, Brown & Co. Inc. 1985. Available in paperback.) Coming out story of a young British girl in the 1960s.

LOVE, STRUGGLE & CHANGE: STORIES BY WOMEN edited by Irene Zahara. (Crossing Press, Freedom, CA 95019. 1988. Available in paperback.) Twelve short stories by women, including lesbian authors Becky Birtha, Sally Miller Gearhart, and Jewelle L. Gomez, among others.



AUTOBIOGRAPHY

REFLECTIONS OF A ROCK LOBSTER by Aaron Fricke. (Alyson Publications, Inc., 40 Plympton Street, Boston, MA 02118. 1981. Available in paperback.) Rhode Island high school boy describes coming out in high school in the 1970s, and taking his boyfriend to the prom.

ZAMI: A NEW SPELLING OF MY NAME by Audre Lorde. (Crossing Press, Freedom, CA 95019. 1982. Available in paperback.) Autobiography by Caribbean-American writer Audre Lorde, describing her coming-out process.

A RESTRICTED COUNTRY by Joan Nestle. (Firebrand Books, 141 The Commons, Ithaca, NY 14850. 1987. Available in paperback.) The co-founder of New York City's Lesbian Herstory Archives describes her life from the lesbian butch-femme bars of the 1950s to the 1960's Civil Rights Movement to her political activism of today.



FICTION - MYSTERIES

MURDER ONCE DONE by Mary Lou Bennett. (Perseverance Press, P.O. Box 384, Menlo Park, CA 94026. 1988. Available in paperback.) Lesbian mystery.

DEATH IN A TENURED POSITION by Amanda Cross. (Ballantine Books, Random House, Inc. 1981. Available in paperback.) Feminist
professor-turned-sleuth solves a murder, with the help of a group of Cambridge lesbians.

THE ALWAYS ANONYMOUS BEAST by Lauren Wright Douglas. (Naiad Press, P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302. 1987. Available in paperback.) A Canadian murder mystery focusing on a lesbian relationship.

TROUBLEMAKER by Joseph Hansen. (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 383 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. 1975. Available in paperback.) Gay life insurance investigator Dave Brandstetter looks into the murder of a gay bar owner.

THE MAN EVERYBODY WAS AFRAID OF by Joseph Hansen. (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 383 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. 1978. Available in paperback.) When an anti-gay police chief is killed and a gay activist arrested for his murder, Dave Brandstetter wants to discover the truth --even at the risk of his life!

NIGHTWORK by Joseph Hansen. (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 383 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. 1984. Available in paperback.) Dave Brandstetter investigates murder in the trucking industry.

EARLY GRAVES by Joseph Hansen. (The Mysterious Press, Warner Books, Inc., 666 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10103. 1987. Available in paperback.) A serial killer is targeting young gay men with AIDS. A Dave Brandstetter mystery.

LESSONS IN MURDER by Claire McNab. (Naiad Press, P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302. 1988. Available in paperback.) Australian murder mystery starring a lesbian detective who finds herself falling in love with her prime suspect.

FATAL REUNION by Claire McNab. (Naiad Press. 1989. Available in paperback.) Second in McNab's series starring lesbian Detective Inspector Carol Ashton, who takes on a difficult case to help an ex-lover.

ALL THE MUSCLE YOU NEED by Diana McRae. (Spinsters/Aunt Lute Book Co., P.O. Box 410687, San Francisco, CA 94141. 1988. Available in paperback.) Adventures of a private eye in Oakland, CA.

FIELDWORK by Maureen Moore. (Seal Press, P.O. Box 13, Seattle, WA 98111. 1987. Available in paperback.) Canadian murder mystery with a lesbian heroine.

DEATH TRICK by Richard Stevenson. The first Donald Strachey murder mystery.

ON THE OTHER HAND, DEATH by Richard Stevenson. (Penguin Books, Viking Penguin Inc., 40 West 23 Street, New York, NY 10010. 1984. Available in paperback.) The second murder mystery starring Donald Strachey, Albany's only gay detective. "Highly recommended. " (The New York Times Book Review.)

ICE BLUES by Richard Stevenson. (Penguin Books, Viking Penguin Inc., 40 West 23 Street, New York, NY 10010. 1986. Available in paperback. The third Donald Strachey murder mystery. "Mr. Stevenson plots well, makes sharp observations about people, and has a literate, sophisticated writing style. " (The New York Times Book Review)

MURDER IN THE COLLECTIVE by Barbara Wilson. (Seal Press, P.O. Box 13, Seattle, WA 98111. 1984. Available in paperback.) Feminist printer and amateur sleuth Pam Nilsen seeks to solve a murder, and comes out in the process. Set in Seattle WA.

SISTERS OF THE ROAD by Barbara Wilson. (Seal Press, P.O. Box 13, Seattle, WA 98111. 1986. Available in paperback.) Psychological thriller. Second in a series starring lesbian feminist sleuth Pam Nilsen. Set in Seattle's world of teenage prostitutes and runaways and the people who try to help them.

THE DOG COLLAR MURDERS by Barbara Wilson. (Seal Press, P.O. Box 13, Seattle, WA 98111. 1989. Available in paperback.) Third in Wilson's series about lesbian feminist amateur detective Pam Nilsen, this mystery focuses on the debate over pornography and sexuality in the Women's Movement.

SHE CAME TOO LATE by Mary Wings. (Crossing Press Woman sleuth Series, Freedom, CA 95019. 1987. Available in paperback.) Crime thriller set in Boston, with a lesbian feminist heroine. "Lots of feminist logic and theory, fascinating characters, and a nicely thought-out story make this an exceptionally fine first novel. Wings is a good writer and her treatment of lesbianism is unequaled in mystery fiction for sensitivity and realism. " (Library Journal)

SHE CAME IN A FLASH by Mary Wings. (New American Library, Penguin Books USA Inc., 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. 1988. Hardcover.) Second novel starring heroine of "She Came Too Late. "

A REASON TO KILL by Eve Zaremba. (Amanita Enterprises, P.O. Box 784, Station P, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2ZI. 1978. Available in paperback.) Canadian lesbian and private eye Helen Keremos' first adventure.

WORK FOR A MILLION by Eve Zaremba. (Amanita Enterprises. 1986. Reprinted 1988. Available in paperback.) Lesbian detective Helen Keremos takes on a dangerous new assignment.

BEYOND HOPE by Eve Zaremba. (Amanita Enterprises. 1987. Available in paperback.) Helen Keremos' most complicated and terrifying case, set on the West Coast.



FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION

UNICORN MOUNTAIN by Michael Bishop. (Arbor House, New York. 1988.) Libby, a divorced rancher eking out a living on a Colorado ranch, takes in a young gay relative with AIDS after he has been rejected by his lover and his family. They find their lives transformed when a herd of unicorns is discovered on their ranch.

THE BREEDS OF MAN by F. M. Bushy. AIDS is cured, but the genetic tampering required for the cure results in a new, sexually androgynous kind human being.

SHARRA'S EXILE by Marion Zimmer Bradley. (Daw Books, Inc., 1633 Broadway, New York, NY. 1981.) A sequel to "Heritage of Hastur, " Bradley's 1976 novel of gay male awakening. A heterosexual love affair is the central theme of the novel, but significant gay male subplots abound.

THENDARA HOUSE by Marion Zimmer Bradley. (Daw Books, Inc., 1633 Broadway, New York, NY. 1983.) Lesbian relationship is the central theme.

CITY OF SORCERY by Marion Zimmer Bradley. (Daw Books, Inc., 1633 Broadway, New York, NY. 1984.) Lesbian lovers on the imaginary world of Darkover search for a mysterious city of telepathic Amazons.

WARRIOR WOMAN by Marion Zimmer Bradley. (Daw Books, Inc. Donald A. Wollheim, Publisher. 1633 Broadway, New York, NY. 1985. Available in paperback.)

ETHAN OF ATHOS by Lois McMaster Bujold. (Baen, New York. 1986.) Life on an all-male, entirely homosexual planet.

RETURN TO NEVERYON by Samuel R. Delany.

TALES OF NEVERYON by Samuel R. Delany. (Bantam, New York. 1979.)

NEVERYONA, OR THE TALE OF SIGNS AND CITIES by Delany. (Bantam. 1983.)

FLIGHT FROM NEVERYON by Samuel R. Delany. (Bantam. 1985.)

THE BRIDGE OF LOST DESIRE by Samuel R. Delany. (Arbor House, New York. 1987.)
Four-volume fantasy series. Many characters' stories are told in the Neveryon books. A central figure in most of them is an ex-slave who leads a successful rebellion. Delany uses these stories to offer brilliant (sometimes long-winded) monologues about historical philosophy, the development of capitalism and patriarchy, sadomasochism, and AIDS.

IN THE BLOOD by Lauren Wright Douglas. (Naiad Press, P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302. 1989. Available in paperback.) The story of two lesbian communities, set in the near future, America.

KINDRED SPIRITS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF GAY & LESBIAN SCIENCE FICTION STORIES edited by Jeffrey M. Elliot. (Alyson, Boston. 1984) Despite a few clunker stories, it's a landmark: the first gay and lesbian science fiction anthology ever published.

WORLDS APART: AN ANTHOLOGY OF LESBIAN & GAY SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY Co-edited by Eric Garber and Lyn Paleo. (Alyson Publications, Inc., 40 Plympton Street, Boston, MA 02118. 1986.)

DAUGHTERS OF A CORAL DAWN by Katherine V. Forrest. (Naiad. 1984.) Thousands of women flee Earth to colonize a women-only world.

SWORDS AND DREAMS by Katherine V. Forrest. (Naiad. 1987.) Collection of short stories on lesbian and gay themes.

THE GODMOTHERS by Sandi Hall. (1982.) Lesbian feminist science fiction.

WINGWOMEN OF HERA by Sandi Hall. (Spinsters/Aunt Lute Book Co., P.O. Box 410687, San Francisco, CA 94141. 1987.)

CRY WOLF by Aileen La Tourette. (Virago Press Ltd., 41 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DB, England. 1986. Available in paperback.)

THE ELEMENTALS by Michael McDowell. (Avon, New York. 1981.) Horror fiction. Significant and positive gay male content.

THE NET by Loren McGregor. (Ace, New York. 1987.) A pair of lesbian lovers go on a crime caper.

WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME by Marge Piercy. (A Fawcett Crest Book, Ballantine Books, New York, NY. 1976. Available in paperback.) A Chicana woman is tuned in to the year 2137, where two different futures are competing!

CHRONICLES OF THE VAMPIRES by Anne Rice (Knopf, New York.)

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice (Knopf, New York. 1975.)

THE VAMPIRE LESTAT by Anne Rice (Knopf. 1985.)

QUEEN OF THE DAMNED by Anne Rice (Knopf. 1988.)
Anne Rice's vampires fairly leap out of their closet doors!

SILVERGLASS by J. F. Rivkin. (Ace, New York. 1986.)

WEB OF WIND by J. F. Rivkin. (Ace, New York. 1987) Conventions of the sword and sorcery novels are turned inside out with Rivkin's woman protagonist. Fast-paced adventure.

EXTRA(ORDINARY) PEOPLE by Joanna Russ. (St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. 1984. Available in paperback.)

THE FEMALE MAN by Joanna Russ. (Beacon Press, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108. 1975, 1986. Available in paperback.) Joanna Russ almost single-handedly introduced the lesbian-feminist movement to science fiction. This book juxtaposes four very different female realities. Science fiction and feminist classic.

THE BOILED FROG SYNDROME by Marty Rubin. (Alyson Publications, Inc., 40 Plympton Street, Boston, MA 02118. 1987.) A future U. S. overrun with religious fascism. Mass censorship and concentration camps for lesbians and gays. One man escapes the roundups and joins the resistance movement to free his incarcerated lover.



NON FICTION

WE ARE EVERYWHERE: WRITINGS BY AND ABOUT LESBIAN PARENTS edited by Harriet Alpert. (Crossing Press, Freedom, CA 95019. 1988. Available in paperback.) Black, white, Hispanic, and Asian women in the U. S. talk about the daily experiences of being lesbian mothers.

YOUNG, GAY AND PROUD edited by Sasha Alyson. (Alyson Publications, Inc. 40 Plympton Street, Boston, MA 02118. 1980, 1985. Available in paperback.) Basic handbook on coming out to parents and friends, gay sexuality and health care, finding support groups, etc.

BRIDGES OF RESPECT: CREATING SUPPORT FOR LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH - A Resource Guide from the American Friends Service Committee. By Katherine Whitlock. Editor: Rachael Kamel. (Printed by American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102. 1988. Available in paperback.) Resource book for youth workers seeking to better serve gay and lesbian youth.

HOMOSEXUALITY: DEBATING THE ISSUES edited by Robert M. Baird & M. Katherine Baird. (Prometheus Books, New York, 1995.)

NICE JEWISH GIRLS--A LESBIAN ANTHOLOGY edited by Evelyn T. Beck. (Crossing Press, 1982.)

COUNSELING LESBIAN AND GAY MALE YOUTH edited by Sage Bergstrom, MSW and Lawrence Cruz, MSW. Available from National Network of Runaway and Youth Services, Inc., 1400 I Street, NW, #330, Washington, DC 20005. (202) 682-4114. $10. & $2. postage and handling.

THE RIGHTS OF GAY PEOPLE by E. Carrington Bogan, Marilyn Haft, Charles Lister, John R. Rupp, Thomas Stoddard. 1983 edition. Available from American Civil Liberties Union National Office, Literature Dept., 132 West 43 Street, New York, NY 10036. (212) 944-9800. $3.95 & $1. postage and handling. Hand-book covers housing, jobs, relationships, etc.

THE NEW OUR BODIES, OURSELVES - A book by and for women by the Boston Women's Health Collective. (A Touchstone Book, Simon & Schuster, Inc., Simon & Schuster Building, Rockefeller Center, 1230 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10020. 1984. Available in paperback.) Complete resource manual on women's health issues., including a lot of information about lesbian health issues and lesbian sexuality.

A GATHERING OF SPIRIT: A COLLECTION OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN WOMEN edited by Beth Brant. (Firebrand Books, 141 The Commons, Ithaca, NY 14850. 1984, 1988. Available in paperback.) An anthology put together by North American Indian, lesbian and feminist Beth Brant.

LOVING SOMEONE GAY by Don Clark. (Signet. NAL Penguin, Inc., 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. 1977, 1978. Available in paperback.) A good basic title to give to anyone who knows a gay or lesbian person.

LESBIAN NUNS: BREAKING THE SILENCE edited by Rosemary Curb and Nancy Manahan. (Warner Books, 1986.) (First printed by Naiad) Former nuns tell their stories of coming out in the convent.

HELPING GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH edited by Teresa DeCrescenzo, MSW. (Harrington Park Press, New York, 1994.) Topics include developmental issues, counseling, social stigmatization, social policy, and the legal issues affecting gay and lesbian adolescents.

THE CASE FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE by William N. Eskridge, Jr. (Free Press, New York, 1996.) This volume makes a compelling case for the civil recognition of same-sex unions.

THE LAVENDER COUCH: A CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR LESBIANS AND GAY MEN by Dr. Marny Hall. (Alyson Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 2783, Boston, MA 02208. 1985. Available in paperback.) First guide for lesbians and gays on how to look for a good, non-homophobic therapist. Addresses such questions as: What can you realistically expect therapy to accomplish? How can you tell if a prospective therapist will be supportive of you
as lesbian/gay? etc.

ALIVE AND WELL: A LESBIAN HEALTH GUIDE by Cuca Hepburn, Ph. D. with Bonnie Gutierrez, RN, CPNA. (The Crossing Press, Freedom, CA 95019. Available in paperback.) A guide to lesbian health, both mental and physical. Includes chapters on nutrition, stress, relationships, coming out, and a good chapter on lesbian teenagers.

ONE TEENAGER IN TEN: WRITINGS BY GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH edited by Ann Heron. (Alyson Publications, Inc., 40 Plympton Street, Boston, MA 02118. 1983. Available in paperback.) Writings by 26 gay and lesbian young people. Represented are different ethnicities, religions, class backgrounds, etc.

BECOMING VISIBLE edited by Kevin Jennins. (Alyson Publications, Inc., 40 Plympton Street, Boston, MA 02118. 1994.) A reader in gay and lesbian history for high school and college students.

MAKING HISTORY: THE STRUGGLE FOR GAY AND LESBIAN EQUAL RIGHTS by Eric Marcus. (Harper Collins Press. 1992.) An oral history of notable people equal right movement (1945-1990).

THIS BRIDGE CALLED MY BACK--WRITINGS BY RADICAL WOMEN OF COLOR edited by Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua. (Kitchen Table/Women of Color Press, 1981.

THE ORIGINAL COMING OUT STORIES. Expanded Edition. edited by Julia Penelope and Susan J. Wolfe. (Crossing Press, Freedom, CA 95019. 1989. Available in paperback.) Forty-six coming out stories, poems and narratives.

POLITICS OF THE HEART: A LESBIAN PARENTING ANTHOLOGY edited by Sandra Pollack and Jeanne Vaughn. (Firebrand Books, 141 The Commons, Ithaca, NY 14850. 1987. Available in paperback.)

DIFFERENT DAUGHTERS: A BOOK BY MOTHERS OF LESBIANS edited by Louise Rafkin. (Cleis Press, P.O. Box 8933, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 and P.O. Box 14684, San Francisco, CA 94114. 1987.) Twenty-five mothers tell their stories.

COMPANERAS: LATINA LESBIANS: An Anthology compiled and edited by Juanita Ramos. (Published by the Latina Lesbian History Project, Latina Women's Educational Resources, P.O. Box 627, Stuyvesant Station, New York, NY 10009. 1987. Available in paperback.) A movin collection of first-person accounts, interviews, and poems by Latina lesbians in the U. S. Includes writings by Argentineans, Brazilians, Chileans, Puerto Ricans, etc. Some pieces are in Spanish.

GROWING UP GAY IN THE SOUTH By James T. Sears. (Harrington Park Press. 1991.) Discusses race, gender, and "journeys of the spirit."

HOME GIRLS -- A BLACK FEMINIST ANTHOLOGY edited by Barbara Smith. (Kitchen Table/Women of Color Press. 1983.)

OUR RIGHT TO LOVE: A LESBIAN RESOURCE BOOK edited by Ginny Vida. (E. P. Dutton, New York, NY. Will appear in Fall, 1990.) Revised edition of 1978 sourcebook. Over 40 essays, personal testimonies, photographs, and resource list.