Customer Reviews

How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR DAD WAS GAY? by Heron and Maran tells the story of Jasmine and Michael, whose fathers are gay, and Noah, who lives with his lesbian mother. While the third grade class is making Father's Day cards, Jasmine reveals that her dads are gay. This seems to be the first time the class is made aware of this information. Word of Jasmine's family gets to Michael's fifth grade class where he hears about the incident. Michael, who wants this information kept secret, is taunted by his fifth grade classmates about his fathers until Noah announces that if his dads are gay that's "his private business." The two boys are teased about possibly being gay themselves and they walk away from the situation, clearly upset and embarrassed. Over dinner the children talk to their fathers about the incident in school. Jasmine feels that she should be able to tell people if she wants, but Michael feels very strongly that his family structure should be kept secret. The fathers speak to the children about respecting each others' decisions and decide to speak to the principal of the school. (It is interesting that this story highlights the way in which peoples lives are so intertwined that an individual acting on her behalf can affect the lives other others in intense ways.) Also during dinner, Noah describes the situation to his mother. While Noah had come to Michael's defense in the school yard, he tells his mother that he felt he had to "since we're gay too." His mother explains that, just because she is gay, Noah may or may not be gay himself. Noah's mother also decides to speak to the principal. As a result, a school assembly is planned to talk about family diversity where gay and lesbian families are included. This book addresses various issues which are prevalent in all families, including individual versus family privacy, teasing, sticking up for someone, feeling alone, and school/family support. It is important to note that there is little mention of the children's mother. Instead the focus on the two children living with their fathers, helps to validate the experiences of many children in gay-headed households who have no or little contact with their biological mother. Also, for older children, the difficulty and pain of being teased because of their parents' sexual orientation is an important contribution is addressed head-on by this book. It should be noted that the focus of this particular book is on the difficulties and problems of being in gay families and how these problems get solved. Both of the families discussed in the story are people of color. The families live in average homes and the story takes place in home and school settings. There is no added detail which can take away from the experiences of an "average family." This story is most appropriate for children age nine and older. Some of the issues addressed are of little concern to young children.

A good book for helping kids deal with problems if other kids tease them about having gay parents. Sincerely, John Ryan Davis, age 11.

Great book - from the point of view of a young daughter bragging to classmates that she has three fathers - the reactions follow. Bonus - book has multicultural characters.

This is a great book. Do not hesitate to buy it. See also Melanin Sun!

Welcome to happy fairy land where every problem can be solved by a friendly talk. Then close the book and walk back out to the real world, where anyone who is different is depised and most people just won't listen to each other. It would help more to eat this book than to read it - at least it would add fiber to your diet.

Well, well well. I thought this book would be a good idea to enligten my beautiful son Seth to my new found alternative lifestyle. I came out just three months ago, after three failed marraiges and one undelivered mail order bride. I gave lil' Seth this book to try to help him understand why Dwight and Daddy are always going to the golf course in shorts. Let me just tell you, Seth won't even look at me now. He's unresponsive to my fatherly affections and is almost catatonic when I pick him up for my weekend visits. It's like parenting a turnip. So all I have to say, is wait until your child sees enough Jerry Springer shows to understand that Daddy's gay. In conclusion, I feel that this book has ruined my relationship with my son - my pride and joy - for the remainder of my natural life. I think I'm going to have to buy a kitten. In retrospect I feel I would have had a better chance of showing my son the benifits of my lifestyle without the aid of your phony book! Love one another, and try to be open minded. -James.