Love Rules (Hamilton High series) [Paperback]

Marilyn Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hamilton High series | Publication Date: July 1, 2001

This young adult novel accurately portrays the widespread effects of a young lesbian’s decision to come out of the closet and live openly and honestly while still in high school. The story line revolves around Kit Dandridge—a young lesbian struggling to be herself in a repressive environment—her best friend Lynn, and their families and friends. Included are plot elements seen in recent headlines that include the often tragic consequences of high school intolerance and bullying as well as the development of support group networks for gay and lesbian students and their heterosexual allies.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-When her best friend returns to Hamilton High after a summer in San Francisco, Lynn can't wait to catch up on all the news. When Kit reveals that she is coming out as a lesbian, Lynn struggles to be supportive, despite her surprise. Kit's desire to be honest with herself and her friends while also finding a new community leads her to explore a local school's Gay-Straight Alliance and motivates her to start a similar group at Hamilton High where jocks rule and anti-gay sentiment is apparent. Kit announces her sexual identity through shaving her head, piercing her ears multiple times, wearing multiple rainbow accessories, and getting her first girlfriend. At the same time, Lynn is experiencing her first intense romantic relationship; she is dating an African-American star football player who is struggling between doing the right thing and not making waves with his teammates. Harassment of gay students escalates from small pranks, which are virtually ignored by the administration, to a vicious assault in which Kit and another student are attacked, forcing the school to take action on threat of a lawsuit. Reynolds has created a sensitive exploration of these teens' sexual identity and their desire to find a place in the world. Her story of friendship and romance is realistic, tender, and engrossing. Some popular-culture references will date this book and the bullies' characters are not fully developed, but, for the most part, this is a worthy addition to YA literature in which straight, gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals are represented.
Katie O'Dell, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-12. The latest in the True-to-Life series from Hamilton High focuses on a young lesbian's decision to come out to her family and friends. Reynolds' realistic dialogue and respectful portrayal of young people work well in this story, told by high-school senior Lynn, best friend and "spirit sister" of Kit. Though Lynn feels awkward at first with Kit's revelation, she quickly rallies to support her friend, attending GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) meetings at school. Lynn, who is Caucasian, is herself encountering prejudice from others because of her blossoming romance with an African American football star. There's a lot of strong language here, mostly describing the verbal and physical harassment Kit experiences, but none of it is gratuitous. As always, Reynolds breathes life into important social issues with likable, believable characters who elevate this beyond a "problem" novel. Debbie Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Morning Glory Press (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885356765
• ISBN-13: 978-1885356765
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Health, Mind & Body > Sexuality

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Rules, July 4, 2002

By 

Patricia A. Ohanian (San Jose, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Rules (Hamilton High series) (Paperback)

"I didn't turn into a lesbian any more than you turned straight. You are straight. I am lesbian. That's just how it is." This is how Kit explains things to her best friend, Lynn in Marilyn Reynolds, Love Rules. Love Rules is the eighth novel in Reynold's True-to-Life Series from Hamilton High. At first glance, this book may seem like a simple book on friendship and coming out as a lesbian in high school. It is all that and much, much more. It is a story of friendship, love and romance, values, prejudices of all kinds and standing up for what you believed in. Reynold's does all this while creating a gripping novel and without being the least bit preachy or boring. Love Rules is definitely true-to-life and definitely, a good read. I highly recommend it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly well written, August 4, 2011

By 

stevieLUVSAlex (S.A, Australia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Love Rules (True-To-Life Series from Hamilton High) (Hardcover)

Again, Marilyn Reynolds inspires and encourages her readers to think outside the box and beyond themselves. This book was heartbreaking and wonderfully brilliant. It had all of the needed topics for adolescencents when it comes to the touchy subject of gay rights! This story is taken from Lynn's point of view, though it's mainly about her best friend Kit and how she finally expresses her true self by admitting she is a lesbian. At first Lynn's attitude is shaky, but as she learns to accept her friend and spirit-sister, as she is, she also learns to support her. This book touches not only on homophobia, but also on racism, which is used in the subject of Lynn's boyfriend. Lynn learns that there is more to life than simply "laying low" as the drama of gay bashing and racism fill her last year of high school, only adding unneeded drama to her already teenage-drama filled life. This book is REAL and brilliant.

I recommend it to any Marilyn Reynolds fan - she wont disappoint you. And to anyone who is confused about who or what they are. And to those others who enjoy a thought-provoking story. It's something I could not put down.