Customer Reviews

The Shared Heart: Portraits And Stories Celebrating Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Young People

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When I read this book, I cried. I cried because not only was I gay and still closeted, but I had lied to so many people I loved, and these people had the ocurage to come out. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! It was so lovely, and so elegantly mastered. I can't wait until Adam Mastoon does a sequel (HINT! HINT! HINT!) There are no words to describe how I felt when I realized that there are so many people out there that are like me. God bless you. God bless you all.

This is a beautiful book that I received as a gift from my boyfriend. Anyone will profit from reading it. The stories in it, written by a number of lesbian,gay,and bisexual youth, are honest and very moving. It says to all the people who are still in the closet: wherever you are, you're not alone! And it also shows how gay people are just as diverse, talented, and lovable as straight people anywhere.

A beautiful and moving book. Had there been a book like this available when I was coming out, I would have felt less terrified and alone. Congratulations to the brave youth represented in this book, and thank you to Adam Mastoon for providing such a valuable resource.

Sometimes a book so special and intimate comes along that it draws the reader off the printed page and into a new possibility for life. Such is the case with "The Shared Heart," a collection of images and essays photographed and compiled by Adam Mastoon, a Massachusetts-based photographer, whose work has been exhibited nationally, and featured in Esquire, Forbes, Spin, and the Village Voice.

The 87-page book offers a series of poignant glimpses at more than 30 young people, all of whom are lesbian, gay or bisexual.

"Meeting and photographing the young people in this book has been a profound experience for me," says Mastoon. "Their fearless commitment to be themselves deeply inspires me."

Each young person's individuality is perfectly captured through the lens of Mastoon, and below each image is a short handwritten essay by the subject, as well as a longer, typewritten one. The attention to detail is evident-everything about this book says "crafted with care," including the young people themselves.

They come from every background. Some are class presidents, others are artists. Some have endured family rejection because of religious beliefs or cultural issues. All of them speak with candor and courage. Their collective testimony amounts to a powerful account of the virtues of bravery and honesty.

I found this book in the local libary and I automatically sat down and read it from cover to cover. This is the book that every young lonely GLBT youth needs. It shows that we are not alone and that there are other teens out there just like us. It is a fabulos book and it is the best thinh that has happened to me!

These beautiful and complex photographs depict humor, integrity, joy, pain, and courage. The photographer's technical expertise is matched and perhaps even surpassed by his eye for the "soul" of his subjects. The photos are complemented by first-person stories that reveal the journeys and challenges these young people have faced and overcome. It sounds corny, but this book made me proud of both the photographer and his subjects. This book does what great art and literature are supposed to do. It is uplifting and inspiring, and it lights the path toward a brighter future.

As a young gay male still in fear of coming out to my parents and all but my closest friends, this book is incredibly reassuring. Written with a perspective a young adult can relate to, this may be the best reading for anyone of any orientation if not to build self-confidence then to open one's mind. Gay is not some stereotype, it is the person standing next to you, your best friend, maybe even a sibling. If nothing more, the author has provided a glimpse into the psyche of the gay youth and presented an emotional work of art through young men and womens' word and utterly beautiful and soulful photography. A very strong recommendation for this book to be read by not only young men and women, but also to parents who may be experiencing the coming out of their child.

This was the first book I found when I started accepting my sexuality, and I have to say I was so moved by what I read here that I found the courage to come out myself. What makes this book so much more different from other accounts of GLBTQ youth is that this book also comes with a photo of each teen, so we have faces to match the stories with. And it's not all "boo-hoo, we're unaccepted gays", though we do have a few stories like that. But we also have tons of stories that cover all possible societal reactions, and each story provides a ray of hope for any GLBTQ person. A classic that must be on the shelf of every GLBTQ person's library.

It is wonderful to hear the stories of courageous youth who are able to know themselves so early in life. They should be proud of their sexual orientation and proud of their strength at a time in their lives when other young people around them may be too immature to understand.

I have recomended this book to everyone I know, gay, straight, bi, questioning... everyone should read it. The combination of both the pictures, and the typed and handwritten text strikes the reader, and shows a side of growing up homosexual that a lot of books don't often show, that you can still be completely normal, you don't have to act or dress funny, you don't have to hate yourself for it, you can be happy about it, and still lead a normal life. This book inspired me to come out (the day after i read it) to my best friend, and a little while later, to seek guidence from an adult, lesbian, friend who i trusted. Everyone should be able to have inspiration like that.