Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian: A Literary Anthology (Paperback)

by Bennett L. Singer (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This excellent anthology includes over 50 essays, poems, and coming-of-age stories by teenagers and established writers?from James Baldwin to Rita Mae Brown? some excerpted from classic full-length works.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
A diverse collection. . . [of] essential staples for the queer reader interested in tracing her literary predecessors and contemporaries. -- Deneuve

A remarkable resource filled with poignant, eye-opening, and very funny pieces that will inspire and affirm without ever preaching or becoming heavy-handed. -- Dr. Virginia Uribe, Founder, Project 10

An excellent introduction to gay and lesbian literature. -- Lambda Book Report

Filled with poignancy and a glimpse of hope for our future. -- Next, New York

Growing up gay is, in some ways, harder than it has ever been. . . This anthology extends words of hope to youth who need to know that they are not alone. -- Just Out, Portland, Oregon

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 317 pages
• Publisher: New Press (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565841034
• ISBN-13: 978-1565841031
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #752,420 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost, but not quite...., June 20, 2000

By	Ryan Donovan (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This was good, but not really what I expected to get. The selections are all well chosen, but after reading each of the excerpts I wanted to read more. Maybe that's the purpose. However, I felt like this anthology is just the tip of the iceberg concerning gay/lesbian literature about growing up. Overall--a good summary, but if you're looking for something more in-depth, try reading something else.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Reading, March 27, 2003

By	Bill (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

I first bought this book about a week after I had come out to my closest friends. I found this book to be a lifeline. I finally felt like I wasn't alone, I wasn't the only one. The book, however, left me with one complaint, that it ended! The stories touch you in a way that is so deeply personal. I found myself identifying with the characters. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone, gay, straight, questioning, whatever. It is worth reading!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent--I highly recommend it for gay & straight alike, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

The book contains 4 sections and an appendix filled with helpful references.

All bases are covered in this book, with essays, short stories, journal excerpts, letters and poetry. The entries date from the time of Radclyffe Hall's Well of Loneliness and Quentin Crisp's The Naked Civil Servant, up to the 1990's when a brave young man took a male date to his high school senior prom.

Areas covered include self-discovery, friendships and relationships, dealing with one's family, and facing the world.

The entries are well-written and from the heart. I was touched by all of them.

I also feel this book definitely shines the positive light of progress on the lesbian, bi-sexual & gay movement.