grl2grl: Short fictions [Paperback]

Julie Anne Peters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

In this honest, emotionally captivating short story collection, renowned author and National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters offers a stunning portrayal of young women as they navigate the hurdles of relationships and sexual identity. From the young lesbian taking her first steps toward coming out to the two strangers who lock eyes across a crowded train, from the transgender teen longing for a sense of self to the girl whose abusive father has turned her to stone, Peters is the master of creating characters whose own vulnerability resonates with readers and stays with them long after the last page is turned. Grl2grl shows the rawness of teenage emotion as young girls become women and begin to discover the intricacies of love, dating and sexuality.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The author of the novels Keeping You a Secret (2003) and Luna (2004) shows she's an even better short story writer. Continuing with her themes of coming out and the experiences of young lesbians, the 10 stories here present different but equally polished facets of varied experience and emotion. Characters include a transgendered youth who identifies as a "boi," a teenage girl with a crush on her young teacher, campers who share a passion for one another as well as for music, and a brazen young woman who questions the ambiguities of terms such as virginity and abstinence when applied to herself. Accessible and credible, the stories belong in teen collections not only because of their sympathetic yet clear-eyed depictions of minority sexual orientation but also for their exemplary crafting. Goldsmith, Francisca

About the Author

Julie Anne Peters is the critically acclaimed author of Define "Normal," Keeping You a Secret, Far from Xanadu, Between Mom and Jo, and Luna, a National Book Award Finalist. She lives with her partner, Sherri Leggett, in Lakewood, CO.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316013439
• ISBN-13: 978-0316013437
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For the last 20+ years, I've been writing books for young readers. My YA novel, Luna, the story of a transgender teen beginning her transition from male to female, was a National Book Award finalist and an American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. (Thank you award committee members.) My other books about gender queer youth include Keeping You a Secret, Far from Xanadu (which is now Pretend You Love Me), Between Mom and Jo, grl2grl: short fictions, Rage: A Love Story, and She Loves You, She Loves You Not... My newest title, published in 2010, is By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead. I have a new book scheduled for 2012 titled, It's Our Prom (So Deal With It).

I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Pen America, the Authors Guild, and the Colorado Authors' League. I live with my long-suffering partner, Sherri Leggett, in Lakewood, Colorado. (We're celebrating our 38th anniversary this year. Seriously, I don't know how she stands living with a neurotic writer.)

More information about me and my books can be found on my Web site: www.JulieAnnePeters.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it., September 9, 2007

By 

A. Coate "Andy" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: grl2grl: Short fictions (Paperback)

In grl2grl YA author Julie Anne Peters breaks out of the novel genre for something, well, novel. If you're a fan of Peters' other works, this collection of short fictions, and I'm putting faith in the author in believing that's an actual genre, will speak to you no matter what, because it's representative of all the girls out there who are or may be gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer, questioning, or differently oriented. No matter what you've gone through, abuse, breakups, volatile relationships, the confusion of cyberspace, clicking with somebody, or hiding who you really are, there's something in grl2grl for you.

From Passengers, where two girls have seen each other every day for years but never speak finally recognize their mutual affection, and Outside/Inside when you realize that you were not, in fact, the only one to like somebody out of the norm, on down to Boi with a painful to read scene of violence that occurs only because of the homophobia in our society and Stone Cold Bitch, where abuse literally absorbs the protagonists life, Peters' isn't afraid to tackle tricky subjects.

Like her previous novel Between Mom and Jo, grl2grl may not make you smile the whole time; it is acknowledged that growing up a teen that isn't straight isn't all rainbows and pride parades. There are the same volatile relationships, confusing signals, and rumors that go around, just like anywhere else. And that, in and of itself, is a good message: straight, gay, or the ever prevalent and popular "other," the same pain, confusion, and periods of total bliss are there. It's a human thing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great LGBT fiction, July 30, 2009

By 

Brittany Moore "Reading Nook" (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: grl2grl: Short fictions (Paperback)

A collection of ten short fiction by one of the best GLBT writers. Tales of love and lust, romance and heartbreak grace each of the pages. You'll hear about coming out and all the challenges that are faced by girls everyday. Read about a girl who sees herself as a "boi", a father her turns her daughter to stone through abuse and a chat room that helps girls get over their heartache.

I enjoyed these quick stories and breezed through the book. Julie Anne Peters is a truly great writer who captures the angst of being out and the sorrow of being stuck in. The only one of these little fictions I didn't like was TIAD about a girl who seeks out help from a chat room and ends up falling for one of the other members. It just seemed confusing in the end. I understood what happened, but I didn't enjoy how it was presented.There's not much else to say about this except, if you love GLBT fiction make sure you pick this up.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awesomely good book, November 20, 2007

By 

Reader Views "Reviews, by readers, for readers" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: grl2grl: Short fictions (Paperback)

Reviewed by Casey Holt (age 13) for Reader View (11/07)

"grl2grl" is about girls and their sexualities; some of them are confused, others are curious, and there are a couple of heartbroken ones. I think this is a great book for all girls, but I think it would be really good for a girl who was struggling with some of the same troubles that the girls in this book are.

My favorite story was "After Alex." This story really made me feel like I was actually there, experiencing this girl's pain. She's just been dumped by her girlfriend, Alex. She has separated her life into three categories, before Alex, during Alex, and after Alex. This is the story of her life after Alex.

"Boi" is a story about a transgender girl who has changed her name to Vince. She has wanted a "P" since she was four-years old, but she's not old enough to go to the store to buy it, so she earns all the money, and then begs her brother to get it for her. He finally does, and it's her prized possession, she feels incomplete and naked without it. This story really touched me deeply, because I can't even imagine what a transgender person goes through. It seems so horrible to have been born into the wrong sex.

The story "TIAD" was really difficult for me to understand, but I still think it was pretty good. A girl is heartbroken and planning to commit suicide, but through an online chat room she meets another girl and falls in love.

"Stone Cold Butch" was also difficult for me to understand. It was about a girl who was sexually abused by her father every day, and so she just becomes cold as stone, not even realizing that someone could, would, love her. But she couldn't see it. I didn't like this story as well as the others.

The only thing I didn't like about "grl2grl" was that I felt like the stories were kind of incomplete, too short. I felt like some of them were not finished. All in all, I'd say this is an awesomely good book!!! Every girl over thirteen should read it!

Book received free of charge.