Everyone can remember the first time his or her best friend chose a girlfriend or boyfriend over him or her. It sucks. All of sudden, it’s like you don’t even exist. The only thing your best friend wants to talk about is how cute he is or what a great kisser she is. Emi-Lou is starting to feel that way, too, except that her best friend Yvonne hasn’t got a new guy, but has instead fallen in love with a girl on her softball team, the ironically nick-named Babes. Now, people in her school are starting to question and make fun of Emi-Lou’s sexuality as well. Add that to the already emotional backpack of having an absentee mom, an unknown dad and a massive weight problem, and Emi-Lou is not a happy camper. But through a series of painful experiences, she sheds most of that baggage and learns to think for and love herself. What’s so great about this book is watching Emi-Lou realize that it doesn’t matter if Yvonne is a lesbian or not, she (Emi-Lou) can be straight and still love Yvonne just as much. For all of you out there who are still a little bit uncomfortable with your friend’s sexuality, this one’s for you.
This book is a very interesting book. It gives you a lot of insight of young people’s minds and it is just fun to read.
i have two best friends. one of them has come out of the closet and said that they are gay. my other friend is really homophobic and it is tearing our friendship apart. i just want her to see that gay people aren’t anything different and aren’t anything to be ashamed of. can you recommend a book that may help her see this? please i just want us to stay friends.
Hi Gabrielle,
well, have you tried suggesting this book to your friends? Also, any of the books on the Closet Club list might be helpful for you. Please take a look and hopefully one of them will speak to you. good luck, I know this is a tough situation to be in!
This book reminds me so much of The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson.
Thanks for the list!
Charlie, so glad you like this one! It’s an oldie but a goodie–I still booktalk it quite a bit to my students.
I found it very useful to read.