Luna by Julie Anne Peters

Peters, Julie Ann. Luna.
Little, Brown & Company. 2004.
ISBN 9780316011273.
$7.99. Paperback. 256 pages.

Readers Annotation
Luna hides her true identity from everyone except her sister, Regan. Regan loves Luna even though she is her brother.

Plot Summary
Regan and Liam, work hard to hide Liam’s true identity. Liam is struggling with his sexual identity.  He is a transgender who longs to become a woman full time.  Regan struggles while keeping her brothers secret, he wants to come out to his family and friends as his true self.  Going back and forth in time, Regan narrates her viewpoint of her life growing up with Liam.  Regan just wants a normal life but the family is keeping too many secrets. Luna’s attempts to be out in public are difficult and embarrassing for Regan. Luna’s coming out to her father is dramatic, it takes place on her 18th birthday. Dad doesn’t understand, and Mom is outraged that Luna picked that day to come out. Regan doesn’t understand until she thinks about it later. Mom had known all along and kept the secret with Luna and Regan. For Luna to have the freedom to become who she is inside, she must leave her home. She tells Regan that she id doing this for her as well. Regan doesn’t understand the truth in the statement. If Luna stays Regan will forever try to protect her and keep her secret. Luna doesn’t want to live in secret anymore, she wants to fully become a woman. Luna’s departure means freedom for her and her sister, Regan.

Critical Evaluation
Julie Ann Peters ( 1952 -) writes novels that speak to disenfranchised youth. Luna is an important book for many reasons. It assists young people who are transgender and living in difficult circumstances. It brings up the importance of acceptance of all people no matter their differences. It is also difficult to read at times. Peters has created believable characters whose struggle with the truth is faced by many families. There were times while reading the novel that I felt angry with the parents for their lack of involvement in their children’s lives. This kind of realism is what young adult novels are all about. Peters captures the essence of what it is to be transgender and living a secret life with integrity. She also understands sibling dynamics. While Regan loves Liam/Luna she feels deeply ashamed about his status. While it is easy to feel sympathetic about Luna’s plight, Peter’s real hero in the story is Regan who puts up with Luna. When Luna gives Regan her car it is a small payment for putting up with her secrets and demands.

Information about the author
Julie Ann Peters has written a number of books for the GLBT community. She has also won numerous awards for her books. Luna is a National Book Award Finalist, and has been included on the following lists of best books: ALA Stonewall Honor, 2005; ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2005; and ALA popular paperbacks for young adults.   You can find out more about her on her website at http://www.julieannepeters.com/files/index.htm.
Her newest book By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead, is already generating buzz although it will not be released until January 2010.

Genre
Narrative fiction, contemporary GLBT issues.

Curriculum ties
English and social studies, contemporary issues.

Challenge Issues
Transgender, GLBT

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Luna-Julie-Anne-Peters/dp/0316011274/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Talk about what it means to be transgender.
2. Talk about Regan keeping Luna’s secret.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult, ages 15 and up.

Why I included this title
Class requirement, and the book is on many best books lists.

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

Block, Francesca Lia. Weetzie Bat.
Harper & Row. 1989.
ISBN 0060205342
$12.89. Hardcover. 88 pages.

Readers Annotation
Weetzie and her best friend Dirk live happily together in Shangri-L.A. Together they build a happy home with their lovers and Weetzie’s children.

Plot Summary
In this modern fairy tale, Weetzie Bat, a girl on the fringe of society, meets Dirk, a young gay man. The two become best friends. Together they build a near utopian home for themselves. Both Weetzie and Dirk wants to find love. Dirk finds his soul mate in Duck, while Weetzie discovers “My Secret Agent Lover Man.” The foursome lives happily together until Weetzie decides she wants to have a child. My Secret Agent Lover Man balks at the prospect of becoming a father, but Weetzie persists. Dirk and Duck offer to become surrogate fathers, and later when My Secret Agent Lover Man returns after the birth of their daughter, the four friends/lovers settle down to raise their child. My Secret Agent Lover Man, an independent filmmaker, is blessed with a second child. Tender-hearted Weetzie decides she wants to raise this child with her daughter, Cherokee. The addition of “Witch Baby” livens up the household even more. When Charlie Bat (Weetzie’s father) dies, it is the first great grief felt by the friends. The toll of deaths (the unspoken AIDS crisis) takes its measure with Duck, who leaves his long-time lover. Dirk searches for Duck. He finds him in San Francisco. In the end, the friends are seated around a dinner table together, and Weetzie understands that love is a choice, and she and her family can exist happily together.

Critical Evaluation 
This first novel by Block has moments when it reaches the sublime.  Grandma Fifi giving the Genie to Weetzie.  Weetzie's three wishes coming true, and the intense happiness felt by the foursome living together in Grandma Fifi's Hollywood home.  There is a level of magical realism that suits the storyline.  Yet I found myself confused at times.  There is no clear timeline. The story begins when Weetzie and Dirk meet in highschool. Soon they are going to concerts and bars, hanging out at Grandma Fifi’s house. After Grandma Fifi dies and leaves the house to Dirk and Weetzie, I was no longer clear on the ages of the protagonists. Were they still teens or young adults? Wikipedia states that Weetzie is about 23 years old at the end of the first novel, but I don’t agree with that assessment. She could be any age. Although not openly stated it is obvious that Block is talking about the AIDS crisis when she discusses the friends that have died in the gay community. I wish she had been more open, speaking more clearly about the disease. I deeply appreciate the honesty and hopefulness portrayed in this novel.

This is a very short easy-to-read novel.  It is also part of a series of books called Dangerous Angels.  The series includes Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan, and Baby Be-Bop.

Information about the author
Born on December 3, 1962, Francesca Lia Block is a native of Los Angeles. Weetzie Bat was written while she was attending UC Berkeley. She is a prolific writer who has completed more than 25 novels. In 2005 she received the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Library Association. You can find out more about her at http://www.francescaliablock.com/.

Genre
Fiction, Contemporary Issues

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
This book is loaded with controversial issues. Librarians should be prepared for challenges. Issues will include: sexuality, homosexuality, and abortion.

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Weetzie-Bat-Francesca-Lia-Block/dp/0060736259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258216146&sr=8-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss how Weetzie doesn’t like high school very much because no one understands.
2. Talk about how she meets Dirk and they become best friends.
3. Mention that Dirk is a young gay man.
4. Talk about the images of magical realism in the story (Genie, and Lanka Witch).

Reading Level/Age
Young Adult. Ages 16 and up.

Why I included this title
This book was suggested by SJSU Assistant Professor Joni Bodart as a "must read."