17. GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer & Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel

Huegel, Kelly. (2003). GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer & Questioning Teens. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing. ISBN 1575421267.

Summary
This book is a guide for teens who are questioning their sexuality and teens who are out of the closet need resources and guidance about LGBT issues. Topics include how to survive school, homophobia, coming out, having sex for the first time, and dealing with labels.

Chapters include:
1) GLBTQ 101
2) Homophobia
3) Coming Out
4) Life at School
5) GLBTQ Friends
6) Dating and Relationships
7) Sex and Sexuality
8) Staying Healthy
9) Religion and Culture
10) Transgender Teens
11) Work, College, and Beyond

Critical Evaluation
Huegel gives advice and writes in a way that is accessible to teens: hip, cool, and non-technical. Teens sometimes need quick and easy answers to some of their most complicated questions. How do you come out to your parents? It's not easy but Huegel puts in simple terms: Be prepared by doing research. Be Patient. Pick a good time. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Sound advice and easy to hear, but can be hard to follow. But life is hard for many teens questioning their sexuality. This book is an important addition to any collection because it will help questioning teens navigate the difficult rode ahead.

Reader's Annotation
Teens questioning their sexuality can find resources, advice, and support.

About the Author
Kelly Huegel is a writer and creative consultant. She has worked for the Metropolitan Washington D.C. chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). She received critical acclaim for her first book, Young People and Chronic Illness: True Stories, Help, and Hope.

Huegel lives in the D.C. area with her partner, Amy.

Genre
Nonfiction, Sexual Identity

Curriculum Ties
Health education

Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss how the topics in the book relate to your questions about sexuality.

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+

Challenge Issues
LGBT issues, topics about sex

Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with issues that LGBT teens face.
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/GLBTQ-Survival-Guide-Queer-Questioning/dp/1575421267/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292476812&sr=1-1

Why Included in Titles Selected
I feel it's important to have a wide selection of materials for LGBT youth.