grl2grl: Short fictions

by Julie Anne Peters

Overview

An enthralling short story collection that delves into the lives and loves of queer teenage girls, by National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316086745
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/31/2009
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	605 KB
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

About the Author

Julie Anne Peters is the critically acclaimed author of Define "Normal," Keeping You a Secret, Pretend You Love Me, Between Mom and Jo, She Loves You, She Loves You Not..., It's Our Prom (So Deal With It), and Luna, a National Book Award finalist.

Editorial Reviews

Peters's (Luna) short stories focus mostly on young lesbians but also take in teens struggling with other gender and sexuality issues. Their conflicts range from commonplace (Mariah tries to summon the nerve to attend a Gay/Straight Alliance meeting; Kat wonders if the cellist she likes at music camp returns her feelings) to extreme (Cammie, sexually abused by her father almost nightly, worries that she will never feel pleasure; transgendered Vince, née Eva, is assaulted by a group of guys after work). Regardless of the intensity of the characters' struggles, girls of any sexual orientation will feel quickly drawn into the lives glimpsed here, thanks to the authenticity of Peters's voices. However, many of the stories feel like the beginnings of intriguing novels rather than standalone works, and endings can seem arbitrary. On the other hand, teens searching for a fast read, especially in an underserved subject, will be gratified to find this collection, and the author's ability to bring such a diverse cast to life is impressive. Ages 15-up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

Gr 9 Up
This collection consists of 10 short stories, all written in first person, about being a girl-in love with another girl, hurt by another girl, abused by a parent, born into the wrong body. The selections read like personal journal entries about the characters' secret thoughts and feelings. Aimee questions her sex ed teacher about abstinence, asking if it applies to her, and the teacher replies, "I guess that's between you and your god." Another teen describes herself as a "stone cold butch"; after a lifetime of sexual abuse from her father, she doesn't know how to feel. Peters's stories deal with mature subject matter but are quick and easy to read. The author does not shy away from difficult or controversial topics, and these selections may appeal to someone exploring GLBTQ literature for the first time.
—Corinda J. HumphreyCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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