Reflecting on LBGTQ Literature as a Topic/ My Text Set

After reading 2 novels, Hard Love and The Misfits, and one picture book, And Tango Makes Three, I believe I have a good start to a text-set representing LBGTQ literature in a positive and diverse manner. I have found a good book for early childhood learners, about a family with two dads who fall in love and have a child, Tango, and have a happy family just like all the other penguins at the zoo, and are different, and yet have a family of love which makes them exactly the same.  Hard Love is a drama about adolescent angst, and finding love, and coping with figuring out who you are and what your sexuality is, and the troubles one may face in trying to come out and be respected.  I think it is a true portrayal of LBGTQ and is a good book that adolescents will be able to relate to if they find themselves going through the same issues as in the book.  I also think it is a great book for students who don't identify as LBGTQ because it is a good read and can help the student reading it gain insight into how hard it is to be going through something that is not accepted everywhere, as it should be accepted.  It helps the students to diversify their personal libraries and gives them a good book that all teens can relate too- the angst of finding out who you are and coping with those implications.  The Misfits  is also quite relatable for all students because at one point or another, all kids are teased or called a name, and this story can help students, whether LBGTQ or not, relate and see that there is a bigger picture to middle school - growing up and finding out who you are.  

These three books together cover different aspects of the LBGTQ community, from growing up in a family that identifies itself as LBGTQ or finding out if you identify as LBGTQ or if you have friends who identify themselves as LBGTQ, you learn how to cope, you learn how alike people are, and how to cherish the differences and celebrate them. I think my text set is a well-rounded and culturally diverse set that I will be using in the future in my classroom.  It is clear that one can learn diversity, acceptance, family values, and that anyone can relate to literature, when written in a well-thought out way.

 I would recommend these three books for any reader - as long as it is age appropriate for their reading level. I have enjoyed building my text set and look forward to putting it to use in my future as an educator.

Thank you.