Friday, August 10, 2012

If You Believe in Mermaids… Don’t Tell by A.A. Philips

If You Believe in Mermaids... Don't Tell
by A.A. Phillips
Dog Ear Publishing, 2007

GENRE: LGBT, Contemporary Realistic Fiction

HONORS: None known

REVIEW: It’s the summer after seventh grade for 13-year-old Todd Winslow and his dad can’t wait to sign him up for sports camp so Todd can spend the summer shooting hoops or playing football. But Todd isn’t like the other boys and sports are the last things he’s interested in, unless you count diving – which his dad most certainly does not. To appease his dad, Todd goes to a nature summer camp and over the summer he and his family learn a lot about love, identity, self expression and acceptance.

OPINION: I wanted to include a book with LGBT themes without being overly graphic or sexual that could be appropriate for and appeal to tweens and this was pretty much the perfect book. The book makes no reference to Todd’s sexual preference, but only his interests (which include mermaids, princesses and fancy dresses) and his deep desire to be loved and accepted by his parents for who he is and not for who they think he should be.

IDEAS: This would be great for a lesson or display on tolerance or acceptance of others.

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