The Full Spectrum A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities

by Levithan, David; Merrell, Billy

• ISBN13: 9780375832901
• ISBN10: 0375832904
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-09
• Publisher: Ember

Summary

Teens are more aware of sexuality and identity than ever, and they're looking for answers and insights, as well as a community of others. In order to help create that community, YA authors David Levithan and Billy Merrell have collected original poems, essays, and stories by young adults in their teens and early 20s.The Full Spectrumincludes a variety of writersgay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, transitioning, and questioningon a variety of subjects: coming out, family, friendship, religion/faith, first kisses, break-ups, and many others. This one of a kind collection will, perhaps, help all readers see themselves and the world around them in ways they might never have imagined. We have partnered with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and a portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to them.

Author Biography

When not writing during spare hours on weekends, David Levithan is editorial director at Scholastic and the founding editor of the PUSH imprint, which is devoted to finding new voices and new authors in teen literature. His acclaimed novels Boy Meets Boy and The Realm of Possibility started as stories he wrote for his friends for Valentine's Day (something he's done for the past 22 years and counting) that turned themselves into teen novels. He's often asked if the book is a work of fantasy or a work of reality, and the answer is right down the middle—it's about where we're going, and where we should be.

Billy Merrell was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He is a writer of both poetry and prose, coauthoring the New York Times bestselling Spirit Animal series and appearing in several anthologies of poetry. His other works include Talking in the Dark, Vanilla, the Infinity Ring Secrets series, and The Full Spectrum, which was coedited with David Levithan and recipient of the Lambda Literary Award. Merrell currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his husband, Nico Medina.

Table of Contents

O.K.	p. 1
A Gay Grammar	p. 9
It's Not Confidential, I've Got Potential	p. 12
Snow and Hot Asphalt	p. 21
When You're a Gay Boy in America	p. 31
I Smell the Gas of My Father's Fishing Boat	p. 37
Fourth of July	p. 39
My Diary: Documented. Done	p. 41
Crying Wolfe	p. 55
Trans-ventures of an F2M	p. 70
Queer: Five Letters	p. 78
Falling Off My Bike and Riding into the Sunset	p. 87
The Night Marc Hall Went to the Prom	p. 97
Don't Tell Me That I'm Overly Sensitive and Paranoid	p. 101
My poems	p. 105
Sacagawea	p. 107
A Fairy's Tale	p. 108
A Boy in the Girls' Bathroom	p. 121
Our Space	p. 125
Four Photos	p. 129
Break-up in Slow Motion	p. 138
A Story Called "Her"	p. 146
Moment: This Could've Been Me	p. 156
A Quietly Queer Revolution	p. 159
Hatchback	p. 170
Walking the Tracks	p. 185
The Most Important Letter of Our Life	p. 189
Without a Trace	p. 195
Body isn't this	p. 209
Nice Ass	p. 214
"Girl + Faggots"	p. 215
Something for the Ladies	p. 218
Click and Drag	p. 224
Jill Sobule and Four Other Torture Devices	p. 227
Gaydar	p. 234
The Short Version	p. 245
All You Need Is Love	p. 254
That Night	p. 256
Continuation of the Life	p. 260
Three Sunsets	p. 263
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