wHATEVER HAPPENED TO lANI gARVER

[Suzanne Metz <smetz@MONTVILLE.NET>]

I absolutely loved the book myself and bought it for my middle schoolers, but it's 
tricky. I only recommend it to sophisticated 8th graders, but some have returned it 
without getting very far.  Others have enjoyed it and "gotten" the message. Many 
are confused and uncomfortable with the topic of homosexuality, and I'm sure 
religious people would probably be way against it, but it sends such a message in 
the person of this gentle human being that it should be required reading.  I have 
come to think that behind every gay and lesbian adult is a  teen that went through 
periods of isolation, confusion, ridicule, and possibly abuse.  If students read, 
understood, and discussed  the characters in this book, the might find themselves 
more accepting and understanding of "the other" which they are taught to isolate an 
hate.

Suzanne Metz, Librarian
Robert R. Lazar Middle School
123 Changebridge Road
Montville, New Jersey
07045
smetz@montville.net

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