Edited by Michael Cart
Published by HarperTeen, 2009
369 pages
369 pages
How Beautiful the Ordinary is a collection of short stories that tackles issues faced by GLBT youth, in the tradition of the now-classic 1995 anthology Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence. In fact, several of the same authors contribute stories here, including Francesca Lia Block, Gregory Maguire, and Jacqueline Woodson.
The Good
- I am particularly pleased that the subtitle includes “identity,” which seems so much more flexible and open-ended than the traditional “GLBT.”
- David Levithan’s story “A Word From the Nearly Distant Past,” a message from the older generation to the new, is beautiful and, I think, makes How Beautiful the Ordinary necessary for adult collections as well. The title of the collection is derived from it, as is the quote on the back of the book:
Freedom isn’t just about voting and marrying and kissing on the street, although all of these things are important. Freedom is also about what you will allow yourself to do.
- ”My Virtual World” by Francesca Lia Block, written as a series of e-mails between a girl and a young trans man. So many real issues are raised in this short story, but it doesn’t come across as heavy handed. I found it touching and pleasantly surprising.
- “Dear Lang” by Emma Donoghue, a letter from a non-birth mom to her lost daughter from a previous relationship.
The So-So
- “Trev” by Jacqueline Woodson: Some people will love this story. It’s an important topic and a well written, good story, but it’s also the ubiquitous trans narrative.
The…Not So Good
- “Dyke March” by Ariel Schrag: Written in graphic form. I found a couple of the panels offensive.
In summary… a good, modern collection of stories. Check this one out, if only for the David Levithan story.
Grade (Overall): B
I just managed to get a copy of this from Paperback Swap. Very happy about that.
Hurrah! I thought you might be interested, since your fave Julie Ann Peters has a story included.
This one is on my wishlist. Love David Levithan!
i've wanted to read this for awhile now. It sounds great.-Lauren
I hadn't heard of this but it sounds perfect. I'm glad you highlighted some favorite stories and not so favorites as well.
David Levithan’s story was my favorite contribution to the collection as well! It was the one high point for me, as I wasn’t a fan of the complete erasure of bisexual voices (the introduction repeatedly refers to “gay, lesbian and transgender” even though at least two stories featured potentially bisexual men). I do, however, recommend it to Levithan fans, even if personally I wouldn’t suggest reading much further.
Do you mean further in this book, or more of his books? I really like some of Levithan’s other books, as well as a few of the other stories in the collection.
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