Halloween book recommendations for LGBT Young Adults

Halloween is our chance to tap into our inner fantasies. Once a year, instead of simply thinking about that princess, superhero, or zombie, we can become one. The holiday is a chance to exhibit an alternate persona in a socially accepted way. Halloween isn’t just about fishnet stockings, tight pants, or drag. This dress-up can also be a tentative exploration of gender identity on a day when everyone dons a costume.

For LGBTQ people, Halloween is a chance—annually—to wear a “disguise” that might actually be closer to the truth than the pretenses of daily life. As lesbian poet Judy Grahn said, Halloween is “the great gay holiday.”

Two books on our shelves at Nashville Public Library (NPL) explore Halloween and LGBTQ issues through the costume lens.

Trevor by James Lecesne

Trevor is a thirteen-year-old boy who can’t wait to transform himself into his idol, Diana Ross. Trevor first appeared during the early ‘90s as a character in Lecesne’s one-man standup show, Word of Mouth.

Trevor loves Diana’s crystal voice, and her individuality and sense of personal style speak deeply to him. Halloween is Trevor’s chance to honor Diana by dressing in a beautiful, flamboyant dress. However, Trevor’s excited planning is cut short when a friend dismisses his idea as “gay.”

Fast forward to 2012, when Lecesne updated Trevor into a novella: instead of Diana Ross, Trevor now plans to go as Lady Gaga. He explains to his friend, Zac, that his idea is not gay. Anyone who knows anything about Lady Gaga knows she has overcome plenty of obstacles to become the artist she is today, Trevor declares. He knows he’ll have to do the same to be his true self and achieve his own goals.

We never learn whether Trevor executes his big Halloween plan. Lecesne is not clear about whether Zac’s teasing is enough to discourage Trevor. Instead, readers wonder: Have times changed enough—since Lecesne’s stand-up comedy days—for a boy to be Lady Gaga safely for Halloween?

 

Openly Straight by Bill Konisgsberg

This wonderful young adult novel explores another costume angle. Rafe is an openly gay freshman, and he goes to school with two senior football players who dress up as Shakira and Beyonce for Halloween. The kids at Rafe’s school find this hysterically funny.

Inspired, Rafe decides the following Halloween to go for the “eighties rocker chick” look with a leather miniskirt and a plastic guitar. But when he gets to school, people don’t laugh—they avert their eyes.

 

All you need is your free library card to check out these and other Halloween reading picks. At Halloween, a great costume—and a great book—can be the real treats.

 

 

 

Diane Colson has worked in youth services for fifteen years. She’s a member of the American Libraries Association’s Young Adults Division. Her favorite book is always the one she’s reading right now. Find her on Twitter @recklessread

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less