1.
Expression: How did you come to write
"Rainbow Boys"?
AS: Madeleine L’Engle advised
us to “Write remembering the child
you were.” I knew I was "gay"
by seventh grade. I also knew the only
boy in our school who was labeled "gay"
was beaten up every day because of it.
I remember our school library was crammed
with thousands of books, but I don't remember
a single book that told me it was okay
to have the kinds of feelings I was having.
It was only after I'd finished "Rainbow
Boys" that I realized I'd written
the book I desperately wanted and needed
to read when I was a teen – a book
that would have helped me to understand
the equally troubling and exhilarating
emotions I felt toward other boys. I think
as teenagers, we crave stories that will
teach us how to connect sexuality with
values – so we can make better decisions
– so we can understand who we are.
I spent many hours in my school library
as a kid, looking for a book that would
help me understand what I was feeling.
The book I needed wasn't there.
2. Expression:
The book was very well received. Did that
surprise you?
AS: In the months prior to publication,
I was terrified what people would say.
The first review came from the School
Library Journal. The review stated: “There
will no doubt be challenges to Rainbow
Boys, much like the challenges of Judy
Blume’s Forever when it was published
in the 1970’s. But please, have
the courage to make it available to those
who will need it—it can open eyes
and change lives.” Wow!, I thought.
My book? Change lives?
But the truth is, according to a CDC study,
gay, lesbian, and bi youth commit suicide
at an average of one every six hours.
Every day four teens in America will take
their lives because of their fear, confusion,
and self-hatred around being gay. Thirty-two
others will attempt to. And yet there
are those in our current political and
social climate who seek to control and
suppress teen access to information about
sexuality – especially gay and lesbian
issues. The reality is that teens are
far more harmed by these misguided attempts
at “protection” than they
would be by having full access to honest
information about sexuality.
3. Expression:
Did you encounter the challenges the School
Library Journal predicted? What form did
they take and how did you handle them?
AS:
Over to you
4.
Expression: There are a lot of edgy, honest
books about sexuality available for teens
today. What do you think it was that made
"Rainbow Boys" stand out for
your publisher? Do you think it took a
particularly "brave" publisher
to take on your book?
AS: Over to you. Are there any
other coming out stories or gay love stories
you would care to draw our readers attention
to? Any books that particularly inspired
or influenced?
5. Expression:
How have the public reacted to your books,
both your readers and those who would
rather readers didn't read your books?
AS: I’d like to share with
you one of the many email letters I’ve
received from teens about the book –
this one from a girl. "Dear Mr. Sanchez,
I walked into the bookstore this morning,
picked up your book, and didn’t
walk out until I had finished and it was
dark outside. It was refreshing to read
about characters dealing with that in
high school, especially when things like
that are happening to me in jr. high.
Sex hardly ever gets addressed, especially
homosexual issues, and yet we deal with
homophobia every day. It was nice to know
we're not alone."
Can you add something about the reaction
to your books in the bible belt/ other
more conservative states and what that
means to you either personally, in terms
of sales, in terms of lost opportunities
for young people looking for such books.
I'm interested in how/if you were subjected
to censorship, or had your book discriminated
against because of the content in major
bookstores, schools etc
6. Expression:
You've just completed a sequel to Rainbow
Boys and have a third book planned to
complete the trilogy. Can you tell us
a little about the two books to come?
AS:
Over to you
You
can find out more about Alex and his forthcoming
books by visiting his website at www.AlexSanchez.com
Anything else you'd like to add?
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