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Welcome to the Book Club
OUR PRIDE Book Club will be launching with two new books: "Ziggy, Startdust & Me" and "Bed 26."
The authors of each book will lead a series of Zoom Video Meetings which you can join from anywhere in the world - on your laptop or your phone. |
In addition to the Book Readings, there will be discussion about the book's content and related issues.
The authors will be joined by guest experts in fields related to the subject matter of each book, from youth mental health and teen suicide to international human rights and asylum. |
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Mature Content - Ages 12+
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In this tender-hearted debut, set against the tumultuous backdrop of life in 1973, when homosexuality is still considered a mental illness, two boys defy all the odds and fall in love.
In the midst of these trying times is sixteen-year-old Jonathan Collins, a bullied, anxious, asthmatic kid, who aside from an alcoholic father and his sympathetic neighbor and friend Starla, is completely alone. To cope, Jonathan escapes to the safe haven of his imagination, where his hero David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and dead relatives, including his mother, guide him through the rough terrain of his life. In his alternate reality, Jonathan can be anything: a superhero, an astronaut, Ziggy Stardust, himself, or completely "normal" and not a boy who likes other boys. A poignant coming-of-age tale, Ziggy, Stardust and Me heralds the arrival of a stunning and important new voice in YA. |
“One of the biggest and best YA books of the summer.”
— Entertainment Weekly |
“Gut-wrenching emotion, stream of consciousness, and an intensely evoked soundtrack bring Jonathan’s summer to technicolor life. Every character from Jonathan himself to the ice cream man are fully realized. Give this one to budding activists, music fans, historical fiction readers, and romantics. A highly recommended purchase.”
- School Library Journal |
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Bed 26 is the story of how Edafe Okporo, a gay young man in Nigeria, fought his way out of constant persecution and reclaimed his freedom.
This is a revealing memoir and empowering manifesto, with contributions from other asylees, refugees, and Nigerian LGBTQ persons. Bed 26 is Edafe's raw, honest, and poignant account - a no-holds-barred, pull-no-punches account for the persecution of him and his community. He continues to be a fearless activist and an unstoppable force for change, who is determined to expose the truth. It is Edafe's hope that by sharing his experience and his pain, that you will begin to understand why people are forced to immigrate. |
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Zoom Book Club Meetings |