Hard Love, By Ellen Wittlinger

Title:Hard Love
Author:Ellen Wittlinger
Publish Date:April 1, 2001
Publisher:Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages:224 pages
ISBN:068984154X
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range:Young Adult
Price: $9.99

Annotation:

Summary: John Galardi is a introvert. He is only able to express himself except in his zine, "Bananafish." He finds another zine, "Escape Velocity," created by Marisol Guzman, a self-proclaimed "rich spoiled lesbian private-school gifted-and-talented writer virgin." Her writing make him laugh; She witty and smart and he really wants to meat her. He seeks her out as she's leaving her zine on a drop off day at a record store and persuades her to meet him for coffee. What ensues is a friendship that involves intellect and eventually a confused friendship. How can Marisol who really does like him (and told him so) let him know that she is his best friend-but that's it. Or is it?

Evaluation: This book is funny and Touching at the Same Time! I loved hearing this kind of story (when you think you fall in love with someone that just doesn't "go your way" -cause it's happened to me!) from a boys perspective! This book is a really cool edge to LGBTQ literature. And has that special niche for those of us broken hearted straight people who are in love with someone who just wants to be friends.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:

Writing as Therapy, Friendships & Relationship, LGBTQ issues, Falling in Love with Someone Who is Gay

Reason this book was chosen: I love this idea, and have experienced it myself. I wanted to include a well-written ode to this kind of unrequited love.