Dandi Daley Mackall’s young-adult novel My Boyfriends’ Dogs (Hardcover from Dutton, 2010. Paperback from Speak, 2011) has a beginning that’s hard to ignore.

Bailey Daley walks into a late-night diner soaked to the skin from a sudden rainstorm. She’s wearing a prom dress, sporting a disaster of a hairstyle and missing her prom date. She does have three dogs with her, however – Adam, Eve and Shirley.

Louie, the diner’s owner, senses that Bailey has a story to tell. And with a little encouragement, Bailey is soon filling Louie and the other diner staff and patrons in on what got her into this unusual situation.

It turns out that each of the dogs originally belonged to one of Bailey’s former boyfriends. When each relationship ended, Bailey was left holding the leash. Not that she minded. In fact, she sometimes wished her boyfriends could have been more like their dogs.

Is Bailey content to have canine love for the rest of her life? Or is there a guy who might live up to the high standards set by man’s best friend?

Let’s hear from today’s guest reviewer Je’Kyah.

Our reviewer: Je’Kyah

You should read this book because: It’s a light, fun read. It addresses issues that a lot of teenagers are facing today like being popular and relationships.

Thanks, Je’Kyah!

Want to learn more? You can:

• Read another teen review like this one on Books By Their Covers or this one on Reading is Bliss.
• Watch the video trailer for this book.
• Visit author Dandi Daley Mackall’s website. She written about 400 books for children and 25 for adults. Wow!

He got yelled at by Sue Sylvester on the third day of school. He had to convince some reluctant football players that dancing would help their sports skills. He watched several New Directions members leave the group and start a competing club. And then, just as he was helping whip the remaining glee clubbers into tip-top dancing shape, he received an A- on a chemistry test.

Brittany would have been thrilled, but Mike was devastated.

Turns out an A- is considered an “Asian F” in Mike’s family. In fact, the grade was low enough for his dad to call an emergency meeting with Principal Figgins to discuss Mike’s future.

It also turns out Mike’s parents want him to go to an Ivy League college and become a doctor or a lawyer. Mike, who’s played by Harry Shum Jr., wants to dance, but is afraid to tell his parents. He tries to improve his chemistry grade and secretly try out for the school musical, but there are too many schedule conflicts. His mother finds out he’s been cast as Riff and is supportive, but his father confronts Mike and ultimately disowns him when Mike admits he wants to perform.

And you thought your life was complicated.

Mike’s girlfriend, Tina, tries to help by visiting Mike’s father at work and sharing a DVD of his performance in “West Side Story.” But Mr. Chang is unmoved and accuses Tina of having unrealistic expectations and fostering the same in his son.

This is the point in the story where, if I were a librarian at William McKinley High School, I would have given Mike a copy of Good Enough (Harper Teen, 2008) by Paula Yoo.

Because it’s not an assigned English literature text and wouldn’t appear on a recommended reading list for the SATs, Mike probably would have had to read it on the sly, but I think the benefits would have been worth the risk.

It’s the story of Patti Yoon.

And her story is not unlike young Mr. Chang’s. Patti’s parents expect nothing but the best from her. But only if the best will look good on her applications to Harvard, Princeton or Yale. Straight As are an expectation and extracurricular activities are carefully chosen.

In fact, Patti was introduced to the violin as a young child so it could be her “hook.” Something that would help her stand out from the many other talented, college applicants with 4.0 GPAs and high standardized test scores.

But for that to happen, Patti has to be a good violinist.

Fortunately, Patti has a natural aptitude for the instrument. That coupled with private lessons and a rigorous practice schedule have turned her into one of the best high school players in the state. But her practice SAT scores aren’t as high as her parents would like them to be, so Patti finds herself on a strict schedule of studying, test-taking and violin playing.

There are breaks for her to attend church, where Patti’s youth group is made up of other Korean teens whose parents expect similar success. But there aren’t any breaks when a cute trumpet/guitar player invites Patti to jam with his band or attend a rock concert. And when she tries to juggle her schedule and secretly do a few fun activities, her parents find out and react pretty much like Mike’s dad.

Meanwhile, Patti is enjoying music more and more, and her private instructor is encouraging her to apply to Julliard. But that involves finding the time to master new music, send in an audition tape and then audition in person. This leads to more secret activities for Patti.

Things reach the tipping point when Patti gets accepted to Princeton, Yale and Julliard. (She’s wait-listed at Harvard.) She thinks her parents will be happy, but they’re more upset that she applied to Julliard without telling them.

Parents of struggling students everywhere are rolling their eyes right now.

But Patti’s parents want the best for her and are truly upset. And despite their high expectations, Patti loves her parents. But, like Mike, she gathers the courage to share her true feelings. Her exact words are, “Stop giving me such a hard time.” And, frankly, I wanted to put the book down and applaud when she said them.

Patti ends up deciding to go to Princeton, not Julliard. Some people might be frustrated by this ending, but it’s a choice she makes based weighing all the things that make her happy (violin, English lit, her church group friends) and choosing the school that gives her the most options. She does enroll in a special program there for musicians.

Ultimately, Patti’s biggest revelation in the book isn’t which college she’ll attend, but learning that success and happiness aren’t the same thing. And by choosing Princeton and its music program, she’s taking steps to a future that she thinks has the best chance of making her happy.

And that’s what Mike Chang needs to do, too. He took the first step when he talked with his parents and persisted in his goals even after his father stopped speaking to him. In “Hold on to Sixteen,” Mike’s father watches Mike perform at Sectionals and says he’ll support Mike if he decides to study dance in college.

So things seem to be looking up for Mike Chang now. But it’s a long season. And as we know with Glee, almost anything can happen.

But knowing that they’re good enough, just the way they are, is a good starting point for all the kids at William McKinley.

Here’s the list of books I’ve recommended to Glee characters so far:

• Mike Chang – Good Enough by Paula Yoo.
• Artie Abrams – Accidents of Nature by Harriet McBryde Johnson.
• Noah Puckerman - So Punk Rock (And Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow.
• Brittany Pierce – Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John.
• Mercedes Jones – Dramarama by E. Lockhart.
• Tina Cohen-Chang – My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher.
• Santana Lopez – Sister Mischief by Laura Goode.
• Blaine Anderson – Pitch Perfect by Mickey Rapkin.
• Finn Hudson – Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron.
• Sam Evans – Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.
• Quinn Fabray – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
• David Karofsky – Dairy Queen and The Off Season both by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
• Rachel Berry – Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin.
• Kurt Hummel – Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.

It was immediately obvious how talented John was, so I wasn’t surprised when he left the newspaper and started his own photography business in Minneapolis. I also wasn’t surprised when he recently released his first book — A Peace of My Mind: Exploring the Meaning of Peace One Story at a Time.

John interviewed a wide range of people about their perspectives on peace — what they believe it means and how they work to incorporate it into their lives. There’s a homeless veteran. A Buddhist monk. A businessman. A potter. A college professor. A songwriter. An activist and more. Each person gets a two-page spread with a summary of their thoughts on peace, a brief biography and a luminous photo taken by John.

John joins Read, Write, Repeat today to share his story of how the book came to be.

How did you first get the idea for this project? Was it initially going to be just an art exhibit, or was a book always part of the plan?

When I began this project in 2009, I really had no idea where it would lead me. It was a conversation that I wanted to have and an idea that I wanted to explore, but really, at the time I had no idea how it would develop. The project lived at first online as a series of podcasts, then last year it was produced as a traveling exhibit. On Nov. 3 of this year it was released as a book.

How did you find the people you chose to feature? How many interviews did you conduct, and how did you choose which people to include?

Finding the subjects was a very organic process. I reached out first to people I knew, and asked who they would suggest I interview. From there, each subject suggested others to consider, and it grew out from there. With very few exceptions, everyone I invited to participate welcomed the opportunity to share their thoughts. I think there is a hunger for this kind of dialogue. And everyone that I interviewed for the project was included in the final piece.

What were your biggest learnings from listening to this wide variety of people share their thoughts on peace?

This entire process has been very encouraging for me…to spend time with such amazing people who are working toward a more peaceful world, in big and small ways, gives me hope. I’ve taken many lessons away, and there are some themes that recur. Here’s a Cliff Notes version of some of them:

• We often feel like issues of peace are so overwhelming that we cannot make an impact on them, yet we are each faced with choices every day where we have control over how we respond to people or to situations.

• Sometimes we can find peace in the places we expect it least.

• Peace takes practice, and if we find it difficult, that gives us reason to try harder.

• A position of peace is actually a position of strength and of courage.

• When we can find the good, even in our enemies, we increase the chances of a peaceful resolution.

• Fear and pride are two of the largest obstacles to peace in our lives and in the world at large.

• Working toward peace can be as grand as international mediation, or as simple as smiling at someone passing you on the street.

Were there any people whose views you didn’t agree with?

There were some thoughts that didn’t resonate with me right away, but as I listened to them, they began to make more sense. Really, that is the notion of this project … that we need to take time to listen to one another more fully, and if we can do that, our odds of working cooperatively toward some sort of common good are improved.

Our world doesn’t encourage us to slow down and take the time to listen to people. I wanted to create a space where that could happen, and art … photography … writing … can be a wonderful tool to accomplish that.

What were your goals when you took the photographs? Each person’s essence really seems to come through in them. So many people don’t enjoy having their photo taken. How did you make them comfortable enough to get
the shots you did?

I always conducted the interviews first, followed by the portrait. I work primarily as a photographer, yet for this project, a huge amount of time was devoted to the interviews with the subjects. When it came time to do the portrait, sometimes we were short on time. But because we had just come out of a very personal conversation for the interview, I think the subjects were already comfortable with me. And perhaps because there was not a lot of time for the photographs, they came off as simple and honest. Not overly produced. I think when that happens, the person’s humanity comes through.

What has the reaction been to your book so far? What’s been the most surprising response?

The book has been well received and I am excited to see what the next several months will bring. I think the most surprising response is that several colleges are considering using the book for next year’s common reading program, which would mean that all incoming freshmen for the college would read the book leading into their college experience. The notion of the book being used on a large scale like that is exciting, but I am equally encouraged by small book clubs and individuals spending time with it, and possibly considering some ideas that are new and fresh to
them.

What are your next goals for your peace project? Do you have other future projects planned?

If the book continues to sell well, I will use the proceeds to fund the next stage of the project, which would be an international version asking the same question: “What does peace mean to you?” At this point, it seems as though I will be doing a two-week trip through Central and South America as early as January in order to do new interviews and portraits.

Where is your book available?

The book is available directly on our own website.

It is also available on Amazon.com.

And, it’s at more than a dozen retailers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Here’s a list.

The book is for adults and young adults. It can be read straight through, or picked up and opened to a random page.

But no matter how you approach it, reading it is a hopeful, heartfelt experience.

• She’s a good friend. When her classmate Kurt’s father is hospitalized, she provides support and encouragement.

• She fights for what she believes in. When cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester bans tater tots from the William McKinley High School cafeteria, Mercedes stages a Norma-Rae-like protest.

• And, she’s a good songwriter. Her anthem “Hell to the No” was my favorite of all the student-penned songs in Season Two.

But Mercedes can be a bit of a diva.

That shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Nearly every character on Glee has been a diva at one time or another. But Mercedes’ divahood is different.

It’s not a constant state. It only bursts out when she feels overlooked by Mr. Shuester or overshadowed by other Glee Club members.

Unfortunately, those things happen frequently.

Mercedes, who is played delightfully by Amber Riley, joined Glee Club expecting to be the star. Early on, when she was asked to sing backup, Mercedes announced, “I’m Beyonce! I ain’t no Kelly Rowland.”

Later, when she realized her solos would be few and far between thanks to the oversized voices of Kurt Hummel and Rachel Berry, she lamented, “You guys only trot me out to wail at the end of a number.”

Things came to a head when the Glee Club held a fundraising concert. Mercedes decided she wanted the closing number that Rachel was slated for, so fellow overlooked Glee Club member Lauren Zizes offered to be her manager.

Lauren had Mercedes command respect by listing her demands, which included being carried onto the stage and having fresh puppies to dry her hands on.

Frankly, it was all a little much.

Around this time, if I had been a librarian at William McKinley High School, I would have gently suggested Mercedes read Dramarama by E. Lockhart (Hyperion, 2007). In fact, I would have handed it to her personally.

Why? It’s the story of a muscial-loving girl who’s overshadowed by her superstar best friend.

And while the book isn’t an exact retelling of Mercedes’ life, there are some pretty strong parallels.

Let’s start with the basics.

Sarah Paulson is a gawky, white, “Cabaret”-obsessed adolescent. Her best friend is Demi, an African-American gay teen who likes Liza Minnelli just as much as she does. If you change the races around and substitute Patti LuPone and Aretha Franklin for Liza Minnelli, you have Mercedes’ relationship with Kurt Hummel.

Demi christens Sarah “Sadye” (pronounced SAY-dee) to reflect his belief that she has what it takes to be famous. He encourages her to not try to be like petite, blonde Kristin Chenoweth, but to focus on “being Sadye” and bringing her own talents to light.

Sadye knows Demi is gay right from the start, but she still has a small crush on him and spends time with him instead of with boys who might be interested in her romantically. This also echoes Mercedes’ crush on Kurt and her feelings of being overlooked when he starts dating Blaine.

Things fall apart when Demi and Sadye go to summer theater camp.

Demi and Sadye are convinced they’ll nab fabulous lead roles and be best friends forever. They even make recordings of their thoughts and observations to look back on once they’re both Broadway stars.

So Sadye is disappointed to find that while Demi is a shining light at camp, she’s just … average. As Demi’s star rises, he becomes more popular — especially among some of the gay boys there. This success, along with the freedom not to have to hide who he is, pulls Demi away from Sadye.

Sadye, meanwhile, is struggling with not being as talented as she had previously assumed and with the teaching methods of some of the plays’ directors.

She’s smart and opinionated, just like Mercedes, so she shares her ideas, which does not endear her to the camp staff or her fellow campers.

So, what happens?

Many writers would have Sadye discover her own way to shine at the camp and have her end up knocking everyone’s socks off with some recently developed or previously undiscovered talent.

But E. Lockart doesn’t take that path. She lets Sadye struggle and even make a decision that benefits Demi greatly, but hurts her.

Ultimately, Sadye has to go back to Brenton, Ohio and decide how to move on with her life if being a Broadway star isn’t a likely option.

Mercedes is undoubtedly a better singer than Sadye.

But, she still has to make some of the same decisions. With Kurt and Rachel not going away, how will she adjust to being out of the spotlight? Will she continue to be friends with them, or let her own hurt feelings stand in the way of all their successes? And, will she focus on what’s best for the Glee Club or what’s best for her?

If I were a Glee librarian, I’d ask Mercedes to pay special attention to the scene where Sadye doesn’t congratulate Demi when he gets the lead role in “Bye Bye Birdie” and she finds she was cast in a small part in the camp’s only nonmusical production. I’d also ask her to focus on the page where Sadye uses the talents she does have to make a positive impression.

Other things that make this a GLEE-ful read include:

The insanely awesome references to musicals from “Bye Bye Birdie” to “Cabaret” to “Wicked” to “Guys and Dolls” to “Funny Girl” and many more.

The fact that it’s set in Brenton, Ohio, which Sadye and Demi want to leave just as much as Rachel and Kurt want to leave Lima, Ohio. As Sadye put it, “In Brenton, Ohio, where I’m from, committing suicide would be redundant.”

The goofy songs Sadye makes up about meatball sub sandwiches, cheating boyfriends and knee socks. They’re reminiscent of Brittany’s song about the styrofoam cups in the Glee kids’ New York hotel room.

At the end of the book, Sadye and Demi reunite outside a Broadway theater in a scene similar to the one where Rachel and Kurt meet at the Gershwin Theatre that is home to “Wicked.”

There’s also a playlist of songs referenced in the book. To find it, you need to visit E. Lockhart’s Dramarama Web site. It’s worth a visit for the song list and also for the video links she’s included for musical theater fans. My favorite is the one of Broadway’s Alan Cumming singing “Taylor the Latte Boy.” It rocks.

Here’s the list of books I’ve recommended to Glee characters so far:

• Mercedes Jones – Dramarama by E. Lockhart.
• Tina Cohen-Chang – My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher.
• Santana Lopez – Sister Mischief by Laura Goode.
• Blaine Anderson – Pitch Perfect by Mickey Rapkin.
• Finn Hudson – Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron.
• Sam Evans – Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.
• Quinn Fabray – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
• David Karofsky – Dairy Queen and The Off Season both by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
• Rachel Berry – Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin.
• Kurt Hummel – Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.

Not too long ago, I had bright purple streaks in my dark brown hair.

It was fun.

My children’s classmates thought I was the coolest mom ever, and convenience-store clerks with multiple piercings gave me compliments.

So … I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Glee’s Tina Cohen-Chang with her slightly goth look, colorful make-up and ever-changing hair.

I think she’s cool.

But I’m not sure Tina would agree.

She seems to want to change herself to put up a specific image. In season one, she revealed she didn’t really stutter, she had just done it to get attention. And in season two, she wore blue contact lenses so she’d look more like the models she saw in magazines.

And while I totally admire her hair, nails, make-up and clothes, Tina (who’s played by Jenna Ushkowitz) doesn’t strike me as a true goth. She’s a little too cheerful. A little too eager-to-please.

And, she’s shown a lack of confidence — whether it’s bursting into tears while singing “I Follow Rivers” at the poorly attended Glee Club fundraiser or worrying that she wasn’t as good as Rachel when Mr. Schuster asked her to sing “Tonight” from “West Side Story.”

So, if I were the librarian at William McKinley High, I’d pull Tina aside and give her My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher (Wendy Lamb Books, 2011).

Because it’s about a girl who discovers what’s under her make-up and day-glo hair.

Vanessa is a high school artist with big dreams. She doesn’t just want her art to stand out, she wants to stand out as well. As she says early on in the book, “All the talent in the world doesn’t equal an actual personality. It’s not enough only to make the art. You have to be the artist.”

So her look is always changing. Her friend, Nick, colors her hair whenever she asks him to and does her make-up to match.

And Vanessa plans outfits that help her stand out.

For example, on the day she has a job interview at an art supply store she wears a purple net top, short, black pleated skirt and hot pink fishnet stockings. She considers wearing something else, but decides this look is “more professional.”

As the book proceeds, Vanessa gets so caught up in reinventing who she is and finding newer, cooler, more artistic friends that her focus on her art wanes. She saves her project for the school art show until the very end and then spray paints a wall and a nearby park in a misguided attempt at public art. Meanwhile, she pushes her two long-time friends — Nick and Holly — to do things they’re not ready to do because she thinks they’re not taking enough risks. And, Vanessa almost does something she’s not ready for either.

It takes temporarily losing their friendship for Vanessa to see that she may be pushing herself and them too hard.

So she decides to back off.

She dyes her hair its natural brown (a color it hasn’t been since sixth grade), cleans up her public art and eventually learns that, as she puts it, “There’s a shock to not being shocking.”

I don’t think Tina pushes other people to do things they’d rather not. But, like Vanessa, I don’t think she’s 100 percent sure of who she is beneath the colored extensions and pink eyeshadow. I think spending some time with Vanessa would encourage her to think about what really makes her special.

So, if I were a librarian at William McKinley High, I’d give Tina the book and ask her to pay special attention to page 134 where Nick talks to Vanessa about her desire to be larger than life.

Because once Tina is clearer about who she is on the inside, her attempts to decorate her outside will be even more effective.

And, if I may just digress, I hope Tina gets a little more time to figure these things out in season three. She didn’t get much screen time in season two — her only two attempts at solos ended with her sobbing. And her featured moment in “Born This Way” was way too brief. (So was her role in the “Glee 3-D” movie, but it’s probably best if I don’t get started on that topic.)

If you’d like to see which books I’ve recommended to other Glee characters, they are:

• Tina Cohen-Chang – My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher.
• Santana Lopez – Sister Mischief by Laura Goode.
• Blaine Anderson – Pitch Perfect by Mickey Rapkin.
• Finn Hudson – Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron.
• Sam Evans – Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.
• Quinn Fabray – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
• David Karofsky – Dairy Queen and The Off Season both by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
• Rachel Berry – Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin.
• Kurt Hummel – Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.

And, you might be wondering what makes it so special.

Well, for one thing, it’s a sharply written book with compelling characters and an engaging plot. For another, it’s got a killer voice. Here’s a sample:

Me and my sisters are four mud-slinging, bomb-dropping, clam-jamming, bringers of mischief about to spit some rhymes like you’ve never heard … Hold on to your hosiery, because we’re about to load you up with a fat dose of wickedness, whimsy, thievery, sensation, charm and general ruckus-making.

In fact, New Mexico librarian Angie Manfredi (known as @misskubelik on Twitter) recently tweeted that this book was, “The best multicultural, feminist, lesbian, hip-hop romance you’ll ever read.”

And, she just might be right.

That’s why — if I were a librarian at Glee’s William McKinley High — I’d recommend this book to hilariously mean but troubled teen Santana Lopez, who’s played with skill by actress Naya Rivera.

Why? Because it says everything Santana needs to hear.

First, it has a main character just as strong and opinionated as Santana herself. Esme Rockett is the leader of an unlikely high school hip-hop group in Holyhill, Minnesota. She’s Jewish, lesbian and one heck of a lyricist. Her bandmates are her best friends — Marcy, Tess and Rohini, who’s better known as Rowie.

Second, Esme finds herself in a situation similar to Santana’s. Esme is in love with her best friend, Rowie. Rowie loves her back, but isn’t willing to go public with the relationship and isn’t even totally sure if she’s lesbian, bisexual or something else.

While Santana’s best friend and sometimes love interest, Brittany Pierce, doesn’t seem to feel the family pressure Rowie does to conform to a heterosexual lifestyle, Brittany did choose Artie over Santana last season and has not fully responded to several declarations of love from Santana.

But that might be OK.

Almost everyone has had the experience of loving someone who doesn’t love them back in the way they’d like. And few people find true, lasting love their first time out of the gate. I’d hope Santana would see that even though Esme’s romance with Rowie doesn’t end the way she hoped, Esme still has a lot to give and a bright future.

The biggest difference between Esme and Santana is that Esme has a core group of friends she trusts implicitly. Her life isn’t always easy, but her friends know her and love her. And, she has an extremely tolerant and understanding father. While Esme isn’t above causing chaos at school when she thinks there are wrongs to be righted, she doesn’t lash out randomly at her classmates like Santana famously does.

That’s because Esme has accepted herself, something Santana still struggles with.

So if I were Glee’s librarian, I’d give Santana the book and ask her to read it, paying special attention to page 256, where Esme’s dad comforts her, saying, “You did the most sacred, human thing in the world. You fell in love with another human being. I know how it feels to lose that.”

I’d also refer Santana to page 317, where Esme and Rowie have a hard conversation and decide their friendship and musical collaboration can continue even if their romance doesn’t. That also might be good for Santana to know. Last season, I got the feeling that Santana was hinging all her hopes on having things work out romantically with Brittany. And if the relationship doesn’t heat up in season three, she needs to have a back-up plan.

Other things that make this book a GLEE-ful read include:

• The original rap lyrics by Esme, Rowie and their friends. And, yes, they’re much better than “Trouty Mouth,” the single Santana penned last season on Glee.

• The shout-outs to female hip-hop and rock artists. There are mentions of Queen Latifah, MIA and Salt ‘N Peppa. There are references to Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga, Patti Smith and more. In fact, you could spend a few enjoyable hours Googling or YouTubing some of the lesser-known artists mentioned just to get a feel for their music.

• The varied assortment of people in Esme’s circle of friends. There’s a super-smart Indian girl, a butch-looking band geek, a traditionally pretty and popular Minnesota-Lutheran girl, an African-American brother-and-sister team, and a skinny-jeaned hipster with more depth than you might originally expect. Their group meets in a shed off school property, but it almost could be the choir room at William McKinley. There’s even a strict but sympathetic teacher who keeps the group from getting into too much trouble.

So all things considered, I think you and Santana should check it out. Word.

If you’d like to see which books I’ve recommended to other Glee characters, they are:

• Santana Lopez – Sister Mischief by Laura Goode.
• Blaine Anderson – Pitch Perfect by Mickey Rapkin.
• Finn Hudson – Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron.
• Sam Evans – Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.
• Quinn Fabray – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
• David Karofsky – Dairy Queen and The Off Season both by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
• Rachel Berry – Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin.
• Kurt Hummel – Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.

But today, I’m interviewing a teacher with a commitment to providing inclusive books to her students.

Meet Abigail Swetz, a mother, teacher, dog owner and (lesbian) wife who lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

During her first year teaching, Abigail taught anti-bullying lessons, integrated lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) books into her curriculum and helped found the Indian Mound Middle School Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).

The GSA raised awareness about anti-LGBTQ bullying by participating in the Day of Silence, when students across the nation take a voluntary vow of silence for a day to commemorate and honor all those throughout history who have been silenced by hatred and discrimination. Students could choose to wear a black ribbon and be silent, wear a rainbow ribbon in support, or not participate at all. Between students and staff, the GSA handed out more than 400 ribbons.

Today, Abby is an eighth-grade reading/language arts/social studies teacher at Georgia O’Keeffe Middle School in Madison.

And, I’m thrilled to have her visit Read, Write, Repeat and share her views on building an inclusive classroom or school library.

Why is it important for teachers and librarians to make sure their collections are as diverse and inclusive as possible?

I think Bonnie Augusta, who used to be the LGBTQ Resource Teacher for the Madison Metropolitan School District, said it best. Her argument was that students must see themselves reflected in the curriculum for them to learn. For example, if a primary school teacher is teaching a unit on families and only reads books with families that have two heterosexual married parents, then that teacher is ignoring the experiences of many of his or her students.

What about students with divorced parents who share custody? Or parents who aren’t married? Or single parents? Or same-sex couple parents? When a student see him or herself reflected in the curriculum, it creates an automatic buy-in.

The, “Wow! That’s exactly how I feel!” factor is, I believe, even more important during the middle-school years, when all kids are going through identity transformations and need to know there are all kinds of people out there in the world, and the world will accept you for whomever you figure out yourself to be.

What process should a teacher or librarian interested in developing a more inclusive collection follow? What resources should they consult?

There are a great many resources out there, I am happy to report, from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center and the American Library Association. Here are two links.

• CCBC’s list for Elementary School Children and Adolescents.
• ALA’s Rainbow List.

These lists are a great place to start. But I would make sure that adults who are looking to suggest books to children and young adults really consider how the LGBTQ aspect of the book is being presented before they do so, especially if a young person is questioning.

Some of these books are really quite brilliant; some of them are also quite heavy. Many books with LGBTQ characters deal with their struggle, and that’s accurate and I’m thankful those books exist. I’m also thankful that other, more positive, books exist. We don’t want to mislead adolescents into thinking life is all rosey, but if every “gay” book you have in your library includes anti-gay violence, then it’s time to add some different books.

What makes a library collection inclusive? How would a teacher or librarian know they’ve succeeded?

Covering the entire LGBTQ acronym (with more than a single book for each letter). When a student comes asking you for another suggestion after having read one of the books, you know you’re on your way.

How willing are children and teens to read about characters different than themselves?

Very willing! This might sound contrary to my previous statements about students needing to see themselves in the curriculum, but this is really just the flip side of that coin. When you think about it, reading a novel or memoir is really just legal identity theft. For a few hours while you read that book, you get to become someone else! Without any of the consequences of actually living that life? How amazing! And also, how important for adolescents trying to figure themselves out.

Are there any pitfalls to watch out for?

Yes, like I said before, try to avoid being overly negative.

Thanks, Abigail!

*******

Here is Abigail’s list of starter books she thinks well-equipped libraries should have on hand. All are appropriate for high school, and many for middle school. The letter in parentheses corresponds to the part of the LGBTQ acronym that the book represents.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (G, with a bit of T)
The adorable story of a boy meeting a boy, courting that boy, messing up and losing that boy, and then gaining that boy back again. It’s so sweet that it almost smells like bubblegum, but don’t let that fool you, there’s some deep stuff in here about trust and friendship and what it feels like to be falling in love. Levithan is an inspired author. I routinely laugh out loud when reading his books, or I can be found scrambling for a pencil, wanting to copy down some amazing turn of phrase he’s made. Best for both middle and high school. (Editor’s note: This book was also featured on my blog as a GLEE-ful read recommendation for Kurt Hummel. Full review here.)

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger (L)
Another book with an alternative structure, Hard Love intersperses its chapters with articles from the characters’ zines. (I described these to my students as “blogs before the Internet.”) The story follows Marisol, a “rich spoiled lesbian private-school gifted-and-talented writer virgin,” and Gio, whose name is really John but he was trying to impress Marisol so he changed it to sound more foreign and interesting. Marisol expands Gio’s world; Gio provides Marisol support. And falls for her in the process. Best for both middle and high school. (This book has a sequel, but I wouldn’t recommend it.)

Hero by Perry Moore (G)
In Moore’s world, superheroes exist. They form The League, an arm of the police force designed to deal with the supervillans who also exist. A coming-of-age story, Hero follows Thom as he discovers two key facts about himself — he is gay, and he has superpowers. Neither of which would make his father too happy, if he were to find out about them that is. Action-packed, and appropriate for both middle and high school.

Luna by Julie Anne Peters (T)
Luna tells the story of a transgender teen through the eyes of sister Regan. Liam is a senior, seemingly on his way to the Ivy League with fame and fortune to follow. But all he wants is to be Luna, the woman he truly is at heart. Regan has seen Liam dress as a woman for years in the privacy of their shared basement. This is the year Luna decides to climb the stairs for the rest of the world to see. Sad and yet hopeful, this book is appropriate for both middle and high schools.

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez (Q, with a bit of G)
Frederick is the new kid in eighth grade. He’s also the short kid and the kid with asthma … and he definitely doesn’t want to add “the gay kid” to that list. But what if it’s true? As his relationships with Xio, his best friend who wants to be his girlfriend, Victor, the school’s gorgeous soccer star, and Iggy, whose brother even calls him the F-word, all develop, they lead Frederick down a questioning road. Will he ever figure himself out? Or let himself admit it? Best for middle school or an easy (and sweet) high school read.

The Misfits by James Howe (G)
The story of a lovable group of seventh-grade outcasts — the fat kid, the smart girl, the gay boy and the troublemaker — who try to make their school a better place by running for student council on the “No Name Calling Ticket.” This book was actually the inspiration for Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) No Name Calling Week, a nationwide event that promotes acceptance and builds anti-bullying allies at the beginning of the school year. Best for middle school.

Totally Joe by James Howe (G)
Joe is “the gay boy” from The Misfits, and this is the sequel to the other book, picking the story up after the group loses the election but succeeds in creating a No Name Calling campaign in their school with the help of staff. It chronicles Joe’s first (secret) relationship and his journey towards coming out. Best for middle school.

Wide Awake by David Levithan (G, with a bit of L)
The time is the very near future. America has just elected her first gay Jewish president. Plausible, right? Actually, the way Levithan writes it, seems so. No summary could do this story justice, so I’ll just say that if you need to restore your faith in humanity and people power, this is a truly brilliant read. Best only for high school.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green (G)
Each chapter of this book switches back and forth between two characters, both of who are named Will Grayson. Sound confusing? It’s not. The two writers have such skill and the two characters have such voice that the story of these two Wills who meet by happenstance unfolds seamlessly. The two young men share a friendship with Tiny, a very large gay high school actor/football player, who, in one fell swoop, shatters all gay stereotypes. Hilarious, and best for high school.

Two books I’d add to the list — with Abigail’s blessing — are:

Absolutely, Positively Not by David LaRochelle (Q and G)
Steven, 16, likes square dancing, his male health teacher and keeping International Male catalogs under his bed. But he is determined that he is absolutely, positively, not gay. To prove this, he tries to buy a Playboy magazine, tries mingling with the meathead jocks and has a series of disastrous dates with girls in his school. When Steven finally outs himself to his best friend, Rachel tells her entire family and urges him to form a gay-straight alliance. This book won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award the year it was published. Best for high school.

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger (G, with a little bit of L)
Russel Middlebrook is a sophomore at Goodkind High School. He has a secret crush on Kevin Land and soon discovers Kevin is also gay. The boys become friends and set up the “Geography Club” with three other gay students, one of whom is Russel’s closest friend, Min. Eventually, however, peer pressure and insecurity take their toll. Russel’s relationship with Kevin ends, but the “Geography Club” becomes the “Goodkind High School Gay-Straight-Bisexual Alliance,” and the protagonist gains new insight into himself and his place in the world. Best for high school.

*******

I hope this list gets you started reading and exploring. And, if you’re looking for more resources on LGBTQ literaure, I’d recommend:

• Lee Wind’s blog I’m Here. I’m Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?
• This forum, blog and fansite: Gay YA: GLBT Characters and Pairings in YA Fiction.

He quickly became more than that, however.

Blaine also befriended Kurt Hummel and shared his own experiences being bullied at his former school for being gay. He encouraged Kurt to stand up to David Karofsky and shared Dalton Academy’s zero-tolerance policy for harassment. After Kurt transferred to Dalton, his relationship with Blaine also became romantic. (For a look at how it all began, watch The Warblers’ a cappella version of “Teenage Dream”.)

It’s true that at the end of season two, Blaine, who’s ably portrayed by Darren Criss, didn’t attend William McKinley High. So even if I were the school’s librarian, I couldn’t officially recommend a book for him.

But because I’ve never seen a single faculty member at Dalton Academy or any evidence the school even has a library, I’d feel comfortable making a casual suggestion the next time Blaine stops by to visit Kurt.

And that suggestion would be Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory by Mickey Rapkin (Gotham Books, 2008).

Why? It’s a love song to the collegiate groups the Warblers were modeled after.

The book chronicles how the college a cappella movement started when the Yale Whiffenpoofs formed in 1909 and how it’s grown to where it stands today with intense rivalries, national championships, groupies (yes, groupies!) and increasingly complex and evolving arrangements.

Rapkin focuses on three college groups — the all-female Divisi from the the University of Oregon, the irreverent Hullabahoos from the University of Virginia and the tradition-bound Beelzebubs from Tufts University. He looks at everything from the groups’ histories and cultures and quest for vocal perfection to their egos, immaturity and inevitable conflicts.

And, it’s a hell of a read.

I read a lot of books. And this one was so good I had to put it down a few times because I just didn’t want it to end. Rapkin does a great job of making us care about the members of each group even when we’re cringing for crises going on in their personal lives or shaking our heads at some of their decisions. (Note to future a cappellers: NEVER set fire to the mansion an influential alumni is nice enough to let you use.)

The book is also chock full of musical minutiae — arrangements and key changes and choreography and costumes. I like that sort of thing, and if you do too, you’ll be fascinated.

This book would also show Blaine it’s OK to loosen up a little.

The Beelzebubs (who, by the way, sing background on all of Glee’s season two Warblers songs) are very traditional and buttoned up, at least publicly. But the Hullahoos perform in T-shirts, shorts and what looks like wacked-out liturgical robes for goodness sake. And all three groups have enough backstage drama to keep a small soap opera afloat for a season or two.

Despite this, group members can usually laugh at themselves. In fact, they spend almost as much time doing the sort of activities you might expect from overconfident college students — drinking … peeing on a competing group’s van … drinking … making inappropriate sexual references … drinking — as they do perfecting their harmonies.

Blaine’s a great character, but he’s very serious.

I’m not sure he’s intentionally cracked a joke on the show yet. Not that he hasn’t had unintentionally funny lines. My favorites?

“Do you know how many Gaps there are in Ohio? Tons!” (This was said to reassure Kurt that the Warblers would still have chances to perform even though they didn’t qualify for Nationals.)

And …

“I don’t think I’ve ever made a bigger fool out of myself. And that’s really saying something … because I’ve performed in theme parks.” (Said after Blaine’s public, Valentine’s Day seranade of a Gap employee did not have the romantic results he’d hoped for.)

If I were Glee’s librarian, I’d hand Blaine the paperback edition of Pitch Perfect, asking him to pay particular attention to the clever chapter subtitles, such as:

“Chapter One: Wherein twelve ladies in red ties are snubbed at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella — and contemplate returning for seconds.”

And …

“Chapter Ten: Wherein the Hullabahoos travel to Los Angeles for winter break 2007 and attempt to (among other things) gain admission to the Playboy Mansion.”

I’d also ask him to check out page 214 where the Hullabahoos have a major misfire on stage and all of Chapter 11 where Divisi — despite giving a strong performance — loses to the group it’s been focused on beating all year.

It would help Blaine see he doesn’t have to be perfect.

He needs to know that talented, successful people make mistakes all the time. Then, they recover and take more chances. Blaine hides a lot of his insecurities under a very composed, controlled exterior. And, that’s cool … sometimes.

But, if Blaine had been a part of New Directions last season when the kids all wore T-shirts proclaiming what they were most insecure about, I wonder what his would have said. He hasn’t let much slip so far. We know he was beaten up at his first school after attending a dance and that he regrets not standing up for himself. And he’s hinted his relationship with his father isn’t ideal.

I’m not saying Blaine has to wear his heart on his sleeve like so many other characters do, but I think he’d be happier if he learned to let down his guard a little and be OK with being human.

This book also qualifies as a GLEE-ful read because it emphasizes song choice.

And we all know how important that has been to New Directions. The book analyzes how The Beelzebubs sang Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” and, in the process, revolutionized how a cappella songs are arranged. How Divisi broke new ground performing Usher’s “Yeah.” How the Hullabhoos lived and died with U2′s “One.”

For the technically minded among you, there’s also a lot of detail about how an a cappella group is recorded to make the most of its sound — and both sides of the debate about how processed, auto-tuned and polished an a cappella album should be.

So all in all, I think Blaine would enjoy it, and so would you.

If you’d like to see which books I’ve recommended to other Glee characters, they are:

• Blaine Anderson – Pitch Perfect by Mickey Rapkin.
• Finn Hudson – Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron.
• Sam Evans – Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.
• Quinn Fabray – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
• David Karofsky – Dairy Queen and The Off Season both by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
• Rachel Berry – Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin.
• Kurt Hummel – Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.

Remember how it goes?

Did you ever have to finally decide?
Say yes to one and let the other one ride?
There’s so many changes and tears you must hide.
Did you ever have to finally decide?

Because for everything the Glee character has going for him — starting quarterback on the William McKinley High School football team, co-captain of the Glee Club, homecoming king candidate — his laid-back attitude tends to get him into trouble.

The most obvious example is with girls.

In season one, Finn dated Quinn and made eyes at Rachel. Then, he dated Rachel and looked longingly at Quinn. Then, he dated Quinn and gazed at Rachel. And in the last episode of season two, he kissed Rachel.

What’s odder still is that both Quinn and Rachel continued liking Finn in … um … that way, even when he dated the other one. Maybe it was because he said things to them like, “Just because I can’t be with you doesn’t mean I don’t believe in you.” And, as he was breaking up with Quinn, “I still love you.”

Dude … seriously.

So, if I were a librarian at William McKinley High School, I’d give Finn, who’s convincingly played by Cory Monteith, the book Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron (Amulet Books, 2009).

Why?

Because it’s about Sammy Bojar, a fatherless boy with a guitar who has to make some decisions.

Like, how to keep his struggling band together. How to survive school when he’s really only interested in music. What to do about a girl he likes in … um … that way and another girl who likes him and he might actually like, too. And what to do about his grandfather who’s no longer the warm, smart, supportive person he used to be and seems to be falling deeper and deeper into dementia.

And then, there’s what may be Sammy’s biggest worry. He knows he can play the guitar, and he’s happy with the original songs he’s written recently, but he worries that he doesn’t have enough confidence or charisma to be the lead singer for a band. I think Finn could relate to that fear, especially after his encounter with Jesse St. James last season.

I’d give Finn the book and ask him to read it all, paying special attention to the scene that starts on page 99 where Sammy realizes how he truly feels about Jen5, the scene that starts on page 221 where he talks about relationships with his best friend Rick, who’s gay, and page 273 when he realizes the difference between being in a band that doesn’t work and being in one that does.

Seeing how Sammy makes his decisions might help Finn make some important ones in his own life.

Like, how he wants to spend his senior year. What he wants to do after graduation. And where, if anywhere, Rachel and Quinn fit into his plans.

Another good thing about this book that makes it a GLEE-ful read is a playlist of songs that served as the soundtrack as Skovron wrote. Artists include Jane’s Addiction, The Pixies, Camper Van Beethoven, Mercury Rev and more.

If you’d like to see which books I’ve recommended to other Glee characters, they are:

• Finn Hudson – Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron.
• Sam Evans – Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.
• Quinn Fabray – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
• David Karofsky – Dairy Queen and The Off Season both by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
• Rachel Berry – Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin.
• Kurt Hummel – Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.

“Sam Evans needs a haircut.”

Now before you think I’m out-of-touch or unhip, I have to say that, generally, I quite like longer hair on men.

But as the season progressed, Sam’s blond coiffure — that had been favorably compared to Justin Bieber’s famous hairdo in early episodes — got more and more unkempt.

Because several episodes also showed Sam in the background looking glum, I thought he might be mourning the fact that he had been nicknamed “Trouty Mouth” by his then-girlfriend Santana Lopez. She even wrote a song about the size of his mouth that made the normally easy-going Sam take a stand.

While Sam, who is portrayed by Chord Overstreet, does indeed have a large mouth, that’s certainly not the most interesting thing about him. And, in the last few episodes, Glee’s writers explained why he’d been looking a little run-down.

It turns out Sam’s father lost his job.

Then, after their house was repossessed, the family was living in a motel on the outskirts of Lima where Sam watched his younger brother and sister in the evenings while his parents looked for work.

To help his family out, Sam took a job delivering pizzas and had to pawn his guitar. He also borrowed clothes from Kurt and Finn.

So … if I were a librarian at William McKinley High School, I’d suggest that Sam read Guitar Boy by MJ Auch (Christy Ottaviano Books, 2010).

Why? It tells the story of another guitar-playing teen with family troubles.

Travis Tacey is 14 and lives in a rural mountain community. After his mother is injured in a car accident and is unable to return home, his father loses his job and falls apart. He throws Travis out of the house after the two argue, and forces Travis’s older sister to drop out of school and care for his younger brother and sister.

On his own without even a pair of shoes, Travis only has a hand-made guitar that’s been in his family for generations. He hopes he can support himself by singing and playing on street corners, but when his guitar is stolen he doesn’t know what to do next.

I’d suggest that Sam read the whole book, paying special attention to page 150 where Travis watches a guitar being made and page 224 where Travis solos on “Turkey in the Straw.”

I’d also recommend that Sam visit this website to read about how author MJ Auch watched her very own guitar being built from scratch, which inspired her to write this book. I’d even let him use the computer in the library because he probably doesn’t have access to one outside of school.

Things look hopeful for Travis and Sam …

I’d hope Sam would see that even though Travis’ situation is worse than his, Travis still has hope. He follows his love of music and helps get ready for a guitar-picking competition. There, he meets some like-minded people who help him get back on his feet and start reconnecting with his family.

And if Sam looks, he has reasons to hope, too. His friends chip in to get him his guitar back and encourage him to stay in Glee Club. They even come up with a “prom on a budget” plan so he can attend. And things start looking up even more in the last episode when it’s revealed he and Mercedes are dating.

And just so I don’t look shallow, I’d like to point out one thing.

As soon as filming for the second season of Glee was over, Chord Overstreet cut his hair. So he must have been getting sick of it, too. It will be interesting to see what Sam Evans looks like in Season Three if he comes back to McKinley High.

If you’d like to see which books I’ve recommended to other Glee characters, they are:

• Sam Evans – Guitar Boy by MJ Auch.
• Quinn Fabray – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
• David Karofsky – Dairy Queen and The Off Season both by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
• Rachel Berry – Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin.
• Kurt Hummel – Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.