GUEST REVIEW: This Book Is Gay - James Dawson

GENRE: Non-Fiction
PAGES: 272
PUBLISHER: Hot Key
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

A funny and pertinent book about being lesbian, bisexual, gay, queer, transgender or just curious - for everybody, no matter their gender or sexualityFormer PSHCE teacher and acclaimed YA author James Dawson gives an uncensored look at what it's like to grow up as LGBT. Including testimonials from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, this frank, funny, fully inclusive book explores everything anyone who ever dared to wonder wants to know - from sex to politics, how to pull, stereotypes, how to come-out and more. Spike Gerrell's hilarious illustrations combined with funny and factual text make this a must-read.

REVIEW

I didn't really know what this book was about really, well I had a general idea, but I was so happy with what I got. This is such a great book that I think it should be required reading at all schools. It would help any young people that are wondering about their sexuality and also it could help other people to understand people from the LGBT community. 

Not only is it helpful it was also quite funny. Yes at times it had to get serious because some of the issues in this book are very serious and it wouldn't have been the same if it didn't. One example is the chapter on HIV. I obviously had my prejudices about this and I thought I knew all about it but this book told me otherwise and now I know better. I really loved that it was illustrated too because that always just adds more to the book and makes it a little more special especially after the seriousness. 

Honestly I feel like this is such a helpful book to anyone who feels like they are unsure about their sexuality and/or gender which makes its a total 5 star book. Also even if you aren't unsure or curious about your sexuality/gender you should still pick this up and give it a read because there is nothing wrong with understanding other people a little better.

- Hannah.

Lauren Oliver Signing

Bestselling author of the Delirium series, Lauren Oliver, will be in store answering questions and signing copies of the paperback of Panic!

Here's the deal:

An utterly gripping thriller from bestselling author Lauren Oliver. Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a poor town of twelve thousand people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do. Heather never thought she would compete in panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She'd never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought. Dodge has never been afraid of panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game; he's sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he's not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for. For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them-and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most. In this gritty, spellbinding novel, bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping narrative of friendship, courage, survival, and hope.

The signing will be in store on 14th August at 7pm. Tickets are  £3 and are available in store or on 0121 633 4353. 

Cathy Cassidy Signing

Cathy Cassidy and her Chocolate Fairies

Yesterday, my friend Kyra and I went to Waterstones Birmingham to meet Cathy Cassidy!

Cathy has been one of our favourite authors since we were about eight or nine... before we even knew each other! So when I texted Kyra and asked if she wanted to come with me, the answer was pretty much unanimous.

For pretty much a week, all of our texts, snapchats and tweets to each other have consisted of "ahhhhh", "omg we're going to meet Cathy Cassidy" and "WHICH BOOKS SHOULD I TAKE?!"

Cathy said that we could take all of our books if we wanted, but I didn't have room, so I picked four: Scarlett and Dizzy, because they were the first two I read, and then Cherry Crush and Summer's Dream, because they're my two faves out of the Chocolate Box Girls. I also bought Sweet Honey at the event.

We were let in in about clumps of five, so we were in the second clump, because we had gotten there about half an hour early. We flailed. A lot. And talked to people in the queue! It was awesome before we even got to meet Cathy.

Cathy is probably the nicest person I have ever met! She signed all five of my books, with little drawings and everything, then Kyra's. We got to talk to her quite a bit, which was really nice. She knew us from Twitter and my blog, which was really awesome! We talked about our favourites, and about what we thought could happen in Sweet Honey.

Thank you to Cathy Cassidy for signing our books and coming to Birmingham, and to Waterstones for hosting!

- Charli.

(http://charliotherworld.blogspot.co.uk)