Frederick is the shy new boy in school, and Xio is the bubbly chica who lends him a pen on the first day of class. They become fast friends—but when Xio decides she wants to be more than friends, Frederick isn’t so sure. He loves hanging out with Xio and her crew, but he doesn’t like her in that way. Instead he finds himself thinking more and more about Victor, the captain of the soccer team. But does that mean Frederick is gay? He hopes not—he sees how everyone makes fun of Iggy, a boy all the other kids think is gay. Frederick has to deal with some tough choices: even though he is curious about Iggy, he has just started fitting in at his new school, and he doesn’t want to lose Xio, his best friend.
In So Hard to Say, Alex Sanchez, acclaimed author of the groundbreaking novels Rainbow High and Rainbow Boys, of which School Library Journal said, “It can open eyes and change lives,” helps younger readers look at self-discovery, come to terms with being gay, and accept people who are different from them.
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“Sanchez
effectively differentiates Xio’s bubbly, garrulous narration and Frederick’s
tentative and uncertain voice, and the clear depictions help make the
characters the driving force of this novel…The emotional core of the story
remains solid and authentic. The inclusion of Xio’s viewpoint means that
readers identifying with Frederick encounter a model of survivable reaction
from a friend, and they also get to see the kind of confusion and
disappointment self-misrepresentation can cause in those whose lives they
touch. Subplots such as...the atmosphere of the multi-ethnic, Latino-rich
California community add dimension to the narrative. A lot of kids question
their identity before the traditional YA bracket, and this accessible read will
give them reassurance and food for thought. Recommended.”
—
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books