Rainbow Boys (Reissue)

Description: For the first printing only! This paperback features sprayed stenciled edges while the special edition supply lasts. This reissue has a brand-new look, a note from the author, and an introduction by Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer.

A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)

Navigating through the intolerant world of the early aughts and their own insecurities, three teenage boys find each other and the confidence to come out of the closet in this seminal queer coming-of-age novel.

Jason Carillo is a jock with a steady girlfriend. He's on track to play ball, marry his high school sweetheart, and get as far away from his abusive dad as possible--but that's if he can get into college with his shaky math grades...and if he can stop dreaming about having sex with guys.

Kyle Meeks is definitely gay, but he's not planning on telling anyone, least of all his parents. All he wants is to keep his head down and get through high school without incident--until Jason asks him for help in math and all of a sudden, Kyle is spending long hours with a boy he's always found cute and it's getting harder and harder to keep his feelings under wraps.

Nelson Glassman is out and loud about it, but being proud of who you are doesn't mean things don't get lonely. He's got a target on his back for the school bullies to kick, and while his mom supports him, she doesn't entirely understand him. To make things worse, he and his best friend--and longtime crush--Kyle have been spending more and more time apart, and he doesn't know how to deal.

Messy, honest, and raw, Rainbow Boys follows these three boys as they come of age and come out of the closet in the early aughts in one of the most revolutionary young adult novels in the last quarter century.

Brief description: Starting with Rainbow Boys, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new edition, Alex Sanchez's ten novels for young people have won the hearts of readers around the world. Originally from Mexico, Alex received his masters in guidance and counseling and worked for many years as a youth and family counselor. He now lives in upstate New York. When not writing, he tours the United States talking with teens, librarians, and educators about the importance of teaching tolerance and self-acceptance. Visit him at www.AlexSanchez.com.

Review Quotes: Nancy Garden author of Annie on My Mind and Good Moon Rising There are still woefully few books for young adults that explore in depth the coming-out process of young gay men. Alex Sanchez touches on nearly all the issues involved, taking his readers on a journey through the world of three gay teenagers as they struggle with virginity, sex, body image, denial, support groups, homophobia, activism, gay bashing, parental and peer reactions, Internet predators, HIV -- and love.