The Alliance (Surviving Southside)
When Scott’s gay best friend commits suicide, Scott, who knows the boy was bullied to death, decides to form a gay-straight alliance “to make sure this didn’t happen to anybody else at school.” In the meantime, Carmen, who is an out and proud lesbian, receives a death threat and decides, in turn, that she will start a GSA. In short order, the two form an alliance working together toward their goal. But it won’t be easy. Carmen continues to receive threats, and Scott, who is straight, finds his reputation on the line. Worst of all, theirs is a conservative school and community. Will the two be able to overcome bigotry? Told from their first-person, alternating points of view, The Alliance is a smoothly written, accessible story of two brave and sympathetic teens who struggle to overcome odds. This volume in the Surviving Southside series is an excellent title for reluctant readers and is sure to spark discussion in GSA groups and in the classroom. Grades 7-12. --Michael Cart