The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities

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The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities

by David Levithan (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Billy Merrell

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 414 ratings · 35 reviews

Teens are more aware of sexuality and identity than ever, and they’re looking for answers and insights, as well as a community of others. In order to help create that community, YA authors David Levithan and Billy Merrell have collected original poems, essays, and stories by young adults in their teens and early 20s. The Full Spectrum includes a variety of writers—gay, les...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published May 9th 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green

Best YA Fiction with GLBTQQI themes / characters

72nd out of 373 books — 1,078 voters

The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

Lambda Literary Award / Childrens/Young Adult category winners and nominees

15th out of 66 books — 32 voters

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May 28, 2012 Trina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, own, ya, lgbtqi, 2012, 5stars, favorites

This is an amazing collection of short essays from the youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning about their experiences being who they are. The writing style is not always perfect, but each story flows and has a powerful message. The essays range from a girl embracing her transgender sibling, a bisexual woman trying to persuade her church to allow her to minister despite her church being against homosexuality, people who have been incredibly lucky to have amazing...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

A collection of 40 essays about the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered teens and young adults. Each of these essays is heartbreaking in its own special way. The topics covered include family acceptance to abuse along with the typical dramatics of the teenage years magnified by a knowledge of being different. The editors clearly made a point of selecting a variety of perspectives and a variety of ages. One of the essays is written by a woman I knew in high school, and it was eye o...more

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Apr 09, 2010 Magpie Driftwood rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone interested in queer issues

Shelves: non-fic, lgbtq, politics

This non-fiction book is a collection of essays, poems, IM chats and true stories submitted by young people, ages about 16 to 23, detailing their experiences of growing up and coming out queer. There's plenty of what you'd expect in terms of parental anger, rejection by friends, and harassment by peers, but I was struck by the overwhelming optimism of many of the pieces. It is wonderful to know that there are numerous young people who have had a positive experience of growing up queer in America...more

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Nov 26, 2008 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read this book because I realized that I don't know much about personal stories of people coming out and living as LBGTQ's -- how do they feel as part of society? Family? Religion? Peers? And this was just the book for that, I guess. Some of the essays were pretty good, but others were just painful -- poorly written or overdramatic or underdramatic. Everything was written by people under the age of 24, and I found myself wishing that they had written essays when they were older, with the wisdo...more

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Jun 10, 2010 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, family, non-fiction, essays, autobiography, young-adult, relationships, community, coming-of-age, glbqt

I read this book because it was banned in New Jersey - not far from where I grew up. A high school library was asked to remove this from the shelves. I just wanted to see what caused all the fuss. I believe that the book should not have been banned.

Yes, some of these issues have to be hard to deal with in high school. I am sorry for any one of any age who has to deal with the reality of glbqt in their life. This country is so fearful of the whole issue of sex.

However, we can't bury our heads in...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Kate LaChapelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

The Full Spectrum was an interesting read for me for a variety of reasons. One, I'm not actually a huge fan of non-fiction unless it's stuff about writing or social psychology, like Malcolm Gladwell (who, ironically, wrote the book I started after this one), but this is an anthology of non-fiction works from GLBTQ persons and dealing with issues and learning about sexual and gender identities. You can see why it would interest me.

I suppose to some, my interest in gender and sexuality might seem...more The Full Spectrum was an interesting read for me for a variety of reasons. One, I'm not actually a huge fan of non-fiction unless it's stuff about writing or social psychology, like Malcolm Gladwell (who, ironically, wrote the book I started after this one), but this is an anthology of non-fiction works from GLBTQ persons and dealing with issues and learning about sexual and gender identities. You can see why it would interest me.

I suppose to some, my interest in gender and sexuality might seem strange since I am a straight, white, cis-female, but even though my gender and sexual identities are rather uncomplicated when compared to many others, I can't help a fascination with sexuality and gender. I don't know if I can pinpoint what about it draws me in so much, but I suppose it's similar to my interest in Gladwell's works and Freakonomics, perhaps it's just a thirst for knowledge. But enough about me and my extensive interests. The book.

It's a collection of 40 stories, essays, poems, and even some photographs that tell the stories of these people. Some are snapshots of moments, relationships, or tales of coming out, while others span much longer terms delving into the murky waters of gender identity and questioning. The process of acceptance, both from others and from themselves.

The anthology is aptly named since it does cover, while not perhaps the actual full spectrum, a feeling of the full spectrum and at least hints of the possibilities from the identity standpoint, the emotional standpoint, and the actual point of view.

I was surprised as to how many of the stories dealt with religion, but in a very positive manner and how their religion helped them in accepting their sexuality, rather than challenging it and acting as a catalyst for self-hatred. I actually rather enjoyed seeing how people put into their own words, their relationship with religion and how it works with their identity.

That isn't to say all the stories have happy-go-lucky relationships with religion, but I guess the spectrum comes in there too.

There was a good variety in the pieces, both in content and in form. My only qualms with the collection were that a few of the pieces I just "didn't get", which isn't to say that they were bad, just that they were on a level that I am not on. There were also a few pieces where I questioned the editing choices, but I think that's true of just about any work of literature.

I also would have appreciated more balance in the placement of stories. I have no idea how the editors chose the order in which the pieces appeared, but I guess I'm picky about that in the same way I make mix CDs, there is a rhyme and reason. But it's a bit like sentence construction, you need to mix up short and long sentences and medium sentences so it doesn't get monotonous and it wasn't necessarily the tone that was monotonous or even the contents, it was the lengths. There were periods filled with 20 pages of 1 - 3 page stories and then you went into a chunk of 15 - 20 page stories and it got a little tiresome sometimes.

In all though, I really enjoyed the anthology and I think that there are lessons to be learned by everyone, regardless of age, sexuality or gender identity.(less)

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May 25, 2010 Lawral rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

The pieces in this anthology tackle a myriad of topics: coming out, religion, first love, unaccepting parents/peers, religion, supportive parents/peers, the Boy Scouts, the military, religion(!); in a variety of settings: high school, New Your City, college, junior high, Egypt. They are written by young people who fall under the umbrella term "queer," but identify as gay, bi, trans, lesbian, gender-variant, and more. Some of the pieces are positive and affirming, some speak of overcoming unbeara...more The pieces in this anthology tackle a myriad of topics: coming out, religion, first love, unaccepting parents/peers, religion, supportive parents/peers, the Boy Scouts, the military, religion(!); in a variety of settings: high school, New Your City, college, junior high, Egypt. They are written by young people who fall under the umbrella term "queer," but identify as gay, bi, trans, lesbian, gender-variant, and more. Some of the pieces are positive and affirming, some speak of overcoming unbearable hardship and hate, some end as hopeless as they began. All of them are important and valid, just like the young people who wrote them.

As a collection, The Full Spectrum is ambitious. It strives to present a multitude of experiences and identities, and it does. The mix of guys and girls, trans or not, is great. The mix of topics is also expansive, and given how much religion is mentioned, the mix of opinions on it is also widely variant. Also the mix of poetry, prose, letters, and diary entries was great. I never felt bogged down in too much angsty poetry or journal writing; all was in balance. This mix of writing styles will, hopefully, make this book accessible and attractive to readers of all stripes.

My main problem was with the editing. Some of these pieces are beautiful bits of polished writing. Some of them are not. I imagine this has a lot to do with the state they were in when they were submitted. Many of these pieces were written by young people about the most traumatic periods of their lives! Everything is in their writing and everything is raw. Everything. It is completely understandable that some of them lack polish. These pieces could have used the guidance of a good editor, and it is a shame that they didn't get it. That said, these stories are compelling, each and every one. If I, an almost-30-year-old, engaged, queer woman had such a strong reaction to this book, I cannot even begin to imagine how much solace and revelation this book could provide for someone still going through the experiences described there in. I saw myself in these stories. I saw my friends. Everyone deserves to be able to see themselves in stories like these too.

Book source: I bought it(less)

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Jul 04, 2008 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

With The Full Spectrum, editors David Levithan and Billy Merrill provide an open forum for GLBTQ teenagers and early twenty-somethings with an assortment of personal stories, essays, and poems. The works range in theme from self-acceptance and first-time experiences to the coming-out process and future obstacles, both personally and politically. The collection is refreshing, harrowing, glib and thought-provoking, a catalogue of first-person accounts told in a variety of formats including email e...more With The Full Spectrum, editors David Levithan and Billy Merrill provide an open forum for GLBTQ teenagers and early twenty-somethings with an assortment of personal stories, essays, and poems. The works range in theme from self-acceptance and first-time experiences to the coming-out process and future obstacles, both personally and politically. The collection is refreshing, harrowing, glib and thought-provoking, a catalogue of first-person accounts told in a variety of formats including email exchanges, diary entries, and letters to loved ones, as well as traditional prose.

"We must continue to tell our stories in hopes that others are listening," taken from Travis Stanton's entry, A Fairy's Tale, perhaps best describes what The Full Spectrum sets out to accomplish. Some of the entries sound almost child-like, whereas others are remarkably well-written, considering the age limit for inclusion was 23. Regardless, each story, poem, or rant makes for compelling reading, and the collection, as a whole, reminds the reader, and each of the authors, that while their stories are unique, they are not alone.

Nonetheless, loneliness and isolation are recurring themes throughout the collection. In Crying Wolfe, Jack Lienke tells the story of a high school acquaintance, Wolfe Reed, who shares his fondness for slasher flicks but acknowledges their friendship only in private. "Genuine connection, after all, isnt suspenseful," says Jack, attempting to help both the reader and himself better understand his relationship with Wolfe. "It's isolation that creates tension." Tyrell Pough, author of one of the shorter but arguably more disturbing entries, Continuation of the Life, shares details of abuse at the hand of his foster mother and the subsequent bullying he endures at three different group homes. In spite of his past experiences, Tyrell has a surprisingly positive outlook. "For those who are in the struggle," he says, "hang in there and just believe."

Given the obstacles these individuals have had to overcome, and at so young an age, each story still ends either on a high note or with the assumption that the worst is over. With titles as varied and self-explanatory as When Youre a Gay Boy in America (which explores a young man's first encounter with internet dating), A Boy in the Girls Bathroom (portraying a sixteen-year-old's struggle with gender identity), and A Quietly Queer Revolution (which chronicles a bisexual womans relationship with religion and her church), the outcome is always resoundingly positive and life-affirming. JoSelle Vanderhooft perhaps best conveys this sentiment with her entry, The Most Important Letter of Our Life, where she writes a letter, in present day, to herself as a teenager ten years ago. "I want to tell you every day of your life that sexual abuse, your father, the fact that you broke your toe on a chair once, whatever," she proclaims, "has nothing to do with your sexual orientation." JoSelle knows she can't change the past and that her younger self is long gone, but it helps to serve as a reminder of the person she is now.

The Full Spectrum provides a wonderful outlet for GLBTQ youngsters, writers and readers alike. While the quality and content of some stories and entries is perhaps questionable, the editors are likely to generate a loyal following and continued interest in this writing genre.(less)

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Nov 15, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

It was only a few weeks ago that I read AM I BLUE?: COMING OUT OF THE SILENCE edited by Marion Dane Bauer. That book is filled with fictional stories dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues, and is a book I highly recommend. I was very happy to see THE FULL SPECTRUM, edited by the talented authors David Levithan and Billy Merrell, hit the shelves. THE FULL SPECTRUM is not fiction. It's filled with many, many stories--some long, some very sho...more

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Jun 05, 2009 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars

i literally judged this book by its cover. it was one of those the library puts out on a table randomly and it was so pretty i had to pick it up. it's a bunch of short stories written by teenagers, which i always find fascinating because most teenagers i know can barely spell their names. some of the stories were sad and touching..others were whiny and repetitious. all in all not too bad.

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May 17, 2012 Jes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, bought-in-2012

This book is extraordinary. I have never been one for short stories, but the way that these were put together, it had a wonderful flow. The Full Spectrum made my heart race, and sink, it made me want to cry, laugh, ache and yell. I don't know who couldn't learn something from this book, not just to do with LGBT issues, but also about life. The problems some of these individuals faced was heartbreaking but also inspirational. This is definitely a book every body should read.

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May 21, 2012 Lydia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lgbt

This anthology, published in 2006, still feels a bit dated. I fully understand the significance of the volume, but feel the selections have a certain redundancy. Some of the writings are exciting and lively, but very few. The narratives provided create the feeling of redundancy.

I wish the selections had been more variant.

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Oct 20, 2009 Rosalía rated it 3 of 5 stars

Although an important book in understanding the GLBT community and especially the psychology and politics about the whole thing, I thought the writing left much to be desired. I learned quite a bit about the transgender culture/politics but I honestly skipped a few pages here and there. I would skim the writing to better understand the people but I wouldn't invest a lot of time on the writing.

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Jan 07, 2013 Lisa Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-your-own-books-challenge, 2013, young-adult

The Full Spectrum sat on my bookshelf for a few years after I received it in a "swag bag" at a symposium session on LGBTQ children's/YA literature. I'm glad I finally picked it up and think it would make a great text for preservice (or inservice, for that matter) middle and high school teachers learning about LGBTQ issues and experiences.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on several of these writers.

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May 27, 2012 Alessandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

this book got me through high school, as it was the only LGBT related book in our Catholic school library... I remember sneaking into the library during lunch time and devouring this book bit by bit every day, as I never had the guts to take it home...

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Jun 30, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gender-sexuality

Lovely collection. Some voices are represented more (and better) than others and the writing is not consistently of high quality, but I appreciate hearing the true stories of young people in their own words.

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Dec 27, 2011 Olga rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, ebook, 4-star-rating

Anyone who has ever questioned or struggled or debated their sexuality will find a bit of themselves in this book. An excellent collection!

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Jul 28, 2011 Emily (Lihua Lili) Petit rated it 5 of 5 stars

A marvelous array of personal accounts about being homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and beyond and in between by brilliant young writers. This is inspiring and uplifting, but raw: some of the stories only remind the reader of the vast cruelty of prejudice among people of all ages. Ultimately, however, "The Full Spectrum" is ripe with encouragement and creativity - both that of the young, multilayered human mind and that of the many corners of the human race.

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May 13, 2013 Angélique rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This beautiful collection really lives up to its title. The editors' dedication to showcasing more than one narrative of the queer experience is undeniable throughout this collection as is their dedication to sharing emotive, authentically written works. While there were so many aspects of this anthology which I loved, I was most impressed with the the willingness to include pieces that dealt with religion and queerness in more than just negative ways. As an affirming Christian, it was beautiful...more

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Dec 17, 2009 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I was caught off guard. I'm not usually a fan of gay lit but I definitely enjoyed this!

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Apr 27, 2010 Jamie Cooper rated it 3 of 5 stars

I could relate to some of the stories in this book. It was a good read for me

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Oct 20, 2011 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

A great book for teens to either relate to the stories or to hear what it's like to try and come out to family and friends.

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May 08, 2011 Nicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought it was a lovely anthology.

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Nov 07, 2008 Josie rated it 3 of 5 stars

A mix of writing styles and pieces from across identity spectrum. I didn't read them all, but the thing that will stick we me as that I need to try not to put everyone in a neat little box, it's too limiting in a variety of ways.

Some of the pieces were well written, and others a little stilted, but still interesting.

We have it in the SCCS library, if you're interested.

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Aug 17, 2007 Stacy Parrish rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: glbtf and friends

Shelves: youngadultliterature

I was expecting a lot of this book, but I was let down. The title is pretty bold, so one would think that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning community could really find sanctity in this book. The stories are safe--not honest, and they seem completely edited so that they sound like an after school special...Very disappointing!

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Apr 18, 2008 Anina Ertel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, teen

I've been meaning to read this for a while. The personal stories of teens growing up gay were very uniquely voiced and I'm glad I have this in the library for kids that may need to read about others going through the same thing they are. However it is not exactly happy times to read true account after true account of homophobia.

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Jul 21, 2011 Alienne rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wish there were more stories in here written by bi and (especially) questioning authors. That said, this is a great anthology and I enjoyed reading it.

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Mar 08, 2008 Christy rated it 3 of 5 stars

An interesting anthology of writings centering around the issue of sexual orientation. Some are thoughtful, some aren't. In the end, it got a bit repetitive. Probably not such a fantastic idea to sit and read it all at once as I did. But, definitely an interesting subject matter here.

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Jul 04, 2008 Christy rated it 2 of 5 stars

This might have been a better read if I fit the intended age audience. A book about teens, by teens, for teens. Some of the stories were really touching.

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Jun 24, 2012 Ondra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt, essays, american, non-fiction

If I were gay I'd probably liked it more. One thing that I didn't like was that editors didn't balanced content more. In my opinion it lacked woman's touch.

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About David Levithan

David Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first YA book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.

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“The next few weeks were a haze of pain for me. Several people tried to orchestrate a reconciliation between us, but I wasn't having any of it. I felt that the only way for me to function was to avoid you altogether. Our families had many friends in common, and you called to try to arrange logistics, so that I could see my friends without worrying about seeing you. In retrospect, it was a sweet thing to do. You even sent a card, which I still have in a box somewhere, with a near-apology written on it. I remember being amazed by that, even then. We are neither of us good at admitting to being wrong.” — 1 person liked it

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