cover image Man Up

Man Up

Kim Oclon. Trism, $12.95 paper (240p) ISBN 978-0-9993886-3-1

David Lukas is a varsity baseball player at Lincoln High School, and between his construction worker father’s long-term unemployment, his college prospects, and the homophobic team bully outing him as gay, he’s got a lot going on. Though his best friend, Mike, doesn’t handle the outing well, David finds compassion and kindness directed his way from people he’d never considered friends before, and with support from his boyfriend, Tyler, he decides to take ownership of his own story and be proud of who he is and who he loves. Though not everyone is in David’s corner, even some adults who are otherwise uncomfortable discussing sexuality stand against discrimination and hate. It’s not easy for him to ignore the whispers and rumor-mongering, especially in the locker room, but with his coach’s support, David is able to focus on the sport he loves. Interspersed with interstitials by Tyler, David’s narrations is down-to-earth and relatable, particularly for teens who live in places without large LGBTQ communities. Students preparing for the leap from high school to college in particular will find plenty to identify with. Ages 14–17. [em]Agent: Tina Schwartz, the Purcell Agency. (Apr.) [/em]