The Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger

Hartinger, Brent (2003).  Geography Club.  New York: HarperTempest.

ISBN: 0060012234 /978-0-06-001223-6

Summary: In a high school where the jocks torment one outcast with relentless bullying, Russel views his survival at high school as dependent on hiding that he's gay.  Keeping his self-knowledge from all of his friends, he turns to gay chat rooms on the Internet at night. When he encounters another student at his high school and meets him in the park at night, his life at high school changes drastically as they form "the Geography Club", which is secretly a support group for gay students.  

Additional Comments:  A moving portrayal of the lengths teens take to fit in and feel "normal".  Normally nice, good people can cave in to extreme peer pressure.  Russel joins in the mocking of Brian Bund because he is afraid to take a stand and risk ostracism.  Russel's friend, Gunnar, lies to his best friend because of his pressure to find a girlfriend and to have sex.  What's right and what's wrong can get complicated and confused.  This is a moving book about how difficult life can be for a queer or questioning youth in a close-minded and volatile place like a school.  

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Levithan, David (2003). Boy meets boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.  

Summary: Paul, a sophomore in high school, falls for Noah when they meet in a book store.  Paul's budding romance with Noah gets strained when his ex-boyfriend, Kyle, re-enters his world and results in confusing, conflicting emotions.  

Additional comments:  Paul's high school and community are optimistic examples of how things could be. . .Places where LGBT youth are normalized, and all sexual orientations are accepted without question or harassment.  Kyle, who has grown up in the community, has always been comfortable with his sexuality, but his best friend, Tony, needs his help to come out to his religious parents.  Boy Meets Boy is funny and light at times, but is also emotionally-charged by hurtful relationships.