LizB offers a wonderful rec of The Order of the Poison Oak by Brent Hartinger (HarperCollins, 2005)(see June 10 post).

I particularly agree with her assertion: “Now all we need — because I’m the demanding sort — are GLBT teen books that are fantasy. And science fiction. And mystery.”

It also hit me that I’ve been neglecting to mention the book in my recent lists of my 2005 recs because I read the ARC in 2004. But it’s a 2005 book, and folks paying a lot of attention to the books published this year should have it high on their radar.

See my own thoughts on The Order of the Poison Oak (includes Story Behind The Story interview on Geography Club).

(Also don’t miss the rest of the 2005 recs, plus new additions: Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez (Simon & Schuster, 2005); Sketches From A Spy Tree by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, illustrated by Andrew Glass (Clarion, 2005); It Is The Wind by Ferida Wolff, illustrated by James Ransome (HarperCollins, 2005); and The Meanest Girl by Debora Allie (Roaring Brook, 2005)).

Cynsational News & Links

Brent Hartinger: Author Bio from Teenreads.com. April 12, 2005 interview.

Brent Hartinger: the out gay author of young-adult best sellers addresses writing about gay issues for teens by Jamie Rhein from Out.com.

Interview with Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club from Debbi Michiko Florence.

Interview with Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club from AfterEllen.com.

“Should I Do Free Rewrites?: Thoughts on an Age-Old Writing Question” by Brent Hartinger from The Purple Crayon.

“The Writing Pie: How Do You Slice It?” by Christa Exter from the Institute of Children’s Literature.

“The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Rejection on the Path to Publication:” an archived ICL chat with author Judy Cox.