Gay Teenagers in Kids Fiction: House of Hades & The Misfits

James Howe's book The Misfits is totally different to the fast paced non-stop action of Rick Riordhan's books nevertheless I think anyone with a sense of humour would enjoy reading The Misfits, almost every page is very funny.  It contains profound messages but doesn't feel as if the readers are being lectured.

The Misfits is perfect for children of about 10-13 years of age.

As a gay character Joe is a stereotype, which I found a little annoying at first: he loves Madonna, fashion and musicals, for example.  There are plenty of boys, however, who are just like Joe, different from most, perhaps girlie and perhaps gay - though not necessarily so.

Nico - seems very different to Joe.  No one would suspect Nico was gay or call him names like "fairy."  The two characters are similar in that they

•  both know they are gay,
•  they both name a boy they fancy,
•  they both have a lot of self confidence and do not try to fit in with the crowd,
•  they are both Misfits, outsiders who are excluded from the large popular groups because of their behaviour/ personalities,
• they both have just few core people they trust and consider friends. 

Jealousy figures in both stories.

As we join the story Joe is in 7th grade (so between 12-13 years of age), his closest friends know he may be gay.  One of his friends asks him how he knows he likes boys and not girls.

"How do you know you like girls?" Joe throws back at him.
....
"I just do. I don't have to think about it."
"Well," says Joe, "that's how it is with me and boys. I don't have to think about it." (J Howe)

The reader enjoys the scene in chapter 12 when Joe confirms who he is interested in (and has been since the end of 5th grade).
The next thing Joe tells his friends reminds me of Nico's pain and jealousy at the end of House of Hades.

What does a gay boy of 12/13 want more than anything in the whole world.

"What I want more than anything is to hold hands with someone I like."

.....
"Right. Can you see me walking down the hall holding hands with (xxx) the way Brittney holds hands with Will, or Sara with Justin? Not that I'm saying (xxx) would want to or anything, but it's not fair." (J Howe)

The Misfits is just one book with happy ending for all characters, just what we want! I hope Nico will also find happiness in the much anticipated The Blood of Olympus (Oct 2014).