When I Knew

Peach’s Picks Rating


Title:
When I Knew

Author:
Robert Trachtenberg, ed.

Illustrator:
Tom Bachtell

ISBN:
0-06-057146-2

Publisher:
New York: Harper Collins

Copyright:
2005

Length:
119 pages

Plot Summary:
This book contains 80 stories told in first person by gay men and women. Most stories tell of the moment when the person realized they are gay. The preface states, “The stories in this book fall into four categories of no particular order: When I knew, When My parents Knew, When Everyone Else Knew, and the occasional (bonus!) coming-out story”. Some of the memoirs are heartbreaking; for example, the story on page 62, told by Eddie Sarfaty. Eddie tells his grandmother and she cries. In the end of his tale, grandmother shows her love by saying, “. . . it’s disgusting! It [referring a PFLAG article] that some of the parents don’t love their children anymore”. Other stories are laugh-out-loud funny, for example: the 7-year-old boy who tries to look up Tarzan’s loin cloth by laying on the floor under the television. Yet others show compassionate and understanding parents. Stephen Orr’s father (page 4) is willing to stop playing football with his other sons to pick flowers with his little boy who is not interested in football. Most stories are told with self-depreciating humor and hint of emotional pain.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is perfect for browsing. It is an oversize paperback with an attractive cover showing a black and white photograph of 10-year-old Michael Grana dressed primly in suit and dress shirt. His crossbow tie is colored bright pink. The photo and the pink tie immediately grab the reader’s attention making the subject apparent. The book is ideal for browsing by teens who are working hard to understand who they are, their sexuality, the sexuality of others, and the workings of the world. The stories are short, witty and usually contained on one or two pages. Photographs or cartoons accompany each story. Many of the photographs are from the subjects personal archives showing them as a child corresponding with the age of realization. Some pages are a little busy with coloring that make the writing difficult to read, but that is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellently designed book. While people of color are included, they are few and far between. Also, no accounts are related by transgender people or transvestites. The humor is so funny that the pain is usually hidden.

Reader’s Annotation:
Men and women tell about the moment they realized that they are gay or the moment they told their family. All the stories are short and funny, with underlying tones of pain.

Author Information:
Lives in Los Angles
Photographer specializing in portraits, entertainment, and fashion
His photography has been nominated for or received the following awards: American Photography Annual, Communication Arts, and American Photo Magazine’s Images of the Year
He has also written, produced and directed several documentaries and other television and film projects
This book was produced as a documentary by HBO Films
He states that he always knew he was gay

Genre:
Nonfiction

Curriculum Ties:
Human development classes

Booktalking Ideas:
It’s always interesting to learn about the life journeys of people and this book will give you very personal information.

“When I told [my grandmother] that I was a lesbian, she said, ‘No you’re not, you’re Romanian. On your father’s side!”

Leave on tables in YA area of library for browsing

Reading Level/Interest Age:
High school / adult

Additional Books by Author:
None

Challenge Issues:
Homosexuality
Deal with challenge by having a challenge policy in place, selection policy in place (ALA policies). Meet with library administration if necessary. Provide positive review(s) from professional publications.

Why this work is included in Peach’s Picks:
When I Knew received a positive review in School Library Journal. It receives five peaches for being a heartfelt accounting of the life stories of homosexual men and women.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/When-I-Knew-R-Trachtenberg/dp/1417694629/ref=sr_1_1_oe_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272760498&sr=1-1

References:
Trachtenberg, R. (2010). “Biography.” Robert Trachtenberg photography. Retrieved April 30, 2010, from http://www.roberttrachtenberg.com/portfolio.html