After some consideration and reflection (and making myself pick just one!) I decided on Bo from Finding H.F.. I find Bo appealing for several reasons: his ability to express himself even in a situation in which nonconformity has negative consequences, his talent and intelligence, and his unwavering loyalty to his friend. Bo's interests, sense of style and demeanor usually place him on the outside of both the social circle at his high school and the favor of his father. He could attempt to blend in as much as possible-- to purchase the "right" clothes, to curb his enthusiasm for music. This might save him from unpleasant confrontations, but Bo chooses instead to remain true to who he is and to keep going in the face of almost constant disapproval. Bo understands something that many people never figure out-- that you can "blend in", but you lose what makes you unique in the process. Instead of spending his time lamenting his situation, Bo embraces who he is and finds ways to make himself happy. He practices his music, realizing that it could be his ticket to someplace where he will be happy. He finds a friend and devotes his time to helping her out. Bo is unwaveringly loyal to H.F.. He knows that she's not his ticket to popularity, and he doesn't care. Instead, he spends time with her, sharing his car and talent with her. He appreciates all that she has to offer as a person and a friend, and genuinely enjoys his time with her. Together, Bo and H.F. make life bearable, even enjoyable. I found it very touching when Bo expressed his worries about Wendy to H.F., timidly asking her whether she and Wendy were going to resent him as a third wheel. His honesty and forthcoming were admirable, and spoke to his giving nature. Never once was he angry that H.F. had a new relationship; he was happy for her, even though he realized he may have to take a step back as the focus of H.F.'s attention. He respected H.F. and valued their friendship enough to be honest about his worries, but was never accusing or angry. Bo is not only a role model for teens, but for anyone. His loyalty, intelligence, and self-awareness are admirable at any age.
"What do you think you are discovering about the world of literature written for young readers, i.e., what do you know now that you did not know when the course began?"
As the class progresses, my perspective on young adult and teen literature continues to broaden. While reading Finding H. F., I found myself constantly surprised by the way such controversial material was presented-- namely, that it wasn't labeled as "controversial" at all! (I envision a cover with a parental advisory sticker or some sort of red-lettered warning that the subject matter could be inappropriate for some readers.) In my experience working with children, especially last summer at camp, I instinctively had to scrutinize and censor everything the children read, saw or heard. Nothing that could be considered "offensive" by child or parent was allowed to be presented to them, whether it be a religious symbol or graphic rap song. I realized that I, and a good deal of people, tend to apply this view to all material intended for anyone under the age of 18. We expect to see non-offensive characters in an engaging story, hopefully teaching children some sort of moral or life lesson. Finding H.F. unapologetically presents a controversial character-- a lesbian teen in a conservative town. This character is not a one-dimensional embodiment of a lesbian stereotype, but a likeable human being who happens to be a lesbian, which is a huge distinction. I imagined this book ending up on the shelf at camp, or in a school library, and was instinctively worried. What would parents think? Who would put something so controversial in a place where kids could easily access it?
As I asked myself these questions, I realized that the book is intentionally intended to present what might be a new and different view to teens that might otherwise have a one-sided perspective on the issue. By making H.F. a human being, by presenting her homosexuality as just a part of her and not her defining characteristic. The book shows teens something powerful-- that one person can't be defined by a single trait. During the teenage years, self-discovery is the primary objective. Teens are trying to find their place in the world and searching for someone or something with which to identify. Finding H. F. sends a powerful message-- people are people, not stereotypical representatives of one group. H.F and Bo are both real, relatable characters. I've realized that the teen years are not for censorship, but are a chance for teens to start forming their own ideas about issues. This book gives them that option. There is a point at which censorship stops and the time comes for a teen to learn about issues form opinions; Finding H. F. showed me that this can be done gracefully and without bias.
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