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Far from Xanadu Julie Anne Peters Books

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Far from Xanadu Julie Anne Peters Books

This well-written story chronicles part of the coming out struggles of a teen-age lesbian in rural northwest Kansas.

Two years after her father's suicide, Mary Elizabeth (Mike) Szabo is struggling to accept herself as her family is attempting to go on without him. Her mother has withdrawn into alcoholism and gluttony. Her older brother has given up on his future. Mike rotates between being a good student, the star of the local fast-pitch softball team, and the town's most accomplished plumber.

When a gorgeous new girl joins her tenth grade biology class, it is lust at first sight. Mike quickly befriends this new girl - Xanadu - as each recognizes the other as a fellow rebel. But while Mike is out to her best friend Jamie - a very out gay boy she has known for years - she is closeted to almost everyone else.

Mike and Xanadu quickly become best friends. However, Mike's friend Jamie quickly points out that Xanadu is straight. Mike is not sure; she hopes Xanadu will recognize and accept her love.

Some adult readers may find the language offensive in a couple scenes, but it reflects language that is in common use by teens.

This is another excellent book from Julie Anne Peters.


Tags : Amazon.com: Far from Xanadu (9780316158817): Julie Anne Peters: Books,Julie Anne Peters,Far from Xanadu,Little, Brown Young Readers,031615881X,G031615881XI2N00,School & Education,Social Issues - Adolescence,Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings,Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Romance,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Family problems,Family problems;Fiction.,Fiction,Juvenile Fiction Girls & Women,Juvenile Fiction Love & Romance,Juvenile Fiction Social Issues Homosexuality,Lesbians,Lesbians;Fiction.,Love & Romance,School & Education - General,Self-perception,Self-perception;Fiction.,Social Themes - Emotions & Feelings,Social Themes - General (see also headings under Family),YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Young Adult Fiction School & Education General,Young Adult Fiction Social Themes Emotions & Feelings,Young Adult Fiction Social Themes General (see also headings under Family),Homosexuality,Interpersonal relations,Juvenile Fiction

Far from Xanadu Julie Anne Peters Books Reviews

Mike, the main character, is easy to care about. Her problems are complex and give her a lot to chew over as we get to know her a dad who killed himself, a brother who's screwing up his life, a love for the family business, and a small town that's good to her but made her feel like a charity case. Frankly, the teen romance laid over the top of this is the least interesting part of the story.

Some aspects of the setting and plot are hard to believe. Conveniently, there seems to be one gay boy and one gay girl in this town, and they're best friends. No one is homophobic or gets in their faces about it, even though the boy is a cheerleader and the girl is a weight-lifting softball dyke. There are a few subtle signs of disapproval from adults, and that's it. In one way it's refreshing, and lets the book be about other things. In another way it's a little too good to be believed.

The plot strikes a balance among storylines about friends, family, dreams, and romance. However, Mike's refusal to believe what is right in front of her face goes on for much too long. It's a case of the reader seeing the truth long before the character, and having to wait for the character to catch up. The end featured a heart-to-heart talk between two characters who had been barely speaking to each other, and I didn't really see what had changed to make their relationship so much better all of a sudden.

So the story is somewhat predictable. The setting, while not entirely believable, is a beautiful place to hang out for awhile. Think idealized midwest, like in "Field of Dreams." And in the middle of all this, Mike and her best friend, and one or two of the other characters, do come to life.
Mighty Mike Szabo is a softball champion growing up in a small Kansas town. Mike works for the feed store, drives a truck, lifts weights, and when the beautiful and exotic Xanadu moves into town, Mike falls in love with her. The only problem is that Mike is a girl and Xanadu likes boys.

Julie Anne Peters, the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels for young people, has made her reputation writing about young people struggling with sex and gender identity. FAR FROM XANADU features the life and struggles of Mike Szabo, the only lesbian in a small Kansas town.

Contrary to the popular portrayal of small towns in the Midwest, Mike's neighbors have no problem with her sexual identity. They are a highly supportive, if somewhat traditional, community who are deeply committed to Mike and her future. It is Mike, herself, who struggles with what it means to be the only lesbian in town and in love with a girl who does not return her feelings.

Peters, a Denver author, has a deft touch with the Midwestern dialect. She writes about Coalton and its inhabitants with a deep knowledge and affection for the Midwest. Her descriptions and characterizations ring true. So does her refusal to simplify FAR FROM XANADU into a simple, issue-driven, teen novel.

At its simplest FAR FROM XANADU is about unrequited love and what happens when a person falls in love with someone just slightly out of reach. While Mike's sexual identity is a big part of the story, it is not the book's exclusive focus. The best parts of the novel feature Mike's friendships with her flamboyantly gay best friend Jamie, and with the devastating Xanadu. Instead of dwelling exclusively on the external pressures Mike faces, Peters writes about Mike's internal battle for self-acceptance. As Mike says, "I just wanted to get past wishing I'd been born different, to accepting that I was. Finding the joy in that."

   --- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood
Was just thinking about this book the other day and thought I would write a review. I read this many many years ago (maybe almost 10! Yikes) and it has stuck with me. Especially now with the LGBT community so much more talked about this would be a great read for a teen. I read it in high school and just picked it up at the library and really had no clue what it was about. I really enjoyed the book and recommended it! Gives you deep emotions and feelings for the characters. Go for it!
Really enjoyed this Gay YA book even though it had one of the factors I was trying to avoid reading in lesbian fiction the not exactly happy, happy ending. I will say that I was actually glad the happy ending was an empowering one for the heroine and made me love Mike even more! This is one book I will encourage my daughter to read.
This well-written story chronicles part of the coming out struggles of a teen-age lesbian in rural northwest Kansas.

Two years after her father's suicide, Mary Elizabeth (Mike) Szabo is struggling to accept herself as her family is attempting to go on without him. Her mother has withdrawn into alcoholism and gluttony. Her older brother has given up on his future. Mike rotates between being a good student, the star of the local fast-pitch softball team, and the town's most accomplished plumber.

When a gorgeous new girl joins her tenth grade biology class, it is lust at first sight. Mike quickly befriends this new girl - Xanadu - as each recognizes the other as a fellow rebel. But while Mike is out to her best friend Jamie - a very out gay boy she has known for years - she is closeted to almost everyone else.

Mike and Xanadu quickly become best friends. However, Mike's friend Jamie quickly points out that Xanadu is straight. Mike is not sure; she hopes Xanadu will recognize and accept her love.

Some adult readers may find the language offensive in a couple scenes, but it reflects language that is in common use by teens.

This is another excellent book from Julie Anne Peters.