So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

With a book by Alex Sanchez, you have to know there will be both gay and Hispanic themes. There are in this book, and they are treated with the utmost respect and delicacy. Frederick is a newly arrived “gringo” to a well-to-do Hispanic neighborhood in L.A. Xio is a fun and outgoing girl in the 8th grade at her local middle school. The two become friends, and I grew to really like both as the narrative smoothly slips from one character to the other through timely chapter breaks. Is Frederick gay? It is something he dreads, like many young people who want to fit in. It is also something he would do anything to avoid. Xio likes him, and she is determined to make this cute young man her first “real” boyfriend. Read the book to discover Frederick and Xio’s delightful personalities and the discoveries they make along the way. Proof positive that reality doesn’t have to be depressing.