title: True Letters from a Fictional Life
author:  Kenneth Logan 
description: Gr 9 UpSeventeen-year-old James reveals his true self only in letters he keeps locked away and never intends to send. As far as everyone knows, popular athlete James is happy with his sort-of girlfriend, Theresa. But James's letters tell a different story: James is pretty sure he is gay. The only problem is that he is surrounded by people who seem like they might not react well to that news. His friends frequently use homophobic slurs, and his parents say things like they are glad he is "normal," not like his gay classmate who had his skull cracked recently. James meets Topher, whom he secretly starts dating, and considers coming out to his friends and family. But before he can, someone steals some of his letters and starts the process for him. Logan shines at creating strong, nuanced characters who behave realistically and unpredictably. Despite their tendency to trash-talk and their reliance on horrible slurs, James and his friends have deep, meaningful, complex bonds. The protagonist's story is about struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. While he knows who he really is, he is uncomfortable with facing this. In a letter to God, James asks him for "a cure for boys who like other boys." Though readers may be turned off by the near-constant homophobia that permeates the story, Logan's look at a boy reconciling his private and public selves is well written and affecting. VERDICT A solid addition to the LGBTQIA+ field.Amanda MacGregor, Great River Regional Library, Saint Cloud, MN
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  **Copyright**
  
    
  
   _Harper_
  
  An imprint of HarperCollins _Publishers_
  
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  [www.harpercollins.co.uk](http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)
  
    
  
  First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2014
  
    
  
  Copyright © Stuart MacBride 2014
  
    
  
  Stuart MacBride asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this
  work
  
    
  
  Cover layout design © HarperCollins _Publishers_ 2014
  
  Cover photographs © Pim Vuik
  
    
  
  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
  
    
  
  This is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, living or dead, real
  events, businesses, organizations and localities are intended only to give the
  fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. All names, characters, places and
  incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used
  fictitiously, and their resemblance, if any, to real-life counterparts is
  entirely coincidental. The only exception to this are the char