Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz. Simon & Schuster, 2012. 357 pages

Teenagers, Ari, named after his Mexican grandfather and Dante, son of a literature professor, meet in the early 1980s. Seemingly very different but both outsiders they become friends. lots happens here- family dynamics and problems and growing pains and sexuality and secrets  but through it all, love prevails. So well written and compelling that even though i knew what where we were going , i did not know how we would get there. And,  unlike LIE, i genuinely liked the characters who were believable and lovingly portrayed. Recommended absolutely.

Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S Brannen. Putnam Juvenile (2008), Hardcover, 32 pages

Little Chloe adores her Uncle Bobby, but when Uncle Bobby falls in love with Jaime and begins to plan the wedding, Chloe is angry and jealous and very afraid that Uncle Bobby will no longer love her. In the end, Chloe is reassured that Uncle Bobby will always love her and in Jaime, she will now have TWO loving uncles. Plus, she gets to be flower girl! A gentle and loving yet realistic look at the complex feelings and emotions children may experience when a loved one gets married. The guinea pig characters are sweetly gentle and appealing, and while it is clear that Uncles Bobby and Jaime are gay, this is not the issue, making this an especially good choice for school units on feelings and families and celebrations. Highly Recommended.