Frederick is the shy new boy and Xio is the bubbly chica who lends him a pen on the first day of class.

They become fast friends-but when Xio decides she wants to be more than friends, Frederick isn't so sure. He loves hanging out with Xio and her crew, but he doesn't like her that way.

Instead, he finds himself thinking more and more about Victor, the captain of the soccer team. Does that mean Frederick's gay? He can't be-he sees how everyone makes fun of Iggy, a boy all the other kids think is gay. Frederick has to deal with some tough choices: Even though he is curious about Iggy, he's just started fitting in at his new school, and he doesn't want to lose Xio, his best friend.

In So Hard to Say, Alex Sanchez, acclaimed author of the groundbreaking novels Rainbow High and Rainbow Boys, of which School Library Journal said, "It can open eyes and change lives," helps younger readers look at self-discovery, coming to terms with being gay, and acceptance of people who are different from us. He says, "The book comes in response to so many teachers, librarians, and students asking for a story like this."

Read an excerpt of So Hard to Say

Read the praise

Honors received:
· Lambda Literary Award 2004 WINNER!
· Borders Bookstores "Original Voices: New and Emerging Writers" selection
· Book-of-the-Month Club InsightOutBooks.com Featured Selection
· New York Public Library 2005 "Book for the Teen Age"
· Quill Award 2005 Nominee
· Mi Zona Hispana selection
· Voice of Youth Advocates Top Shelf Fiction for Middle
School Readers 2005 selection
· Rhode Island Teen Book Award 2006 nominee

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