Shockproof Sydney Skate by Marijane Meaker

This is an early lesbian novel, particularly coming from a major publishing house (Little, Brown, 1972), and, as the subtitle lets you know, is definitely "A Novel of Our (its) Time." Sydney, just graduated, obsessed with sex, has come home to Manhattan from boarding school, where his mother continues to live her fast-paced life running an ad agency and managing the crises amongst her circle of upper-crust lesbians who she talks about in code, with one of each couple given a male name....more This early lesbian novel from a major publishing house, is definitely "A Novel of Our (its) Time," as the subtitle annnounces. Sydney, just graduated, obsessed with sex, has come home to Manhattan from boarding school, where his mother continues to live her fast-paced life running an ad agency and managing the crises amongst her circle of upper-crust lesbians who she talks about in code, with one of each couple given a male name. 

She somehow thinks that Sydney is innocent of all this, although he has been aware since a young age that his mother and her friends were different. He has played along with her ploy, but this summer, things get dicey when he finds she is pursuing the same young woman that he is.  

Entertaining, dated, particularly in terms of the language, a fun read from a lesbian author of several adult and young adult gay and lesbian titles. Older teens may enjoy this title.

*** Recommended


Little, Brown & Company, 1972