James loves to dance, try his hand at writing poetry and singing along to his beloved Mariah Carey. School isn’t fun for him as he’s being bullied and just when he thinks it’s getting better, a whole new level of fear comes his way. With the help of his friends Joel and Harriet, he tries to ignore the constant confrontations and sneaky jibes.
When his Nan dies, he loses a little of his spark as he tries to navigate the world without her. A spiky relationship with his dad and with his mum no longer living with them, James struggles to find an understanding outlet for his worries. He can’t share his secrets so he soon shuts everyone out and becomes angry and frustrated.
Will the bullying ever stop? Can he find the courage to stick up for himself?
Ian Eagleton’s ‘Glitter Boy’ is a celebration of the amazing people within the LGBTQ+ community and those that they share their lives with. James’s story is a heart-wrenching glimpse into the everyday challenges he has where acceptance and understanding are not a high priority for some. A must-have for every school, library and bookshelf.
Be more James. Stay fabulous.
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