by James Lecesne (Author)
From Academy Award-winning writer, actor, and activist in the LGBTQ community comes a groundbreaking story about love, prejudice, and being yourself.
"This complex, illuminating and beautiful book reminds us we have to look for the light even in the darkest corners." --Brian Selznick, author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Phoebe's life in Neptune, New Jersey, is somewhat unremarkable. She helps her mom out with her hair salon, she goes to school, and she envies her perfect older sister. But everything changes when Leonard arrives. Leonard is an orphan, a cousin who Phoebe never knew she had. When he comes to live with Phoebe's family, he upsets the delicate balance of their lives. He's gay and confident about who he is. He inspires the people around him. He sees people not as they are, but as they hope to be. One day, Leonard goes missing. Phoebe, her family, and her community fight to understand what happened, and to make sense of why someone might want to extinguish the beautiful absolute brightness that was Leonard Pelkey. This novel by James Lecesne, the cofounder of The Trevor Project, inspired the critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway show The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey. A William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist "This book will encourage you to be exactly who you are." --Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina MonologuesAuthor Biography
James Lecesne is an author, actor, and activist, whose film Trevor received an Academy Award for best short film. James cofounded the Trevor Project, a 24-hour suicide-prevention hotline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens. He is the author of Absolute Brightness, the book that inspired the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey. He lives in New York City
Number of Pages: 352
Dimensions: 0.9 x 8.2 x 5.5 IN
Publication Date: May 31, 2016
Accelerated Reader:
Quiz Name: Absolute Brightness
Interest Level: Upper Grades, 9-12
Reading Level: 6.5
Point Value: 15
