An American Library Association Youth Media Award Stonewall Honor Book
Ray Liu knows he should be happy. He lives in a big suburban house with all the latest electronic gadgets, and even finds plenty of time to indulge in his love of gaming. He needs the escape. It’s tough getting grades that will please his army veteran father, when speaking English is still a struggle. And he can’t quite connect with his peers at high school -- Chinese immigrants like himself but who seem to have adjusted to North American life more easily.
Then comes the fateful day when his father accesses Ray’s internet account, and discovers Ray has been cruising gay websites. Before Ray knows what has hit him, his belongings have been thrown on the front lawn, and he has been kicked out.
Angry,defiant, Ray heads to downtown Toronto. In short order he is robbed, beaten up and seduced, and he learns the hard realities of life on the street. Could he really sell himself for sex? Lots of people use their bodies to make money -- athletes, actors, models, pop singers. If no one gets hurt, why should anyone care?
An American Library Association Youth Media Award Stonewall Honor Book
Ray Liu knows he should be happy. He lives in a big suburban house with all the latest electronic gadgets, and even finds plenty of time to indulge in his love of gaming. He needs the escape. It’s tough getting grades that will please his army veteran father, when speaking English is still a struggle. And he can’t quite connect with his peers at high school -- Chinese immigrants like himself but who seem to have adjusted to North American life more easily.
Then comes the fateful day when his father accesses Ray’s internet account, and discovers Ray has been cruising gay websites. Before Ray knows what has hit him, his belongings have been thrown on the front lawn, and he has been kicked out.
Angry,defiant, Ray heads to downtown Toronto. In short order he is robbed, beaten up and seduced, and he learns the hard realities of life on the street. Could he really sell himself for sex? Lots of people use their bodies to make money -- athletes, actors, models, pop singers. If no one gets hurt, why should anyone care?
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Aug 3, 2011 |
| Specifications | |
| Keywords | Homophobia; Canada; immigrant; LGBT; sexuality; immigrant life; gay; gay teens; coming out to your parents; coming out; Chinese; Asian; homelessness; parents; running away; Canadian; acceptance; accepting yourself; how to be yourself; dealing with disapproval; |
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Supporting Resources
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Excerpt |
| Written By |
PAUL YEE was born in Spalding, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Vancouver's Chinatown. A former archivist, he now writes full time. His books have won many awards and honors, including the Governor General's Award (Ghost Train), the Ruth Schwartz Award (Ghost Train and Roses Sing on New Snow), and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award (Tales from Gold Mountain). He has won the Vancouver Book Award and been shortlisted for the BC Book Prize, and his books have been named to several lists, including NYPL Books for the Teen Age (Dead Man’s Gold), ALA Notables and Booklist's Top Ten Historical Fiction. Most recently, Paul’s young adult novel Money Boy was named a Stonewall Honor Book and he won the Vicky Metcalf Award for a body of work. Paul lives in Toronto. |
| Written By |
|
PAUL YEE was born in Spalding, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Vancouver's Chinatown. A former archivist, he now writes full time. His books have won many awards and honors, including the Governor General's Award (Ghost Train), the Ruth Schwartz Award (Ghost Train and Roses Sing on New Snow), and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award (Tales from Gold Mountain). He has won the Vancouver Book Award and been shortlisted for the BC Book Prize, and his books have been named to several lists, including NYPL Books for the Teen Age (Dead Man’s Gold), ALA Notables and Booklist's Top Ten Historical Fiction. Most recently, Paul’s young adult novel Money Boy was named a Stonewall Honor Book and he won the Vicky Metcalf Award for a body of work. Paul lives in Toronto. |
| Audience | ages 14 and up / grades 9 and up |
| Reading Levels | Lexile HL610L |
Commended, Stonewall Honor Book, 2012
“Paul Yee's novel is a valuable intervention into the representation of gay and lesbian experience in the young adult genre.” —CM Magazine
“Money Boy is a poignant tale about immigrant life and life as a homosexual teen.” —VOYA
“...Money Boy is nothing less than astonishing.” —Facepuller
“Yee’s latest offers insight into the city’s immigrant-Chinese and gay communities...sure to invite both thought and discussion.” —Booklist
“Teens venturing into gritty new-adult writing will be both fascinated by his tumble from grace and relieved that there’s a safety net to break his fall.” —Bulliten for the Children's Center for Books
“Yee’s sophisticated juxtaposition of immigrant narratives with questions of sexual identity is compelling and poignant.” —School Library Journal