Published in 2019, Hold My Hand by Michael Barakiva is the sequel to his first novel One Man Guy. This is the third [*] young adult novel featuring a Gay Armenian-American protagonist.
Barakiva is a writer, director, and producer. He is the founding Artistic Director of The Upstart Creatures, a not-for-profit theatre company based in New York City. His novel One Man Guy was named to the Rainbow List, Equality Family Council Reading List. It spent over a year as Goodreads #1 LGBTQ YA Novel and was named as one of Barnes and Nobles’ Perfect Valentine’s Day YA Novels 2017 list.
His third book, These Precious Stones, is due for publication in 2022.
Kissing Ethan. Kissing Ethan rocked. Kissing Ethan was like taking a rocket to outer space, floating in zero gravity, and marveling at the incomprehensible beauty of the creations of the universe. Kissing Ethan was sweet like the last piece of baklava, drenched in honey, snatched from the bottom of the box. Kissing Ethan was the answer to an unasked prayer.
Hold My Hand by Michael Barakiva
Hold My Hand is notable for the fact that it is the first YA novel with two gay Armenian-American characters. Barakiva introduces us to Arno, a shy Armenian-American whom our hero Alex befriends at Saturday morning Armenian school at church.
When Alek discovers that someone has written Gyot on one of Arno’s textbooks (an Armenian version of “faggot”), Arno comes out to Alek.
Alek tried to give Arno the kind of response he appreciated most: chill, supportive, interested, and not too precious. “Of course it gets better. We can, like, start a gay Armenian club.” Alek assumed a radio broadcaster’s voice. “Genocided and homosexual? We know your plight!”
Hold my Hand is also notable in how Alek navigates his sexuality in terms of whether he will have sex for the first time. He and his boyfriend talk through what it would be, including the mechanics of it. For the Armenian community, this is a major breakthrough for Queer youth.
If available, please consider buying a copy at Abril Books. This book may also be available for purchase through the Queer Armenian Library’s shop at Bookshop.org. If you purchase a copy through Bookshop.org we will receive a commission.
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ISBN: 9780374304867. Published by Farrar Straus Giroux.
