Draw the Line

In this thoughtful drama, a gay teen navigates the treacherous social landscape of his small-town Texas high school, confronting homophobia and his own reluctance to publicly embrace his identity. Adrian Piper lives for his art, especially his “secret superhero creation,” Graphite, a Renaissance-art-inspired, outwardly gay character who has romanticized adventures with stylized versions of Adrian’s best friends. In the real world, Adrian just wants to make it to graduation. After he stands up to bullies assaulting another gay student, Adrian discovers that he’s no longer content to slip under the radar. As he attempts to fight injustice through art and quiet action, he finds his inner strength and realizes that things aren’t as simple as they seem. Linn, an art director at Simon & Schuster, makes a powerful debut with this empathic page-turner, for which he also supplies dramatic pencil illustrations that believably represent Adrian’s Graphite comics. A diverse cast and an emotionally rich plot make this a gripping journey of self-discovery, romance, art making, and justice. Ages 12–up. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (May)