Hot Read: Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics by David Kelly

We’ve had gay teens on television and in movies, and there have been plenty of books written covering the tumultuous high school years for queer youth. However, for many gays and lesbians, the knowledge that they were somehow different didn’t magically begin once they became teens—not necessarily on a 14th birthday or one morning in first period English class.

Most often, LGBT kids are aware of their differences from a very early age and that understanding can shape childhood experiences in unique ways. Couple that with living in an era where “gay” is a word only used for playground insults or something adults whisper in fear, and you have an environment that is all-too-familiar for many gays and lesbians.

Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics by David Kelly bravely takes on the subject of a queer childhood through the lens of the 1970s. The era is one that has struck a chord with many gay men who fondly recall a time when roller derby and Donnie Osmond enjoyed pop culture prominence. “Growing up in the 1970s, I was definitely aware of music, movies, TV, comic books, etc. I just happened to love disco, Charlie's Angels, Olivia Newton-John, and Wonder Woman without realizing that other gay boys my age loved them as well,” says Kelly.

The collection of comics chronicles the experiences of Steven, a boy whose love of dolls, disco and Charlie’s Angels sets him apart from his brothers and the other boys in his class. Kelly’s portrayal of a sensitive youth questioning the world around him as he develops crushes on other boys and contempt for rigid gender roles is so strong it becomes difficult to remember that the story is only fiction.

Steven is a bright and charming boy who quicly worms his way into the heart, making it easy to join him on his ride of joy, heartbreak and discovery. Steven’s story reaches past the experience of a queer childhood and touches on themes that anyone who has ever felt like an outsider will find familiar. Nevertheless, Rainy Day Recess doesn’t shy away from the issues that gay children face as they try to fit into a society that doesn’t even admit they exist. Instead, the collection of comics covers new ground by telling an honest tale full of innocence, humor and awkwardness that will ring true for many readers. Kelly says, “I wanted to create a comic strip that depicted childhood experiences not seen before in comics. I wanted the Steven character to be relatable and human.”

Rainy Day Recess takes a look at queer youth from a new angle and its unflinching honesty makes it a must-read for anyone who has ever longed for something they were told they shouldn’t want.

Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics is available for order from Northwest Press.