The Letter Q is a poignant collection of countless letters from several LGBT authors to their younger selves holding hope, wisdom and hindsight. The book is beautifully bound, its pages smooth and able to withstand time and tears. The short letters invite the reader into the heads and personal lives of not the children these authors were but also the adults they have become. While many of the letters entreat their younger selves not to give in, not to give up and not to capitulate to what society demands of them, there are also some, such as Levithan’s (which was a particular favourite of mine) that portray an awareness in self, a growth that is heartwarming.What the Letter Q offers young children is priceless. The book is physical proof that the child/teenager questioning his/her sexuality, sexual orientation is not alone, that whatever questions, whatever experiences he or she is going through at the moment, others have also gone through and more than that, they have survived and survived successfully at that. This is the kind of reassurance that is invaluable to a child who is much more vulnerable to attacks and fears.If you are an adult reading this review, I recommend that you buy this novel for any young person because whether or not they are sexually confused, reading this novel will give them an insight to the thoughts and feelings of children who often cannot find the voice to express themselves. I found this to be touching, sad and yes, hopeful. I recommend this to everyone.
