Glitter boy by Ian Eagleton

Glitter boy by Ian Eagleton. 

Scholastic, 2023.

James is fabulous. He dances, he sings, and someday he's going to write a song for Mariah Carey to perform. But right now he has three big problems: 1 His teacher, Mr Hamilton, is getting married, and the school choir is planning a wedding surprise. But James's dad won't let James go! Is it because Mr Hamilton is marrying a man? 2 James's nan has been having worrying falls. If Dad finds out, will he put her in a home? 3 At school, a boy named Paul is bullying James, calling him *that word*. James doesn't even want to dance or sing any more... But an ever bigger problem is one James can't bring himself to face: being honest about himself, to himself. 

Books don't usually come with a whole heap of Mariah Carey love! 

The under-the-radar, low-level bullying of James is something that hits close to home.

Again, those middle years can be complete hell. They were the worst years of my bullying - and by those who were, ostensibly, my friends. 

Through it all, James keeps his glitter on. I quashed mine down.