{"id":8157554508013,"title":"The Other Pandemic","handle":"the-other-pandemic","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAn AIDS Memoir\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/lynn-curlee\"\u003eLynn Curlee\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe speak their names so they shall not be forgotten.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore COVID-19 made \u003cem\u003epandemic\u003c\/em\u003e a household word in 2020, there was the AIDS pandemic of the 1970s through the 1990s. Author Lynn Curlee explores the parallels and differences as he recounts life in New York and Los Angeles when this disease silently took hold of the gay community. As it became a full-blown public health crisis, Curlee watched in horror as HIV\/AIDS, divisive politics, and discrimination cost many people their lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith honesty and heart, Curlee tells the stories of the many friends and loved ones that he lost to the disease, including his own life partner. LGBTQ+ rights and access to health care are still under threat today. \u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic \u003c\/i\u003eis a stark reminder of how history speaks to the present, and this window to the past is a valuable tool for understanding our current cultural landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“HEARTBREAKING! This memoir of the AIDS plague is a powerful reminder to those of us who miraculously lived through it—and a valuable eye-opener for younger generations who can never allow this to happen again. With the COVID pandemic on everyone’s radar, there couldn’t be a more teachable moment. Author Lynn Curlee grabs this pulpit by the throat and fearlessly makes the case that we must never forget.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Sam Irvin, co-executive producer of \u003ci\u003eGods and Monsters,\u003c\/i\u003e author of \u003ci\u003eKay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Reading \u003cem\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/em\u003e was a very personal journey for me. I lost my stepfather to AIDS in 1993 when he was just 44 years old. The way Lynn shares his own life experiences a gay man living during this historic time of loss and perseverance is so insightful, and incredibly important to share with those who were not there firsthand to experience it.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Carol Bennett, daughter of Tim Bennett, a major character in \u003cem\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/i\u003e is a poignant and raw examination of the AIDS crisis that highlights how much the past shapes our present. Lynn Curlee has accomplished something beautiful here—I could not put it down. I am grateful he chose to share his loved ones with the world.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Leo Rocha, journalist and GLAAD \"20 under 20\" honoree\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Reading \u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic: An AIDS Memoir\u003c\/i\u003e is akin to settling in with a dear, dear friend for a long-overdue catchup. Lynn Curlee’s effortless and evocative prose is much more than a poignant account of a not-distant-past epidemic that galvanized the LGBTQ+ community. It is a deeply personal and brave story of chosen families, political deafness, and hard-fought resolve. Curlee both broke my heart and mended it.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Jeffrey Dale Lofton, author of \u003ci\u003eRed Clay Suzie\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Heartfelt, essential reading about the ways the past echoes into and informs the present—\u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/i\u003e deftly and personally brings to light a time and people that remain important, valued, and vital today.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Rhiannon Wilde, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eHenry Hamlet's Heart\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhere You Left Us\u003c\/i\u003e\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-great-nijinsky\"\u003eThe Great Nijinsky\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rise-up-the-art-of-protest\"\u003eRise Up! The Art of Protest\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/other-pandemic-spread.jpg?v=1681485061\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1673619266\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/other-pandemic-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1673619266\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/the-other-pandemic-discussion-guide.pdf?v=1676306009\"\u003eDownload the Discussion Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLynn Curlee, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLynn Curlee has a master's degree in art history and has both written and illustrated more than a dozen books for children, including \u003cem\u003eTrains, Skyscraper, Ballpark: The Story of America's Baseball Fields, Capital, \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e The Great Nijinsky,\u003c\/em\u003e a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalist. His work has been exhibited in Los Angeles, New York City, and Long Island.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/lynn-curlee\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Lynn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024\u003c\/li\u003e \n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn author-illustrator of nonfiction books for young readers (The Great Nijinsky, 2019 ), Curlee now writes an affecting memoir for older readers about his life as a gay man in the context of the AIDS pandemic. He begins, however, with an examination of the similarities between AIDS and COVID-19 before continuing into an account of his young life and evolution as a professional artist. His story takes an ominous turn when, in the early ’80s, he sees an article in the New York Times about a rare “cancer” affecting gay men. From this point on, he tells two stories: one clinical and contextual about the disease and its evolution in the 1980s, and the second about its impact on his personal life, which is increasingly touched by the plague as many of his friends become ill. It strikes closest to home, however, when his partner, John, tests HIV positive; the story becomes a harrowing account of John’s illness and, at the time, inevitable death. Curlee has written an important book, for, as he acknowledges, “AIDS still simmers in the United States,” and so more good books about it are necessary—particularly those such as this that put a human face on it. This title belongs in every library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith simplicity and honesty that is both engrossing and intimate, author and artist Curlee recounts his life as a gay man living through the HIV\/AIDS crisis. Using a traditional linear time line, he beautifully portrays the major points of his life. He grew up in North Carolina in a loving, traditional family. While in his 20s in gritty, 1970s New York City, Curlee recounts the fun of the disco lifestyle and the energy from the movements seeking gender and sexual equality in society. He lived in California in the early 1980s when the virus was surging but was a mystery that society wouldn’t talk about. He conveys the homophobic and deadly silence of the federal government that ignored the crisis for years, alongside the urgent work of AIDS activists trying to save their own lives. With heartbreaking regularity, the author watches those he loves die in the prime of their lives, one after another. He briefly touches on the differences and similarities of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding context and relatability for readers. Source notes, bibliography, and index included. VERDICT A poignant memoir that readers will not be able to put down. Keep tissues handy. Highly recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis heartbreaking memoir by Curlee (The Great Nijinsky) chronicles “how it was to grow up and live as a gay man in the United States” before and during the HIV\/AIDS crisis. Taking an elegiac tone, Curlee describes his childhood in 1960s North C arolina. Quick-moving subsequent chapters recall Curlee’s experiences participating in the disco scene on Fire Island, his impulsive move to California in 1979, and his return to N.Y.C. in the early 1980s, where he and his friends struggled to understand why so many gay men were “dying horrible, gruesome deaths.” While perceived comparisons to Covid-19, as outlined in an introduction, are minimally explored, Curlee briefly covers their medical and social differences and similarities, as well as the pervasive impact they each had on society. Sidebars about HIV\/AIDS succinctly detail the facts, and Curlee’s straightforward prose capably conveys the era’s worsening bias and fear. Most powerful of all, however, is the novel’s focus on Curlee’s inner circle and the people he lost to the crisis, including his partner, making for a thought-provoking history about what it was like to live during that time, and a good start for further exploration. Extensive back matter concludes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA firsthand account of living through the AIDS pandemic as a young, gay man in the U.S.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProlific author for young readers Curlee introduces teens to this topic by starting with Covid-19 as an empathic entryway to the past. He describes being a teenager in 1960s North Carolina, setting the scene in terms of technology and daily life and painting a picture of a time when sex was a secret kept by adults and homosexuality was only mentioned in joking or insulting ways. He goes on to chronicle how movements seeking equality across gender, sexuality, and race were interconnected and how the Stonewall uprising set the stage for a dazzling period of freedom and falling in love during the 1970s disco era in New York City. That fun-filled time came crashing down as many of Curlee’s vibrant friends began to die sudden, mysterious deaths. As the book progresses, educational, historical, and scientific content in text boxes increasingly supplements the narrative, although its placement and layout are sometimes distracting. It can also become difficult to track all the different individuals who are introduced. However, Curlee’s memoir, illustrated with personal photographs, is intimate and resonant as it presents the thrill of coming out and living openly and the fear and pain that followed when so many people he loved were taken from him too soon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompelling and important. (important people, the origins of AIDS, author’s note, musical references, source notes, select bibliography, image credits, index)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn his memoir, Curlee uses personal photographs, powerful quotes, and his own memories to build a gripping, unforgettable account of the early years of the AIDS crisis. Although COVID-19 is not central to this book, it is an entryway of sorts into discussion of a different pandemic about which most teens know very little. Curlee seamlessly melds statistics, historical timelines, and political contextualizing with autobiographical details: he recounts his elation at coming out, his glowing memories of falling in love, his horror as he watched his community of friends get sick and die, and his own heartbreaking experience of a helping a beloved partner sick with AIDS die with as much beauty and dignity as was possible. The vulnerable, poignant memories make this historical review an especially memorable and crucial reading: the bleak descriptions of watching a generation of vibrant, brilliant young men literally waste away as the world carried on add considerable emotional weight to the nonfiction elements. There are startling mirrors in how current trans and queer individuals face countless efforts to silence them and outlaw their existence, reflecting the repressive, hate-fueled tone of opposition from the early years of AIDS, when a profound misunderstanding of and aversion to gay culture made the stigma around and death count of AIDS so devastating. Extensive end matter provides curious readers with a number of potential research pathways including, for example, musical references, additional reading lists, and a brief exploration into the origins of the AIDS virus. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGRID was the acronym first used to describe the mysterious disease that was prematurely ending the lives of young gay men in America. GRID stood for Gay-Related Immune Deficiency. As more and more people became infected with the HIV virus the name for the host of illnesses caused by the virus was changed to AIDS. This is one of the first lessons learned from reading this compelling memoir written by artist and children's author Lynn Curlee. Mr. Curlee pours out his heart as he shares his story of loss and survival. The book is positioned contextually as a comparison of the AIDS pandemic to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Both were deadly pandemics that altered the lives of the individuals who lived through them. Along side the memoir narrative throughout the book are statistics and key moments during the AIDS crisis. Mr. Curlee does a wonderful job of making the book readable to adolescents, but the subject matter may be one that in our current moment of book banning that parents and school boards may not want their teens exposed to. This would be a shame. The author humanizes the AIDS pandemic, introducing the reader to an eclectic group of friends gay and non gay. Many are leading enviable lives until their lives are cut tragically short. Mr. Curlee does a great job charting the progression of AIDS and how the nation reacted. Slowly when compared to COVID. The reader also learns that without AIDS and what was learned in striving for a cure came the knowledge of how to deal with COVID in a timely manner. There is much to be learned by reading this book. Sources and an extensive bibliography are shared at the end for those who want to know more about this time in American history. An excellent read for all who care about their world and the people who inhabit it. Hopefully this book finds its way to the shelves of high school and local libraries. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-350-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 12 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 176\u003cbr\u003e6 x 9\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2023-04-14T11:19:49-04:00","created_at":"2023-04-14T10:56:35-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Young Adult","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Novel","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Art\/Music\/Theater","Browse by Subject_Diversity","Browse by Subject_History \u0026 Biography"],"price":1999,"price_min":1999,"price_max":1999,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":44059418329325,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"43501","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":38701559808237,"product_id":8157554508013,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-04-14T11:16:15-04:00","updated_at":"2023-04-14T11:16:16-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":888,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1681485376","variant_ids":[44059418329325]},"available":true,"name":"The Other Pandemic - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1999,"weight":601,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-62354-350-1","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":31297238991085,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.676,"height":888,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1681485376"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1681485376"],"featured_image":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1681485376","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":31297238991085,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.676,"height":888,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1681485376"},"aspect_ratio":0.676,"height":888,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1681485376","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAn AIDS Memoir\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/lynn-curlee\"\u003eLynn Curlee\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe speak their names so they shall not be forgotten.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore COVID-19 made \u003cem\u003epandemic\u003c\/em\u003e a household word in 2020, there was the AIDS pandemic of the 1970s through the 1990s. Author Lynn Curlee explores the parallels and differences as he recounts life in New York and Los Angeles when this disease silently took hold of the gay community. As it became a full-blown public health crisis, Curlee watched in horror as HIV\/AIDS, divisive politics, and discrimination cost many people their lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith honesty and heart, Curlee tells the stories of the many friends and loved ones that he lost to the disease, including his own life partner. LGBTQ+ rights and access to health care are still under threat today. \u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic \u003c\/i\u003eis a stark reminder of how history speaks to the present, and this window to the past is a valuable tool for understanding our current cultural landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“HEARTBREAKING! This memoir of the AIDS plague is a powerful reminder to those of us who miraculously lived through it—and a valuable eye-opener for younger generations who can never allow this to happen again. With the COVID pandemic on everyone’s radar, there couldn’t be a more teachable moment. Author Lynn Curlee grabs this pulpit by the throat and fearlessly makes the case that we must never forget.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Sam Irvin, co-executive producer of \u003ci\u003eGods and Monsters,\u003c\/i\u003e author of \u003ci\u003eKay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Reading \u003cem\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/em\u003e was a very personal journey for me. I lost my stepfather to AIDS in 1993 when he was just 44 years old. The way Lynn shares his own life experiences a gay man living during this historic time of loss and perseverance is so insightful, and incredibly important to share with those who were not there firsthand to experience it.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Carol Bennett, daughter of Tim Bennett, a major character in \u003cem\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/i\u003e is a poignant and raw examination of the AIDS crisis that highlights how much the past shapes our present. Lynn Curlee has accomplished something beautiful here—I could not put it down. I am grateful he chose to share his loved ones with the world.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Leo Rocha, journalist and GLAAD \"20 under 20\" honoree\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Reading \u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic: An AIDS Memoir\u003c\/i\u003e is akin to settling in with a dear, dear friend for a long-overdue catchup. Lynn Curlee’s effortless and evocative prose is much more than a poignant account of a not-distant-past epidemic that galvanized the LGBTQ+ community. It is a deeply personal and brave story of chosen families, political deafness, and hard-fought resolve. Curlee both broke my heart and mended it.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Jeffrey Dale Lofton, author of \u003ci\u003eRed Clay Suzie\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Heartfelt, essential reading about the ways the past echoes into and informs the present—\u003ci\u003eThe Other Pandemic\u003c\/i\u003e deftly and personally brings to light a time and people that remain important, valued, and vital today.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Rhiannon Wilde, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eHenry Hamlet's Heart\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhere You Left Us\u003c\/i\u003e\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-great-nijinsky\"\u003eThe Great Nijinsky\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rise-up-the-art-of-protest\"\u003eRise Up! The Art of Protest\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/other-pandemic-spread.jpg?v=1681485061\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/other-pandemic-cover.jpg?v=1673619266\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/other-pandemic-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1673619266\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/the-other-pandemic-discussion-guide.pdf?v=1676306009\"\u003eDownload the Discussion Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLynn Curlee, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLynn Curlee has a master's degree in art history and has both written and illustrated more than a dozen books for children, including \u003cem\u003eTrains, Skyscraper, Ballpark: The Story of America's Baseball Fields, Capital, \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e The Great Nijinsky,\u003c\/em\u003e a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalist. His work has been exhibited in Los Angeles, New York City, and Long Island.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/lynn-curlee\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Lynn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024\u003c\/li\u003e \n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn author-illustrator of nonfiction books for young readers (The Great Nijinsky, 2019 ), Curlee now writes an affecting memoir for older readers about his life as a gay man in the context of the AIDS pandemic. He begins, however, with an examination of the similarities between AIDS and COVID-19 before continuing into an account of his young life and evolution as a professional artist. His story takes an ominous turn when, in the early ’80s, he sees an article in the New York Times about a rare “cancer” affecting gay men. From this point on, he tells two stories: one clinical and contextual about the disease and its evolution in the 1980s, and the second about its impact on his personal life, which is increasingly touched by the plague as many of his friends become ill. It strikes closest to home, however, when his partner, John, tests HIV positive; the story becomes a harrowing account of John’s illness and, at the time, inevitable death. Curlee has written an important book, for, as he acknowledges, “AIDS still simmers in the United States,” and so more good books about it are necessary—particularly those such as this that put a human face on it. This title belongs in every library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith simplicity and honesty that is both engrossing and intimate, author and artist Curlee recounts his life as a gay man living through the HIV\/AIDS crisis. Using a traditional linear time line, he beautifully portrays the major points of his life. He grew up in North Carolina in a loving, traditional family. While in his 20s in gritty, 1970s New York City, Curlee recounts the fun of the disco lifestyle and the energy from the movements seeking gender and sexual equality in society. He lived in California in the early 1980s when the virus was surging but was a mystery that society wouldn’t talk about. He conveys the homophobic and deadly silence of the federal government that ignored the crisis for years, alongside the urgent work of AIDS activists trying to save their own lives. With heartbreaking regularity, the author watches those he loves die in the prime of their lives, one after another. He briefly touches on the differences and similarities of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding context and relatability for readers. Source notes, bibliography, and index included. VERDICT A poignant memoir that readers will not be able to put down. Keep tissues handy. Highly recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis heartbreaking memoir by Curlee (The Great Nijinsky) chronicles “how it was to grow up and live as a gay man in the United States” before and during the HIV\/AIDS crisis. Taking an elegiac tone, Curlee describes his childhood in 1960s North C arolina. Quick-moving subsequent chapters recall Curlee’s experiences participating in the disco scene on Fire Island, his impulsive move to California in 1979, and his return to N.Y.C. in the early 1980s, where he and his friends struggled to understand why so many gay men were “dying horrible, gruesome deaths.” While perceived comparisons to Covid-19, as outlined in an introduction, are minimally explored, Curlee briefly covers their medical and social differences and similarities, as well as the pervasive impact they each had on society. Sidebars about HIV\/AIDS succinctly detail the facts, and Curlee’s straightforward prose capably conveys the era’s worsening bias and fear. Most powerful of all, however, is the novel’s focus on Curlee’s inner circle and the people he lost to the crisis, including his partner, making for a thought-provoking history about what it was like to live during that time, and a good start for further exploration. Extensive back matter concludes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA firsthand account of living through the AIDS pandemic as a young, gay man in the U.S.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProlific author for young readers Curlee introduces teens to this topic by starting with Covid-19 as an empathic entryway to the past. He describes being a teenager in 1960s North Carolina, setting the scene in terms of technology and daily life and painting a picture of a time when sex was a secret kept by adults and homosexuality was only mentioned in joking or insulting ways. He goes on to chronicle how movements seeking equality across gender, sexuality, and race were interconnected and how the Stonewall uprising set the stage for a dazzling period of freedom and falling in love during the 1970s disco era in New York City. That fun-filled time came crashing down as many of Curlee’s vibrant friends began to die sudden, mysterious deaths. As the book progresses, educational, historical, and scientific content in text boxes increasingly supplements the narrative, although its placement and layout are sometimes distracting. It can also become difficult to track all the different individuals who are introduced. However, Curlee’s memoir, illustrated with personal photographs, is intimate and resonant as it presents the thrill of coming out and living openly and the fear and pain that followed when so many people he loved were taken from him too soon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompelling and important. (important people, the origins of AIDS, author’s note, musical references, source notes, select bibliography, image credits, index)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn his memoir, Curlee uses personal photographs, powerful quotes, and his own memories to build a gripping, unforgettable account of the early years of the AIDS crisis. Although COVID-19 is not central to this book, it is an entryway of sorts into discussion of a different pandemic about which most teens know very little. Curlee seamlessly melds statistics, historical timelines, and political contextualizing with autobiographical details: he recounts his elation at coming out, his glowing memories of falling in love, his horror as he watched his community of friends get sick and die, and his own heartbreaking experience of a helping a beloved partner sick with AIDS die with as much beauty and dignity as was possible. The vulnerable, poignant memories make this historical review an especially memorable and crucial reading: the bleak descriptions of watching a generation of vibrant, brilliant young men literally waste away as the world carried on add considerable emotional weight to the nonfiction elements. There are startling mirrors in how current trans and queer individuals face countless efforts to silence them and outlaw their existence, reflecting the repressive, hate-fueled tone of opposition from the early years of AIDS, when a profound misunderstanding of and aversion to gay culture made the stigma around and death count of AIDS so devastating. Extensive end matter provides curious readers with a number of potential research pathways including, for example, musical references, additional reading lists, and a brief exploration into the origins of the AIDS virus. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGRID was the acronym first used to describe the mysterious disease that was prematurely ending the lives of young gay men in America. GRID stood for Gay-Related Immune Deficiency. As more and more people became infected with the HIV virus the name for the host of illnesses caused by the virus was changed to AIDS. This is one of the first lessons learned from reading this compelling memoir written by artist and children's author Lynn Curlee. Mr. Curlee pours out his heart as he shares his story of loss and survival. The book is positioned contextually as a comparison of the AIDS pandemic to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Both were deadly pandemics that altered the lives of the individuals who lived through them. Along side the memoir narrative throughout the book are statistics and key moments during the AIDS crisis. Mr. Curlee does a wonderful job of making the book readable to adolescents, but the subject matter may be one that in our current moment of book banning that parents and school boards may not want their teens exposed to. This would be a shame. The author humanizes the AIDS pandemic, introducing the reader to an eclectic group of friends gay and non gay. Many are leading enviable lives until their lives are cut tragically short. Mr. Curlee does a great job charting the progression of AIDS and how the nation reacted. Slowly when compared to COVID. The reader also learns that without AIDS and what was learned in striving for a cure came the knowledge of how to deal with COVID in a timely manner. There is much to be learned by reading this book. Sources and an extensive bibliography are shared at the end for those who want to know more about this time in American history. An excellent read for all who care about their world and the people who inhabit it. Hopefully this book finds its way to the shelves of high school and local libraries. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-350-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 12 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 176\u003cbr\u003e6 x 9\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}