About this book
A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021) Navigating through an intolerant world and their own insecurities, three teenage boys find each other and the confidence to come out of the closet. Three teenage boys, coming of age and out of the closet. Jason Carrillo is a jock with a steady girlfriend, but he can't stop dreaming about sex...with other guys. Kyle Meeks doesn't look gay, but he is. And he hopes he never has to tell anyone—especially his parents. Nelson Glassman is "out" to the entire world, but he can't tell the boy he loves that he wants to be more than just friends... In a revealing debut novel that percolates with passion and wit, Alex Sanchez follows these very different high-school seniors as their struggles with sexuality and intolerance draw them into a triangle of love, betrayal, and ultimately, friendship.
Censorship history
Rainbow Boys was banned or restricted in United States in 2025 for its LGBTQ+ themes and positive depiction of queer identity, as well as sexual content. This case is part of a global pattern in which LGBTQ+ representation in literature faces disproportionate legal and institutional pressure.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | LGBTQ+Sexual |
