Amanda Coppedge, Young Adult Author

Something to Believe

Sixteen-year-old Julie Danner thought she knew exactly what she believed. But when her best friend, Elijah, confesses he is gay, she abandons her conservative religious beliefs and stands beside him. Her courage does not falter even when his father, the pastor of her church, discovers his son’s secret—and preaches about it on Sunday morning. At home, Julie pretends to be the same girl she always has been so her mother won’t worry. At school, her Christian friends ostracize her when she joins the Gay-Straight Alliance.

Luckily, Julie has Finn, a new friend at school who casts himself as her partner in crime when it comes to helping Elijah. He's supportive, kind and funny—but he's also agnostic. Julie vowed never to date a non-Christian, but it's getting more and more difficult to resist her feelings for Finn.

Can Julie’s religion evolve with her changing beliefs? Can she really call herself a Christian if her best friend is gay and her boyfriend isn't a believer? Julie slowly begins to realize that seeking answers is just as important as finding them. And with her friends and family beside her, the journey will never be a lonely one.

Resources

Recommended Reading

Recommended Viewing

Recommended Websites

  • Gay Church
    An Affirming Gay Christian Site. Contains a state-by-state listing of individual churches which are welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
  • Metropolitan Community Churches
    This denomination was created specifically to be welcoming, inclusive and affirmative to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
  • The Naming Project
    A Christian youth group and summer camp which supports people of all sexual identities and gender orientations.
  • The United Church of Christ
    Many churches of this denomination consider themselves “Open and Affirming,” welcoming and supportive to all regardless of sexual orientation.
  • Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
    Note: not to be confused with the Unity Church. Unitarian Universalism is NOT a Christian denomination; the Unity Church is. UUs are supportive of any and all spiritual paths from Christianity to agnosticism, Buddhism to paganism. UUs are also supportive and accepting of all regardless of sexual orientation.

Recommended Music