Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than through mortal friends - Silas Weir Mitchell
When Frank agreed to be one of my Inside Readers, he was not yet the winner of the Lambda Literary Award for the Best Gay Romance, so it's a very lucky chance for us to have him now, he is now in the stardoom ;-) Joke aside, Frank is a very kind and funny man, we exchanged some emails and I always found him someone nice to talk with. I also know (inside trader news...), that he has some very exciting projects regarding his two novels, Band Fags! and Drama Queers!, so I think we will have him again soon featured in this journal, maybe in another of my serials (and no, I can't say more now, unless Frank doesn't want to share...). So please, welcome Frank as Inside Reader, and wish him plenty of luck for other future projects.
Frank Anthony Polito's Inside Reader List
Thanks for this opportunity to share my favorite books! I’ve always been a reader, and often brag of my ability to do so at a 9th grade level when I was six years old (at least this is what my teacher at Longfellow School, Miss Langtry, told my mother). When asked to compile this list, I knew for sure what title would top as my all-time fave. But what about the others? It didn’t take long, after a quick look at the myriad of books lining mine and my partner’s shelves, to come up with the other nine. Now the question is: why? Perhaps you will sense a pattern with the exception of a few. It’s no wonder the next novel I’m writing is a true Y/A.
In order of when they were read…
1) The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner — One of the first books I ever checked out of the Hazel Park Memorial Library, my mother spoke highly of it as being one of her childhood faves. My cousins and sister and I would pretend we were Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny living on the run, and finding treasures at the local dump. Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 154 pages
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 1989)
Publisher Link:
http://www.albertwhitman.com/content.cfm/bookdetails/1-The-Boxcar-ChildrenISBN-10: 0807508527
ISBN-13: 978-0807508527
Amazon:
The Boxcar Children The Aldens begin their adventure by making a home in a boxcar. Their goal is to stay together, and in the process they find a grandfather.
2) Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White — My 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Steffen, read this book aloud to me and my class. During the scene where Fern and Henry are swinging on the rope in the barn, I literally fell on the floor with laughter. Even back then, I was a Drama Queer. Charlotte’s unconditional love and devotion for Wilbur has always stuck with me, and the last line of the book is perhaps the best of any: “It is not often someone comes along that's a true friend and good writer. Charlotte was both.” This is what I hope to be when it comes to my best friend who I’ve written about in both of my novels thus far. Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (October 2, 2001)
Publisher Link:
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Charlottes-Web/?isbn=9780064400558ISBN-10: 0064410935
ISBN-13: 978-0064410939
Amazon:
Charlotte’s Web “Some Pig.” These are the words in Charlotte's web, high in the barn. Her spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, as well as the feelings of a little girl named Fern ... who loves Wilbur, too. Their love has been shared by millions of readers.
( books from 3 to 10 ) About Frank Anthony Polito: Frank Anthony Polito is a Brooklyn-based actor and playwright. He can be seen in the films One True Thing with Meryl Streep and Renee Zellweger, Hitch with Will Smith, and The Peacemaker with George Clooney.
On TV he has appeared on Spin City, The Sopranos and One Life to Live. On stage he has worked off-Broadway at Primary Stages and Revelation Theater and played the role of James in the Washington, D.C. premiere of Corpus Christi by Terrence McNally.
Frank's first play, JOHN R, was produced in New York City in 2001 and is the basis for BAND FAGS!. Other plays have been seen at the New York International Fringe Festival, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in Chicago, Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, VA, and at The Dayton Playhouse in Dayton, OH.
His teleplay, Blind Faith, was a finalist for the Alfred P. Sloan teleplay competition at Carnegie Mellon University where he received his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing in 2006.
Frank grew up in the Detroit suburb of Hazel Park, near 10 Mile and John R. He began playing trumpet in 6th grade (but later switched to French horn) and is proud to have been a Band Fag.

Drama Queers!
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Kensington; 1 edition (June 1, 2009)
Publisher Link:
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=14165ISBN-10: 0758231644
ISBN-13: 978-0758231642
Amazon:
Drama Queers! Ever since Mrs. Malloy assigned us the What I Want To Be When I Grow Up paper earlier that year in her 1st hour English, my mind had been made up… I, Bradley James Dayton, will be a famous actor someday!
Meet Bradley Dayton—a wickedly funny high school senior whose woefully uncool life always seems to be full of drama, even in the sorry little suburb of Hazel Park, Michigan. It’s 1987, the era of big hair, designer jeans, and Dirty Dancing. George Michael has “Faith” and Michael Jackson still has a nose. Brad, on the other hand, has a thing for acting, and while his friends are trying to get laid, Brad’s trying to land the lead in Okla-homo! and practicing the Jane Seymour monologue from Somewhere in Time.
Sure, he’d like to get laid too, but while Brad has known he was gay forever, the rest of “Hillbilly High” is not so forthcoming. Brad’s already lost one best friend, Jack, who dropped out of marching band to step into the closet. But lately, things are looking up. Not only has Brad made Homecoming Top Five, but Richie, a new, totally cute member of drama club, definitely seems to be sending signals—and he’s not the only one. Before senior year ends, Brad will know more about love, lust, and friendship than he ever thought possible. Because if all the world’s a stage, he’s ready to be in the spotlight…