Check out our interview with Tim Manley, the author of "My Own Kind of Person."

What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?

"My Own Kind of Person" is about a bisexual boy who survives high school by being the funny kid. He's a stand-up comedian who turns everything into a joke—his mental health, his struggles with social expectations of masculinity, his awkward moments with his girlfriend. That was me as a teenager. It took me many years to learn to say how I felt without trying to turn it into a punchline. Thankfully, this narrator will get there in about 300 pages.

What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?

In books, we find a queer community that is always available. No matter where we live, or what our lives look like, the characters in books are here whenever we need them.

Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?

Seeing our own experiences reflected in stories is affirming and helps us feel less alone. Seeing experiences that are not like our own is illuminating and helps us feel others’ humanity.

Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.

The stand-up comedian narrator Sean O’Brien gets partnered in an English assignment with Elijah Summers, a quietly confident kid who sees through Sean's jokey persona. I wanted to write about that moment when someone else sees who you really are—and they like that person.

What can fans expect from your book?

Humor and heart. And some kissing.

What's up next for you in the bookish world?

I’m working on a new YA novel that opens with a meet-cute and takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's a love triangle! And I don't know who is going to end up with who yet. I'm writing it to find out.