Contemporary Young Adult Lit: GLBTQ

Choice Book: Boy Meets Boy, David Levithan

Summary

Boy Meets Boy is exactly what it sounds like- a teenage romance about two boys- but it's a lot more than that as well. One of the things I loved most about the text is that it's set in a town where everyone is extremely accepting of homosexuality.  The most popular kid in high school is a football player named Infinite Darlene, who dresses in drag and also ends up being the homecoming queen.  The narrator, Paul, is very comfortable with himself and with his sexuality. His parents and brother are all very supportive and encouraging.  His best friend Tony goes to a different school and does not have the support that Paul does. His parents are conservative and religious, and he has to pretend he's going on church activities or dates with girls in order to leave the house.  Paul meets Noah, a new kid in town and they quickly start dating. The novel tracks their relationship as well as some of the drama that ensues at school.

 Ran by TushTush and I See You, You See Me by Aud Photo

Studio by ThisIsBlaise.

Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon by SimpleInsomnia and Hide My Heart by Through SarasEyes.

Standing Black and White Pinhole by Engrained and  Lunastrella Camera by John W. Golden.

I didn't mean for this collection to look so morose. It's just a coincidence that the pieces I selected are nearly all black and white.

Noted Themes and Questions
Though for many readers the premise and setting of the text may initially seem quite unbelievable, it is definitely intentional.  The author has the reader immediately questioning why such a world world should be so unbelievable. The novel explores identity, family dynamics, creative expression, and teenage romance. One of the secondary plot threads could be seen as a coming-out story, since Paul's best friend, Tony, does not enjoy the same kind of freedom than do the rest of his friends. 
Reflection
I am not sure if there is enough going on in this novel to spend time teaching it in regular curriculum, but I do feel like it's an important book to have on the shelf in a classroom or at the library. What I really appreciated about the novel was the narrative voice. It might even be a good text to excerpt in order to teach voice.  Paul's voice is distinct, recognizable, authentic, and funny.  Another important element of the text is the fact that it is not primarily a coming-out story.  Tony's struggle to come out with his parents is not at the forefront of the text but is a secondary narrative thread and a nice juxtaposition to Paul's romantic narrative. The novel provides a nice spectrum for GTBL students because it displays characters that are at varying levels of comfortability with their sexuality. It also demonstrates that one's comfortability with his sexual identity can be shaped and influenced by his cultural and social environment.
Student Reaction
My guess is that the student reaction would largely depend on the student population. I think that it may not be a favorite among most heterosexual teenage boys, but maybe I am wrong. Maybe I am not giving them enough credit :)
Grade Level
I, personally didn't feel like there was anything "R-rated" about this text that would make it inappropriate for 8th-graders on up; however, after reading the GLBT article assigned to supplement the novel, I think some parents might disagree.