The story was predictable (clichéd at times) but also funny. Comical may be a better word. The characters were likeable and I am so glad it wasn't all about the teacher leading Steven along the Path of Knowledge. I'm glad Mr. Bowman fell off his pedestal and that Steven had to come to terms with his teacher's imperfection. I did have some issues with Rachel. She was just about too earthy Type A for me; her actions were extreme and unrealistic at times.
Favorite part: after Rachel cheers Steven for finally telling coming out and starts getting all squidgy on him, (pg. 126) she continues:
"Which guy in our class do you think is the sexiest?"
"I have no idea."
Actually, it was Victor Sanchez.
Steven's answer is so quick, so definite; he's obviously put some thought into the subject. That still makes me laugh! I think it is the "actually" that makes the line. Hysterical.
I did not like how the story ends just before the complicated part begins. Or not so much where it ended as much as where Steven was. The central point of the book: Steven wants all the "answers" -- the ones that any person wants for instant relationship/life success. He thinks that if he just looks hard enough or talks to the right person and asks the right questions, he'll be enlightened. I don't think Steven figured out that that's a pipe dream, which left me without a feeling of closure. I think Steven still expects Mike to have the magic words to "fix" him (or he's expecting red-hot romance).
Then again, there's a lot to be said just for finding someone in the same boat.
Other opinions?
10 comments:
I enjoyed reading the book. It was very amusing and I laughed out loud a lot. Steven was a very likable character. A person who is ready and willing to take charge of his life, and who is more daring than most people I know. When he wanted something he went out and did it with no fear. I do think many straight teenage men would disagree about how easy it was for him to get dates though. I don't remember dating in high school being that easy.
I liked Rachel at first, but she disappointed me. She was more interested in being a part of controversy or making a political statement than being a friend for Steven. I felt really bad for him when he said he couldn't talk to her because she would just want to start a club.
I disagree with Sarah about the ending of the book. I felt the book came full circle. He had just as many questions at the end of the book as he did at the beginning. That understanding his sexuality didn't solve all of life's problems. I think he understood this. I see the next scene with Mike as the beginning of more comical scenes. Steven will find out he only has 3 things in common with Mike; both male, both teenagers, and both gay. Other than that I don't think they will have anything in common. I don't see Steven having much in common with someone who will guzzle food on a bet. I don't think Mike did this just to prove his "manhood" either because we know at least one other teammate knowing he is gay and he was willing to admit to being gay with a complete stranger on the phone. Leading me to believe this was part of his character. I think Steven learning he doesn't have much in common with Mike will cause him to have even more questions that he has to search for answers, which could be another book in it self.
I did really enjoy this book, and I found myself really wanting to read it, but when it ended, I reflected back and realized how the story was predictable, cliche, improbable at times (totally agree about all the dates!), convenient at times, and so on. But that being said, I really did enjoy it. Steven was very likeable, and the story was pretty entertaining.
I was a little surprised he came to his conclusion that he was gay so quickly in the book -- I thought he'd be convincing himself for the entire book that he wasn't. But that's okay -- it was interesting to see what happened after he came out. I wonder how realistic it is, though, that he told his parents so quickly. I was surprised -- I thought he would keep that under wraps for way longer (as in, not in the course of this book). I assume LaRochelle is gay himself, but maybe I'm wrong -- anyone? I would trust his plotline a little more if he really is gay, I think (I might believe that Steven would come out to his parents that quickly, even though I've never heard about that happening in real life with any of my friends). I also found it a little hard to believe that he went to the gay youth meeting so quickly -- it seems like after you come out to your best friend, you'd spend more time processing it and wouldn't jump right in, but what do I know?
I don't know how I feel about the ending. I don't remember being disappointed, though, or feeling as if Steven thought he had all the answers. I do agree, though, that he thinks Mike will shed all sorts of light on the situation, which may or may not be the case. It'd be very funny to read about how he and Mike have nothing in common and oh well.
I feel as though I had more to say right when I finished the book, but of course I wrote nothing down and here I am, blank. I'll leave it at that.
I liked how Steven felt uncomfortable, yet was able to remain calm during some pretty embarrassing stuff: the library incident, for example.
I liked how he can be gay without being super-sexual, as many gays are portrayed. He was a normal teen.
His best friend, Rachel, seemed to be a little over-the-top with all the enthusiasm...reminded me of the girl (the ex-girlfriend) in You Drive Me Crazy movie.
It was really funny. I found myself hehe-ing out loud and smiling through a lot of it...I liked the "I need my license" thread throughout the story, kind of like how getting your driver's license is a thread throughout high school.
Wow--look at all this commentary!
I will return and make comments on your comments soon.
Wait, do I have time to comment before Sarah comments on comments? I hope so!
I enjoyed the book; it was amusing and not particularly offensive, as problem novels go. I thought the continual up-ending of Steven's expectations was deftly done and "good for the reader," as it were -- lots of teachable moments, lots of "Do you see, young reader? People are complex, not one-dimensional!" It read quickly and I found the ending somewhat satisfying, although I agree with Sarah that there seemed to be some more important lesson that Steven needed to learn that didn't quite happen for him.
I think I've just become less interested in children's books that are only okay, or that prioritize morals over writing, or are just pretty good "for a children's book." I want to read books that are great. Period. This is not at all a criticism of the Rumpus management, just a reflection on how demanding I am.
I need to find some time to add books to the wish list. I promise I will!
Complaints about the management?!
Do you mean management as in "how things are run" or management as in "that termagant running the show?"
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
We have had a lot of "meh" books this year, even the award ones.
I don't think there's any way to avoid "meh" books. We read both award books and nonaward books, and we don't know what to expect until we've actually read the books. It's practically impossible to predict and anticipate, and because of the variety of opinions in this group alone, we're bound to have one book that fits as a "meh" for one person even if it's a "wow" for another. I haven't been completely wowed by anything we've read lately, but I'm still glad we're reading (not that you aren't, Meera, of course!). I just hope that we'll hit the jackpot one of these days and find another So B. It or Wrecked (my personal faves).
On a side note, for other reading, I got The Green Glass Sea out of the library a while ago (Book Sense pick, Scott O'Dell award, maybe a Horn Book pick, other awards??), but because it looked kind of boring to me, I put it off and put it off and put it off (so much so that I had to bring it back to the library, return it, and then check it out again because I had used up all my renewals). But then I finally started it, and I'm really enjoying it. I don't even know why -- it's not necessarily my "type of book" (whatever that means), but for some reason I am really digging it. I'm not finished, so that may change, but I'm just considering this a pleasant surprise because I wasn't expecting much. I like it when books surprise me.
Just thought I'd put my two cents in, since we have such a good turnout for comments on this book!
I hate the internet sometimes -- I can never seem to be clear about what I mean. :-)
I really meant my comment as a reflection on my personal attitudes towards children's literature, which I think are shifting to become much more like my attitudes towards adult literature. I think it took a while for me to stop thinking of these books as somehow separate.
And Sarah, by management I just meant the book picking process. Which is all of us, but I know you probably post the most number of books on the wish list, so I didn't want you to think I was criticizing your choices. I do want to be more active in that area.
That's interesting, Meera--do you mean you have different scales and/or expectations for children's books vs. other books?
I'm going to ponder this and maybe post about it.
I think I used to, yes. I feel like it was largely unconscious or due to being so excited by Susan and Cathie's explications of books we read for our classes that I kind of felt like the whole genre was automatically full of mystery and depth and complex themes, rather than clearly recognizing that just like any other group of books it's populated by the good, the bad, and the extremely fugly.
I think because it was an unconscious idea it took a long time to fully exorcise, and the Rumpus has been very helpful in that regard.
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