Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
ISBN: 0-375-92400-0
Levithan, D. (2003). Boy meets boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Plot Summary
Paul has known he was gay since childhood, and his teachers and friends know it too. He’s had a few boyfriends here and there, but when he sees Noah in a bookstore something is different. Paul finds out they go to the same school and agree to see each other the next day. There is also Joni, Paul’s best friend, and Tony, his other best friend. Tony is also gay, but his ultra-conservative Christian parents are not accepting. Kyle has not spoken to Paul in months, but suddenly decides to mend fences. A kiss between Paul and Kyle spreads and Noah hears about it. Afraid of being hurt again, Noah decides to distance himself from Paul. The school dance is coming up and Tony wants to go, but knows his parents won’t let him. Paul wants to take Noah, but Kyle wants to take Paul. Joni has a date and new boyfriend, but no one likes him. Paul decides he is going to get Noah back, and Kyle is going to the dance no matter what.
Critical Evaluation
Hailed as one of the first positive teen novels about gay relationships, Boy Meets Boy is a modern classic of LGBT literature. The setting is wonderfully accepting, nearly utopic, of all sexual orientations, dressing preferences, and relationships. Some characters, including a boy’s Christian parents, are not accepting of homosexuality, but they are the exception to the rule. The accepting surroundings allow the characters to explore not their sexuality, but relationships with other people. There is no need to ‘find themselves’ or struggle with ‘coming out’ because they are already free to do so. At its heart, Boy Meets Boy is a sweet book. There is no rampant use of crude language, sexual situations are limited to mild kissing, and relationships are honest and mean well. Even the homophobic Christian parents act as they do because they are sincerely afraid of their son’s soul, and want him to live a good life. Infinite Darlene is the most outwardly different character, but she lives her life as she is most comfortable, and is happy with the choices she makes. As with other young adult novels, Paul and his friends can sometimes act more mature than their years, and speak as if they are college graduates. However, this is a minor criticism to a book that is otherwise well-written and important for young adults who want equality and acceptance in their lives.
Reader’s Annotation
Paul has fallen in love, but a single kiss with someone else might ruin the whole relationship.
About the Author
David Levithan’s first novel Boy Meets Boy started as a kind of Valentine’s Day present for his friends. Levithan wrote Boy Meets Boy as a book he wished he would receive as an editor. The gay characters in the novel are not outcasts or ostracized for being gay. He has authored or co-authored a total of sixteen books including collaborations with Rachel Cohn and John Green. The Lover’s Dictionary is his first book written specifically for adults, although Levithan says all his books are also for adults.
David Levithan was born in 1972, graduated from Brown University in 1994, and published his first book in 2003. He had a happy childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Levithan also works at Scholastic as a publisher and editorial director and was the founding editor of PUSH. He had edited or published many well-known authors including Suzanne Collins, Garth Nix, and Gordon Korman. He has also edited over 100 Star Wars books. In 2001, Levithan decided to take one photograph a day for a year, he still is.
Genre
Social Issues
Curriculum Ties
Social Issues-Gender Identity
Booktalking
What would you do to convince someone you love him? Paul is going to find out.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 9th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include relationships, including homosexual relationships, are a major focus of the novel.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I read Boy Meets Boy for class and enjoyed it. Also felt it was important to add an LGBT novel.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Levithan, D. (2013). You probably think this page is about me. Retrieved from http://www.davidlevithan.com/about/
ISBN: 0-375-92400-0
Levithan, D. (2003). Boy meets boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Plot Summary
Paul has known he was gay since childhood, and his teachers and friends know it too. He’s had a few boyfriends here and there, but when he sees Noah in a bookstore something is different. Paul finds out they go to the same school and agree to see each other the next day. There is also Joni, Paul’s best friend, and Tony, his other best friend. Tony is also gay, but his ultra-conservative Christian parents are not accepting. Kyle has not spoken to Paul in months, but suddenly decides to mend fences. A kiss between Paul and Kyle spreads and Noah hears about it. Afraid of being hurt again, Noah decides to distance himself from Paul. The school dance is coming up and Tony wants to go, but knows his parents won’t let him. Paul wants to take Noah, but Kyle wants to take Paul. Joni has a date and new boyfriend, but no one likes him. Paul decides he is going to get Noah back, and Kyle is going to the dance no matter what.
Critical Evaluation
Hailed as one of the first positive teen novels about gay relationships, Boy Meets Boy is a modern classic of LGBT literature. The setting is wonderfully accepting, nearly utopic, of all sexual orientations, dressing preferences, and relationships. Some characters, including a boy’s Christian parents, are not accepting of homosexuality, but they are the exception to the rule. The accepting surroundings allow the characters to explore not their sexuality, but relationships with other people. There is no need to ‘find themselves’ or struggle with ‘coming out’ because they are already free to do so. At its heart, Boy Meets Boy is a sweet book. There is no rampant use of crude language, sexual situations are limited to mild kissing, and relationships are honest and mean well. Even the homophobic Christian parents act as they do because they are sincerely afraid of their son’s soul, and want him to live a good life. Infinite Darlene is the most outwardly different character, but she lives her life as she is most comfortable, and is happy with the choices she makes. As with other young adult novels, Paul and his friends can sometimes act more mature than their years, and speak as if they are college graduates. However, this is a minor criticism to a book that is otherwise well-written and important for young adults who want equality and acceptance in their lives.
Reader’s Annotation
Paul has fallen in love, but a single kiss with someone else might ruin the whole relationship.
About the Author
David Levithan’s first novel Boy Meets Boy started as a kind of Valentine’s Day present for his friends. Levithan wrote Boy Meets Boy as a book he wished he would receive as an editor. The gay characters in the novel are not outcasts or ostracized for being gay. He has authored or co-authored a total of sixteen books including collaborations with Rachel Cohn and John Green. The Lover’s Dictionary is his first book written specifically for adults, although Levithan says all his books are also for adults.
David Levithan was born in 1972, graduated from Brown University in 1994, and published his first book in 2003. He had a happy childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Levithan also works at Scholastic as a publisher and editorial director and was the founding editor of PUSH. He had edited or published many well-known authors including Suzanne Collins, Garth Nix, and Gordon Korman. He has also edited over 100 Star Wars books. In 2001, Levithan decided to take one photograph a day for a year, he still is.
Genre
Social Issues
Curriculum Ties
Social Issues-Gender Identity
Booktalking
What would you do to convince someone you love him? Paul is going to find out.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 9th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include relationships, including homosexual relationships, are a major focus of the novel.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I read Boy Meets Boy for class and enjoyed it. Also felt it was important to add an LGBT novel.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Levithan, D. (2013). You probably think this page is about me. Retrieved from http://www.davidlevithan.com/about/
RSS Feed