I just finished reading “Boy Meets Boy” by David Levithan. I have NEVER been more moved by an innocent love story.
When the story began I felt like the “world” that Paul lived in was far fetched and somewhat unrealistic. But as I read it became more obvious to me that it was really just an exaggeration of our society. Paul is a normal boy that goes to a high school full of people that most readers could easily relate too. The only character that was not relatable to me was Infinite Darlene, but only because she was a football player, otherwise I found her character to be very similar to any girlfriend of mine.
As I read I found myself more captured by the love Paul finds himself consumed by. He faces something any gay or straight teenager finds themselves facing, confusion concerning love, friends, and school.
The question I did have while reading was, is it ok that I didn’t find Paul’s sexuality a key element to the story? As I read Paul and Noah’s relation could have been anyone’s relationship in my mind, I did not focus on the fact that it was a relationship between two boys. The only time I felt that it was pivotal for sexuality to be a key element was in Tony’s home life. His struggle with his parents and their religious views was the only part of the book that really allowed me to see sexuality as playing a key role in this story.
Overall, I was very moved by this book. I feel like the story opens up an amazing view into your average teenagers struggle with life, while tying in sexuality. I feel like this book should be read by any child, but it definitely is a book that students can find themselves within. There are still people of all ages that struggle with their sexuality and this book may allow readers to become more comfortable with themselves, or at least aware or more open to others.
In my mind this was the best book we have read for our class. I could not put this book down!
“Is there a choice when it comes to love?” by Austin J.
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I really enjoyed this book as well, but as I read it I wondered whether or not it was a realistic novel. Paul's society was so accepting and he was able to identify himself as a homosexual young man with very little consequences from others around him. Although this is where our society will ideally be in the near future, I don't know if teens who read the book will be able to easily relate to Paul's story. Aside from Tony and his family, the book does not include any elements of discrimination or ridicule that is a sad truth when it comes to the way that society in general treats those who identify as GLBTQ. Do you think Levithan wrote this book to describe the society that he wishes will evolve? Maybe his writing will influence readers to open their eyes.
Addressing your question about whether or not it is "okay" that you didn't read the book focusing on Paul's sexuality - I think that is what makes this such a great book. Levithan created a novel that described the life of a GLBTQ teen in a way that any reader, gay or straight, could relate to. Paul's relationships with his friends and boyfriends are described like any heterosexual relationship would be - which is how it should be written. I think that Levithan's ability to make you "forget" that you were reading about a gay relationship shows that he is able to write an effective novel that shows how homosexual relationships are not different than heterosexual relationships.
I am doing my final project on GLBTQ literature and I have read some great juvenile literature, including Boy Meets Boy, that I would love to include in my classroom library. However, I attended the GLBTQ seminar last month and after hearing about all the controversy regarding the GLBTQ community within schools, I am sad to say that it will not be as easy as putting the books in your shelves to be available for students to read. So many teachers are fired for being openly gay and many of their supporters also risk their jobs as they fight for gay rights. I feel like a complete hypocrite and a terrible person but the question that will face us is whether or not we are willing to risk our jobs to include this body of diverse literature in our classrooms. That is a scary thought.
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