Friday, August 1, 2014

Review Me Twice - Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan


Did you ever read a book that, no matter how many times you read it, it just makes you feel... good?  That's how I feel about Boy Meets Boy.  First, I love the world Levithan creates.  It's one in which, almost everyone is tolorent, and those that are not, are actually frowned upon (I won't say looked down on, because you don't get that vibe, but you definitely get the WE DO NOT APPROVE vibe.)

The star quarterback of the football team is also the homecoming queen.  Paul, our main character, has know he was gay since he was in kindergarten and his parents are completely cool with it.  As is everyone in his school.  The drama that's created is usual high school drama, but without any of the prejudices.

I love that it's just a story of love.  It's a story of getting to know a person, learning to trust them, learning to let yourself love.  And not just romantic love.  It's learning to love like a friend, like a family member, like a decent human being.  It's a group of high school kids all just... learning what high school is like.

Really, I think this is the most wonderful, most heartfelt and most feel good book you could ever read.  And you should.

I didn't say it very explicitly when we reviewed The Fault In Our Stars, but the overwhelming "quirkiness" of the characters is part of why I really didn't like them. By that standard, I should also dislike the cast of Boy Meets Boy, but I don't... they're lovably quirky. I suppose that's probably a matter of opinion more than anything else, but that's how I see them.

It's so great to see a healthy relationship in a YA novel, and on top of that, I'm thinking specifically of titular gay relationship. Most of the characters are good role models for any young adult (I say "most" because nobody's perfect) and it's awesome to see them acting like real people. (Maybe that's why I forgive their forced quirkiness... they still act like real people despite it.)

1 comment:

  1. I read this book in college and I really enjoyed it. It was one of the only books I've read that just about trying to be happy and in love.

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