1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Levithan, David. 2003. BOY MEETS BOY. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN
0375832998.
2. SUMMARY
Boy Meets Boy tells the story of Paul, an openly gay sophomore at a high school that seems out of the ordinary: Cheerleaders on Harleys, The Star quarterback is also the Homecoming Queen and bonds seem to develop between different cliques as they work together on the annual school dance. Paul has always known of his sexual orientation and it was confirmed for him in kindergarten when he caught a glimpse of his teacher’s note on his report card that said, “Paul is definitely gay and has a very good sense of self.”
Amongst all the high school drama, Paul meets Noah who he is convinced is the one for him and in true teen form he undermines the forming relationship. Enter ex-boyfriend to mess things up. Getting his love life back in order becomes top priority. Paul devises a week long swooning and with the help of his odd mix of friends and his amazing sense of self, Paul can pull anything off.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Author David Levithan has developed a story almost impossible to believe, yet rightly so, as I find it parallels stories often written for relationships of opposite genders. Why can’t same sex relationships be just like the many story lines of the ones found on library shelves? Levithan has done just that. He has created literature to give everyone young love, loss of love and back-on again love, regardless of the love’s persuasion.
Levithan develops a self-assured character in Paul. Since the note on his report card, Paul has lived his life being openly gay. He was the first openly gay third grade president, took another boy to the 5th grade formal and develops a gay food column in the 8th grade. Paul has never had to hide who he really is, not from his parents or his classmates. His gay friend Tony is another story. Tony’s devout Christian parents have been less than pleased with Tony’s lifestyle choice and attempt to “ungay” their son as much as any parents can. Only allowing dates with girls and a watchful eye makes Tony’s life the exact opposite of Paul’s. I believe both characters were developed this way by the author to give the reader two sides of the issue and one character they may identify with more than the other.
As the story develops Paul discovers a new student, Noah, who his heart pines for. Still having feelings for his ex-boyfriend, Paul finds himself in some sticky situations. One of which is standing beside Tony and helping Tony work through the problems he faces with his family. Paul also suffers the pain of losing a close friend because of her choice of a boyfriend. The sub-stories develop while Paul loses Noah over kissing his old boyfriend. Paul decides this was a mistake and begins his week-long love-fest to get Noah back. Paper cranes, poetry and notes passed, help bring Paul and Noah to a place where they can start fresh.
The groups high school is described as “one like no other” and I have to agree. This is a school as you hope things could be, but in actuality are not. Although Paul does face some teasing and name-calling, I don’t feel the book describes the true issues that gay and lesbian teens face each day through bullying and physical violence. Paul’s self confidence and his ability to deal with situations with humor makes the ideal seem norm. The inclusion of Tony and his family’s anti-gay stance does bring some true-life issues to the story and makes it an authentic piece of literature.
This book is not written just for gays, lesbians or transgender. I believe anyone can relate to the mixture of characters and the same teen issues that every kid goes through, regardless of who they are and who they are becoming.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS/AWARDS
Recipient of the 2003 Lambda Literary Award in the Children/Young Adult section
BOOKLIST review: “Though at times arch and even precious, this wacky, charming, original story is never outrageous, and its characters are fresh, real, and deeply engaging. In its blithe acceptance and celebration of human differences, this is arguably the most important gay novel since Nancy Garden's Annie on My Mind; it certainly seems to represent a revolution in the publishing of gay-themed books for adolescents.”
KIRKUS review: “With wry humor, wickedly quirky and yet real characters, and real situations, this is a must for any library serving teens.”
CHILDREN"S LITERATURE review: “This touching story focuses upon the emotions and humor involved in teenage relationships. If the book did not start with an introductory chapter filled with gay stereotypes, it would have a strong appeal to any teenager. The stereotypes serve to de-humanize the characters rather than present them as ordinary teens with human problems. Positively, the story progresses with strongly developed characters that carry the rich storyline, making the book an enjoyable read.”
CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) review: “David Levithan constructs a remarkable and hopeful fantasy: a world where gay teens and straight teens are all just teens. By the third chapter of this remarkable novel, that world feels like something that seems quite possible.”
5. CONNECTIONS
After Tony stands up to his parents, and is allowed to have Paul in his room to study with the door open, Paul states in the book on page 158;
“This is what a small victory feels like: it feels like a little surprise and a lot of relief. It makes the past feel lighter and the future seem even lighter than that, if only for a moment. It feels like rightness winning. It feels like possibility.”
This would be a good prompt for writing. Students could write about small achievements that sent powerful messages or even ones they have observed by others. A beginning example could be Rosa Parks and her choice not to sit at the back of the bus.
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