Levithan, David (2003). Boy Meets Boy. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 185 pages. ISBN: 9780375824005. $15.95.
Author Website: http://www.davidlevithan.com
Reader’s Annotation: Paul found his true love when he meets Noah. Things start to fail and Paul must save his relationship with Noah while dealing with his friends.
Summary: Paul has always known who he was. He realized he was gay at a young age and embraced it his whole life. In fact, Paul’s school is very inclusive of everyone whether you are gay, straight, etc. For example, Infinite Darlene is both the star quarterback and the Homecoming Queen. The Gay-Straight Allianace was created as a way to teach straight guys to dance. Paul ‘s life is fairly average until the day he meets Noah. Noah is the guy of Paul’s dreams. Things start off great but a little misunderstanding involving Paul’s ex-boyfriend brings about a rocky relationship. Now Paul has to fix things with Noah while helping Tony deal with his unaccepting parents, watching Joni with her new boyfriend who may not be that great, and planning prom with Infinite Darlene. The school bookie has Paul’s odds of getting back together with Noah at 12 to 1. Can Paul juggle everything and make everyone happy in the end?
Reading Level: Grades 7 and up
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up
Review and Evaluation: This is truly one of my favorite new-found treasures. I know that it’s not a new title, but I feel like I found something special after reading it. Similar to Looking for Alaska, Boy Meets Boy is not about plot. Levithan writes a relationship-fueled story. If I were to tell you the plot of the book, I would probably describe Paul’s attempt to get Noah back. But this book is so much more than that. The subplots involving all of Paul’s friends and family make this short book feel like 500 pages..but in a good way. Levithan creates voices for his characters that are intelligent and mirror real life. Levithan’s characters are not too smart or too witty. I would love to read companion novels starring any of the characters in this book.
I’ve heard this book described as a fairy tale due to the unrealistic, all-inclusive community. I like to hope that this is a view of the future, not a glimpse at an unachievable fiction. You can’t help but feel good about yourself and others after finishing Boy Meets Boy. Paul is the kind of guy that everyone wants to know and maybe even date. He is so selfless at times but then gets burned when people expect him to something. It’s commendable how much Paul takes on, but Levithan makes it realistic by allowing him to fail. No one can be everything to everyone. By granting Paul his flaws, Levithan keeps the readers attached to a realistic story.
Subjects/Genres: Coming of Age, GLBTQ, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Boy Meets Boys is an inspiration for those hoping for a more accepting and inclusive life. Teens struggling with their sexual preferences can read Boy Meets Boy and know that there are those out there who will not discriminate against them. The character of Tony is particularly important because while Paul and his classmates don’t deal with negativity, Tony does have to deal with parents to do not agree with his sexual preference. Levithan is sure to show that Tony does find a support system elsewhere.
Controversial Issues:
GLBTQ content – There are people who do not believe that GLBTQ relationships should be celebrated or the topic of a romance book.
- Defense – Parents have every right to discuss what books their teens should and should not read. However, it is not right for the same parents to try to determine what other teens should read. There are teens in which the lifestyle in Boy Meets Boy mirrors their own and they should have the opportunity to read it.
Booktalk Ideas:
Briefly describe Paul’s high school including the quarterback/Homecoming queen, cheerleaders on Harleys, and the GSA’s purpose of teaching straight guys to dance.
Bring visual aids (pictures or a flowchart) of all of the main characters and attempt to demonstrate how they are all connected.
Ask for opinions about what an ideal high school environment would include.
Awards and Booklists:
- Lambda Literacy Award (2003)
- Booklist Editors’ Choice Award: Books for Youth – Older Readers Category (2003)
- Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults (2004)
- Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2008)
Readalikes:
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
- Geography Club by Brent Hartinger
- My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger
- Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez
- Freak Show by James St. James
Professional Reviews:
Cart, M. (2003). Boy Meets Boy (book review). Booklist, 1 August 2003.
Staff reviewer (2003). Boy Meets Boy (book review). Kirkus, 15 August 2003.
Staff reviewer (2003). Boy Meets Boy (book review). Publishers Weekly, 250 (40), 85.
Why I Chose This Book: I actually read this book for the first time for a different class. I hadn’t read a lot of Levithan’s work previously, but I soon realized I was missing some amazing books. I had already previously read both of the Levithan choices, but I would them again and again.
Young Adult Controversial Titles 