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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I loved this book, a great take on the teen gay character. I wanted it to have a fairy-tale-happy ending even though I knew that was unrealistic. I hate that I can't buy it for school because it's just got too much sex for middle school, I think, but every high school library needs this book.
J’ai beaucoup aimé le côté introspection de Rafe dans ce livre !
Suivre Rafe chercher qui il est, découvrir, expérimenté, être heureux, être déçu, tomber amoureux était vraiment intéressant ! J’ai aussi apprécié la façon dont c’est amener avec le côté « history of Rafe ».
Rentrer dans la tête de Rafe avec ses dialogues internes, ses dilemmes, ses peines, ses peurs c’était super enrichissant et pareil avec le personnage de Ben. J’ai hâte de lire la suite !
Suivre Rafe chercher qui il est, découvrir, expérimenté, être heureux, être déçu, tomber amoureux était vraiment intéressant ! J’ai aussi apprécié la façon dont c’est amener avec le côté « history of Rafe ».
Rentrer dans la tête de Rafe avec ses dialogues internes, ses dilemmes, ses peines, ses peurs c’était super enrichissant et pareil avec le personnage de Ben. J’ai hâte de lire la suite !
Very solidly YA - High school age and up. Heavy Underage drinking (It felt more that these could be college kids, not high school - however, I am very disconnected from what seems to be the average high school experience)
That said, I really enjoyed it. Awkward Rafe trying to figure out who he is and not wanting labels to define him. (But he does label everyone) Having the support of being gay in Boulder and no one things twice about accepting him. Leaves home to go to an all boys boarding school on the East Coast to try a life on not being openly gay. He says he's not lying about being gay - just ommitting it. Yet he does outright lie - multiple times. This story has very much the mentality of most teens - not thinking things through, doing stupid things. There is a lot of humor, a lot of awkwardness and just trying to figure life and yourself out.
Looking forward to the follow-up with "Honestly Ben" to hopefully tie up the ending a bit more.
That said, I really enjoyed it. Awkward Rafe trying to figure out who he is and not wanting labels to define him. (But he does label everyone) Having the support of being gay in Boulder and no one things twice about accepting him. Leaves home to go to an all boys boarding school on the East Coast to try a life on not being openly gay. He says he's not lying about being gay - just ommitting it. Yet he does outright lie - multiple times. This story has very much the mentality of most teens - not thinking things through, doing stupid things. There is a lot of humor, a lot of awkwardness and just trying to figure life and yourself out.
Looking forward to the follow-up with "Honestly Ben" to hopefully tie up the ending a bit more.
4.5 stars. This is a great book! It is well written with a clever premise that makes you examine how labels can define who you are as well as hold you back. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories.
The topic of this teen book reminded me of Simon vs. the Homo Sapians Agenda, because both of the main characters struggle to manage other people's (family, friends, classmates, strangers) perception and reaction to their gender identity. Both Simon and Rafe know and accept that they are gay, but do not want that part of their identity to be their defining characteristic.
What defines us? Is it the face we show to the world or the face the world crafts for us? Rafe's journey to understanding is heart-warming, compelling, thought-provoking and often funny. Definitely among my top 10 for 2013.
It was a really cute book and I enjoyed it a lot. Definitely made for teens/tweens but as a 21 y/o, I still liked it a lot.
Funny and also a little heart wrenching. I kinda enjoy that the main character ended up having to sort of face the consequences of his actions... I can't wait to read the second book.
Book 2 in my "read what my kids are assigned to read" project. Actually, I started this one first, so the numbering is arbitrary. Maybe I'll start using letters, colors, animals, or periodic table elements instead of numbers. Anyway...
I always thought that some of the easiest-to-point-out labels (yeah, the ones that can lead to prejudice most commonly) are to be avoided when describing someone. But what happens when a person tries to remove that label for him or herself, while the trait still remains? The motive makes sense to me. Maybe people know me as the guy with all the bracelets or watches, but I can take those off anytime I want. I let it define me to people who don't care to look deeper. However, that isn't the same with friends. When you make a friend, you need to be honest.
This book does s great job of taking the basic premise of a kid despising not to be labeled as gay for a while and explores what happens as he meets new people and makes new friends. The story is handled really well all the way through. If I were to ask for something from this novel's premise, it's honesty in the story that follows. This book gives exactly that.
If this book had been assigned to me in school and I had to write an essay about it, I think honesty and secrets would be my theme. I'd re-read this book now (maybe skimming rather than delving into every scene again) and collect all sorts of details about this theme.
I always thought that some of the easiest-to-point-out labels (yeah, the ones that can lead to prejudice most commonly) are to be avoided when describing someone. But what happens when a person tries to remove that label for him or herself, while the trait still remains? The motive makes sense to me. Maybe people know me as the guy with all the bracelets or watches, but I can take those off anytime I want. I let it define me to people who don't care to look deeper. However, that isn't the same with friends. When you make a friend, you need to be honest.
This book does s great job of taking the basic premise of a kid despising not to be labeled as gay for a while and explores what happens as he meets new people and makes new friends. The story is handled really well all the way through. If I were to ask for something from this novel's premise, it's honesty in the story that follows. This book gives exactly that.
If this book had been assigned to me in school and I had to write an essay about it, I think honesty and secrets would be my theme. I'd re-read this book now (maybe skimming rather than delving into every scene again) and collect all sorts of details about this theme.