Boy Meets Boy
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Overview
This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.
When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.
This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.
Synopsis
What if you went to a school where it was actually alright to be who you really are?
Publishers Weekly
Levithan's groundbreaking novel-set in an idealized high school where kids are free to express themselves without repercussions or embarrassment-whisks listeners into a unique teen scene via the work of this cast of young actors. Though Robideau sometimes sounds melodramatic, and the brief characterization of "young Paul" in flashback is grating, these performers eventually gel into an effortless give-and-take rhythm. As Paul explores his feelings for new crush Noah, listeners meet a crew of memorable characters both gay and straight, wild and wallflower that include the football team's drag queen quarterback (played to comic effect by Joey Panek). Suffused with humor and heart, this recording is bound to get listeners thinking about what it means to just be yourself and truly embrace tolerance. In a bonus track, three of the actors and artistic director Daniel Bostick compare their own high school experience to the one in the book. Ages 12-up. (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble Discover Great New WritersReaders know they're in for something different when the "About the Author" blurb informs them the author was not born in France, did not go to Oxford, and did not write War and Peace or Babysitters Club #8. And "something different" certainly describes Boy Meets Boy, a hilarious and delightful story about one teenager's sophomore year.
The story's narrator is Paul, who, like most teenagers, is preoccupied with love and its attendant feelings. However, Paul is gay. He has "always known it," and his kindergarten teacher confirmed it on Paul's report card: "Paul is definitely gay and has very good sense of self." But in high school, things are a bit more complicated. No, it's not what you're thinking. The world in which Paul lives is utterly devoid of homophobia. It's Paul's love life that's complicated. See, Paul finds himself crazy about a new boy, Noah, but is leery of letting his ex-boyfriend, Kyle, know it. Then there's Paul's best friend, Joni, who is dating Chuck, whom everyone hates -- especially Infinite Darlene, the drag queen who serves as both homecoming queen and star quarterback at Paul's high school, which gives a whole new meaning to the term "progressive."
No, this is not your father's high school! Levithan has created a kind of utopia, where tolerance reigns and shame is banished. But in other ways, the school feels abundantly familiar. A typical day for Paul involves passing secret notes, a between-class rendezvous, clandestine kisses, friendly misunderstandings -- all the machinations of high school that seem much more important than plain old academics.
Boy Meets Boy is a marvelous fiction debut, a funny and inspiring novel, and a perfect choice for stimulating discussions about why the world we inhabit stands in such sharp contrast to that of Paul and his friends. (Fall 2003 Selection)
From the Publisher
The Horn Book, March 26, 2013:"Using a diverse cast of queer characters, David Levithan’s semi-utopian Boy Meets Boy...affirm[s] that there is a whole rainbow of ways to be gay."
"In its blithe acceptance and celebration of human differences, this is arguably the most important gay novel since Annie on My Mind and seems to represent a revolution in the publishing of gay-themed books for adolescents."—Booklist, starred review
"In a genre filled with darkness, torment, and anxiety, this is a shiningly affirmative and hopeful book. —The Bulletin, starred review
"Levithan's prophecy of a hate-free world in which everyone loves without persecution makes this a provocative and important read for all young adults, gay or straight."—School Library Journal, starred review
Publishers Weekly
Levithan's groundbreaking novel-set in an idealized high school where kids are free to express themselves without repercussions or embarrassment-whisks listeners into a unique teen scene via the work of this cast of young actors. Though Robideau sometimes sounds melodramatic, and the brief characterization of "young Paul" in flashback is grating, these performers eventually gel into an effortless give-and-take rhythm. As Paul explores his feelings for new crush Noah, listeners meet a crew of memorable characters both gay and straight, wild and wallflower that include the football team's drag queen quarterback (played to comic effect by Joey Panek). Suffused with humor and heart, this recording is bound to get listeners thinking about what it means to just be yourself and truly embrace tolerance. In a bonus track, three of the actors and artistic director Daniel Bostick compare their own high school experience to the one in the book. Ages 12-up. (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.VOYA
Levithan's novel is a lighthearted romp through the complications of high school relationships. After Paul meets Noah in a bookstore, Paul knows he is smitten when he refuses to divulge details to Joni-his closest female friend since before she assisted his successful campaign to become "the first openly gay class president in... Mrs. Farquar's third grade class." Paul, comfortable with his sexuality since labeled "definitely gay" in kindergarten, enjoys another chaste yet incredibly close friendship with Tony-who attends another school, has religious fundamentalist parents, and struggles with being gay. Tony and Paul are so in tune that they often complete one another's homework assignments for fun. With two best friends, Paul has support when Kyle, "the only straight boy [he] ever kissed," leaves and then reenters his life-complicating Paul's budding relationship with Noah. In a town that shunned Boy Scouts for the more inclusive Joy Scouts, being a gay teen is no more difficult than being straight. Boys walk hand-in-hand without repercussions. The high school's homecoming queen, Infinite Darlene, is also its star quarterback, and the school's rich-kid bookie, Rip, provides odds on nearly everything-including Paul's chances with each of the boys in his life. Hilarious, romantic, and optimistic, the story provides another view of what life could be like if the world were more accepting, showing how youth solidarity can overcome the fears of the most homophobic parents. This title is a keeper for public and secondary school libraries; purchase multiple copies if there is a Gay-Straight Alliance in town. VOYA Codes: 5Q 4P J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YAappeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Knopf, 208p,— Cynthia Winfield
Children's Literature
Author Levithan's highly acclaimed debut novel is now available on six compact discs. This top-notch recording is narrated by the story's principal character, Paul. At age five, Paul proudly proclaims his homosexuality to his supportive parents. In addition, he confidently "comes out" to his classmates. In comparison, Paul's gay friend, Tony, must live a double life because his parents are extremely religious. At age fifteen, Paul meets the boy of his dreams, foolishly loses the boy of his dreams, and then wins back the boy of his dreams. This unabridged audio book takes a thoughtful look at the trials and tribulations of being a gay adolescent. It is a clean and classy presentation of a controversial subject. Irrespective of sexual orientation, the young adult listener will relate to the issues presented in this title—love, heartache, friendship, and courage. Original music and enthusiastic voice actors create a memorable listening experience. This story demonstrates that love is universal. 2005, Full Cast Audio, Ages 12 up.—Mary Jo Edwards