Jerome: A Novel

From The Critics

Stylistically, Jerome is a surprising novel — beginning suspiciously like another Catcher in the Rye wanna-be, with considerably more reliance on the "F" word, then quickly moving to a tight FAX/E-mail dialogue between two friends, Marco and Katie. Their discussion and hence, the theme of this work centers on two friends counseling each other about the unexpected suicide of a close mutual friend, Jerome. This talk between Marco and Katie becomes an analysis of Jerome's character, leading eventually to a personal encounter between these two, during which is revealed that the deceased Jerome was unwilling to accept his homosexuality. Instead, Jerome chose to end his life rather than live it as a gay person and express his love for Marco. here are twists: during the e-mails Katie reveals that she too is gay, and a disbelieving Marco attempts to persuade her that she can't be, yet ironically, through this act, discovers that he too has been repressing his own homosexuality and love for Jerome. This book is well worth the read for teachers interested in suggesting realistic fiction to those middle teens wrestling with these very tender issues. Genre: Homosexuality. 1999, Allyson Books, 95 pp., $9.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Michael Angelotti; Norman, Oklahoma

VOYA

Through emails, letters, and faxes, Marco and Katy mourn their friend, Jerome, after a hunting accident claims his life. Marco, Jerome's best friend, and Katy, his girlfriend, share their pain and anger as they slowly unfold Jerome's life and friendships. In the United States as an exchange student first placed with a farm family, Katy is reassigned to a family comprised of two lesbian women. This situation brings out the worst in Marco, as he tells Katy that gay people have no right taking on an exchange student. Katy soon reveals to Marco that she is gay and was never really Jerome's girlfriend, just his friend. Slowly Marco adapts to Katy's revelations, but her final revelation about Jerome's feelings for Marco makes Marco question what he thought he knew about his closest friend. Taylor touches on some fundamental gay issues in this epistolary novel that deals headon with many stereotypes about gays and lesbians. Katy slowly breaks down Marco's misconceptions as he realizes that she does not fit into what he believes to be the typical lesbian mold. Taylor also forces readers to deal with the alarming suicide rate among gay and lesbian teens as he slowly reveals that Jerome's accident may have been more than that. As in The Blue Lawn (Alyson, 1999/see adjacent review), Taylor uses much harsh language, which is in character but could be a bit extreme for younger readers. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P S (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 1999, Alyson, Ages 16 to 18, 120p, $9.95 Trade pb. Reviewer: Lynn Evarts

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-This intense novel opens with a 17-year-old's suicide and then explores its effect on his two best friends. Kate, now an exchange student in the U.S., and Marco, home in New Zealand, share their thoughts and feelings in a series of revealing e-mails, letters, and faxes. When Kate discloses that she is gay, Marco is incredulous, since Kate is a "babe" and had been Jerome's girlfriend. In a desperate attempt to make sense of his death, Kate tells Marco that Jerome, too, was gay and that they had posed as a couple to protect one another. Worse still, Jerome seemingly killed himself because of unrequited love for Marco. After an emotional breakdown, Marco realizes that what he felt was deeper than friendship and now faces the difficult task of confronting his own sexuality. Unfortunately, the use of e-mails and letters creates a distance that makes empathy difficult. Further, the inordinate and unnecessary use of profanity to convey Marco's tough-guy persona and macho insecurities creates a distracting barrier that discourages readers from truly caring about this bitter young man. Also, because his realization occurs on the closing pages, it's hard not to feel cheated; it's as though the most interesting part of this journey has been left out.-Ronni Krasnow, Arlington County Public Library, VA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|