Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

*** 1/2

Have you ever been interested in an author but then put their books off in favor of something that more suit your immediate mood.  And then when you finally got around to reading that author you wonder to yourself "Why on earth did I wait this long?!?".  If you have done this then you know how I feel about David Levithan.  I had been interested for quite some time but just never got around to it.  Then Shel and I had the opportunity to see and meet him at a YA  panel at Anderson's Bookshop and we both were absolutely charmed.  Before the panel began I had bought his latest novel Every You, Every Me.  Of course after meeting him I put it at the top of the "To Read" pile.  And enjoyed it immensely.  Since then I have had the opportunity to read a couple more of his books (Boy Meets Boy and The Lover's Dictionary) and he continued to charm me even more.  Now I have added all his other books to my BN Wishlist...hint, hint Mr. Executive Officer.

So now that I have shown you how much of a fangirl I have become let's get on with this review. 

Boy Meets Boy takes place in an unnamed utopian town.  A place where the LGBT community both young and old live openly with little to no social censure. A town where "P-FLAG is as big a draw as the PTA."  Our hero, Paul is a gay teen who has always known who he is and has never doubted it for instant.  He knows what he wants out of life and love and he isn't afraid to grab it. 

The story is fairly simple.  Paul meets Noah at a bookstore concert.  They have an instant connection.  Unfortunately the joys of first love are quickly put to the test with the re-entrance of a past bi-sexual boyfriend, a gay friend from another town that is struggling with how his parents view his sexualtiy, and a female BFF that is ignoring Paul for her new narrow minded boyfriend that is responsible for cruelly breaking the heart of the transgender star quarterback. 

Hey, I told you it was a Utopia of sorts.  But it works.  It really does.  I finished this book feeling upbeat and hopeful which is always a wonderful feeling to have when finishing a book.

Don't grab this book if you are looking for emotional read with high drama.  This is a lighter read meant to make you smile, meant to show us how we should and should not be as a society and meant to give a little hope and sunshine to teens out there that struggle everyday with coming out.

Nat

A Peek In the Biblio-Bin (17)

In My Mailbox (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the Biblio-Bin) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This week Nat gives you a Peek in the Biblio-Bin!

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.

From some of the biggest names in teen fiction comes a timely and moving collection of personal stories about bullying.

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the "funny guy" into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Read your favorite authors' stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, as perpetrators.

With contributors including Heather Brewer, Nancy Garden, Ellen Hopkins, Carolyn Mackler, Lisa McMann, Alyson Noel, Aprilynne Pike, Carrie Ryan, Jon Scieszka, Rachel Vail, Nancy Werlin, Mo Willems, Kiersten White, and many more.

basis, n.

There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.

How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

Whether you’re a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or teaching game to a beginner, Watching Baseball Smarter leaves no territory uncovered. In this smart and funny fan’s guide Hample explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will surprise even the most informed viewers of our national pastime.

What is the difference between a slider and a curveball?

At which stadium did “The Wave” first make an appearance?

How do some hitters use iPods to improve their skills?

Which positions are never played by lefties?

Why do some players urinate on their hands?

Combining the narrative voice and attitude of Michael Lewis with the compulsive brilliance of Schott’s Miscellany, Watching Baseball Smarter will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the sport–no matter what your level of expertise.

Zack Hample is an obsessed fan and a regular writer for minorleaguebaseball.com. He's collected nearly 3,000 baseballs from major league games and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs, was published in 1999.

So tell us...What's in your Biblio-Bin this week?