Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature themes abound in tale about a teen's gay ex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
After Belle finds out that her high school sweetheart is gay, she has to move on with her life, trying to deal with his new boyfriend, the small town gossip, her own new love interest -- and an intimidating bully who now seems fixated on her.
Is It Any Good?
The writer definitely has talent. She describes the cold Maine setting beautifully, using the icy, barren backdrop to emphasize the loneliness Belle feels after losing her boyfriend. She also shares wonderful details -- such as Belle and Dylan's trips to a small cemetery, where they imagine the lives of those buried there -- which give her characters some depth.
The problem is that she tries to pack too much into this novel: a gay boyfriend, their intolerant small town, his new relationship, her new relationship, a bully who begins targeting Belle -- and, oh yeah, there's also Belle's epilepsy. Hopefully, this author will continue to write, sharpening her storytelling skills to match her talent for detail.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the media portrays gay characters. Do you think the way Belle and her ex-boyfriend are treated seems realistic? Do you think books like this one do anything to change how we treat one another?
This book has a sequel called Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape). Do you plan to read that one? Why are sequels fun to read -- what do you think makes authors interested in writing them? Also, why are publishers interested in printing a series?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Flux
- Publication date : May 1, 2007
- Number of pages : 360
- Last updated : June 19, 2019
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