Two Parties, One Tux and a Very Short Film about the Grapes of Wrath
By: Steven Goldman
320p
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN-10: 1599902710
ISBN-13: 978-1599902715
Annotation:
Mitch, a shy and awkward high school junior, negotiates the difficult social situations he encounters, both with girls and his best friend David, after David reveals to him that he is gay.
Summary:
Goldman introduces us to Mitchell an intelligent but lazy high school junior. The story opens as Mitchell is told by his best friend David that he is gay. Since David and Mitchell do nearly everything together (movies, school, and attend parties) Mitchell must now reexamine all aspects of his relationship with David; and find the perfect date for prom.
This book is made more interesting when David and Mitchell make an experimental short Claymation film based extremely loose on Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath filled with biblical imagery and controversial nudity scenes. Mitchell decides to show his film in place of turning in a paper on the novel, and his problems spiral out of control. Mitchell must now deal with the impending judicial review on his film, which may cause him to get expelled, plus the expanding sexual animosity between him and David. In addition, Mitchell has garnered the attention of Danielle the extremely attractive and recently single popular girl at school.
Goldman’s first novel is told with a dry wit that at times can be humorous, but can also come off as slow. His main characters seem, likeable enough and tend to mirror much of the attitudes of adolescents, however the problems that Mitchell faces and the his attitude for much of the book comes off as whiny and unfeeling.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Two Parties, One Tux and a Very Short Film about the Grapes of Wrath
Dishes
Dishes
By Rich Wallace
160p
Viking Juvenile
ISBN-10: 0670011398
ISBN-13: 978-0670011391
Annotation:
19 year old Danny spends an eventful summer in Maine, looking for romance, working as a “straight” dishwasher in a gay bar, and trying to reconnect with his estranged father.
Summary:
Challenging stereotypes, Wallace introduces Danny a sexually secure straight nineteen year old college dropout, who in an effort to escape his life has chosen to work in the town of Ogunquit, Maine a summer vacation destination that thrives on the gay clientele. Danny uses this summer job as a reason to escape the disappointments in his New Jersey life, primarily the canceling of his college’s track program and to reconnect with the father that abandoned him many years ago.
Danny spends his time running, and working at the restaurant ‘Dishes’ with a host of other colorful characters. His sexuality is often questioned by his love interest Mercy and his fellow wait staff, but he is confidant and secure; going so far as to play on the restaurant’s softball team for the yearly tournament. In the end, Danny learns much about himself and looks forward to getting to know more about his father.
This book is fairly short and uneventful, but enjoyable nonetheless. Overall, this novel had an interesting premise and serve as an interesting counterpoint for the slew of other gay coming of age novel.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Brothers Torres
The Brothers Torres
By: Coert Vorhees
316p
Hyperion
ISBN-13: 978-0312428167
Annotation:
Sophomore Frankie finally finds the courage to ask his long-term friend, Julianne, to the Homecoming dance, which ultimately leads to a face-off between a tough senior whose family owns most of their small, New Mexico town, and Frankie's soccer-star older brother and his gang member friends.
Summary:
In one year Frankie Towers is making big changes. After living for years in his brother the soccer star's shadow, Frankie is finally beginning to make a name for himself.
Frankie has just asked the most popular girl in school to the homecoming dance, the only problem is that he just beat the wealthiest and most influential high school senior at their New Mexico high school. In addition, Frankie is far from being considered popular in fact many of the people in school would consider him to be a "nerd".
This novel is the perfect combination of humor and the occasional serious situation. Frankie has to balance the expectations of his family and their ideas of what a true man is, with the man he wants to become. A feeling that many teenagers can relate to.
Students will instanly see the parallels between Frankie and his brother Steve the college bound sibling who spends all of his time with the local cholo gang, and grow to feel for the difficult situation that he is in. Frankie, however never loses his voice and will fight to gain the respect of his family and his friends. Traits that alll teenagers can appreciate.
