Boy Meets Boy (Library)

Product DescriptionIn this school, the gay kids and the straight kids all get along just fine, the quarterback is a cross-dresser, and the cheerleaders ride Harleys-- yet the road to true love is still a strange and winding path, as Paul discovers when he meets the boy of his dreams.From School Library JournalGrade 8 Up–David Levithan's novel (Knopf, 2003) about high school romance is brought to life by more than two dozen actors. Nicholas Robideau provides 15-year-old Paul's narrative voice as the story of friendship, sexual identity, school and family politics, and young love unfolds in mostly–but not completely–lighthearted scenes. The tale is set in a present-day ideal world where gays and cross dressers are accepted and there's no gay bashing, Paul has always known he is gay–and so are many of his friends. His best friend lives a largely closeted life, in fear of his parents' religious intolerance. The school quarterback is a wily transgender youth popularly known as Infinite Darlene. When Paul meets Noah, the attraction is mutual, but Paul's busy and sometimes ambitious social life, coupled with Noah's fear of getting hurt again, temporarily derail the course of true love. Eventually–and after the school bookie has provided all with the opportunity to wager on the outcome–Paul and Noah do get together, and even Joanie, Paul's oldest friend, with whom he's had a miserable falling out, is coming around. A well-conceived bonus at the end of the book's narration gives three of the actors the opportunity to compare their own high school experiences with Paul's.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.About the AuthorDAVID LEVITHAN is a children's book editor and the author of several books for teens. He lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.From AudioFileDavid Levithan sets his love story in a contemporary world in which all forms of sexual orientation are accepted. Paul falls head over heels for Noah, a new student at his school, but, as in every romance, complications abound in their attempt to come together. Full Cast Audio pulls out all stops in this production, with perfectly chosen voices for all the characters, including a transsexual football captain who mimics Scarlet O'Hara. Jazzy musical segues and even a well-placed song round out this performance, reminding the listener that not all audiobooks are the same. Sincere in its approach and heartfelt in its intense emotion, this audiobook stands tall with its appeal to idealism, authenticity, and outstanding quality of production. L.E. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine