My main question was...
Do you think this book portrayed the characters as well rounded people as opposed to focusing on their sexuality and is this important in GLBTQ literature?
I also focused on identity. This was part of creating well-rounded, relate-able characters. I feel like as children grow up they learn who they are as individuals and through that create their own identity. I think the main character Paul helped other characters, like Tony become more comfortable with who he is and in the end gave him courage to come out to his parents. I think this can also give the readers courage to stand up for themselves and feel comfortable in their own skin.
Overall, I think this was a good, refreshing book with a new outlook that really made me think about how our society views and treats GLBTQ people.
2 comments:
I do think that it is really important that the characters are represented as well rounded characters. But at the same time I think that I would have to question how well Levithan left out the sexual preferences of his characters. I felt that it was the first thing that was addressed when we were introduced to a new character. Also, I TOTALLY agree with the book seeming like it was a little on the unrealistic side. I enjoyed seeing everyone accepted as well, but I wondered if it would set up a fake reality for the younger audience. Granted, it is a fiction book, so its totally understandable that it be idealistic.
Also, about identity, I felt that this aspect of the book was really important and really well done. Everyone can relate to the struggles of growing up, and finding out who you are. I felt this was an aspect that made this book really quite wonderful! It was one of the first QLBTQ pieces that I have read, and I really over all enjoyed it!
I think it's really interesting that you got that out of reading the text. I guess due to the fact that I was reading the text with the thought in mind that it would be about the problems of being a homosexual I completely overlooked this thought. The more I think about it the more this idea makes complete sense because I agree that the atmosphere created in the text seemed unrealistic. Therefore I feel one of the only ways it could appear to be realistic is to have it be a representation of the way life could be for a homosexual individual. The focus would be on any other realistic issue a teenager would face, such as relationship problems.
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