Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (2013-08-01)

Narrated by Paul, a gay teen, this happy-go-quirky tale chronicles one academic year at a very non-conventional high school, where the quarterback/homecoming queen is a transvestite named Infinite Darlene, the cheerleaders ride Harleys, and being straight-out gay is perfectly okay. But even in this oasis of tolerance, Paul still has ordinary teenage problems. First, he starts dating Noah, a quiet, artistic newcomer at school, but finds that he may still have feelings for his ex, Kyle. Then, his best female friend, Joni, starts dating not-so-nice-guy Chuck, and begins drifting away from their close-knit circle of friends. What's a boy to do? A treasured classic in the LGBT community, Boy Meets Boy is a funny, touching story about acceptance of self and the true love our friends and family give us, despite the stupid mistakes we make. Recommended for all walks of life, Ages 13-Up.

Paul is lucky to have a supportive and loving family who accept him as he is. He's apparently screwed up his chance with the one who might be "the one" and his best friend Joni is losing herself in a new relationship. The ex-boyfriend (who broke his heart) seems to want him back and his closeted gay friend is drowning in his parents' religion. It's a big mixed-up world and Paul is only trying to find a way to make sure everyone (including himself) is okay, if not happy.

On the one hand, I liked this book a lot. It had the same writing style that made me love David Levithan so much. There were funny, sweet and sad moments. I cheered (on the inside), I smiled and I was sad. On the other hand, Paul's neighborhood was just too fantastical to be believable and some of the story was just too cutesy for me.

The characters were the real draw in this book. Most of them are well fleshed out and complete. Even better, I actually cared about them and what happened to them. With so many characters in the story, it was difficult to know them all, but I felt like I had a good grasp on them. Infinite Darlene, the cross-dressing homecoming queen quarterback, reminded me of a kinder version of Tiny from Will Grayson, Will Grayson. She was loud and proud, but not quite as loud as Tiny. She was a wise shoulder for Paul to lean on when he felt out of control. Joni was a perfect example of a girl disappearing into her new boyfriend. Suddenly, she only wanted to do what he did, when he did. And anybody that pointed that out to her became an enemy. Several times, I wanted to smack her on the head and knock some sense into her. I felt so sorry for Tony, whose intolerant parents prevented him from being the person he wanted to be. But I was also glad he had friends like Paul and Infinite Darlene, to help him when he needed it. Poor Kyle had realized his mistakes and was trying hard to atone for them.

The writing was similar to David Levithan's previous works, which was a good thing. It was seamless, and really helped set the scenes. Though this is considered contemporary, there really was another world for David to build, and he did it well. This also led to the things I did not like about the book. The book was based in a town that was about as inclusive as you could want. There were gays, lesbians, bisexuals, cross dressers, transvestites, straights and everything in between, and they were all just considered normal and average. While it was a nice idea (and I would love it if the whole world were like that), you have to suspend your belief long enough to enjoy the story. While that in itself wasn't hard, it seemed to me that, in an effort to create a fun and whimsical world, David got a little too cutesy. For example, the town's local music store is described like this:

"I stop at the tune store, where I'm greeted by Javier and Jules. Half the store is Javier's, half is Jules's--they have entirely different musical tastes, so you have to know going in whether the tune you're looking for is more like Javier or Jules."

The bookstore was similarly unusual:

"...I'm headed to Spiff's Videorama, where newbies are discouraged. Spiff is the reason most of us still have VCRs-he's a tapehead like djs are vinyl freaks. He refuses to carry DVDs or any of the new technology.

Spiff arranges the videos in his store according to his own logic. American Pie is filed under Action/Adventure, while Forrest Gump sits in Pornography along with other international classics. Spiff will never, ever tell you where a tape is, or even if it's in. You have to find it for yourself or leave empty-handed. He doesn't give a damn about any of us-just the movies."

Maybe Spiff doesn't need his business income because he's independently wealthy, like the janitors?

"The janitor's closet has the usual brooms, mops, and buckets. At its center, though, is a state-of-the-art computer. Our janitorial staff is one of the richest in the country because of their day-trading skills. They could have retired long ago, but they all have a compulsion to clean schools."

Seriously? This was just too cheeky for me. It was like David was trying too hard to come up with unusually cool things for this make-believe small town. The little things like that pulled me out of the story, which was a shame.

The cover is perfection. Simple, classic and just cute enough.

This is a funny, easy, quick read. I actually laughed out loud several times, which I don't do often when reading - even when I find something humorous. I found it mostly to be pretty light and fairy-tale-esque, except for the the story surrounding Tony. The treatment of Tony's family situation was unique and interesting as it wasn't the usual "kick you out of the house" or "send you for reprogramming" reaction you often seen in novels where a strongly religious family has a gay child. It was also fun to read about a place/people where things are like they should be rather than like they are now. I know that since the book was written, attitudes and acceptance generally have improved, but we still have a long way to go.

I was a little miffed that the copy I had (from the library - the 10-year-anniversary version) ended at around 85% on my Kindle. The rest of the book was author notes, a short story (which I started to read but did not find interesting, so quit) and an excerpt from "Two Boys Kissing" which I have already read. This is one of my pet peeves - when a significant percentage of the content is not the actual novel.

Boy Meets Boy is about as cliché as the cheesiest high school heterosexual romantic comedy, but that doesn't mean it isn't brilliant. It's not an "agenda" book, it's not overrun with plugs for gay rights, it's simply the same old teen romance that has been done over and over, but never with a lead character who was gay.

Naturally, this doesn't exactly make the story more exciting--by the second paragraph Paul reads like any other teen looking for love--but what it does for teen readers is something miraculous. Levithan has obviously realized that part of what makes heterosexuality seem normative is this immortalization of the straight romance story. From Romeo and Juliet to Titanic to a million other titles, what they all have in common is quite simple: the lovers are straight. Giving a gay sophomore a voice in the genre seems like a simple, meaningless act, but if you're a gay high schooler, reading this book is the moment you've been waiting for. It is a symbol that your interest in love is as normal as anyone else; that it's okay to spend your time worrying about petty break-ups, fights with friends and what movie to see on the weekend. As opposed to contemplating suicide, worrying about being disowned by parents, and whether or not you're going to get beat up in school today.

Part of how this is accomplished is through the setting: a town where intolerance is pretty much unheard of. There's a drag queen who also happens to be the football captain, there's a gay-straight alliance, the PFLAG group has many members, straight guys are friends with non, and, with few exceptions, being gay is simply not an issue. I've read some reviews where people call this setting a "fantasy" and "unrealistic" but as a high schooler around the time this book was written, I think it's surprisingly accurate to how things would be if just a few more people started sticking up for their kids and stopped spreading messages of hate. After all, there's hardly anyone as ferocious as a drag queen. Without hate, it wouldn't surprise me at all that one would also play football on the side.

My overall opinion is this: while I am now about 5 years too old to be reading high school romance stories, I still found Boy Meets Boy to be entertaining enough to keep reading pretty much non-stop--even though I knew exactly how it would all end up. There were some truly unique and fun characters in the mix and their interactions were often funny and always realistic with a sense of intelligence that is so often missing from YA books, where the authors try their hardest to give teenagers the mentality of 6 year olds.

So yeah, even though the plot's conflicts occasionally had me rolling my eyes, if I was a millionaire I would make sure that every school in America had this book in its library. It's time to let our kids know that gays fall in-and-out-and-back-in love, too. The canon of Romance Stories is by far the most one-sided genre in the world. Boy Meets Boy may not be the most brilliant love story ever written, but it's a nice start. And face it, we gotta start somewhere.

***Bonus Note: I actually read this book by listening to the unabridged audio version and I have to say it was done very well. The reader who plays Paul narrates wonderfully and all other characters are voiced by some true talents. Even if you aren't usually into audio books, I think this is one you'll truly enjoy.

Imagine learning Greek myths in an awesome way. Also being able to meet the god of the underworld. Well, that’s what happens in Have A Hot Time Hades! by Kate McMullan. The book Have A Hot Time Hades! is a good book for several reasons.

First, the main character is a dynamic character, Hades, is a dynamic character. At first Hades is angry at his brother Zeus for making a huge lie.”Brave and mighty Zeus ? Ha! Chicken- hearted Zeus more like it.”(Mcmullan pg9).Later he is still with his brother,but the 3 furies make him feel better.He changes from an angry character to a happy character.

Second, the book has an engaging plot . It is full of excitement “Dad opened his giant mouth, shoved me in and - GULP!, he swallowed me whole”.(Mcmullan pg14).These type of paragraphs keep kids ,adults,teenagers ,and even babies get excited . These kind of books keep everyone excited.

Finally,Have A Hot Time Hades has a life lesson theme,”Zeus is always twisting the truth to make himself better”.(Mcmullan pg 168).Zeus was a liar and always wanted attention.The theme of this book was to never lie or else you’ll get burned.

Clearly,Have A Hot Time Hades!Is an awesome book to read .It features dynamic characters ,an engaging plot,and a life lesson theme . Now ,you should definitely pick the book Have A Hot Time Hades! when you are looking for an awesome book.

One day at the bookstore I picked this randomly off of a shelf.
I did not want hard-core insight on the cruel life of a teenager in an unaccepting school and community. I wanted some good insight on a good story and the art of writing from a hardly described point-of-view, and that's exactly what I got.
This isn't about the fact that it's a gay main character, in an accepting part of society, which is not totally common. This is a STORY. It is meant to tell about frienship and love, not a huge deal and misunderstanding in this day and age.
I got exactly what I asked for with this: a love story. It was cliche at parts, yes, -BUT- that was so well hidden and so well revamped, I could hardly recognize. I even found myself not knowing what to expect next.
The characters established themselves with little to no physical description. That, I noticed right off the bat. The good part was the way it was written; it allowed me to not NEED that good of a description. The personality formed the characters well enough.
I found the words captivating and beautifully styled. It made me, as a writer myself, feel like he took thoughts and feelings that are so very hard to put into words and JUST made it.
This book is a sigh of relief and takes you to a different place. You might even forget that it's not a likely kind of fantasy. However I never had a problem with that fact throughout any part of this book.
That's a feel-good thing. It's a feel-good story.
Read it, as long as you're aware of the fact that it's boy meets boy, not boy meets cruel and unforgiving world.
You might even find yourself reading it again.

Is there a homosexual alive who wouldn't trade in their grammar, middle, and high school experience for Paul's? I imagine there is, but I think most would rather have Paul's. He lives in a city that is so remarkably socially liberal that a kindergarten teacher writes on Paul's report card, "Paul is definitely gay and has a very good sense of self". Seeing that, Paul asks his parents about it, and instead of the parents falling apart crying, denouncing their child as an abomination, or immediately shipping him off to an all boy's school (I just LOVE that solution - if parents knew what goes on in those schools...anyway...), Paul's mother announces to her husband that their son has learned a new word. And that's that.

Straight and gay aren't polarizing terms; they're merely identifiers, much like colors: that mug is yellow, and the sky is blue. There aren't gay clubs because they aren't necessary. People aren't afraid to be who they are.

I think, ultimately, that's the appeal of this book. Granted, the writing is solid, the characters very believable and entertaining (Infinite Darlene, the homecoming queen *and* the star quarterback deserves a book of her own), but when you get right down to it, this world, this Utopia creates not only a desire in those who read it to have lived it, but a desire in those who read it to make this community a reality someday. Thousands of teen suicides every year would simply disappear. Nobody would have to pretend to like girls or boys to hide their secrets. It's a wonderful world, as Levithan himself says.

Which reminds me - one thing that Levithan did throughout the book that was entertaining was that he used lyrics of songs in his sentences. I finished the book last week, didn't make notes, so the only one I recall is at the very end of the book, where Levithan craftily weaves his ending into the lyrics of What a Wonderful World. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was a bit misty-eyed. This world that Paul lives in is one I'd give my right hand to live in.

I recently read an interview with the author David Levithan in which he says that fiction isn't always written to reflect that world that one sees, but sometimes to reflect the world one wants to see. I think that description very much explains the diversity of people and the acceptance of those people as they are described in this book. A popular drag queen football player stretched my imagination, but when I reminded myself that this was the world as the author wished it would be, I was fine.

What really drew me, and then my 13 year old daughter, into the story was the fantastic portrayal of budding romance between Paul and Noah. Mr. Levithan shows the emotions and behaviors of real, level headed teens falling in love and not wanting to get hurt. No exaggerated drama, no crazy capering, no angst-filled evenings, just two nice, sincere kids wanting to be together and finding their way. My daughter and I called it the anti-Twilight.

If you can keep an open mind about homosexuality, you will fall in love with "Boy Meets Boy."

The Journey You'll Never Forget by Jordy Thomas (D10)
2010
Boy Meets Boy will take you on an emotional journey you will never forget. The book tells the story of a young boy in high school that is gay. One day he is with his friends in a library and he meets Noah, the boy that changes his life. Along with trying to get Noah to like him and learning life lessons he might lose his best friend since second grade. So, come on and join the journey of Boy Meets Boy.
Paul is a boy in high school who constantly gets teased by his ex-boyfriend and other kids. His friends are the only one who sticks by his side although one talks WAY too much. One day he is hanging out in the library with his friends when all of a sudden on the way to an isle he bumps into Noah. Paul is super interested in this boy and tries to get him to like him. His plan succeeds and they become boyfriends. They have fun together and everything is going great, until some- thing goes wrong and might wreck their relationship forever.
One of the things that make the book so real is its characters. David Levithan developed the characters so well I felt they were my close friends or a family member. Their emotions are feelings that everyone can relate too and that is why I understand this book so deeply. The author makes the story pop out of the book and I was constantly intrigued by the authors' way of words. This book is a memorable movie in my mind.
Boy Meets Boy is by far one of the finest books I and hopefully you will ever read.

Reader Meets Book By Jordy Thomas (D10)
2010
Boy Meets Boy will take you on an emotional journey you will never forget. The book tells the story of a young boy in high school that is gay. One day he is with his friends in a library and he meets Noah, the boy that changes his life. Along with trying to get Noah to like him and learning life lessons he might lose his best friend since second grade. So, come on and join the journey of Boy Meets Boy.
Paul is a boy in high school who constantly gets teased by his ex-boyfriend and other kids. His friends are the only one who sticks by his side although one talks WAY too much. One day he is hanging out in the library with his friends when all of a sudden on the way to an isle he bumps into Noah. Paul is super interested in this boy and tries to get him to like him. His plan succeeds and they become boyfriends. They have fun together and everything is going great, until some- thing goes wrong and might wreck their relationship forever.
One of the things that make the book so real is its characters. David Levithan developed the characters so well I felt they were my close friends or a family member. Their emotions are feelings that everyone can relate too and that is why I understand this book so deeply. The author makes the story pop out of the book and I was constantly intrigued by the authors' way of words. This book is a memorable movie in my mind.
Boy Meets Boy is by far one of the finest books I and hopefully you will ever read.

Sometimes when you strip away the grime of reality you can see the heart and soul at the core of an issue. This is what Levithan does wonderfully in Boy Meets Boy. The novel follows the story of Paul, a sophomore who goes to a fantastical high school in a fantastical town, where the cheerleaders ride Harleys, the star quarterback is also the Home Coming Queen, and prejudice has been reduced to not but a murmur. Paul thinks he's found the boy he's been looking for all his life when he meets Noah, but anyone who remembers high school knows that nothing ever goes according to plan. The reader is asked to accept this magical world that Levithan has created. At first, it may seem a bit jarring, but the setting does highlight the tragedy of our society: that the high school and town in Boy Meets Boy can't exist in our current culture, though many of us wish they could. By removing some of issues that confront modern teenagers from the reality of the novel, Levithan allows us to appreciate the similarities rather than the differences between us all. Boy Meets Boy is a heart-warming story that, although is written for teens and young adults, will brighten the day of the reader of any age.

What I liked most about this novel was the author's way with words (reminiscent of John Goode's Maybe With a Chance of Certainty). The book practically read like poetry. So many beautiful ideas expressed in such a beautiful way.

Example: "We hold hands as we walk through town. If anybody notices, nobody cares. I know we all like to think of the heart as the center of the body but at this moment, every conscious part of me is in the hand that he holds. It is through that hand, that feeling, that I experience everything else."

I sometimes find first person narrative awkward, but it really works here. I feel like I got to know Paul really well, and his personality really came through. His conflicting feelings regarding his ex-boyfriend, his potential new boyfriend, and his best friend felt authentic and really kept me guessing. I was hoping for the romance to be a little more front and center, so the ending left me a bit unsatisfied, but overall I really enjoyed the book.

And the book cover design is amazing!

Boy Meets Boy- David Levithan

I really liked this book, it kept me entertained and wanting to read more. The story never slowed down, I never once got bored in this book and I didn't want to put it down and was quite different than my average reads. . It was a very funny book.

I did like the storyline and the characters. I really liked how the author put a spin on what the "normal"

I loved the main character, he was well written and made me laugh a lot. I was able to relate to him throughout the book and

I feel like a made a good friend.

The title is cute and the cover is kind of boring in my opinion, but I honestly can't think of anything that would look better.

I would read this book again, and I would tell my friends to read it.

I'd rate it a 4/5

The characters in this story based in a fantasy world were so real and outlandish at the same time you forgot all about the fictitious setting and the unreality of some of it and were able to focus on the story. The way they had a group narrate this it became a play that I couldn't hit pause on. The main reader was amazing and engaging but the whole thing was dynamic with just enough touches of music to make you want to be there with them. Paul was such a teen in the way he handled relationships, which was what he was supposed to be. Noah; I wanted to be best friends with him in high school. Vague spoiler sentence: When Paul got his bad note, I cried, and when Noah showed his four pictures I cheered and cried. In the end I wanted to be there longer. I will read more of David Levithan's books. I went out and bought Chet Baker music after this, and when you listen, you will too!

David Levithan's quiet, wacky novel is an important debut from a writer who is destined for great things. The premise of the story defies definition; therein lies the simple charm that makes Levithan's writing so captivating.
Paul is a sophomore at a high school unlike any other. The star quarterback of the football team, Infinite Darlene, also happens to be a drag queen *and* homecoming queen, the cheerleading squad performs routines on Harleys (yes, that would be the motorcycle), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids dress and dance better. Paul, himself, was the first openly gay elected 3rd grade president.
The high school and sourrounding community seem fantastical and surreal in their accepting, harmonious ways. Gay and straight kids work and play together; they compete on the same teams, they're in the same clubs, and the *bars* are populated by a whole host of gender-identity combinations.
On David Levithan's website, [...] he explains that while this novel isn't fantasy, it is a book about where we're headed, a hopeful tale of what soon will be. His vision for the future is a beautiful, stunning portrait.
This remarkably original novel, in concept, also contains one of the most cherished tales of our time: the story of true love, and the transcendance of all else but that. And while the setting may seem delightfully different, the story is one we all know. The confusion, angst, humiliation, and pure beauty of love. David Levithan expresses this so well in the relationship between Paul and Noah.
With Boy Meets Boy, the author has included the perfect combination of story elements: a dizzyingly unique and surreal setting providing the backdrop for one of the most beautiful adolescent love stories ever told.

David Levithan’s Boy Meets Boy is a fictional novel about an adolescent teen who is trying to balance love, friendship and high school. Paul, the main character, lives in a small town in which tolerance and acceptance are second nature. Paul is a sophomore in a high school where teenagers are free to express themselves however they choose without the fear of ridicule or embarrassment. This is clearly not your typical small town, nor is Paul your average gay teenager. He has known he is gay since kindergarten and has never really felt the need to question his sexuality.
Although Paul’s hometown and high school may seem like the perfect place—in my opinion at least--- it is not without its’ drama. Between his love life, ex-boyfriend and friendship problems, Paul has his fair share of conflict. Everything seems to be falling apart in his world, forcing him to face his problems head on. In the end, Paul finds a way to resolve the conflict in his life and still manage to stay true to himself and what he believes.
One of the main themes that I thought was interesting in this novel was the “fairytale like” world it created within the storyline. A town where acceptance and tolerance are expected without question, and the people can express themselves freely. A school where the prom queen is also the star quarterback, and six graders start a gay-straight alliance to help straight people dance and dress. In this fairytale town, no one cares if you are gay, or a lesbian, or transsexual; it’s just considered to be normal and who you are. The biggest problems in this town/high school do not focus around sexual orientation, expression or gender identity. Rather, the David Levithan chose to focus on everyday teenage issues, which I thought was important. I also thought Tony, Paul’s best friend, was an interesting character to the story. Tony lives in another town, where being gay is not as acceptable. His parents are extremely religious, and do not understand or accept Tony in the way the Paul’s family has. This “outside” town reminds the reader of how harsh and unaccepting our world is sometimes, when it doesn’t have to be. The ending of the book, “what a wonderful world”, summed up my thoughts and feelings perfectly. What a wonderful world, in my opinion, this would be to live in.
I think that Boy Meets Boy is a great read for all teenagers. Although some critics may feel this book is unrealistic in nature, I think that Lethithan paints an accurate picture of the struggles and conflicts that many every-day teenagers deal with. Conflicts dealing with love, friendships, past relationships, parents and self-acceptance are all relevant to a majority of teenagers, whether they are gay, straight, bi, transsexual, queer etc. I chose this novel as a teacher looking to find a text to incorporate into my future Health Education class. I think that this book could align with a lot of the topics pertaining to mental health (self-esteem/self-acceptance), relationships, and positive conflict resolution.

i originally picked up this book in the shop just because i liked the cover, but i ended up staying up late to finish it. i was hooked from the second page and since then i've read it countless times!

the town Paul - the main character - lives in is something of a fairytale place, the kind of place most people -me included - would like to live in, or even just like to exist. It's a place where tolerance is everything, in and out of high school, where the schools star quarterback is also the homecoming queen and the Gay-Straight Alliance attracts more members the the hockey team.

so, it edges on the unrealistic, who cares? it's a feelgood book, that will have you smiling to yourself all day when you have finsihed it. not to say it's all smiles, i nearly cried at one point, but the resolution is great and - without giving anything away, the ending rocked. a lot.

Levithan's rich and colourful storytelling made me feel like i knew all the characters well, even if he only mentions a little about them. This book should be standard year 8/9 classroom reading material, and i would reccommend it to anyone - young or old, straight or gay - who wants an uplifting and insightful love story.

go on, read it!

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. Remember those tiny valentine candies with words on them? Three of those candy hearts with "boy" "meets" "boy" on them adorn the cover of David Levithan's gentle, sweet novel about Paul, a gay sophomore in high school and his friends. You can hardly call this a coming out novel since Paul, who is also the narrator, was outed by his kindergarten teacher when she wrote on his report card: "Paul is definitely gay and has very good sense of self." He ran for and was elected class president in the third grade on an openly gay ticket. In eighth grade Paul saw PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, and he met his good friend Tony at the Strand Book Store as they both were looking for a used copy of THE LOST LANGUAGE OF CRANES. One of Paul's friends in high school is a drag queen/homecoming queen/star quarterback who is faced with the real dilemma of how the homecoming queen can introduce herself/himself as quarterback at a pep rally. Cheerleaders ride motorcycles. Because of the National Boy Scouts' stand on gays, the local chapter has disbanded and is now an organization called "Joy Scouts." P-FLAG is more important than the PTA. The land of Oz? Maybe. Tony's parents may come as close to being wicked witches as anyone in this almost perfect world the author creates since they are fundamentalists who only let him study with Paul in their kitchen in plain sight of them.
The shy Mr. Levithan-- even when you go to his website, you don't learn a lot about him-- has written a seamless beautiful novel about a lucky, well-adjusted gay adolescent. In describing something he saw on television about a teen football player who had died in an auto accident, Paul remembers that some of his "big hulking" friends were in tears because they had loved him so much. "I started crying, too, and I wondered if these guys had told the football player they loved him while he was alive, or whether it was only with death that this strange word, love, could be used. I vowed then and there that I would never hesitate to speak up to the people I loved. They deserved to know they gave meaning to my life. They deserved to know I thought the world of them." Wouldn't a son like that warm any parent's heart?
The book closes-- and I have not given away the plot by any means-- with Paul thinking to himself: "What a wonderful world." What a wonderful book!

In an alternate reality where (almost) everyone's sexuality is out in the open and (almost) no one cares, Paul meets artistic, thoughtful ... perfect ... Noah.

For a while, Paul is pretty confused, especially when his ex-boyfriend Kyle walks back into the picture. Paul is lucky enough to have loyal friends who are both gay and straight, along with Infinite Darlene, to help him through his confusion. However, when he needs her most, his best friend Joni enters a controlling relationship and refuses to talk to him. When Paul makes a huge dating faux pas (kissing the ex-boyfriend) and rumors begin to fly, Paul needs his friends now more than ever to help him salvage the best relationship of his life.

BOY MEETS BOY is the book that the teen literature world has been waiting for: it's insightful and funny, with definite guy appeal. Though it deals primarily with homosexual relationships, it shows that many teens have the same questioning thoughts on love and dating, regardless of gender. While Paul's sexuality is undoubtedly important to him, he doesn't dwell on it. The support he gets from his family, as well as his self-confidence, allows him to help his best friend Tony, whose parents do not support him after he tells them he's gay.

Though the main character is gay, BOY MEETS BOY is not a book aimed exclusively at gay, lesbian and bisexual teens. It should be read by anyone who has ever had a crush, has met and almost lost a great person in his/her life, has at least one good friend, or is brave enough to stand up for what he/she cares about.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Kraft Webber

By Laura Forsythe

If I could pick any writer to call up and go eat french fries with when I'm getting ridiculous mixed messages from somebody cute and/or important, it would be David Levithan, hands down (Am I the only one who keeps a very specific wishlist of author encounters? I also want to make lasagna with Tony Kushner, play dress up and dance my heart out with Francesca Lia Block, and commit some minor, cheerful crimes with Maureen Johnson.) Levithan just has this sweet wisdom about how people fit together, whether in friendship, romance, or awkward acquaintanceship. And, like a conversation with a good friend whose advice you take seriously, Levithan's books don't come off like a pep talk on what to do with your love life. It's more like, "Hey buddy, I know you. I know people who are like the people you know. Here are some jokes that are also profoundly true. I believe you'll do the right thing sooner or later. I'm glad we're talking."

So why, if I so appreciate Mr. Levithan, has it taken me eight years to get around to reading Boy Meets Boy--arguably his most seminal work? I'm not going to bother pleading busyness, financial ruin, or my tendency to slack on even the most delightful of pursuits. No, I was deliberately putting it off, fairly certain that this book was going to damage my opinion of the man, and every review I read just made me stall for more time. "At last, a book about gay utopia!" crowed the reviews, and I chewed my lip doubtfully. I'm all for gay characters--especially those whose central struggle is something other than the usual coming-out-amidst-adversity-and-homophobic-persecution rigmarole--but is there anything duller than a book about happy, magical, perfect funland? But I should have known better than to think Levithan would subject me to such perfection.

Yes, Paul (our protagonist) lives in a town that is queerer than most, in all the best senses of the word. Yes, he comes out in kindergarten, campaigns for third grade class president with the slogan "I'M GAY!" and freely dates in high school. Yes, the quarterback at said high school doubles as the homecoming queen, the GSA is mainly for the benefit of the straight kids, and the idea of "safe spaces" is pretty redundant, since there's no more flack for same-sex flirting in the bookstore than there is at the queer bar. But the premise at work here is not: "What if everything were beautiful and nothing hurt?" It's not even: "What if everybody totally understood and respected each other's differences 110%?" It's more like: "What if being religious or macho or a member of the Boy Scouts of America didn't pass as an excuse for intolerance? What if people had to really own whatever prejudices they harbored?" The hypothesis, as far as I can tell, is that hate is too heavy to lug very far without institutional muscle. Most people have neither the fortitude nor the inclination not to let it go of hatred if left to their own devices. This makes the setting idyllic, but not inconceivably (or insipidly) so.

More than anything, I love that Levithan set this story in such a town. There's a common thread in the literature of queer teen liberation (fiction and non-fiction, page, stage, and big screen). It says: "One day you'll get out of this place. You'll escape to the big city--almost any big city will do--and you will frolic freely amongst your brethren in the land of public anonymity and holding hands with whomever you please." That's true enough for a lot of people, but it precludes a whole kind of story that can only happen in a community of a certain size. Thank you, David Levithan, for this town where everybody's known each other since kindergarten and businesses find creative ways to encourage loitering. Where everybody keeps their VCRs because the guy who runs the local video store is a tapehead, and the dead are like friends who moved away but still write often. Paul is so well-developed as a character because the townspeople aren't just background to his story: Paul is made up of what he knows about them and what they have come to expect from him. One problem with the get-the-grown-ups-out-of-the-way mode of storytelling for young people is that it prevents you from seeing who the protagonists really are. In Boy Meets Boy, we see who Paul is from many different angles, not just who he is around his peers.

It's been said that the too-short novel is a rarity. Maybe, but that's my principal complaint about this one. Boy Meets Boy begins and ends at the perfect moments, and there's so much good stuff in the middle, but--and maybe this is just the inevitable downfall of constructing a town so compellingly--there are so many untold stories. Paul has so many friends, rivals, and acquaintances that I wish there were time to get to know them all a little better. Hey Levithan, it's not too late for a sequel, you know . . .

Boy Meets Boy centers around Paul, a gay high-school boy. He is your typical teenager who struggles with love, friends and relationships while actively participating in normal high school events such as dances. However, his town is not what many readers would consider normal. Paul has known he is gay his whole life, and no one has a problem with it. His school has a mix of straight students, gay students, lesbians, drag queens... and there are no problems specifically about their sexual orientation. All the students are able to focus on all the other problems of being a teenager. Some people say this book is almost a fantasy because of the portrayal of this town. I understand that, however, I think this is more of an almost-utopia. It is the kind of place that we know won't ever fully exist, but we should strive to create it.

The main plot line of the book focuses on the love life between Paul and Noah, a new student. They are immediately drawn to each other and their relationship starts out great. Then, one of Paul's ex-boyfriends starts talking to him again, and the confusion and heartbreak starts. The plot line is interesting, and Noah is a unique and loveable character. However, what really drew me into this story was all the other subplots and secondary characters.

At the start of the book, Paul is best friends with Joni and and Tony. Then Joni starts dating Chuck which causes a falling out between Joni and Paul. Tony has the misfortune of living in a neighboring town which does not have the same attitude as Paul's town. Tony has religious, strict parents who will not accept that their son is gay. Also, there is a character named Infinite Darlene, a drag queen who is both homecoming queen and star quarterback. All of these side stories and characters add depth to this otherwise light romance.

Overall, I think this is a really fun read, and a nice change of pace from a lot of other LGBT literature that is dark and depressing.

This book is nothing less of complete fun with drama sprinkled on top. Though, it has a really unrealistic feel to it, there is no doubt a reader will be sucked into Paul's quirky world. The situations are very real, its simply the details around them that give it an unreal feeling. In the big picture, its a very refreshing book since the problems are fairly innocent for a modern teen novel. Most teen novels today are stuffed with drugs, drinking, and sex. Levithan's book however, is very squeaky clean and sure to make a few smiles. The characters aren't completely deep, but still people anyone would want to hang out with. The story flows well, not clipping any corners nor agonizing over a detail. Over all, its hard to find a dull moment in the book. This is a very fun, very light read, recommended to anyone who likes a good time.

This is an awesome, easy read. I had to constantly remind myself that the story is about a same sex relationship because it reads like any other heterosexual teen romance. If you ever wondered what it could possibly feel like to be in a gay relationship, your answer lies within these pages. Every tense moment before a kiss, the excitement of brushing up against each other, the preoccupation of the next time you talk, touch or meet - it is the same sensation for both gay and straight. "I notice Noah has been facing me the whole time instead of looking to the water or facing the direction we're paddling; he is not just telling this story - he is giving it to me." (p. 68) This books explores the full range of emotions Young Adults encounter in a fun, positive, and upbeat way. Get ready to laugh!

Boy Meets Boy is a wonderful story about Paul, his friends and classmates, and the boy he falls in love with, set in an a sort of gay utopia where the homecoming queen and captain of the football team are one and the same. A place where sexuality is accepted, where the Boy Scouts become Joy Scouts after the boy scouts decided gays weren't accepted, and where acceptance is unconditional.

This is the first of David Levithan's book that I've read and I will definitely be reading more! His writing is witty and humorous, and the characters just came to life off the page. Boy Meets Boy is just a really fun teen romance.

Levithan is an author of somewhat unpredictable style. After reading many of his broken-prose works like "The Realm of Possibility" and his more recent "Lover's Dictionary" I finally stumbled upon his first novel and in my opinion, his most significant work. Written in clean, straightforward prose, Boy Meets Boy is an encouraging, hope-filled gay teen romance. Levithan provides a breath of fresh air from a world that so often creates hostility towards the LGBT community. By creating a world in which acceptance is the norm Levithan has drawn a line from where society currently stands to where it should be headed.

The story itself is truly uplifting and provides a beacon of light for gay teens. It is also a fantastic read for parents too. It provides real insight into the mind of a gay boy and exemplifies how love is perceived at all ages. It may also remind you of you're teenage crushes and experiences of the heart. Though simple and cliche in nature, the writing is brilliant. While it is easily readable in one sitting, many of Levithan's one-liners are like morsels that are even better dissolved individually. Excellent novel. Worth every penny and so much more.

I couldn't really stand this book because of how "perfect" their little world is. It seemed like something straight out of a cartoon and at times it just seemed like the author pulled the whole story out of his a** in just a few days. Now that being said it was kinda cute and a bit entertaining but like most gay teen books I've read focusses so much on relationships that I got bored.

It's different. Unique. And sickeningly sweet.

This book does something that other books do not: it presents a world that certainly does NOT currently exist (drag queen as star quarterback? a school where homosexuality and bisexuality are accepted as "duh"?) and then proceeds to make you believe in it. Or, at least, it makes you ask (as does all good utopian fiction): Why shouldn't it exist?

Like other utopian novels, too, next to the utopian world there is a dystopian (meaning "bad") world, reminding us of what is at stake. That dystopian world is the world of Tony, the gay son of strongly religious parents, and who attends a different school. Thanks to a chance meeting on a train, Tony gets to experience, once in a while, the utopian world where Paul and Infinite Darlene (the drag queen quarterback) live. That's enough to give him--and the readers--hope for the future.

Levithan, the author, offers an optimistic ending, suggesting that the utopian realities will eventually infect (in a good way) the dystopian.

Finally, it must be said that the utopian world here is far from perfect! Paul and the others still have essentially human pains and sufferings to live through. The point is this: what kind of world should we have--should teenagers have--so that everyone can get through those basic human pains (first crushes, first kiss, first sex, first ex'es, etc.) with the least amount of extraneous burdens thrown in? Levithan writes about this essential world of relational struggle and growth extremely well.

Directory Daniel Bostick and the cast and crew from Full Cast Audio really bring this book to life. This is the first Full Cast audiobook I've heard, and the ensemble production blows away all but the very best solo productions.

Nick Robideau does an incredible job as Paul, the narrator, capturing his joy, wit, empathy, disappointment, hope, and love. Mike Stevens as the new love interest, Noah, reveals the character's artistry and vulnerability. Playing Tony, the teen struggling with his conservative parents, is Mike Komurek, who shows his fears, strengths, and wisdom. There are too many other supporting actors to mention them all, but Joey Panek, one of the better known performers in the cast, can only be described as fabuolous in his portrayal of the star quarterback and homecoming queen, Infinite Darlene. Complementing the acting are the musical interludes, which set the mood for each chapter. While there's a bit of the overacting that's inevitable in an audio book, the only disappointment was Andrew Pollack; his acting is fine, but his voice lacks the timbre that made the others believable as high school students.

Although I'm a sucker for gay romance, I don't think I would have liked this book as much if I had read it before listening to it. As a young adult novel, it has a simplicity and predictability appropriate to the genre, but making it flimsy for the rest of us. The audio production rounds it out, giving it a richer texture and adding depth to the characters. At times, there are interpretations that I'm sure I wouldn't have found on my own from the text. It's a fine story, well told but unsophisticated. Its emphasis on hope and love, and not sex, makes it ideal for young folks today, of all orientations. I wish I could have read it when I was that age.

Finally, I agree with director Bostwick's comments in the epilogue, that this book isn't as much fantasy as many reviewers assert. If you had asked me twenty years ago whether I thought I would ever be married to my lover, I would have laughed - but here we are. I can't say I know of any high schools like this, but I know of college groups that have the same sort of integration, without boundaries, that author David Levithan envisions.

My literature professor recommended this book, and I actually really enjoyed it. The fact that the teens are openly gay and the rest of the high school kids couldn't care less is fascinating. I love it! I wish it were really like that. I would have loved to go to a high school like that...where homosexuals are not treated any differently and where the quarterback of the football team could also be the head cheerleader. I think everyone should read this book because this is the way our world should be...

Awesome book! Though a bit unrealistic at times, this served as a great quick read and a few good laughs. The characters were pretty well developed, and the plot was cohesive. I really loved all the lgbt+ representation, however the full acceptingness of the small town seemed a bit out of place. I would recommend this to anyone 12-17. Awesome fast read.

This story pretends to have depth while falling into the trite gibberish of romance novels. I don't have trouble with most of the characters except the two main boys. Some of the statistics seems off, such as claiming a gay teen cheated on his boyfriend by kissing half the boys in class. That seems odd, but I can overlook that.

My problem is with the way Paul falls for Noah. He is observing every little thing about Noah, his habits, his speech patterns, his artistic abilities, and giving approval ratings of the person based on it. This approach to romance is superficial and self-delusional because it won't take long and a person will start seeing things of the other person and give negative points: said the wrong thing, talked too loud, wore the wrong shirt. There is never any indication of why Noah should so readily like Paul back, especially after his disastrous first experience. Then to win Noah back, Paul does a serious of little things himself and that's all it takes to win someone's heart, as if stupid little gestures is all it takes. There is no depth, no real feeling, no true understanding, and no coming of age. It is ridiculous that a book like this can win an award. If Noah had been a girl, this story would have gone the way of cheap romance novels.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with cheap romance novels when they advertise as such. It's just that I started this book with the impression that it is a book that realistically explores love, so I am rather disappointed that I wasted my time.

There is a tiny revolution occuring within the world of young adult literature right now. I don't know if the publishers see a market for queer themes, or if they are opening their minds and eyes to writers who have long awaited a chance to write stories of everyday queer youth. Other books to check out are "Rainbow Boys" and its sequel, "Rainbow High," and "Geography Club."

"Boy Meets Boy," however, does not tell a story of everyday queer youth, but rather, outstanding queer youth. The characters in this book are unique and multi-faceted, make idiotic decisions after brilliant ones, only to learn after loops and hurdles that they are only and wonderfully human, and perhaps the only and wonderful validation for that is their own growth.

The protagonist is Paul, a young man who was told by his kindergarten teacher that he is in fact gay. Actually, he learns this through an evaluation left carelessly on her desk. Fortunately, he is blessed with a town that disbanded their local boyscouts troop after the organization addresses their discrimination policy. Instead they they form their own "joy scouts."

One of the most refreshing things about this book is that it portrays situations and circumstances that are blessedly unrealistic. That is to say, the queer characters do not suffer from gay-bashing, unsafe sex or any of the other demons that can surface when coming out in today's world.

Probably the most glaring example of this fantasy is Paul's dear friend, Infinite Darlene, the trans male to female star quarterback and homecoming queen. When I read this, my jaw dropped and I gave a little clap in the library. Although, it is unfortunate that the author refers to Darlene as a drag queen throughout the book, when the other description is clearly identifying a transgendered youth. That is my only critisism of this otherwise splendid book.

The over-simplified title gives the bare bones of this book. Paul meets a boy, named Noah. They fall in love. It's magical and heart-tugging until Kyle, Paul's confused ex, tries to re-enter his life. Paul, being the lovable heart he is, gives much sympathy, and perhaps a little too much. Meanwhile, Paul's best friend Jodi goes after the man who had fallen in love with Infinite Darlene, who in turn was not interested, seeing warning signs of stalker behavior. Paul, Darlene and Tony, the third piece to the Paul/Jodi/Tony friendship, disapprove, as does Jodi's ex, who begins to cry upon Paul's shoulder, who of course is just trying to be in love with Noah in the first place. Insanity ensues.

Imagine a world where a queer youth can crush, pine, lust and whine about loves in the hallways of public schools just as straight youth, and you have the wonderful and wise "Boy Meets Boy."

What a great book! This would be an excellent choice if you are looking for a gift for a younger gay person and did not want to give them something filled with descriptions of sex or other objectionable material.

Quite the contrary, this book is a sweet and innocent love story between it's narrator, Paul, and the new kid in town, Noah. In this special town, being gay is no big deal and nearly every gay kid came out long ago, freeing them to find out what it is they want out of life and also to date, just as the straight kids do.

Of course, not EVERYONE is accepting and tolerant, and this makes for a wonderful sub-plot to the story without dominating it the way so many gay stories do.

All of the characters are likeable, and you feel as if you are getting to know ALL of them, not just Paul and Noah.

It's a great read, and more than anything else it gives hope for a better world to gay teens who just want to be themselves, without having to worry about what someone might think, or that someone will find out their "secret" or having to worry about being beaten up for being gay.

A really typical tale of a funny, talented, observant teen who has to deal with all that adolescence has to offer: identity struggles, feuding friends, high school, parental rebellion, crushes, prom... The only difference to the norm of YA literature is that our protagonist is gay. And it simply doesn't matter!
Gay or hetero, there is a place for everyone in Paul's somewhat-utopian-but-could-be-real town, which left me with both a happiness of the possibilities of such a place and the sadness that this reality is so close but so far away. Never preachy, never didactic, this book is smart, FUNNY, and thoughtful.

Well, the book's nothing if not original and seriously funny. I bought this as a birthday present to one of my friends and he loved it - prompting me to read it myself. I had a permanent stitch in my side and it's definitely one of my favorites now.

My only the problem with this book is that it seemed to go by so fast! I wish it was a little longer, but I have this little problem with wanting my books to be over three-hundred pages, go figure.

Anyway, this books is really awesome and I definitely recommend it.

This book will steal your heart. Paul, the central character, lives in a town that represents the world as it should be, and as we all wish it could be. Infinite Darlene is the prom queen and the high school quarterback; the Boy Scouts became the Joy Scouts once the Boy Scouts rejected homosexuals; and Paul has known he was gay since kindergarten, when his teacher wrote in his report card that "Paul is definitely gay." This is a charming, wonderful, sweet, enchanting book. You'll root for Paul and Noah the whole time. I couldn't put this book down.

This book is truly beautiful. Anyone can relate to the characters in some sense. Paul and Noah could be any couple. The way Paul proves his love and his outlook on life are priceless and enjoyable. Great book for anyone to read to enjoy the relationships between people.

David Levithan creates a great story with Boy Meets Boy. It is a well-written book that keeps you reading from page to page. There is no graphic sexual content, no extreme language, no violence or drug use so it is appropriate for readers of all different ages. The characters seem very real and the storyline itself is creative and well thought-out. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a quick read and would certainly add it to my personal library.

This is such a funny, touching and sweet coming of age story. Its got appropriate sexual story lines without being pornographic. The world they live in is pure fantasy and it would be wonderful if every teenager lived in the world of Boy Meets Boy. But a great read for teenagers and nostalgic memories.

Levithan's simple and engaging writing style helps the story flow whimsically. The story itself is really quite standard, save the twist of being a "gay teen story." With the lack of politics, drugs, violence, and heartwrenching drama BMB is a thouroughly enjoyable and light read!

Oh, man. This high school is more magical - and fictional - than Hogwarts. While I would love, love, love to see a high school that accepts transvestites as their star quarterback and Homecoming Queen and the math team is cheered on at a pep rally, it just doesn't exist yet and so the story didn't read true. Even if you take the story as a possible Utopian tale, there is no suspense! You know everything is going to work out. The story is so sweet and cheerful that it made my teeth hurt.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-written book. However, it is not the work of genius that other reviewers seem to think it is. It is, in essence, an example of light, almost series romance fiction with gay characters. Which is, perhaps, groundbreaking in its way, but great literature it isn't.