Answers in the Pages
Three parallel stories intertwine to reveal how romantic feelings between two same-sex characters in a middle-school book create a community clash, and the real romance years ago which may have inspired the book.
- Contemporary fiction
- Novels
- 11-14
- 7-10
- Bravery
- Feelings
- Self-discovery
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SYNOPSIS
Donovan’s mom discovers that his school-assigned book mentions two boys’ love for each other, and swiftly organizes a parent boycott of the book.
Donovan and his friends are enthralled by the book’s kid-thriller plot and perplexed by adults’ discomfort with same-sex relationships.
(The book’s plot is about the heroic adventures of two boys and a girl who fight evil wrongdoers.)
At a school board meeting to review the book, defenders and opponents speak up passionately; the school board “clears” the book; the crowd cheers on a boy who reveals he’s gay; and Donovan’s mom quietly acknowledges her misjudgment.
Gideon, who loves turtles, and Roberto, a new kid in class, enjoy each other’s company and by February 14th become a “pair”.
This is Gideon’s first romance and Roberto’s return to Florida at the end of the school year is heartbreaking for both boys.
Roberto, we later learn, is the (now grown) author of the novel that causes upheaval at Donovan’s school – and Gideon is the teacher who includes it in his class curriculum.
PERFECT AGE 10 – 14
We love
- A fun way to mix three separate narratives and let the reader trace their “links” to one another.
- Donovan’s resolve to engage his mom on what she’s scared of in the book, despite her reluctance.
- The portrayal of Mr. Howe’s (the teacher) feelings as the story develops, and his class-act reactions.
WATCH OUT FOR (Language, Big / Sensitive Topics, Outdated Concepts):
- During the school board meeting, and “old and cranky” speaker calls homosexuality an “evil abomination” and calls for teachers who support it to be “put on the first train out of town”.
CONVERSATION STARTERS
- Why do you think the author chose to combine the three stories as he did? Which one did you enjoy the most?
- Why do you think Gideon felt nervous around Alberto at first? What feelings might he have had when he shared personal details about himself?
- What do you think is good about having big public discussions like the school board meeting? What do you think people learned from it?
- What questions do you have about the stories or the relationships depicted in the book that you’d like us to discuss further?
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