Summary
David Dahlgren, a high-school senior, finds solace in running with the track team; he’s a fast runner, and he enjoys the camaraderie. But team events become a source of tension when he develops a crush on one of his teammates, Sean.
Scared to admit his feelings, David does everything he can to suppress them: he dates a girl, keeps his distance from his best friend who has become openly gay, and snaps a rubber band on his wrist every time he has “inappropriate” urges. Before long, Sean expresses the thoughts David has been trying to hide, and everything changes for the better. Or so it seems.
In this thoughtful yet searing coming-of-age novel, Lee Bantle offers a raw, honest, and incredibly compelling account of a teenager who learns to accept himself for who he is.
Overall, Lee Bantles writes in a way where David is easy to related to and his story keeps you wanting to find out how he deals with things. I recommend this novel to those who would like to read a wonderful GLBT book or those who are looking for an overall good read.
Scared to admit his feelings, David does everything he can to suppress them: he dates a girl, keeps his distance from his best friend who has become openly gay, and snaps a rubber band on his wrist every time he has “inappropriate” urges. Before long, Sean expresses the thoughts David has been trying to hide, and everything changes for the better. Or so it seems.
In this thoughtful yet searing coming-of-age novel, Lee Bantle offers a raw, honest, and incredibly compelling account of a teenager who learns to accept himself for who he is.
Review
When I was asked to review this, I immediately jumped at the chance. I love reading GLBT books and the main character is a runner, which I love; although, running wasn't the main thing. DAVID INSIDE OUT explores sexual identity; takes a look a friendship; and being true to yourself.
David Dahlgren is at loss to what he feels and who is truly is. Kick's his girlfriend, but he doesn't have more than friendly feelings for her and then there's Sean, one of his teammates from the cross country team who he does have have feelings more than friends. David's friend, Eddie, has recently come out as gay and David soon strays away from him.
One thing that I really wished that was explained in the book was, what happened with the GSA (gay/straight alliance) club?! I'm in GSA at my school (well, actually the sponsor went to a different school and its pretty much no more...) and I thought the parts where Eddie would put posters up, promoting GSA only to have students tear them down and when he would try to convince David to join truly made everything all the more believable. I remember putting a poster up one day after school for GSA and although there was no paper tearing, I could see the the head shaking or when I would talk about it and insist that they could be the straight alliance part, like I was, I still saw it. Anyways, I wished I knew what happened with GSA in DAVID INSIDE OUT.
When I was asked to review this, I immediately jumped at the chance. I love reading GLBT books and the main character is a runner, which I love; although, running wasn't the main thing. DAVID INSIDE OUT explores sexual identity; takes a look a friendship; and being true to yourself.
David Dahlgren is at loss to what he feels and who is truly is. Kick's his girlfriend, but he doesn't have more than friendly feelings for her and then there's Sean, one of his teammates from the cross country team who he does have have feelings more than friends. David's friend, Eddie, has recently come out as gay and David soon strays away from him.
One thing that I really wished that was explained in the book was, what happened with the GSA (gay/straight alliance) club?! I'm in GSA at my school (well, actually the sponsor went to a different school and its pretty much no more...) and I thought the parts where Eddie would put posters up, promoting GSA only to have students tear them down and when he would try to convince David to join truly made everything all the more believable. I remember putting a poster up one day after school for GSA and although there was no paper tearing, I could see the the head shaking or when I would talk about it and insist that they could be the straight alliance part, like I was, I still saw it. Anyways, I wished I knew what happened with GSA in DAVID INSIDE OUT.
RATING
Writing: 5/5
Orginality: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Voice: 4/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall: 3.5 stars
Favorite character(s): Eddie! I admired his courage to come out as gay and start GSA and I just loved his personality!
Cover: B. Hmm. I'm not sure what I think of this cover. I do like the setting though.
Put-down-ability: 3. As I mentioned before it's not long and I found myself wanting to know how David was going to deal with things and it wasn't long at all, so I hardly put it down!
*Source: Lee Bantle offered me a copy to review! Thanks so much!
1 comment:
Lovely review. I'm glad you enjoyed the book too. That's awful about the GSA at your school. I'm in one at my college...it's not called a GSA but it's basically the same thing. :)
-Lauren
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