From Publishers Weekly
In this novel about a gay teenager, Keith's acceptance of his homosexuality is a given. He wants to attract Bran, the one he loves. The plot has possibilities, but is weakened by the ease of Keith's coming of agefrom crush to mutual masturbation and oral sex to coming out before the community at a school dance. Keith's mother understands her son so well that she invites Bran to stay over ("I'd rather that you knew there was some place where you could feel comfortable"). Keith acts just as cool when his mother trots off for a vacation with a man she hardly knows. In this pat treatment, potential conflicts are small: the characters don't experience school and neighborhood bullying or violence; their biggest fear is group ostracism because girls are jealous that Keith gets Bran.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 8-12 This is an average, unrealistic teenage romance, except for two explicit bedroom scenes, and for the fact the the lovers are both boys. The main character exhibits the standard feelings of innocent first love. The lively background of a high-school drama club contrasts with the slightly plodding writing style. The book ends with a Winter Dance, where the boys dare to dance close; however, as they have been kissing in the cafeteria at noon every day, their classmates are hardly surprised. There is absolutely no adult interference in the course of true love; their parents all but tuck them into bed together. This is one of the few gay love stories for young people that does not mention the paranoia of being found out. The 16-year-old's mother is understanding and not even slightly upset when her son tells her that he's in love with a senior boy. Their classmates seem bothered only that one of the most popular seniors is no longer available to the girls who worship him. This is so much like a ``Sweet Dreams'' romance that it is startling to read passionate sex scenes near the end of the somewhat too-long narrative. Not as well written as Scoppettone's Happy Endings Are All Alike (Harper, 1978), this might be the groundbreaker for public library YA paperback racks. High schools might have a harder time with it only because of two very graphic sentences describing tender lovemaking. Anne Osborn, Riverside Public Library, Calif.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
