Customer Reviews

Rainbow Boys

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is fabulous! Although I'm not gay, when I was in high school, I was friends with openly gay students. This novel captures the pain and hardships that students and their friends must deal with, and gives great insights to what it might feel like to come to grips with being a homosexual teenager. I can also relate to Jason's character, as I was "dumped" by a boyfriend of 3 years after he began to question his sexuality. But most importantly, this novel shows that gay young men are very much like straight teens; they worry about getting that special person to notice them, they're afraid of looking inexperienced, and they just want love and respect. I think this would be a great book for (excuse the bluntness) homophobes to read, as it might help show that we're not so different after all.

Sanchez's novel chronicles three gay high school boys. One is out, proud, and totally a flamer. One, his best friend, is still in the closet. Another, with a steady girlfriend, has just come to the realization and is trying his best to understand - and hide, in a way, this new discovery.

Nelson is the flamer. With a trillion earrings, crazy hair, and a love for fashion, he sees no need to keep his secret. He's been out and has many friends and people who like him despite this. And why isn't he likeable? He's a loyal friend, a wonderful listener, and can provide his best friend, Kyle, with good advice and a shoulder to cry on.

Kyle is gay but has yet to announce it to the world. Nonetheless, he's known the truth since an early age. People do expect he is a homosexual because he always hangs around with Nelson. Their friendship is incredibly strong. Kyle's parents are loving and supportive - at first only his mother seems to be, but his father does eventually come around once Kyle gives them the news. Nelson wants to be more than just friends but Kyle only has eyes for Jason.

Jason is a jock with a beautiful girlfriend named Debra. They've been going steady for two years and even have had sex. So he can't be gay, can he? Well...he tries, like some may, to deny and supress the thought, tries to dismiss it from his mind. But when he makes love to Debra, he pictures men. He dreams of naked men. He thinks of Kyle. With an alcoholic father who constantly calls him weak, home life is sometimes an obstacle. It is difficult for Jason to muster the courage to tell Debra but when he does, her reaction is normal. After all, she does love him.

Sanchez's novel is real. When the two boys finally come out of the closet, family and friend reactions are totally understandable, apt to happen in those situations. Sanchez's ability to convey character depth and meaning are incredible and make this novel what it is. You'll enjoy this book whether you happen to be straight, gay, or bisexual. And, to be frank, it really opened my eyes. Although I choose to be straight, it helped me realize that love between same sexes can be just as real, just as true. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

This book is completely excellent. Being in high school, and gay, I wanted to read a book that I could relate to and know follow what was going on. Even though this book doesn't have all the steamy sex scenes that every gay guy seems to go for, I couldn't put it down. Rainbow Boys describes the struggles and trials of a jock, an "out" guy, and an outsider. Simply excellent and not to miss.

I extremely enjoyed this brilliant work. Being only fourteen, I could relate to all of the things the characters were going through. This book examines the struggles of the modern gay teen, the pressures from parents they experience, and the wonderful feelings of knowing that they're not alone in this world. I highly suggest this book to anyone regardless of their age, and to pick up a copy of the second book, "Rainbow High" as well. Alex Sanchez truly deserves to be named the modern Shakespeare!

Alex Sanchez's witty, realistic, and provocative look at gay teen sexuality is a definite winner!
The story follows the lives of three teenage boys during their final year of high school. Jason Carillo, "ultrajock" and Mr. Popularity has a girlfriend, and they've even had sex, so why does he sometimes think of other guys? Nelson Glassman is out and proud, a loud sarcastic mouth his only weakness against the gay bashers he confronts each and every day. And Kyle Meeks, Nelson's best friend, and lonely intellectual, harboring a secret crush on Jason since Freshman year.
In this fresh and startling novel, the experiences of the three intertwine and intersect, producing one of the best novels for gay teens in recent years. The book, however, resists being labeled as merely "gay fiction." This is a story of adolescence and high school, of love lost and love found. It is perhaps one of the most revealing glimpses of growing up, (gay or straight) that I've ever read.
And while dealing with such somber topics as HIV/AIDS, alcoholism, domestic violence/abuse, gay bashing, and ignorance and bigotry, Alex Sanchez never loses hope or lets the picture he paints become too bleak.
Inspirational and fun, quirky yet serious, Rainbow Boys won't soon be lost nor forgotten.

This is a well written book that would be good for especially gay young people to read. Also good for older people. A moving story one can identify with whether in or out. I had to order Rainbow High after reading this. I would buy a third book if there was one. My only complaint is that the publisher didn't bother to find 3 guys that looked like the guys in the book to put on the cover. It would have been nice to have proper pictures in one's mind as I got to know these young men. The books are kept clean which is good so that people can't complain about young people reading them. The books are so good, they don't need explicit ... descriptions.

I think the book was the bomb. The book was the bomb because of the of the way the book is put out. I am gay so really liked the book. The book is really like me and my friends. Jason, Nelson, and Kyle. All of the boys play a good part in the book. When I read the book I think that this is really going on witch it is that is why I like it. I thats all thank you.

I just finished Rainbow High, which directly followed Rainbow Boys...both books were awesome, to say the least, i couldnt set either down!!! I cant wait to see Alex Sanchez's next masterpiece following these 2 treasures...These books are so real, you (if you're a gay youth) can completely connect with each character...guarenteed, one of the 3 is you....Enjoy these books!!

I loved Rainbow Boys so much, that I read in about 5 hours.
The characters are beleivable and lovable.
It's way more than a Teen book. It's history.
It reminded me of what we go through when we are about to
come out... the difficulties, etc.
I even saw myself in there...
Great, Amazing, a book for everyone.

I am 13.
My friend told me about this book and it sound funny from the way she said things about it and it sorta sounded dumb. Well I found the book so I bought it and in about 4 days I finished it. It was one of the best books I have read in awhile and I am reading the second one now. You see the emotion's from each boys veiw and how hard it is going through life each day. Kyle, who is a swimmer, has a huge crush on Jason.
Jason is your school jock with a girlfriend he thinks he loves and begings to questiong if he really loves her.
Nelson is a guy still trying to find out who he is and looking for love, and always supporting his best friend Kyle!
Slowly their lives blend toghter and they become closer and closer.
It is so hard to put this book down and its even harder not to want to know more! You ask question and slowly but surely they get answered and you beging to feel for each character. I highly recomend this book to anyone! Boy or Girl, Straight or Gay, Hey I am a Girl and I enjoyed it!