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Rating: 
Summary: An earnest book that falls short of its goals.
Review: It is a shame that this earnest, painstaking book is so woodenly written. Clearly the writer felt strongly about her topic, and was anxious to write a reassuring book for adolescents (particularly Latino adolescents). Unfortunately, the result reads like a high-school composition assignment, littered with stock platitudes and "Advice for teens and parents on coping with homosexuality" school-pamphlet paragraphs. For adolescent readers wondering about their sexuality and the reactions of family and friends, such paragraphs might relate just what they need to know. For those merely seeking characters with which to identify, however, the heavy-handed explations and reassurances will bore them. The fast-moving plot contains well-drawn, sympathetic characters, albeit with too much emphasis on Tommy's counselor; I think her story would have worked better as part of Tommy's counseling sessions. Regarding Tommy himself, two major character elements seem to be missing: how he identified his sexuality in the first place, and any physical attraction to men (Tommy's homosexuality seems very antiseptic and conjectural). Due to these omissions, the reader is left a little frustrated in wanting to know this interesting character better. Overall-- perceptive treatment of Latino culture aside--far better novels dealing with adolescent homosexuality are available. A sterling example is Michael Cart's "My Father's Scar;" a wonderful and poignant book that doesn't suborn the issue of mutual attraction in favor of chaste philosophic debate.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good and very well written!
Review: This was a very good short story (about 130 or so pages) that tells the story of Tommy, a Latino gay boy that has to deal with his coming out to his friends and family. It covers everything from the original pressures Tommy is under to come out, through how his friends reacted (some good, some bad), and subsequently his family (again, some good, and some horrible). This is a great book for younger kids and young teens to understand what the coming out process can be like. I found alot of myself and my background in this book. For only being 130 or so pages, this book is very full of insight and honest reactions. There are some Spanish terms mixed throughout this book, but luckly the author put a 'glossery' in the back to tell you what those words mean. I thoughly enjoyed this book and think you will too!!
Rating:
Summary: Very good and very well written!
Review: This was a very good short story (about 130 or so pages) that tells the story of Tommy, a Latino gay boy that has to deal with his coming out to his friends and family. It covers everything from the original pressures Tommy is under to come out, through how his friends reacted (some good, some bad), and subsequently his family (again, some good, and some horrible). This is a great book for younger kids and young teens to understand what the coming out process can be like. I found alot of myself and my background in this book. For only being 130 or so pages, this book is very full of insight and honest reactions. There are some Spanish terms mixed throughout this book, but luckly the author put a 'glossery' in the back to tell you what those words mean. I thoughly enjoyed this book and think you will too!!
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