The Drowning of Stephan Jones

Rating:
Summary: Hard Choices
Review: Bette Greene has crafted a book that is more than just the story of how prejudice can ruin lives. It speaks to many people when different levels.

It speaks to troubled teens worried about fitting in as well as to GLBTQ people and their tormenters. Carla is forced to balance her beliefs against her feelings for a handsome, popular young man. Deciding that keeping silent is an appropriate compromise, she soon learns the price such compromises can demand. Over the course of several months, she watches as the violence of the attacks against two innocent men increases in intensity. At the same time, she is forced to watch the adults who condone such violence launch an attack against her mother, the town librarian. By the time she decides to speak out, it is too late. Her bid for popularity has prevented her from showing support to her mother and cost one-man his life.

Regrettably, some readers have criticized the characters of Stephan and Frank as being

unrealistic and stereotypical. Specifically, some people think that GLBTQ men who move to roll areas would never act like the characters of Stephan and Frank. This is unfortunate. The fact is that there are people who act exactly this way and who move to roll towns. A quick reading of "A Rose for Charlie" in "Us and Them" by Jim Carnes should give anyone the evidence they need to verify the truth of the characters in question. The characters of Stephan and Frank were drawn from the story of Charlie Howard and his fate at the hands of ignorance and bigotry.

Rating:
Summary: Hatred masked by love? Greene has another winner!
Review: Andy Harris is the ultimate Christian young man. He quotes scripture, attends church religiously, leads Bible study but is that really him. Carla Wayland, his girlfriend, is totally in love with him and doesn't see or ignores his quirks. His ultimate quirk is his hatred of all homosexuals, especially the gay couple - Frank Montgomery and Stephan Jones. What drives him? Does Carla's mother - Judith - the town outcast because she stands up for her beliefs - have anything to do with it? This is a remarkable tale of what hatred does to people - to those who hate and to those who are hated. Greene develops the characters so true to life, you'll feel you are watching a movie. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Drowning of Stephan Jones
Review: Bette Greene's "The Drowning of Stephan Jones" is a well-researched and well-written book about a timely issue. It is a novel based upon a series of real-life events, the perpetrators and victims of which Greene spoke to before writing. The novel explores the hatred of gays often propagated by those who are supposed to be our "moral leaders". Andy and his friends abuse, belittle, and humiliate Stephan Jones and Frank Montgomery throughout the book, and, ultimately, the wind up killing Stephan. There is a valuable lesson to be learned from this work, which will undoubtedly raise numerous questions in the reader's mind. Apparently, Mrs. Greene is willing to answer her readers' questions though, as she has established a website with the intention of informing her readers about her books and life. You can visit it, and email her from bettegreene.com.

Rating:
Summary: Haunting
Review: I read this novel several years ago and often think about it. The story is haunting in how it accurately portrays the nature of prejudice. Hate crimes against gays are common and are currently becoming even more common. Novels like this one might help some young people think about the results of hatred and prejudice. Bette Greene deserves all the praise and awards she has received for her books!

Rating:
Summary: Sarah`s review
Review: This book will always be one of the best books. The reason I chose this book was because of the muder and lessons. This book is about a boy who commites hate crimes against a gay cuple, and his girlfriend standing up for what she believes in. My favorite character is Clara because even if she loves Andy she wants to go against his believes. My favorite part of the book is in the court room.

Rating:
Summary: It could really happen
Review: This is a great story revolving around a very christian and church going young man and his blinded by love girlfriend. Andy is working a hate campaign towards the gentle and friendly gay couple Stephan Jones and Frank Montgomery for no reason other than the fact they are gay and the fact that Andy is using his religion as an excuse to do so. And then when Stephan drowns as a result of a vicious joke, the truth about Andy finally comes out.

A very eye opening book. I did not realize that there are really people in this world that use religion as an excuse to act this way, but there really are.

Rating:
Summary: The Drowning of Stephan Jones
Review: This was an excellent book. I read this book years ago, and it opened my eyes to prejudice. I had never really given any thought to problems facing homosexuals when I was younger. After reading this book, I became aware of the fear some people have of gays. I also noticed how people are very uncomfortable with anything that goes against their beliefs or values, and I feel this book was the building block which enabled me to open my eyes to such things.

The main character in the story is Carla Wayland. Carla's mother Judith is the town librarian, and she is basically reviled and looked down upon by the majority of the close-minded townspeople for her "liberal viewpoints". Judith tries to instill in her daughter Carla how important it is to stand up for one's beliefs, but as the book unfolds, we realize how little value Carla places on her mother's teachings.

Although the readers understand Judith is struggling in the small-minded, close-knit town, Carla is going through struggles of her own which are much more "important" in her mind than her mother's. Carla is fighting to fit in at the local high school. Her boyfriend, Andy Harris, embodies everything she wants to be--he is handsome, wealthy, and very popular. Carla, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the town, and her friends count her mother as being a strike against her.

In a nearby town, Stephen Jones and his boyfriend Frank Montgomery are struggling, too. They have moved into the town hoping to make a new life together, and have opened a small shop. However, they are put into fierce conflict with Andy and his macho friends, who are intolerant and afraid of homosexuals. As you can imagine from the novel's title, the story is destined for something horrible to happen--and it does.

After the incident between Andy's friends and Stephen, Carla is forced to decide once and for all what she will do. Should she take the easy road, close her eyes to everyone else's flaws, and keep fighting for her place as a popular, accepted student? Or should she acknowledge her mother is a brave woman in her own right, and it is better to fight for what one believes in? Her struggle was interesting to me, but I have to admit--sometimes I just wanted to grab Carla by the hair and give her a good shake.

Reading the novel now that I'm older, I do see its shortcomings. I agree with some of the critics--it was perhaps not as streamlined and did not flow as well as it could've. But all in all, I still believe it is worth the read, especially for those in the recommended age limit--14 and up. It was a visceral novel with much truth in it, especially in light of such events as the murder of Matthew Shepard, the 21-year old college student who was killed senselessly in Wyoming in 1998 because he was gay. It certainly left me with a lot to think about.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent, haunting book
Review: This was an excellent book. I read this book years ago, and it opened my eyes to prejudice. I had never really given any thought to problems facing homosexuals when I was younger. After reading this book, I became aware of the fear some people have of gays. I also noticed how people are very uncomfortable with anything that goes against their beliefs or values, and I feel this book was the building block which enabled me to open my eyes to such things.

The main character in the story is Carla Wayland. Carla's mother Judith is the town librarian, and she is basically reviled and looked down upon by the majority of the close-minded townspeople for her "liberal viewpoints". Judith tries to instill in her daughter Carla how important it is to stand up for one's beliefs, but as the book unfolds, we realize how little value Carla places on her mother's teachings.

Although the readers understand Judith is struggling in the small-minded, close-knit town, Carla is going through struggles of her own which are much more "important" in her mind than her mother's. Carla is fighting to fit in at the local high school. Her boyfriend, Andy Harris, embodies everything she wants to be--he is handsome, wealthy, and very popular. Carla, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the town, and her friends count her mother as being a strike against her.

In a nearby town, Stephen Jones and his boyfriend Frank Montgomery are struggling, too. They have moved into the town hoping to make a new life together, and have opened a small shop. However, they are put into fierce conflict with Andy and his macho friends, who are intolerant and afraid of homosexuals. As you can imagine from the novel's title, the story is destined for something horrible to happen--and it does.

After the incident between Andy's friends and Stephen, Carla is forced to decide once and for all what she will do. Should she take the easy road, close her eyes to everyone else's flaws, and keep fighting for her place as a popular, accepted student? Or should she acknowledge her mother is a brave woman in her own right, and it is better to fight for what one believes in? Her struggle was interesting to me, but I have to admit--sometimes I just wanted to grab Carla by the hair and give her a good shake.

Reading the novel now that I'm older, I do see its shortcomings. I agree with some of the critics--it was perhaps not as streamlined and did not flow as well as it could've. But all in all, I still believe it is worth the read, especially for those in the recommended age limit--14 and up. It was a visceral novel with much truth in it, especially in light of such events as the murder of Matthew Shepard, the 21-year old college student who was killed senselessly in Wyoming in 1998 because he was gay. It certainly left me with a lot to think about.

Rating:
Summary: Impact on my life is an understatement!
Review: This was one of the first 'Gay' themed books that I read after coming out 8 years ago. This book was so powerful, I can still vividly remember the scene on the bridge in my mind. A scene that Bette Greene, the Author, described so well that the image, and the actions still haunt in the back of my mind today.

I so recommend this book to all.. Gay and Straight.. Young and Old... This is a fantastic story of Prejudice and Hate directed towards a group (a couple in this case) of people that are no different from anyone else, except they happen to love someone of the same sex.

A book MUST be just so incredible so as to still haunt your thoughts so many years after reading it. I nearly get driven to tears when I remember the scene with Steven on the bridge. I will not say anymore about it just incase you have not read the book yet.

Please.. PLEASE! Get this book! You will NEVER be sorry!!!

Rating:
Summary: Impact on my life is an understatement!
Review: This was one of the first 'Gay' themed books that I read after coming out 8 years ago. This book was so powerful, I can still vividly remember the scene on the bridge in my mind. A scene that Bette Greene, the Author, described so well that the image, and the actions still haunt in the back of my mind today.

I so recommend this book to all.. Gay and Straight.. Young and Old... This is a fantastic story of Prejudice and Hate directed towards a group (a couple in this case) of people that are no different from anyone else, except they happen to love someone of the same sex.

A book MUST be just so incredible so as to still haunt your thoughts so many years after reading it. I nearly get driven to tears when I remember the scene with Steven on the bridge. I will not say anymore about it just incase you have not read the book yet.

Please.. PLEASE! Get this book! You will NEVER be sorry!!!