By: James Howe
When reading the first half of this book, I spent the entire time waiting on the edge of my seat for the controversy to start, and it never did in my mind. So far this book was not what I was expecting at all. They haven’t even explicitly stated yet that Joe is gay, although it has been alluded to. I think that the point is, as we talked about in class, that maybe the controversy is in the fact that Joe’s character is really not that controversial. So often the issue of homosexuality is portrayed around negativity, around suicide, depression, etc. Joe is not cutting himself, or on drugs, or severely depressed. He is just a normal kid who is going through the same struggles as most kids his age. Actually, he doesn’t even seem to be struggling that much at all. Joe is teased but he takes it well, a lot better than a lot of kids might. I think it is also interesting that his name is Joe, because that makes me think of the expression “average Joe.” I don’t know if this was James Howe’s intention but I think that this is a subtle touch that added to the “non controversy” for me. I just don’t understand what is so wrong with attaching a sense of normalcy to a group of individuals who are so often only discussed with respect to problems and life struggles? What is wrong with a gay kid being portrayed positively?
In terms of the book itself, I liked that the characters were so relatable and also believable for their age. This definitely brought me back to my junior high experience, as I am sure it did for many other people. Addie really reminds me of my best friend, as she is so outspoken and often the cause of controversy in the classroom. I connected personally to Bobby the most because I used to see myself in the same way that he sees himself at this point in the book, as someone who plays the game and doesn’t really make any waves of his own. So far it has been interesting to read but I have found it a little bit slow moving, but maybe it is just because I am waiting for the big deal.
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