Two Boys Kissing

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan, 200 pages

This book follows the story of several different boys. Two boys are Craig and Harry, who used to be a couple but aren’t anymore. They are trying to beat a record for the longest kiss. Two other boys, Avery and Ryan, have just met a dance and are exploring the possibility of being a couple. Peter and Neill are a couple. Peter’s parents support him but Neill’s family is still not sure how they feel about the two boys dating. Another boy, Cooper, is exploring his sexuality online, in chat rooms. When his parents discover what’s happening, Cooper feels like his life is over and sets out on a self-destructive path. These boys’ lives intersect only peripherally but are tied together by a voice that speaks from a common experience. I liked the idea of this book but I’m not sure I really liked the execution. The stories seemed too disjointed to me. Parts of the stories were told well but overall I didn’t like this book a lot. Gay teens who are struggling with their identities or friends of those teens might find the book helpful or interesting but I wouldn’t generally recommend this book.