Book Description
for David Inside Out by Lee Bantle
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Although his friend Eddie has decided to tell everyone he’s gay, David hasn’t reached a similar place of acceptance about his own sexuality. Afraid and uncertain, he crafts a to-do list that includes hanging out more with “real” men (bonus points if Eddie’s dad takes him fishing) and falling in love with a girl. His longtime friend Kick would be happy to take on the girlfriend role, but David finds he can’t respond to her overtures in a heartfelt way, despite having sex during a weekend together. In contrast, David’s hidden feelings for Sean, his track teammate, are complicated and irrepressible. And when Sean responds to David’s hints, the two find they are strongly attracted to each other. This open and honest account of a teenage boy’s coming out is marked by realistic adolescent romance and physicality. David and Sean’s relationship doesn’t outlast the semester, but by its end David has a better understanding of himself and a greater appreciation for the lasting friends in his life. (Age 15 and older)
CCBC Choices 2010. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2010. Used with permission.