Jerkbait

May 9, 2016
Siegert pulls no punches in her debut, which opens as high school senior Tristan Betterby interrupts his twin brother Robbie's attempt to overdose on pills. The boys' parents conspire to keep the incident a secret, hoping to preserve his chances of getting drafted into the National Hockey League. In lieu of getting therapy for Robbie, they assign Tristan to keep constant watch on him, a decision both baffling and steeped in denial. Forced to share a room, the boys find they have more common ground (and more secrets) than either had guessed. Robbie's depression stems in part from being closeted about his sexuality. Tristan, who is straight, harbors dreams of being a Broadway star. Part coming-out story, part sports drama, part examination of homophobia, bullying, and parents who really don't understand, Siegert's novel offers additional unexpected swerves in the third act. While the messaging is often heavy-handed and some readers might think Siegert jumps the shark with a subplot involving kidnapping and telepathy, others will enjoy the genre-bending and go along for the ride. Ages 12âup. Agent: Travis Pennington, Knight Agency.

June 1, 2016

Gr 10 Up-Tristan and Robbie are identical twins who play on their high school hockey team. Robbie is the more talented and aggressive player and has a legitimate shot at being an early pick in the NHL draft. Tristan hides that his real passion is not hockey but dance and musical theater. Macho, domineering Robbie is gay, while sensitive, artistic Tristan is straight. Tristan is believed to be gay, however, and is viciously attacked by his teammates until he is rescued by Robbie, who outs himself in the process. Up to this point, he had been deeply closeted and so tormented by his feelings that he became suicidal. When he comes out to his insensitive parents, they make plans to hide his homosexuality, just as they did his suicide attempts, for fear of the negative effect it might have on his draft status. Robbie becomes the target of his teammates' attacks, and Tristan quits the team. In a rapid-fire and bewildering series of events that close the novel, Robbie runs away with an online predator right before the biggest game of the year. His twin locates him by communicating with him telepathically (an ability that is mentioned nowhere else in the novel). The work then wraps up happily for both teens. VERDICT While ostensibly challenging widely held assumptions about sexual orientation, gender roles, and the nature of sibling relationships, this scattered, unfocused effort lacks the narrative rigor and the seriousness of purpose required to engage readers interested in exploring these issues. VERDICT Skip this title.-Richard Luzer, formerly at Fair Haven Union High School, VT

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.