Playing by the Book

May 15, 2014
For some, coming out is still hard to do. Despite the current gay-teen-novel canon that depicts worlds where two boys can kiss in public for hour upon hour or dystopias where teen heroes can just happen to be gay, it can be refreshing to find a good, ol' coming-out novel. Seventeen-year-old Alabama-born, Pentecostal-preacher-in-the-making Jake Powell manages to convince his Bible-beating dad that he should go to Columbia over the summer to enroll in an exclusive prejournalism program. His perspective widens considerably: He befriends both a gay student and his Southeast Asian roommate and crushes on a girl...maybe. Jake's religious upbringing overwhelms the text, as he quotes and remembers page upon page of Scripture. It's clearly meant to show the influence of his growing up a preacher's kid, but it does get tedious. The debut takes off, however, when things get hot and heavy between Jake and his new friend, Julie. The picture-perfect moment when Jake realizes who he is despite all he's done to pray the gay away is nothing short of priceless. Shirley's first is solid but pushes no real new boundaries, which may be a good thing. Despite the countless Bible quotes, his plotting moves smoothly, and his characters feel likable and real. An author worth watching. (Fiction. 12-16)

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July 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-In this debut novel, 17-year-old Jake Powell, a preacher's kid from Alabama, is torn between two worlds. His father, nicknamed The Preacher by his family, wants Jake to follow in his footsteps and make a career in the church. However, Jake's dream is to become a journalist, and when he is accepted to a prestigious summer journalism program at Columbia University, he jumps at the opportunity. While in New York, he discovers things about himself that he had been previously hiding back at home, namely feelings for his openly gay classmate Sam. Jake must now decide if he's going to abide by his father's wishes or if he's going to take a chance on his own. Jake struggles to accept who he is despite a lifelong upbringing that tells him that he is wrong. Unfortunately, the dialogue sounds inauthentic; the teens don't ever truly speak like young adults. The flat characterization overshadows the interesting topics and premise explored in Shirley's novel. While there's much potential, the overall execution misses the mark. Teens in similar situations as the protagonist might find some teachable moments within this novel, but otherwise, there is very limited appeal.-Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH

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