Short high-low fiction book with a gay teen character. Some Canadian terms would be tricky for a struggling urban American reader.
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Derek is seventeen. He has dropped out of school and is working in a nursing home. He lives alone with his less-than-supportive father who looks down on everything in Derek's life. Derek can't even imagine what his father would do if he knew the truth - Derek is gay.
Recently, Derek has been exchanging emails with Ethan. They have established a real friendship over the Internet. In fact, the friendship has blossomed into much more, at least for Derek. There's a problem, though. Derek sent Ethan a picture that doesn't really resemble the Derek of today. It was taken some time ago before Derek's mother left to join a cult. He has put on some extra weight since the picture was taken, and now Ethan has just broken the news that he wants to meet in person.
Should he tell the truth or break things off?
This sounds like a fairly shallow storyline, but much more is revealed about Derek's struggle to accept his unforgiving father, his absent mother, and himself. BIG GUY is a fast read that should appeal to any reader looking for a story of self-acceptance and the determination to carry on.
Derek is seventeen. He has dropped out of school and is working in a nursing home. He lives alone with his less-than-supportive father who looks down on everything in Derek's life. Derek can't even imagine what his father would do if he knew the truth - Derek is gay.
Recently, Derek has been exchanging emails with Ethan. They have established a real friendship over the Internet. In fact, the friendship has blossomed into much more, at least for Derek. There's a problem, though. Derek sent Ethan a picture that doesn't really resemble the Derek of today. It was taken some time ago before Derek's mother left to join a cult. He has put on some extra weight since the picture was taken, and now Ethan has just broken the news that he wants to meet in person.
Should he tell the truth or break things off?
This sounds like a fairly shallow storyline, but much more is revealed about Derek's struggle to accept his unforgiving father, his absent mother, and himself. BIG GUY is a fast read that should appeal to any reader looking for a story of self-acceptance and the determination to carry on.
