"Boy Meets Boy"

While reading "Boy Meets Boy," by David Levithan, many questions came to mind. Though our questioning the text papers had to focus on questions of diversity, there were other things about the text that posed questions as I read. Because the topic of homosexuality is such a touchy subject in schools, I often thought about if I would feel comfortable using this book in my classroom as a future teacher. I couldn't help but think about whether the issues were really age appropriate. Though children struggle with establishing an identity at an early age, I don't remember personally thinking about my identity in a sexual way while I was in elementary school. I thought it may have been a little unrealistic for the character to have such strong sexaul feelings at such a young age (kindergarten), and that parents of middle school students may not think this is age appropriate material. I do feel however, that it is important for all students to have representation in the classroom and after our class discussion, I feel that Levithan was not intending to make the book completely realstic placing it between the genre of realistic fiction and fantasy. The world these characters live in is not reality, but a representation of how youth may be able to express themselves if the pressures and norms of society weren't so strongly enforced. I feel that this book may be difficult to include in the classroom, and may face some criticism, but it is important to provide all students representation and characters that they can identify with. Like Levithan said, "silencing books silences the readers who need them most." The homosexual youth needs representation as much, and probably more, than other students in order to build a sense of acceptance and belonging. While the topic of homosexuality is controversial in schools, I agree with Levithan when he explains, "being gay is not an issue, it is an identity. It is not something that you can agree or disagree with. It is a fact, and must be defended as a fact."