A Better Place

It is sad that young boys are taunted and shamed into keeping their true identities securely hidden. What could Brendan, a beautiful, incredibly popular, seventeen year old boy, captain of the football team, and an A student, have to fear when he seems to have the world on a plate? The truth is that he is gay and if anyone finds out, his life as he knows it, will be over. Could such fear of discovery be worth taking your own life, or even thinking about it?

And what does Casper have to fear? He is fifteen, motherless, poor, lonely, and tormented by his brother, neglected by his alcoholic father, and bullied at school. He never gets sufficient food to eat, has a sparse wardrobe, and often sleeps outdoors to escape his abusive brother. He hasnt even admitted to himself that he likes boys. What would happen to him if people suspected he was gay too?

Brendan and Casper make an unlikely couple, the rich boy who has everything, and the poor boy that has nothing, but they hook up. Their relationship is a bit stormy at first but Casper learns to trust Brendan, comes to terms with his homosexuality, and is able to return Brendans love.

Roeder gives us an amazing portrayal of the fear, self-loathing, and other problems these boys experience because of their sexual orientation. He captures the boys emotions so deeply that the readers own heart breaks for them and for all boys like them. It is disgraceful that they are made to feel perverted, abnormal, and inferior because much of society has deemed homosexuality immoral.

It makes any accepting human being want to fix society, to change the puritanical idea that same sex love is wrong, to pass legislation that makes same sex marriage legal, and accept that it is diversity that makes our country great. We should all be free to love who we want without fear of discrimination, hatred, and prejudice.

Anyone who has ever been teased or tormented appreciates the emotional toll it takes on self confidence and self esteem. It is depressing to hear Casper describe himself as "poor, unpopular, weak, puny, and pathetic," while the reader sees a sweet, loveable, bright, and undernourished boy. Brendans love for Casper makes him even more desirable.

Roeder shows, parents who can not accept their childrens sexual orientation and love them unconditionally, parents who do not protect their children, and a society that allows places like Cloverdale, a mental institution that uses physical, chemical (drugs), and psychological means to "cure" people of their homosexuality. There can be no equality and freedom until people accept that nothing can (or should) be done to make gay people straight.

This story offers hope that a better place, away from fear, hatred, intolerance, and discrimination, does exist and at the same time, tells a heartwarming, exciting, and enjoyable story. I love Mark Roeders books and hope he continues to share his talent with us for years to come.

The storyline is very basic and really unrealistic where its all cheery and wonderful besides the characters pasts and some unfortunate events that happen. Id say this is pretty much a feel-good story because nothing bad actually happens to the characters and they never really seem to feel any negative emotions or insecurity throughout the story - which you would really expect from the characters because they had such horrible and trumatic pasts. That, doesnt seem realistic to me.

Also, how all the characters are good when theyre supposed to be good, and if theyre bad theyre bad all the way, bothers me. There arent any explanations for why they were bad, or how they became bad, or why they think the way they do - they just are. So although I do like the characters, I think theyre not really planned out and designed very well. Like I said, this book is for children. Its too simple! People arent like that in real life.

The fact that this book was written in the first-person narrative means that we should at least get an insight into the characters feelings - regardless of whether they are good or bad. What Roeder has going on is a case of over-fluffing the characters he probably liked personally. Nothing too bad could happen to them and nothing too bad could ever cross their minds. Seems like the good chracters had no flaws whatsoever.

Dont get me wrong, I thought the characters were alright, but there wasnt really much character development on the others besides Casper - and that was really only at the beginning of the book. Caspers father somewhat changed too, but its very odd that a father who never cared for his son and who was only mentioned several times in the book could come in all of a sudden and make things better for everyone on his expense. Its just too idealistic!

I bought this book because I liked the odd-pairing thing the author decided to do. I thought it would take quite alot for him as a writer to have that work out. In a way, he did a good job in creating this idealistic, dream world where everything is so special and wonderful. Love is wonderful and people dont disagree; when a person is bad, he is downright bad; when someone is stuck in a rut he gets out of it really quickly without much of a problem at all - and other scenarios like that. Things dont usually happen that way. Its not that simple.

The way the story it flows is alright, and I like how its not so much like the common story structure where its exposition->complication->climax->resolution. I daresay that its about a main story followed by a mini story and then another story at the near-end. That is to say that the novel is really like a few stories written seperately and then pieced together. At least the transitions were somewhat smooth.

If you want a simple book with a little bit of suspense and overall sugar-coated romance, get it. Its a pretty good book really. It was just some minor problems with the characters and also the writing style that could have been fixed to make it better. Honestly, Id recommend it for a read if you have nothing better to do and feel like youd want to curl up and read something uncomplicated and sweet. This book is really addictive. The only reason why Im keeping it in my collection of ...-themed books despite its simplicity, is that it did make me feel good and tingly because of the romance in it as well as the idealism.

Well, thats just my opinion. I probably had too high an expectation for it. Nevertheless, its a good, simple read for a boring day. Enough said, get it!