Customer Reviews

David Inside Out

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Inside Out was a book that I'd been looking forward to reading for awhile and I'm grateful I was given the chance to review it. It's a very fast read: I got so caught up in the story, I was able to finish it in only one day.


David's best friend Eddie comes out as gay and shows that he doesn't care, it's just the way he is. David, on the other hand, pushes him away so people won't call him "gay by association" if you will and pretends that he doesn't have the same feelings. He even acts as if he likes his other best friend, Kick, who has a crush on him...but eventually the truth will need to come out and he's simply prolonging the inevitable.

No matter what though, I was happy to see that Kick and Eddie's reactions to David were realistic and genuine. That's how I would describe the whole book actually. Sean and David's "relationship" seemed real, as Sean refused to admit his sexuality, while David begins to see that it might be the right thing to do.

I loved these characters and I honestly felt for all of them, no matter how they were managing their lives. Whether you are gay or not, it's hard to "come out" and be true to yourself. Life tries to tell you how to be and this book definitely focuses on how these lives are changed while they come to terms with who they are and who they love.


Recommended? Yes, definitely! I have a feeling this will be one of those underdog books, so I really hope people will pick up a copy and spread the word.

The second I finished reading this book, I jumped on-line so I could express my excitement over this incredibly important piece of young adult literature. Lee Bantle has masterfully captured the ubiquitous angst of adolescence, only this time much of the heartbreak centers on self discovery related to a teenager's sexuality. Although the story will be especially relevant to kids who are experiencing emotions similar to David's, the question it poses is universal-- How do we come to accept ourselves so we can live an authentic life? -- that's why I recommend the book for all teens experiencing the struggles of growing up. And don't get the idea that this book is a downer or too heavy duty. Bantle manages to write a heartfelt piece that offers up as much laughter as it does tears. A sincere, lovely book in all respects. (And I love how he writes about food.)

Here's a thoughtful, highly involving novel penned by Lee Bantle--his second YA novel, and already he writes like an expert in the genre, creating a tapestry of believable, well drawn characters, edge-of-your-seat dramatic scenes, and whipsmart dialogue that crackles with humor and tension. Make no mistake, this ain't your father's YA novel--but a new, much more honest kind that deals with classical coming out conflicts in today's times. Looking for a pretty resolution? Look elsewhere. But if you want a book which builds to a crescendo with honesty, and great love for its main characters (it must be said, there's a little bit of David in every gay boy) then don't think twice. Hit the buy button. Do not deliberate. Do not equivocate. Treat yourself to a lovely, emotional, enjoyable read. Kudos to Bantle for delivering this much needed injection of honest love into this genre.

I'm actually surprised this book has averaged such a high rating. It's rather short - only 184 pages - and I found the first 60 pages or so to be bland and lacking a real sense of direction or interest. Which only leaves a little more than 100 pages of somewhat decent plot and character development.

All of the characters seemed like the stereotypical ones you'd find in a gay coming-of-age story: the flamboyant best friend; the confused and soon-to-be-alcoholic jock; the sassy/horny, yet oblivious girlfriend. Factor in the simplistic dialogue and this book seems more fit for an after school TV special.

Maybe it's because I didn't grow up in a small town, which is why this book didn't work for me. But honestly, I've read better examples which did have more interesting characters and plot twists (Leave Myself Behind, by Bart Yates; The Vast Fields of Ordinary, by Nick Burd).

Overall, I can't really recommend this book unless you're a really big fan of gay-coming-of-age stories and have read through a bunch of better books and just want something else in the same genre.

Between track, school, college applications, and relationships David learns more about himself and others in many life-changing experiences.

For David, life isn't without challenges, with his father dying when he was five, high school classes, and now: coming to terms with his feelings towards men. While going through this self-discovery, he is fortunate to have the great support of his mother mom, who always seems to be there to lift him up just enough, but not overdo it to become overbearing.

His journey regarding his homosexuality started when his friend Eddie, an openly gay more effeminate character, who shares his love for romance novels, came out of the closet. At the moment, David wasn't too keen on the idea of being gay and didn't want to be involved with anything having to do with being gay including being around his best friend. However, he was still attracted to an eye-catching track teammate, Sean. To avoid homosexual thinking, David wore a rubber band around his wrist and snapped it to try to stop those thoughts.

The attractive runner, Sean, and David's relationship continued to evolve and became racy and romantic. Through their relationship they learn more about themselves in regards to their homosexuality, but also more about how they should treat people and their general identities. Sean turns out to be not the most perfect guy in the world, but also seems to be going through similar issues that David is facing. Kick, David's friend who's a girl, only complicated matters. At first David and Kick were great friends, and then they dated. Their friendship evolved while David's feelings towards guys developed further. While the relationship didn't work out romantically, David and Kick remained friends through hard times, including car trouble and freezing weather, while coming back from a weekend at a cabin in the woods.

Throughout the story, David faces homophobia through negative comments from Parker, who consistently makes homophobic remarks and even defaces a Gay-Straight Alliance sign. At first David is hesitant to take a stand against such homophobia by not being a part of the Gay- Straight Alliance his friend Eddie is trying to start. However, as David learns more about himself, he becomes more confident about who he is and his identity and becomes less afraid of being gay, and being seen with other people that are gay.

In the end, David becomes more comfortable with his sexuality. His relationships with Sean, Eddie, and Kick all change as he discovers more about himself. The novel's ending has many twists, which certainly makes the book much more interesting and less predictable.

David's struggle with identity and coming out is quite authentic, relatable, and tangible. The experiences draw the reader into the storyline whether positive, questioning, or negative. I liked the utilization of the hotline as a resource for LGBTQQ teens. DAVID INSIDE OUT is quite funny, due to David's thoughts and comments made by other characters, such as Eddie. Bantle skillfully develops David's relationships with other characters, particularly his mother and Sean. One question on identity I found insightful was: "How can you be yourself if you don't know who that is? (9)". People constantly say "be yourself" and I thought this was a great way of addressing that idea and the struggle regarding identity formation facing teens. One area I would have liked to see more development would be Eddie's background and his coming out struggles. This may be an interesting idea for a possible sequel.

The book, overall, was a positive, enjoyable, easy read and a nice addition to LGBTQ coming of age young adult literature, and leaves the reader with the message that it is okay to be gay and is a part of who one is as an individual and your friends may continue to be your friends regardless of sexuality.
-Dan

I am a parent of a 14 year old who grabbed the book and could not put it down. Later, when I read David Inside Out, some of the sexual content was more explicit then I expected. Initially, I was concerned. In thinking about what my daughter's experience was reading about the sexuality in this book, I concluded that: she read a book about a boy who wanted to be accepted and liked and who was flawed, like most people and confused about sex and sexual identity, like many teenagers. She read a book that eloquently talked about real feelings connected to sexuality. I don't know of many books for this age group that introduce sexuality in such a truthful, non romanticized way. She has recommended the book to friends who have not been able to put it down. She also recommended that her ELA teacher read it as well. David and his experiences growing and accepting himself make him very easy to care about-male; female;gay; straight! It is a great discussion in the making between you and your teenager....about friendship,love, honesty,acceptance and sex. Read it!!

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." -- John Lennon, 1980 from "Beautiful Boy"

This is one of the best books about gay youth that I have ever come across. The characters are rich, realistic and refreshing; the writing is nothing other than pure brilliance.

David, 17 is just starting to accept the fact that he has feelings for other boys. His long time friend Eddie is openly gay and accepts himself; when Eddie suggests to David that he, too might have feelings for other males, David rebuffs him.

He turns to his friend and confidante, Kick. A high spirited girl, Kick has a crush on David and views him as boyfriend material. David, still in denial about his sexuality tries to play the part of the interested suitor.

A new boy named Sean joins the school track team. An avid runner, David is immediately attracted to Sean. The one thing he can't run from is his natural orientation. Over time, the boys would explore their feelings for each other. Sean, like David wanted to remain discreet about his sexual orientation. He drops David, who is crushed.

Meanwhile, a parallel relationship is taking place with Kick. In an amazing show of faith, David's mother allows him to go on a weekend trip with Kick in the mountains. It is on that trip that she learns that he is not the suitor she would like him to be.

David does come out, first disclosing his orientation to his not-surprised mother, Kick and Eddie. His true friends, Kick and Eddie stand by him and accept him just the way he is. John Lennon's 1980 classic "Watching the Wheels" and Billy Joel's 1977 classic "Just the Way You Are" underscore this story.

This was such an outstanding book and I loved the characters and cared about them. Sexual orientation notwithstanding, being true to oneself is the core message of this book.

I would heartily recommend this book to everyone and I sincerely hope that it will be around for a very long time and eventually become a classic.

The Vast Fields of Ordinary is a good companion book to this one.

David Inside Out is an emotional, well-written book that I couldn't put down. Lee Bantle really made me feel for his characters and the life-changing decisions they're met with, and I was left with a better understanding of just how difficult it is to be a gay teenager in this day and age.

Thankfully, homosexuality is accepted these days, and the majority of people don't think twice about having gay friends or acquaintances. However, high school can still be a cruel place, and this is made apparant in David Inside Out. David is part of the track team, and is getting to grips with his own emerging sexuality. By having a fling with teammate Sean, he opens the door to vulnerability and ridicule, and is faced with the decision to come out to his family and friends. I can't even imagine how difficult this would be for someone to deal with, and the fact that David can overcome all the negative comments and snide remarks is testament to his incredibly strong character.

Bantle does a brilliant job of conveying teenage confusion and uncertainty, and David Inside Out is a book that I'm sure a lot of teenagers, gay or straight, will relate to. Experimentation is a natural part of life, which is why I think David's brief relationship with Kick fits his story well. By testing his compatibility with a girl, he ultimately makes the decison to be himself, and faces the truths that have held him back for so long.

Everyone should find their place in the world and be happy with themselves, and that's the message that I took away from this story. Whether you're gay, straight or bisexual, there will always be people out there who try to put you down, and for whatever reason it might be, you have to overcome it. Be proud of who you are, and stick to what you feel -- after all, it'd be a boring world if we were all the same.

David is a high school junior from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He's a runner for the high school track team. He goes to a private, parochial school on scholarship. David's best friend since elementary school is a boy named Eddie. Eddie is openly gay and trying to start a gay/straight alliance group in the school. This embarrasses David, even though he secretly harbors a crush on his track teammate Sean.

David's guilt over his growing attraction to Sean leads him to take drastic measures. He distances himself from his best friend Eddie, and he crudely attempts to use aversive therapy on himself, snapping himself painfully with a rubber band every time he has an inappropriate homosexual thought. He also attempts to advance physically with his girlfriend Kick (Katherine).

When Sean propositions David and the two become intimate with one another, it sets David's world on end. Not only does he become all the more obsessed with Sean, but he begins to question his own identity. He seeks help from a gay teen telephone hotline.

Ultimately David must choose whether to remain closeted while living a lie or to be honest with himself, his family, and his friends.

David Inside Out is a classic coming-out, coming-of-age story. It is a quick read, but very captivating. Written with emotion and humor, it is both believable and meaningful. It's poignant message drills into the heart of the reader, leaving them yearning for more.

Not only is the book a great addition to any young adult library, but it is an enjoyable and entertaining story for more mature readers as well. It's a heartwarming, unpretentious, and touching story about self discovery and acceptance. I highly recommend it.

Lee Bantle's David Inside Out is a fresh, vibrant look at a young gay man coming of age. David Dahlgren, growing up in Minnesota, is out to himself, though not to his friends and family. He's in love with his track teammate, Sean. Sean is attracted to David, but is deeply closeted, even if he sometimes exploits David's interest in him to satisfy his sexual needs.

The story unfolds with unusual directness and speed, a refreshing quality that readers of Bantle's earlier book, Diving for the Moon, will recall and appreciate. With each new chapter we are plunged immediately into the action, the vivid sensory surroundings, and the emotionally charged condition of the moment.

The character of David is likable, though also frustrating enough in his hopeless love for Sean that the reader finds himself wondering whether he will ever be able to pull out of the potentially disastrous nosedive that he seems to be heading for. Here again, Bantle pulls off a complex emotional evolution with seeming ease and with a fluid sense of narrative development that provides a highly satisfying resolution without ever becoming pat or overly sweet.

Highly recommended for teenagers gay and straight, this book is also a rewarding read for adults.