Desire Lines [Hardcover]

Jack Gantos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 10, 1997

When sixteen-year-old Walker gets caught up in a witch-hunt against homosexuals, he is left to stand by and watch as a tragedy unfolds.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up. In a novel presented as a first-person reminiscence, a discontented loner named Walker is openly disdainful of Christian zealots who cruise around his high school in a panel truck with speakers mounted on top, broadcasting their judgment of homosexuals and other "sinners." Angry at being rebuffed, one-note Preacher Boy queer-baits Walker, who's actually straight. This presents Walker with a dilemma because he secretly knows two girls from school use his favorite pond for romantic trysts. Walker resists the temptation to give up the real homosexuals through most of the book. When he finally outs them, as readers know he will, the lovers try to commit suicide together and one of them dies. Despite the certainty that the events will lead to a lifetime of regret for Walker, death and remorse seem to matter less than they should. As if the attempted suicide of lesbian lovers were not cliched enough, the surviving girl melodramatically accuses Walker of being a murderer. The characters simply aren't convincing enough or the author's rendering of the situation subtle enough to touch the heart. Francesca Lia Block's bittersweet Baby Be-Bop (1995) and M. E. Kerr's masterful Deliver Us from Evie (1994, both HarperCollins) do a better job of outing homophobia.?Claudia Morrow, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

This bitter, open-ended tale of a Florida teenager who ``outs'' a lesbian couple, then watches as one kills the other before turning the gun on herself, offers an astonishing change of pace for the author of Jack's New Power (1995). A long-abandoned, overgrown golf course is Walker's refuge, a private place where he spends every free moment: There, he liberates animals from the school's lab and watches classmates Karen and Jennifer--in his words--``screwing around.'' None of his business, he figures--until a teenage preacher appears outside school grounds to start a gay witch-hunt, and expertly enlists Walker as his informant. The preacher's relentless innuendo, blared through a bullhorn, puts Walker into a panic about his own reputation; he takes up with three punks-in-training, and blurts out Karen and Jennifer's secret to them. Soon everyone knows, and a few days later, the tragedy plays out. Although Gantos is vague about what gays do once their clothes are off, he is explicit when demonstrating how a climate of fear and suspicion can be concocted in a community, and how insecure young people--gay, straight--can be tormented by it. There are no admirable characters, acts, or role models here, and Walker's sense of failure haunts his narrative; Karen, only injured, shows up at the end to tumble Walker's weak defense--leaving him alone with his regret, and readers to wonder how they would react in similar circumstances. No answers here, just harsh questions. (Fiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (March 10, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374317720
• ISBN-13: 978-0374317720
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,257,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack Gantos has written novels for adults, young adults, and middle grade readers, as well as over twenty books for primary readers, including twelve titles chronicling the misadventures of Rotten Ralph. He lives in Santa Fe, NM.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time, June 30, 2006

By 

M. Ortiz (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desire Lines (Hardcover)

This book not only is poorly written, but it also is not a good story. I understand the need to exploit how hatred can ruin something good, like the relationshipo between the two girls, however this is beyond morose and shows no hope for the future. I would highly recommend for GLBTQ teenagers NOT to read this book. This is not a book that you pick up, hate the ending, but understand why it had to be. The way it played out was indescribably bad.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't deserve an award, but it makes you think..., October 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Desire Lines (Hardcover)

Let's be honest-- Desire Lines is not a well-written book. But with that same honesty, let's admit that the book is absolutely awe-inspiring in the feeling it leaves you with. Living in the midwest, I walked through my house after finishing it, numb; I brought it to school as passed it around among my firends who have the same concerms I do. I recomended it to every English teacher I could talk to. I want to make it a requirement for joining the GSA I head... This book is important because it makes you think about the way things can get out of control; it makes you think of a phrase I assume originated from an Amnesty tee shirt: 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for enough good people to do nothing...;' it makes me paraphrase Kim Gordon and say you take a look at all the hate, it makes you feel very up-to-date...

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, October 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Desire Lines (Hardcover)

Besides being thought provoking this book is exceptionally well written. I agree with everything Booklist said. It's a gut wrenching story about a basically likable kid making the wrong choices. Bravo to Mr. Gantos for finally writing a story about a realistic teen who struggles with his conscience and doesn't do the right thing.