Jerome: A Novel [Paperback]

William Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

As they try to cope with the suicide of a close friend, two teenagers discover new aspects of themselves, their friendship, and their relationships with other people.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-This intense novel opens with a 17-year-old's suicide and then explores its effect on his two best friends. Kate, now an exchange student in the U.S., and Marco, home in New Zealand, share their thoughts and feelings in a series of revealing e-mails, letters, and faxes. When Kate discloses that she is gay, Marco is incredulous, since Kate is a "babe" and had been Jerome's girlfriend. In a desperate attempt to make sense of his death, Kate tells Marco that Jerome, too, was gay and that they had posed as a couple to protect one another. Worse still, Jerome seemingly killed himself because of unrequited love for Marco. After an emotional breakdown, Marco realizes that what he felt was deeper than friendship and now faces the difficult task of confronting his own sexuality. Unfortunately, the use of e-mails and letters creates a distance that makes empathy difficult. Further, the inordinate and unnecessary use of profanity to convey Marco's tough-guy persona and macho insecurities creates a distracting barrier that discourages readers from truly caring about this bitter young man. Also, because his realization occurs on the closing pages, it's hard not to feel cheated; it's as though the most interesting part of this journey has been left out.
Ronni Krasnow, Arlington County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Marco, a teen living in Australia, and Kate, his acquaintance who is a foreign exchange student in the U.S., develop a friendship through e-mail, faxes, and online chats. Although their friendship is based on their individual relationship with Jerome, whose death has devastated them both, their conversations gradually move beyond their immediate loss to an exploration of each other's thoughts, especially Kate's feelings about her homosexuality and experiences in another country. Taylor, author of The Blue Lawn , once again focuses on the teenage struggle to come to terms with sexuality, especially homosexuality. The electronic interchanges make character development a challenge, but teens will still recognize Marco's disbelief as he gradually realizes that Kate was not his best friend's girlfriend but his best friend's friend. There is some coarse language, and the book's underlying theme may raise some objections. But Taylor takes some noteworthy risks with his characters--Marco's continued efforts to understand his friend's sexual preference, and Kate's willingness to move beyond offense to help him understand--making the novel a growth experience for characters and readers alike. Frances Bradburn

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555835120
• ISBN-13: 978-1555835125
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,209,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little gem, February 2, 2002

By 

M. FUSCO "yawnmower" (NEW YORK, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jerome: A Novel (Paperback)

You know you are in the company of a great writer when the very first page of a book wrenches your heart. With such an auspicious start, William Taylor begins his moving account of teenage Marco coming to terms with the loss of his life-long friend, Jerome, in an apparent hunting accident. He writes to Jerome's former 'girlfriend' Kate and their correspondence comprises most of this little book. He deals with his great loss, his loneliness, drinking, and the realization that Kate is gay. Then Marco must deal with Jerome's true nature and, finally, his feelings for his lost friend.

There are many heart-rending moments in the unfolding of his wonderful tale, and Mr. Taylor leaves us with hope for these wonderful kids, with their gaining of healing knowledge, and humanity.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pause for Thought, April 10, 2001

By 

Toby Sanders (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jerome: A Novel (Paperback)

When Jerome dies, his two best friends, Marco and Katie, try to commiserate each other. To do so they have to fall back on the Internet, since one of them is in the US and the other in NZ. As the email messages fly back and forth half way around the world, the two unlikely friends find out more and more about each other and about themselves.

If Jerome hadn't died, however, Marco might never have found a way to come to terms with himself and honor his friend in the process. In this, the book reflects real life. The list is long of people who have had to die before their friends and family came to grow into reason. And still, parents turns their sons onto the streets, or one-time pals harrass and abuse former friends.

Still, this book is does not sink into self-indulgence. The dialogue carried on between the two survivors leads them out of sorrow into the light of self-awareness. For this reason, it is a valuable resource for any young person. It shows a way to reach understanding without throwing in the towel. It can prepare young people and adults to face the unimaginable together.

Jerome can speak to us all.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly moving!, November 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Jerome: A Novel (Paperback)

This short novella explores the reactions of two friends (Marco and Kate) to the apparent suicide of another friend (Jerome). Through an exchange of letters and e-mails, the truth of their respective relationship with the deceased (Jerome of the title) becomes clear.

Slowly, Marco and Kate reveal their own personalities anf this proves to be a very shocking for Marco.

The book is very well put together, the story is moving and thought provoking. It's not a long read; I managed it in under an hour, but it IS a deep read.