Absolutely Positively Not (Sid Fleischman Humor Award) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–Sixteen-year-old Steven relishes square dancing, drools over his male health teacher's musculature, and keeps a stash of International Male catalogs underneath his bed, but is determined that he is absolutely, positively not gay. In an eager crack to prove his heterosexuality, he futilely attempts to buy a Playboy magazine, tries mingling with the meathead jocks at lunch, and embarks on a series of disastrous dates with girls from his class. From the outset, it's obvious that Larochelle's first novel is mostly lighthearted laughs as Steven tries to rid himself of deviant sexual behavior (as explained in an ancient teen sexuality book he borrowed from the library). When he finally does own up to his shortcomings as a heterosexual, he decides to out himself to his best friend, Rachel, who is relieved that he has finally told her and blabs the news to her entire family while urging him to form a gay-straight alliance in his high school the following day. Even though the good-natured humor does cloud the book's overall sense of reality at times, Larochelle's eye-opening and accurate portrayal of Steven's coming out will ring optimistically true for many teens and their friends who are struggling with sexuality issues. And it's the delivery of his outing, coated in a healthy dose of hilarity, that makes Absolutely, Positively Not a fast-paced, funny, and frivolously frank read.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 7-10. In a touching, sometime hilarious coming-out story, Steven DeNarski, 16, tries to deny he is gay. He covers his Superman posters with pictures of women in skimpy bikinis and lacy lingerie, and he follows the aversion therapy prescribed in a parents' handbook for getting over his "deviant" desires and awakening his sluggish interest in girls. He hangs out with the hockey players and tries to start dating (even kissing), to the delight of his fussy mom and macho dad. It doesn't work. When he reluctantly tells his friend Rachel that he is gay, he has to restrain her from celebrating it to the world and "empowering" him at school. The wry, first-person narrative is wonderful as it moves from personal angst to outright farce (Steven takes a pet golden retriever to the school dance). The characters are drawn with surprising depth, and Steven finds quiet support, as well as betrayal, in unexpected places. Many readers, gay and straight, will recognize Steven's need to talk to someone. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439591090
• ISBN-13: 978-0439591096
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #402,946 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming, June 2, 2006

By	Edward Aycock (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A lot gay-oriented young adult lit today can be overly sexual (not a bad thing but also one that seems to promise more for a kid's reality than it can deliver), or depend too much on fantasy (gay kid finds out hot, sexy number one school jock is gay and they fall in love), can be didactic (teens giving speeches that I, on my best and most lucid day, could never deliver off the cuff) or just poorly written. Granted, Young Adults don't need books to be structured like a Henry James novel, but poor dialogue and character development can make me groan and I don't think anybody is done any favors when a publishing house rushes out a mess of a novel just to catch a trend.

Thankfully for us, "Absolutely, Positively Not ..." (APN) is a fun, light, well-written entry into the genre that's readable and completely charming. Sure, some of the book can have some situations that some see as sitcomish but you have to admit, they're cute. There are just as many funny, original moments in the book that previous reviewers ignored. I think my favorite moment in APN involves ice fishing and an wildly enthusiastic response when he thinks he's won a pickup truck only to really have won ... I won't give it away. That moment encapsulates the theme of the book and Steven's world, of misperceptions and reality.

The best thing about APN is that it's hopeful. APN doesn't perpetuate the myth that you come out and suddenly you're dating and everything's okay. It's a step by step process and Steven's just beginning to take the journey. Many of the best Young Adult novels are those that don't wrap everything up in a neat bow and allow for the reader to make their own decisions as to what happens next. I'm glad I happened to find this book and hope more people discover it from themselves.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Funny, Memorable Read, January 1, 2006

By	Debra Garfinkle "author of books for teens an... (Orange County, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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I really enjoyed this teen novel. Steven, the main character, resists the possibility that he is gay. There are many scenes of Steven trying to be straight (dating girls, sitting with the jocks, etc.), with comically disastrous consequences. He gradually admits to himself that he is gay, and then comes out to his parents and faces his peers at school and at the prom.

Though coming out is a serious, deep issue, the book is told humorously. It's a very fun and fast-paced read, which also manages to deliver a powerful message that homosexuality is not a choice.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, Wow!, June 16, 2005

By	Denise (Eagan, MN) - See all my reviews

I wish I had the words to describe how wonderful this book is! Hilarious, touching, entertaining, funny, enlightening...I just don't have the vocabulary to sing its praises!

I loved Steven, his parents were a total hoot (and I just adored the part where he came out to his dad). Rachel was terrific, and her parents ROCKED! Victor was cool. I really liked the part about taking Kelly to the dance!

My heart was pounding during the library scene when kids from another school were making gay jokes, and I felt bad when Mr. Bowman laughed at the wrong jokes.

The stories about Steven trying to get his driver's license and mom's book and her lack of housekeeping skills just really added to the fun! This book is not JUST about coming out. Anyone could read it just for the dang fun of it!

This is a great story of a boy becoming happy with who he is, and the delightful realization that others like him just how he is, too!