Act Well Your Part (Paperback)

by Don Sakers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this novel about a gay teenager, Keith's acceptance of his homosexuality is a given. He wants to attract Bran, the one he loves. The plot has possibilities, but is weakened by the ease of Keith's coming of agefrom crush to mutual masturbation and oral sex to coming out before the community at a school dance. Keith's mother understands her son so well that she invites Bran to stay over ("I'd rather that you knew there was some place where you could feel comfortable"). Keith acts just as cool when his mother trots off for a vacation with a man she hardly knows. In this pat treatment, potential conflicts are small: the characters don't experience school and neighborhood bullying or violence; their biggest fear is group ostracism because girls are jealous that Keith gets Bran.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 8-12 This is an average, unrealistic teenage romance, except for two explicit bedroom scenes, and for the fact the the lovers are both boys. The main character exhibits the standard feelings of innocent first love. The lively background of a high-school drama club contrasts with the slightly plodding writing style. The book ends with a Winter Dance, where the boys dare to dance close; however, as they have been kissing in the cafeteria at noon every day, their classmates are hardly surprised. There is absolutely no adult interference in the course of true love; their parents all but tuck them into bed together. This is one of the few gay love stories for young people that does not mention the paranoia of being found out. The 16-year-old's mother is understanding and not even slightly upset when her son tells her that he's in love with a senior boy. Their classmates seem bothered only that one of the most popular seniors is no longer available to the girls who worship him. This is so much like a ``Sweet Dreams'' romance that it is startling to read passionate sex scenes near the end of the somewhat too-long narrative. Not as well written as Scoppettone's Happy Endings Are All Alike (Harper, 1978), this might be the groundbreaker for public library YA paperback racks. High schools might have a harder time with it only because of two very graphic sentences describing tender lovemaking. Anne Osborn, Riverside Public Library, Calif.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books; 1st edition (November 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932870791
• ISBN-13: 978-0932870797
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,233,048 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great example of gay YA fiction, April 1, 2004

By	F. Mercer "bibliophile" (Phoenix, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I thought this novel was great. Much better than Nancy Garden's very similar "Good Moon Rising." I agree that the high school is unbelievably liberal for the 1980's. However, it was refreshing to read a YA novel featuring a gay protagonist who is not wracked with guilt and who is not punished in the end. I also found the sex scenes to be very realistic without being too explicit.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Starting Over, August 1, 2001

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

Teen romances are seldom considered great literature. But, they do serve a purpose. They provide characters who echo the everyday questions and insecurities that plague budding relationships. The problems Keith faces are problems faced by many young people. He moves to a new town and enters a new school. He is far away from his best friend. And, he is falling in love with another boy in the theater group. The interesting thing about this book and its sequel, "Lucky in Love," is that it portrays prejudice as a very human thing. The homophobia exhibited in the book arises from the jealousy of the heterosexual characters. This book fills a void felt by many of us by giving back the dignity of romance.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Predictable? Yes, but still a great book., February 1, 2002

By	Michael Malicoat (Newbury Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was the first book I read as a teenager that identified with the feelings I was having. I think it is a great book, perhaps somewhat predictable (in retrospect), but overall it was exactly what I needed.