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David LaRochelle

Absolutely Positively Not (Sid Fleischman Humor Award) Hardcover – June 1, 2005

by Mr. David LaRochelle (Author)

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There is one thing Steven knows for sure: He's absolutely, positively NOT gay.

Steven's a 16-year-old boy with two obsessions: sex and getting his driving license. The problem is, Steven's not thinking girls when he's thinking sex. Could he be -- don't say it -- gay? Steven sets out to get in touch with his inner he-man with Healthy Heterosexual Strategies such as "Start Hanging Out with the Guys," and "Begin Intensive Dating." But are Steven's tactics going to straighten him out, or leave him all twisted up?

Absolutely hilarious. Positively sidesplitting. But absolutely, positively NOT GAY!

Reading age

12 - 15 years
Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 9
Lexile measure

730L
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
Publisher

Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication date

June 1, 2005
ISBN-10

0439591090
ISBN-13

978-0439591096
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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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arthur A. Levine Books (June 1, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0439591090
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0439591096
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 15 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 730L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,277,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,127 in Teen & Young Adult Humorous Fiction
- #2,673 in Teen & Young Adult LGBTQ+ Fiction (Books)
- #3,542 in Children's Books on Boys' & Men's Issues

Customer Reviews:
41 ratings

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David LaRochelle

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David LaRochelle has been writing and illustrating books since 1988. His books have won numerous awards, including the Sid Fleischman Humor Award, the SCBWI Golden Kite Honor Award, ALA's Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, and four Minnesota Book Awards.

A former elementary school teacher, David enjoys solving puzzles, geocaching, and carving creative pumpkins, which you can view at his website www.davidlarochelle.com .

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3 star		19%
2 star		3%
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Top reviews from the United States

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Jonathan

Funny But Uninspiring Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 11, 2015

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This book has somewhat of a strange niche. The writing style seems mainly geared towards a younger audience (probably between 12 and 15), but by the same token, it seems designed for people already out of the closet. I don't really believe any young person questioning their sexuality will find any enlightenment from Absolutely Positively Not. The book's strength is its humor. There were quite a few times I was laughing out loud (especially the first date). It doesn't all work though, as some of the situations seemed too over the top for me, especially everything revolving around the dance. Also, the pacing is all over the place. The first half of the book seems too dragged out, and becomes a bit formulaic and monotonous. The second half of the book, everything just kind of happens, then it ends with very little resolution. It felt to me like the author simply got tired of writing this story and was ready to move on. My biggest complaint about the book, and the reason why I don't think it's very helpful for anyone questioning their sexuality: for a great portion of the book we see Steven desperately wanting someone to talk to, who will give him advice on how to manage coming out to himself and others, and he never gets that. I guess the end is supposed to lead us to believe he finds that in a classmate, but the ending is so abrupt you have to make quite a few assumptions to feel any resolution. My other complaint is that the book kind of paints the picture that gay youth support groups are a vapid time waste that offer no real support. While I'm sure some are like that, I believe that most spend a little more time talking about gay issues and life than watching Finding Nemo or playing ping pong.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 20, 2013

Verified Purchase

I read this book several months ago, but wanted some time to think about it before offering an opinion. The book has many things in it's favor. It's well-written, somewhat thoughtful, and very, very funny. Maybe on its own merits, that's all it needed to be. I couldn't help feeling though that Absolutely Positively Not provides a sort of "situation comedy" view of a teen coming to terms with his sexuality.

Granted, my personal coming out took place almost thirty years ago, and the world is now a very different place. However, after reading of the teen suicides that still take place, the bullying, and the continued Dark Ages view expounded by the Religious Ridiculous, I can't help but wonder if the lighthearted approach taken by LaRochelle might be unfair to anyone living through it.

Coming to terms with being sexually different, especially as a teen, involves angst, confusion, fear, and is often traumatic. While I don't feel that every book dealing with the issue needs to be a chest pounding Mea Culpa, I do think there needs to be some balance. While APN certainly shows the confusion and awkwardness of the coming out process, I felt like the bigger emotions were sacrificed for the sake of the humor.

I would certainly recommend Absolutely Positively Not as a fun read. However, I would not recommend it to any teen current going through the process of coming out.

3 people found this helpful

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BWV988

Exactly the book I've been looking for.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

My 12 year old son is likely gay. He doesn't yet know what this means, and I want him to find himself at his own pace and on his own terms as his teen years unfold. I have been trying out several books to eventually pass his way. This book -- at least for our situation -- is just perfect. The protagonist is not a cliched amalgam of gay stereotypes. He's just a regular kid who is attracted to other boys. The book is touching, understated, and extremely relatable. It's profound, yet also extremely entertaining to read. I found myself smiling and chuckling out loud several times. Think a gay Adrian Mole. A truly wonderful book for a young teen who is facing issues of sexual identity. At 12 my son is not quite ready for the book, but I will have it on hand for him to read in the next 2-3 years. So happy to have found this book for my great kid!

8 people found this helpful

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Inga

Good bood

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 16, 2014

Verified Purchase

I think this is a very good book, that shows us how teenage boys think. The only concern I have with this, is that not everyone may agree with his thoughts and desires. I don't know how most teens would react to this book, and since it's about being gay, and discovering yourself while a teenager, I believe this book would be perfect either for those teens who are going through the same, or those who have friends who are going throughout this. Otherwise teens may find it offensive and stupid.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. The author has exceptional skill with word choice. The characters are relatable and friendly. My complaint is the ending. I felt abandoned.

Helpful

Erin Kelly-Collins

I've been absolutely positively captured by David LaRochelle

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 3, 2007

Verified Purchase

I sat in a writing session with David at a Young Authors Conference in the Spring of 2007. I was so impressed with his ablility to communicate effective ways of using humor to convey important ideas to youth, that I immediately purchased his book Absolutely Positively Not. I read it in one sitting, being absolutely positively captured by his graceful and naturally funny treatment of a certain young man's coming of age story. As an educator, I highly recommend this book to both youth and adults alike. David's perspective is priceless.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Debra Garfinkle

A Funny, Memorable Read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 1, 2006

Verified Purchase

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.

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

A. D. Dunn

Great book for teens

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on June 7, 2010

Verified Purchase

A great book, a quick easy read, describing the problems kids face with learning to be themselves and accept who they are. Laugh out loud funny in parts, memorable characters and a story line I identified with.
Recommended for all high school libraries.

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