Absolutely, Positively Not

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.

This is Steven's tale of exploration and struggle to determine his sexual identity. Told in a very humorous fashion, this story follows Steven's journey after he wonders when he is finally going to be interested in girls. He thinks himself to be a very observant individual in that he notices everything about his very attractive teacher, Mr. Bowman. He is sure, however, that if he can find just the right girl, his feelings about girls will change. But after 24 dates with 22 different girls, he's pretty sure that he is gay. His best friend Rachel is ecstatic that he is finally coming out (since she has known for over a year) and wants to empower him by forming a gay-straight alliance at school. He still has a lot of questions, though, can barely admit it to himself, never mind the kids at school! And he doesn't know how to tell his parents. This fast-paced story is easy-to-read and will keep readers laughing. The reader can feel the pain Steven is experiencing as methodically goes through the steps to prove that he is absolutely, positively, not gay. It could be an especially good book to recommend to boys who are trying to understand their sexual identity, but both boys and girls will enjoy reading it.

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.

Growing up gay is difficult. Period. And when you pick up nearly any teen novel that addresses this issue, you'll usually find a very realistic and often heartbreaking depiction of the traumas that go along with it: prejudice, discrimination, teasing and sometimes violence. Most works portray these trials with a careful blend of sensitivity and pathos but are occasionally encumbered with a sense of foreboding and caution. It was so refreshing to pick up David LaRochelle's ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOT...and find a teen novel that looked at the clammy-skinned, throat-catching horrors of coming out but approached them with a sense of humor and fun. This is dangerous territory. Coming out and simply living life as a gay teen is not often a pleasant experience. Treating the topic with levity could be seen as belittling the problems these teens encounter on a day-to-day basis. But LaRochelle's skillful approach to the tribulations faced by 16-year-old Steven DeNarski manages not only to deal with Steven's coming out in a respectful manner but also to capture the dread felt by anyone who has spent a second of time worrying what the world would think of them once they were out. In the book, Steven begins by clearly asserting that he is absolutely, positively not gay. He is able to rationalize with great aplomb his attraction to men, his love of square dancing, and the fact that he's never shown an interest in girls. But when he begins to question his own excuses, Steven launches into a hilarious series of events in an effort to assert his heterosexuality. But everything intended to bring what he believes to be his "latent" attraction to girls to the forefront --- a dismal attempt to bond with the overly-manly hockey team, a series of dates with as many girls as he can round up --- ends in complete failure. When he invents a girlfriend named Kelly to take to a school dance in order to throw his mother off the scent (he ends up taking his best friend's golden retriever named Kelly as a "statement"), he is forced to at last confront the fact that he is gay. LaRochelle's deft humor and characterization of Steven is what really makes this book special. Although Steven occasionally borders on almost-unbelievably-naïve for a 16-year-old, you never lose your sympathy for what he's going through. The book is peppered with quirky supporting characters (like Steven's mother, who writes popular books on how to be clean and tidy; meanwhile her house is a mess) who offer both obstacles and, ultimately, unconditional support for Steven. There is enough left unresolved at the end to leave one hoping for a follow-up novel in the near future. ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOT... will please readers, gay and straight, with its sharp wit, flowing story, and endearing take on a difficult subject. --- Reviewed by Brian Farrey

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!