Absolutely, Positively Not

Sixteen-year-old Steven DeNarsky faces a personal crisis when he develops feelings for his male teacher. As a Superman fan who dates girls and collects Playboy magazines, he works hard to convince himself and others that he is straight. The story follows Steven's journey as he gradually opens up to his friend Rachel about his orientation. His path to self-acceptance includes attempts at dating, encounters with support groups, and conversations with family members about his identity. The book won the 2006 Sid Fleischman Humor Award and earned praise from Booklist Review and School Library Journal. It balances serious subject matter with moments of humor throughout the narrative. This young adult novel addresses themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and authenticity in teenage life. The story presents coming out as a personal process that unfolds differently for each individual.

Readers found this YA novel about a gay teen's self-discovery to be funny and authentic. The book earned praise for handling serious subject matter with humor while avoiding explicit content. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of coming out - Use of comedy to address anxiety and fear - The protagonist's relatable internal struggle - Family dynamics and supportive parents - Clean content appropriate for younger teens Common criticisms: - Some found the pace slow in the middle - Dance class subplot felt unnecessary to some readers - A few wanted more emotional depth Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (48 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Perfect balance of humor and heart" - Goodreads reviewer "Made me laugh out loud multiple times" - Amazon reviewer "Wish the character development went deeper" - TeenReads review "Great book for middle school libraries" - School librarian on Goodreads

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger A closeted gay teen starts an LGBTQ support group disguised as a geography club at his high school.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan A romance unfolds between two high school boys in a town where being gay is accepted and celebrated.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli A sixteen-year-old keeps his sexual identity secret while exchanging emails with an anonymous classmate he's falling for.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth A Montana teenager discovers her sexuality while navigating family expectations and small-town life.

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sánchez Three high school seniors confront their sexualities and relationships while attending a gay teen support group.

🌟 The Sid Fleischman Humor Award, which this book won in 2005, specifically celebrates authors who excel at writing humorous children's literature. 🌟 Author David LaRochelle worked as an elementary school teacher for many years before becoming a full-time writer and illustrator. 🌟 Superman, featured in Steven's memorabilia collection, was one of the first mainstream comic book characters to actively support LGBTQ+ rights, appearing at Pride events in comics as early as 1988. 🌟 This book was among the early wave of LGBTQ+ young adult novels that approached the subject with humor rather than tragedy, helping pioneer a shift in how these stories were told. 🌟 The term "coming out" originated in the early 20th century as a reference to debutantes entering society, before being adopted by the LGBTQ+ community in the 1960s.