If It Doesn't Kill You - Hardcover

Grade 6-10-When Ben's father moves out, saying, "This is the hardest thing that I've ever done," his son is not overly sympathetic. If his father wants to wreck the family and become a homosexual, that's his affair. Ben has his own problems, such as being on what may be the worst freshman football team in his school's history; his shaky driving skills that keep his mother clutching the dash; and Chynna, the very tantalizing new girl next door. She's a sassy spirit hell-bent on projecting the image of daring promiscuity; even if it's fake. Chynna befriends Ben and cajoles him into accompanying her on various escapades, including belly-button piercing and a boisterous football party. When she gets drunk at the party, Ben attempts to drive her home but gets stuck in a muddy field. With no help in sight, he resorts to calling his father. When his father's friend comes to their rescue, Ben is confronted with his own limited viewpoint. The irony of Ben's unconditional acceptance of Chynna's wild affectations and his rejection of his dad's honesty is subtle, plausible, and convincing. Bechard, has done a remarkable job of taking a sensitive issue and making it comfortable for a wide audience. The absence of melodrama and the healthy doses of humor make this a winning and realistic novel.
Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

It comes as a shock to Ben and his mother when Ben's father, a former high school football star and still a legend in the town, announces he is gay and leaves home to move in with his boyfriend. Ben, a star fullback on the freshman team, is filled with rage and confusion. Meanwhile, members of the varsity team are beginning to include him in their clique. Can Ben really fit in with the tough-skinned jocks, who make fun of "fairies" and are as intent on scoring with girls as they are scoring points in a game? The answers are predictable. At his first "varsity" party, Ben comes to realize that his friends' macho reputations are partly based on lies. And right after the party, his feelings about his father and his father's lover, Keith, change dramatically, as Keith helps him out of a sticky situation. Although Bechard (My Mom Married the Principal) attempts to dispel myths about athletes and gay people, her own characterizations tend toward familiar types. Teens will relate to Ben's struggles with peer pressure, but may not find much help from the easy answers offered here. Ages 12-up. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.