Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan Also by this author: Invisibility, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Mind the Gap Dash & Lily, My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on August 27, 2013
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 196
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New York Times bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS.
While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.
The 411:
Craig and Harry are two gay teen aged boys trying to set the Guinness World’s Record for longest kiss. They used to be boyfriends and now are just friends. But the story isn’t just about them. It’s about Avery and Cooper and Ryan and Neil and Peter and every other gay boy and girl before and after them. Levithan brilliantly showcases the struggles and joys of what it means to be gay. Some of the perspectives in Two Boys Kissing are more poignant than others, but all are important.
Told from an omniscient “we” narrator’s point of view, the story of Craig and Harry will pull you in from the first word and not let go.
What We Loved:
It’s impossible to adequately explain the depth of this book and the only way to truly understand it is to read it. Levithan’s beautiful words and masterful storytelling can only be experienced.
“There are boys so enraptured by love that they can’t get their hearts to slow down enough to get some rest, and other boys so damaged by love that they can’t stop picking at their pain.”
Bottom Line:
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan is a book everyone—man, woman, boy, girl, straight, gay, transgender, intersex and everything in between—should read. It’s a brilliant story about love and acceptance and hope. It’s so powerful it will stay with you long, long after you’ve flipped the last page.
Verdict:
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