A trip out West to work at a racetrack — and a sojourn with a sophisticated gay uncle — bring unexpected discoveries in this quick-w...
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reviews
Dec 03, 2010
karen
rated it: 
i was all braced to not like this one. it was for the humor section of the reading list, and surely my sense of humor is more refined and nuanced than a teenager's, right. RIGHT?? i just figured it would be silly and not really a stick-to-your-cranium kind of book.
but this is dr. chelton and this book:
so i had to read it. how else am i going to grow up to be her? (and i was the only one in the whole class to choose to read it. i should give lessons in smooching More...
but this is dr. chelton and this book:
so i had to read it. how else am i going to grow up to be her? (and i was the only one in the whole class to choose to read it. i should give lessons in smooching More...
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(27 people liked it)
Dec 20, 2007
Jennie
rated it: 
Inevitably older YA books date themselves with silly colloquialisms; otherwise this book is extremely amusing and touches on many issues of teenage life in an honest way. I appreciated the realism of Cara and Billy’s sexual relationship. Also Billy’s unease about Wes’ sexuality and his evolving perspective of his uncle is heartfelt and well written. Safe sex, AIDS, and homosexuality are examined in this book in a realistic and sensible way. Also Wes is completely honest with Billy when giving ad
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 23, 2011
Stephen
rated it:
Charming coming of age story about a young guy who spends the summer in Arizona with his gay uncle and the denizens of a seedy run down race track where he's got a summer job.
In many ways this is a typical story of the teen virgin and the summer he finally gets laid and still it's well worth the time that it took to read it. The characters are likeable and real. The dialogue is cheeky and funny and the situations ring true.
I first went to the track with my father when I More...
In many ways this is a typical story of the teen virgin and the summer he finally gets laid and still it's well worth the time that it took to read it. The characters are likeable and real. The dialogue is cheeky and funny and the situations ring true.
I first went to the track with my father when I More...
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 10, 2011
Nicole
rated it: 
I just really like Ron Koetge and I can’t for the life of you say why. I think it’s something to do with the fact that he is a straight man who write gay characters. And also maybe something to do with the way he doesn’t shy away from sex and he doesn’t try to make it all edgy and exciting. It’s matter of fact while also being genuine. I think he treats his characters with respect and, therefore, treats his young(er) readers with respect.
Anyway, this was classic Koetge, circa 1988. More...
Anyway, this was classic Koetge, circa 1988. More...
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 14, 2007
elissa
rated it:
An older title that you don't see around much anymore, but I'm sure it still holds up well. An issue novel (the main character's uncle is gay) and a sweet love story from the boy's POV. This was one of the first new novels that I read as a new YA librarian in the 90's, and I loved it. An old favorite booktalk, but I haven't used it in a long time.
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(1 person liked it)
May 21, 2008
Sara
rated it:
Don't be fooled by the stiff, slow opening chapter. The Arizona Kid speeds up and warms up quickly. I have to wonder if the opening style is calculated, because the main character's personality follows the style of the book. Beware as you read, because the book takes an honest, unexpected, and humorous approach to sex, homosexuality, and survivalists. If you're dead set against the first two, or one of the third, this isn't the book for you.
The main character is eminently embraceable - he' More...
The main character is eminently embraceable - he' More...
Aug 01, 2011
Alarra
rated it:
I picked this up at the library because I remembered reading the first few pages while waiting in line to see Neil Gaiman a while back and I wanted to know what happened. A sweet, coming-of-age, teen romance with a sympathetic teen boy protagonist, and a pretty awesome female love interest who happens to be a really determined, talented rodeo rider. And I liked that the protagonists' mentor in this case was his gay uncle, who's fleshed out as a character in the interactions he has with his nephe
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Apr 16, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
I really liked this. The characters were great and the writing was simple and pure. I think Koertge is a fantastic author. I can see some of the controversy regarding this but I think there are much worse things out there.
Dec 31, 2011
Dina
rated it:
Excellent no-nonsense book about sexual health and first time encounters.
Oct 29, 2008
Arielle
rated it:
This was for my book club at work. We were doing the theme of banned/challenged books and I wanted to read a teen one. I really like books by Koertge but this was my least favorite one of his. The writing was still good and the main character likeable but, for me, the setting of the desert and horse race track wasn't interesting. That being said I wouldn't not recommend it to someone.
Oct 12, 2011
i dont think this book is interesting. I dont find it interesting because theres nothing fun it talks about. im not saying is bad but im not saing is really good . i tink is just not my type of book i would be interested on . But those who like cowboy things then i recommend this for you .
Apr 16, 2008
Raquel
rated it:
Fun book, I read it for my banned books project. There was no information on WHY it was banned >.< but it was so obvious once I read it.
I actually made contact with the author, and he sent me a handwritten postcard. That was so cool (:
P.S. I read this in seventh grade, and I reread it last week.
I actually made contact with the author, and he sent me a handwritten postcard. That was so cool (:
P.S. I read this in seventh grade, and I reread it last week.
May 07, 2008
David
rated it:
Excellent young adult read. Young adult needs to be old enough to read about sex and drugs, but the sex and drugs are handled in a realistic but beneficial manner - if you know what i mean. A 16 year old would enjoy the story and be better off for having read it.
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