Desire Lines

by Jack Gantos

Sixteen-year-old Walker has discovered something potentially scandalous―two of his female classmates are having an affair. It is a secret he has no problem keeping to himself . . . until it comes to protecting his own reputation.

"It is difficult to close Desire Lines without the overpowering feeling that evil's caretaker can very well be an average young man who lacks the courage to do what he knows is right. This is a morality play as painful and rage-inducing as a personal betrayal. Take it personally. You cannot read this without getting as emotionally involved as if you were a player in the story." ―Chris Lynch

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Queer, Teen

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Jack Gantos is an American author of children's books renowned for his portrayal of fictional Joey Pigza, a boy with ADHD, and many other well known characters such as Rotten Ralph, Jack Henry, Jack Gantos (memoirs) and others. Gantos has won a number of awards, including the Newbery, the Newbery Honor, the Scott O'Dell Award, the Printz Honor, and the Sibert Honor from the American Library Association, and he has been a finalist for the National Book Award.

Gantos was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania to son of construction superintendent John Gantos and banker Elizabeth (Weaver) Gantos. The seeds for Jack Gantos' writing career were planted in sixth grade, when he read his sister's diary and decided he could write better than she could. Born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and raised in Barbados and South Florida, Mr. Gantos began collecting anecdotes in grade school and later gathered them into stories.

After his senior year in high school (where he lived in a welfare motel) he moved to a Caribbean island (St Croix) and began to train as a builder. He soon realized that construction was not his forté and started saving for college. While in St. Croix he met a drug smuggler and was offered a chance to make 10 000 dollars by sailing to New York with 2,000 pounds of hash. With an English eccentric captain on board they set off to the big city. Once there they hung out at the Chelsea hotel and Gantos carried on dreaming about college. Then, in Jacks own words, "The **** hit the fan" and the F.B.I. burst in on him. He managed to escape and hid out in the very same welfare motel he was living during high school. However, he saw sense and turned himself in. He was sentenced to six years in prison, which he describes in his novel -HOLE IN MY LIFE-. However, after a year and a half in prison he applied to college, was accepted. He was released from prison, entered college, and soon began his writing career.

He received his BFA and his MA both from Emerson College. While in college, Jack began working on picture books with an illustrator friend. In 1976, they published their first book, Rotten Ralph. Mr. Gantos continued writing children's books and began teaching courses in children's book writing. He developed the master's degree program in children's book writing at Emerson College in Boston. In 1995 he resigned his tenured position in order to further his writing career (which turned out to be a great decision).

He married art dealer Anne A. Lower on November 11, 1989. The couple has one child, Mabel, and they live in Boston, Massachusetts.

www.jackgantos.com

Reviews

[Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monday, January 21st, 2011, I was sitting in my Honors Geometry class during Quiet Time (Transcendental Meditation). I needed some book to read. I asked my friend, Ivan, if he have any book that he could loan me. He has two in hand: "The Catching Fire" and the "Desire Lines." I chose "Desires Lines" since it's not a mainstream book that people in my school would often read. I read the synopsis and already, I got engaged.

The book has the element of realism in it, not only it's an engaging book, it also narrates what a person might be going through -- and holding -- a secret, much more a life-changing secret. The book is really great, a novella that not only gives you a perspective of troubled, testosteronic teenager, it only some what "depicts" an LGBTQ teen, like of Karen and Jennifer.

As an ally of the LGBTQ community, it bothers me how a tightly-run conservative Church group, like Westborough Church, would arrange a witch-hunt around schools which run as a safe-haven (or not) to teenagers. I mean, I don't see what's wrong with being of a different sexuality other than the straight society. Although this, I can say, that I fear for the hateful generation that discriminate against homosexuals. I mean, really, I feel sorry for them. When their generation dies out, the next generation will treat homosexuality with flamboyance and indiscriminately, treating them as equals. Then, their children and of the like would study LGBTQ in books and their young ones would say: "Wow. I can't believe those people back then are so dumb."

"Desired Lines" by Jack Gantos, a great page-turner.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did I not know about this book and why did it take me so long to read it? This is one of those books that makes you pause. You shut the back cover and just stare off for a moment, moved by the insight, angered and saddened by the actions of the characters, and heartbroken by a story having to be written that is painfully necessary.

Gantos is a master storyteller. His words and sentences are genuine and his stories make you think he's got a window into everyone lives they're so uber-observant. And to prove his mastery- he does it in about 120 pages.

[Readersaurus · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jack Gantos spoke at the Eric Carle Museum last week, he talked of this book and moved me. I knew I needed to read it.

It is unsettling to take in Gantos' trademark vivid and off-kilter observations and descriptive passages and have none of them make you laugh.

Desire lines are the paths we make straight to what we want the most, regardless of the rules or roads. Desire Lines is a devastating example of the power of bullies and our own ability to take ourselves directly down the wrong paths towards the futures we don't want. It is about wrestling with conscience and coming up wrong.

Readers will want to know that the love and the fate of the two girls in this book are based on things that happened to two real people in Gantos' high school.

[uniquechicgeek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Persecution over sexuality is a difficult subject to approach, and this book does not do it well. The protagonist is presumably supposed to be some kind of rebel, but basically comes across as a whining spoilt brat. The ending was predictable and didn't really evoke any kind of response from me at all. Maybe the book needed to be longer to include more to make the reader care about the characters. I wouldn't recommend this unless you're really stuck for something to read.

[Marilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

myeah...I so expect THINGS from Mr. Gantos. This came nowhere close--too short, no role models, shallow undeveloped characters. I disliked myself momentarily for tsk tsking the author, but then I realized it was HIS book for heaven's sake! He could have done so much more. I don't know if I've evolved to being able to read homophobic novels and not emotionally react. I DO react. That being said, I could have taken this book perhaps with a bigger dose of good development. Way too shallow.

[Cathy Houston · Rating 2 out of 5]

sad story of teenage high school hell

[Virginia Osborne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is highly dated trash at this point.

[Reving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desire Lines is a very complex story and it is definitely one that sticks with you, one you want to talk about after you read it. It also proves once again, that Jack Gantos is one of the best writers out there.
Walker is a young man living in Fort Lauderlade, FL, he seems to be kind of a loner, an average student, a sad kind of guy. But maybe part of that sadness is because he is telling the story after all of the events in the book have happened. It would be hard to happy after living through all of this. He spends his free time hanging out in an abandoned golf course, where nature has taken back the formerly groomed grounds. As part of punishment for cheating on a biology test, he has to take care of the animals that are used for biology at his school and at neighboring schools. Sometimes he rescues those animals, the frogs, the pigs. Trying to do what he thinks is right.
One day a traveling preacher and his two sons, one Walker's age, show up on the lot next to the high school. The Walker-age son, is determined to out the homosexuals at the high school and rid the school of the sin of homosexuality. He targets Walker right away, accusing him of being gay and telling him that if he just tells him who the real gay kids are, he will leave him alone.
Walker knows of two gay girls in his school, he has seen them together, on Thursday evenings, by the pond in the old golf course.
Walker fights with himself, should he tell Preacher boy about the girls and get himself out of the line of fire.
I am a Christian and I don't think that homosexuality is a sin. I figure that if Jesus never mentioned it once, that pretty much says it all...His not saying anything, you know? God is far more concerned THAT we love, than WHOM we love. So I just spend my time trying to love God's creation and I don't think about who is loving who. I would love to say "some of my best friends are gay!" But actually, I don't have any gay friends. Well, friends who I know to be gay, anyway. I do have one guy friend who is gay, but we aren't close-close, not because he's gay, but just because he's a lot younger than I am and we don't hang out or anything.
SPOILERS.
The thing about Walker is, he does end up outing the girls and he realizes that it was the wrong thing to do, and it ends in serious, serious tragedy so basically, Walker has really screwed up his life and others lives. But all of the blame can't be placed on Walker, I think, even though he is more than willing to take it all on. This book is so incredibly sad. I like the book because the one gay girl is a total jerk. I mean, Gantos didn't paint all the gay characters to be angelic and wonderful and awesome and hip and perfect and saints. Gay people can be jerks. Straight people can be jerks. Gay people can be great. Straight people can be great. And this one gay girl is a major jerk. Its just a real story.
The title is based on the idea of the desire path. And when you think of it literally and figuratively, it adds a lot of meaning to the whole story.
Really good book.
Review with links at http://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2012/...

[Jacqueline Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about the conflict between doing what you know is right and the outside pressure from those around you. And it's about bearing the consequences of the choices you make. It is a sad story. I don't know if it is a true story, but if it is not there are plenty of true stories like it. That's part of what makes it so sad. It is about a high school boy put in the middle of a conflict between a church of haters and 2 lesbian girls in his school. The book is written in first person and lets you get into the head of this boy. The characters are real. The drama isn't your classic high school story but is something much deeper that carries more truth. It leaves me thinking about the nature of humanity and our capacity to hate. Jack's written voice is easy to read and I found myself reading it in a few hours which is not my normal. It pulls you and leaves you thinking about the way things would go after the book ends. Because this kind of story doesn't really have an end. The choices made in this book would have life long burdens for the people involved. It is intense, yet smoothly written. I'm glad I read it. I picked it up because it was on a bargain book shelf. I didn't even read the back cover before opening the book. Going in blind was interesting and part of why I found it so intense. I hadn't know what I was getting into. A great book.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love almost everything Jack Gantos has ever written, Hole in My Life changed my life and I was so happy to have the opportunity at ALA this year to tell him so, but I was surprised to find this novel that broke my heart. It's a dark tragedy about the cruelity of high school, homophobia and how evil can arise out of inaction and peer pressure.

Here is a spoiler, but I have to say this. Number one I am uncomfortable with men writing about teen girl sex. Two, the suicide pact at the end between the lesbians makes me sad that queer teens cannot have more role models that rise above the homophobia and cruelity of their classmates. Suicide and attempted suicide rates for queer teens are a real world problem and any book that chooses to end the story with this, even with characters exploring their guilt and loyalty and keeping secrets to protect people, makes me feel so sad when YA lit has the potential to inspire and encourage healthy survival through those difficult times.

[Tilottoma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Throughout the book it shows us about how people are judgemental about the third gender, and that the people belonging in that category are too pressured and often get bullied by other and because of this pressure, they can't express themselves openly, making them feel like they have a weird personality, and that they're unwelcome to the society which leads them (people of third gender) to think of suicide as an escape.

Overall, the book was alright but could've been better. A positive affect about this book is that it can teach many of us life learning lessons such as, to be proud and secure of who you are, never give up, and do not change yourself for anyone else because you are what makes you. I would recommend this book to anyone who has gone through pressure & being bullied of third gender or whoever just feels uncomfortable about who they are.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a little bit at the beginning to decide if I liked this book, but by the time I got to the end, there was no question. It's rare to see a teen book with such a realistic narrator: a high-school sophomore catches two of his female classmates secretly dating, and rather than tell them, he keeps the secret to himself--until the rest of the school, led by a creepy Preacher Kid moving in across the street, starts accusing him of being gay. Sure, sounds very realistic, but usually there's the Big Lesson that the kids learns, apologizes to classmates, and everyone's happy at the end. That's not the case here. Love, courage, betrayal--this isn't a happy story with happy characters. It's troubled, dark, and disturbing--and that's what makes this novel so amazing.

[KT · Rating 2 out of 5]

Desire Lines was a quick plot-driven read that would likely be a strong fit for reluctant young adult readers, but it didn't do much for me. While I can appreciate that Walker was a realistic depiction of an "average" high school guy, I struggled with Gantos's narrative. While the plot of Desire Lines is ostensibly driven by homophobia and the unrest it creates in Walker's high school, LGBTQ characters are relegated to the sidelines and are totally denied a voice in the narrative and, as usual, things end in tragedy. For me, Desire Lines felt unfortunately salacious - one shock after another for no particular reason.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I added this book to my to-read list after hearing Jack Gantos speak about it and the real life events that moved him to write it. It is powerful and uneasy. There are several cringe-worthy sciences. The book tackles several issues- bullying, gay acceptance, intolerant conservative religious types. It is unlike all of his other books I have read.
The one thing I've been thinking about since reading it is how far (or how little) we have have come as a society since the book was written in 2006 and wonder if he would still write this story this way today. I will ask him when he visits my school this fall!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off I just have to say that I love the idea of a "desire line" being a straight line to what you want. I can't decide whether I should give it 3 or 4 stars. It is similiar to other books I read as a teen like "On My Honor" (living with a secret and a death in the book) or "The Chocolate War" (where the dark part of society wins). I think it should be a choice in English Lit. classrooms when those other books are read. It's not likely to though because of the GLBQT aspect. Sad because students NEED to learn to be tolerant and accepting starting as young as possible.

[Agnes Margarette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book talks about how people are being closed minded and judgmental about the third sex, that the people belonging in that category are too pressured to be bound by what most people see as "morally right". Because of this pressure, they can't express themselves openly, making them feel like they have a tarnished personality, and that they're resented and unwelcome to the society which leads them [the people in the third sex]to think of suicide as an escape.

[Katherine Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walker is a high school student who finds himself unable to withstand the harassment he becomes subject to from religious fanatic. To insulate himself from the unwelcome attention he joins up with the schools bullies. As part of an initiation he is suppose to give up some secret. This story is how a young man finds himself unable to have the courage to stand up for his convictions. It is very well written; it has a great plot and wonderful prose. I liked it a great deal.

[Valerie H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overwrought story about a kid feeling guilty. A teenage lesbian couple's murder suicide related to homophobia in the community isn't the story...it's the backdrop to the male character's story. His feelings about his role are he story. And if you are a lesbian kid reading the story the takeaway is your life and death aren't even about you and if you come out of the closet tragedy will ensue. Really nice.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say this was the best book I've ever read, but it certainly was interesting and kept my attention. The way Gantos paints a picture of each character is excellent, and you find yourself very black and white in whether you like or dislike each character. This is a good, quick read and you'll find yourself sucked in to find out what happens to all the characters in this story.

[Debbie Armbruster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emotionally, this was a difficult book to read. Gantos manages to squeeze so much ugliness, hatred, confusion and fear into just over 100 pages, that the reader needs time to collect themselves - as though they had just run a marathon. It is an important read, granting readers a front row seat to self-preservation - at the expense of someone else.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this book. Didn't like the topic or the characters. Didn't think it was very well-written or believable. And where were the adults? The only adults were bad guys. No caring, concerned mature people. This idea, "witch-hunts" for homosexuals, could be and has been done much better.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book by Gantos. Maybe a little mediocre... Not as good as Hole In My Life or Love Curse of the Rumbaghs. Those two are way cool (OMG+ factor)... a must read for teens or anyone!

[michelle]

8/23/06

[Michelle Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

CUTTING EDGE AND AHEAD OF ITS TIME, A MUST-READ.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting in its prospects, but not well executed. Definitely disturbing at points, but not in a way that most readers will find particularly moving, I think. This was kind of a let-down.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for elementary libraries!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty biting exploration of peer-pressure and cowardice that's ultimately hurt by poorly drawn, cookie-cutter characters.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read. Not as good as I expected, too predictable.