Absolutely, Positively Not

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Author(s)

David LaRochelle

Publisher

Scholastic

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

June 01, 2005

ISBN

0439591090

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There is one thing Steven knows for sure: He's absolutely, positively NOT gay.

Steven's a 16-year-old boy with two obsessions: sex and getting his driving license. The problem is, Steven's not thinking girls when he's thinking sex. Could he be -- don't say it -- gay? Steven sets out to get in touch with his inner he-man with Healthy Heterosexual Strategies such as "Start Hanging Out with the Guys," and "Begin Intensive Dating." But are Steven's tactics going to straighten him out, or leave him all twisted up?

Absolutely hilarious. Positively sidesplitting. But absolutely, positively NOT GAY!

There is one thing Steven knows for sure: He's absolutely, positively NOT gay.

Absolutely hilarious. Positively sidesplitting. But absolutely, positively NOT GAY!

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Absolutely, positively funny

November 20, 2006

Overall rating

5.0

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Absolutely, Positively Not handles a weighty issue in a funny manner. Steven is absolutely, positively sure that hes not gay. He cant be, right? I mean, after all, he makes sure to collect magazine clippings of voluptuous girls in bikinis (pay no attention to the mens underwear catalog stashed under the bed) and tries his hardest to hang out with the jocks (though he really doesnt get how they can eat the way they do&so disgusting&).

When he cant help but keep noticing how handsome Coach Bowman is (but wouldnt anyone??), he decides some drastic action is needed. He must go forth and date. A lot. So embarks a quest wherein he dates some of the most popular girls in school. Shoot, after awhile, they start calling him. But&can you really call it a date when youre providing a shoulder to cry on or helping them with their studying or cleaning out their basements?

Meanwhile, hes also got other drama in his life like getting his drivers license. He fails the test&more than once. And winds up taking a dog (no, not an ugly girl&what are you thinking?? An actual dog&Kelly, his best friend Rachels dog) to a fancy dance.

When he can finally admit to himself that, okay, maybe he is possibly gay, he then has to figure out how to tell his best friend and his parents. Rachel, who he tackles first, makes it easy. Steven! Its about time! she screams and even her parents congratulate him on finally going public. Steven can hardly comprehend it. How in the world did Rachels entire family know he was gay when he was so absolutely positively sure he wasnt?

By the end of the book, Steven has found that it takes being true to yourself to be a real man and honesty, while not necessarily easy, is always the best policy.

I really enjoyed this book. I think theres something to be said for humor and others have definitely agreed: the book won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Stevens problems are very real and he finds solutions for them while readers are entertained greatly along the way. I think youll like Steven, no matter your personal orientation. Recommended for readers aged 12 and up. Even though the topic is coming out, the tone is light.

Kimberly Pauley Top 50 Reviewer 393 reviews

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Funny

September 24, 2008

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Reader reviewed by Samantha Watt

I had to read this for the Reading Bowl and my goodness this was great!

It was so funny like thoughout the book till the end that he tried to find ways to tell himself that he wasn't gay.

He was though, and I like the ending where there was someone else in his school. It was sweet.

Guest #1 Reviewer

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it was kinda ok

July 06, 2008

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2.0

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Reader reviewed by Ruth

it was funny..i can tell you that. the plot was unclear at first. the books is all about accepting and learning about yourself.it also talks about teens and just in general how people are afraid about the image they portray to the outside world. the books shows how people shouldn't care about what other people say. if you think that sounds interesting then read it.

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Absolutely, Positively Not Not

November 24, 2006

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Reader reviewed by Aisha

I just read this book today and it was very good. I've read a lot of YA queer fiction, and I wasn't quite sure what to think when halfway through, the main character was still trying to convince himself he wasn't gay.

It's a really light read, nothing too heavy -- no falling in love, nothing ultradramatic, just a sixteen year old boy discovering something he always knew about himself -- with a twist.

Guest #1 Reviewer