Review Detail

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.