Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Two Boys Kissing
Pros
- Diverse characters
- Insight into gay history
- Engaging and emotional story
Cons
- Homophobia as major plot point
- Focuses entirely on men
Title: Two Boys Kissing
Author: David Levithan
Original Publication Date: 2013
Original Publisher: Ember
Queer Representation: 7 gay male protagonists, 1 of whom is trans, and a chorus of gay men who died from AIDS
Page Length: 200
A hauntingly beautiful tale of a community rallying behind two boys attempting to break the world record for the longest continuous kiss.
Memorable Quote: “We always underestimate our own participation in magic. That is, we thought of magic as something that existed with or without us. But that’s not true. Things are not magical because they’ve been conjured for us by some outside force. They are magical because we create them, and then deem them so.”
Review:
After Craig Cole learns that Tariq was attacked by a group of guys for being gay, he is inspired to act. Craig and Tariq were not close before the attack, but once Craig and his ex-boyfriend Harry hear about it, they feel compelled to reach out. After all, it could just as easily have been one of them. Now, Craig wants to do something crazy, something that will make a statement. Craig wants to break the world record for longest continuous kiss, and he has enlisted Harry’s help. He knows that he will not be able to win Harry back with this kiss; that’s not what it is about. This kiss is for Craig, so that he can do something. This kiss is also for the world, for every gay kid who might be inspired and for every straight person whose mind might be changed.
But this story isn’t just a story about Craig and Harry. This is also the story of Peter and Neil, who have been dating for a year and are learning more about love every day. It is the story of Avery and Ryan who meet at a gay prom and are just starting to get to know one another. It is the story of Cooper, who feels alone in the world and runs away from home when his parents find him chatting with guys online. The stories of these teens are weaved together by a chorus of gay men lost to AIDS, who reflect on the lives of the boys, their own lives, and gay life more generally.
Inspired by true events, Levithan takes readers on an emotional journey of first love, new love, and lost love. The chorus is haunting yet profound, a voice given to the voiceless. Levithan simultaneously teaches young teens about their past and their future. As he points out, many of the teens reading this book will have little to no knowledge of the true impact of AIDS on the gay community, of the entire generation lost to AIDS. Many of the gay teens readings this book will not be aware of how different it was just a few generations ago and how different it may be a few generations from now. Two Boys Kissing is a must read for every gay teen and every gay adult.
