Totally Joe

A fun read. A bit too sweet perhaps. It seemed like the author asked himself, “How can I improve somebody's self-esteem today? I'll write a book!” But there are times in life when a boost in confidence is just what is needed. I can easily picture a kid needing the feel-good “be yourself” message this book offers. Some people have complained about the stereotypical portrayal of a gay kid in the character of Joe, but I have known kids just like him. They need to read about someone like them. What they do not need is “It's OK to be gay, just as long as you aren't too swishy.” Yes: swishy, too-fem gay guys can drive a person nuts, but the alienation which comes from being told that they are not suitable for depiction in a novel is sure to make things worse, not better.