Review: Thinking Straight by Robin Reardon

I read this book as part of Kris' m/m Rut Challenge.  Basically Kris has challenged the readers of her blog to choose a book from either a genre or theme that we would usually avoid like the plague (for more information and to join her challenge click on the button in the left hand side bar).  I managed to choose a book from a genre I usually avoid AND which contains a theme I don't like to read, so I get extra brownie points *polishes halo*.

The genre of the book is YA which I usually avoid because a) it reminds me of how old I am getting and makes me pine for my lost youth and b) YA books are often set in and around schools and since my school years were not particularly happy, I don't especially want to be reminded of that.  The theme of the book is based around a teen who, after coming out to his parents, gets sent to 'Straight to God' which is one of these institutions run by the church to 'deprogramme' troubled teenagers, in the hope that he will emerge newly heterosexual.  I hate books which show Christians as hateful homophobes - and yes, I am perfectly aware that many, many Christians are just that, but that doesn't mean I want to read about it.

In retrospect, I think this was probably a really good book for me to choose to read for the challenge because, although it is YA, it is not set in a school and although there are plenty of homophobic Christians in this book there are many more which show a positive Christian attitude to homosexuality, including the main character, Taylor.

There are a couple of things that I particularly liked about this book.  The first thing I liked is probably something that would put off a lot of readers, especially those who are not sympathetic to the Christian faith, and that is that this book takes Taylor on a journey of faith.  He begins the book very angry at the situation he finds himself in.  He blames himself for being so foolish as to come out to his parents - and yet he doesn't blame his parents.  He understands that his parents have a very blinkered Christian faith, and that their understanding of God, especially his father's, has led them to believe that gay people are sinners.  He also doesn't blame God either for the situation he is in, quite the opposite in fact.  Taylor is sure of his faith and sure of God's love for him.  He's convinced that God doesn't make mistakes or create sinful people so as God made him gay, then it cannot be wrong.  Instead, Taylor's anger stems from a kind of hopelessness - firstly by being separated from his boyfriend, Will, then by having no say in what happens to him and finally he chafes at the rules in the institution.  However, as the book progresses Taylor finds a sense of peace in his situation as he begins to recognise why the rules are so strict.  The time at 'Straight to God' also enables him to think deeply about his faith in God and begin to structure some convincing and coherent arguments so that when he is released he can try to get others, especially his parents, to see why there is nothing wrong with him being gay.  The journey Taylor takes was quite fascinating, but also very biblical as he and a group of like-minded young people discuss theological ideas surrounding homosexuality in some depth.  As I said, this may not appeal to all readers but was one of the most compelling parts of the book for me.

The second part of the book I really liked was Taylor's love for Will.  This is told to the reader when Taylor deliberately spends time 'remembering' some of the things that have happened in their relationship.  As a result, the reader gets told about how they met, their first kiss and a couple of other incidents in their relationship which brings strength to Taylor during his time at 'Straight to God'.  Taylor's love for Will shines through these memories and non more so that when Taylor first introduces Will to the reader:

My Will.  Brown hair with spiky, bleached ends.  And that impish grin, sliding up slowly from the left hand side of his mouth and making me wonder what he's thinking.  Leather thong around his neck, another on his wrist.  Silver chain draped between front and back pockets of his scuffed black jeans.  Golden hairs on his forearms, catching sunlight.  Sweet, smooth skin on the undersides of his arms.  Sweeter, softer skin on his lips.

Taylor uses his love for Will to give him hope, recalling their times together when he's feeling low and holding on to the knowledge that Will is waiting for him.  I found this sweet, fierce love quite charming and moving.

This book isn't perfect by any means.  There is a mystery involving the suicide of one of the residents which began well but turned out to be disappointingly clichéd - I can't say too much about that as it would be a huge spoiler.    Another part which seemed odd was that every single teen in the book is incredibly intelligent and articulate, running rings around the adults in terms of logic and argument and debating theological ideas in such a clear and coherent manner that they would put scholars to shame.  This meant that sometimes it seemed like these teens were just mouthpieces for adult logic and ideals and that was slightly disconcerting.

Overall, I am glad that I took up Kris' challenge and read this book.  It had been on my TBR pile for some time and I may have continued to put off reading it for much, much longer.  To say that the book was gripping would be an understatement as I read it all in one day - only stopping to eat.  I still found parts of it difficult to read, especially the scene where Taylor comes out to his parents and the pages leading up to his placement at 'Straight to God'.  However, the book has provided me with a number of good theologically sound and bible based arguments as to why it is the Christian homophobe who is the sinner, not the homosexual - and it would be a fantastic book for a Christian teen who is struggling with his or her sexuality to read.  Plus it is a beautiful love story both of a teen's love for God and for his boyfriend.  I would recommend Thinking Straight, with a grade of 'Very Good', to those who like YA books and who wish to read a sympathetic, liberal look at Christianity in relation to homosexuality.

Buy this book HERE.