Ron Koertge Reviews

Added November 26, 2006

Boy Girl Boy

Author: Ron Koertge
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: September 2005
Genre: Young Adult: Contemporary
Format: Hardcover
Price: $16.00
ISBN: 0-15-205325-3
Reviewer: Joyce Hanzo
Rating: 6 Gargoyles

Boy Girl Boy features a teenage triangle with several contrived twists. Best friends, Larry, Teresa and Elliot share a friendship that is firmly rooted in the past, but is looking ahead to an uncertain future after high school graduation. As they make plans to move to California, their real lives get in the way of their dreams. The author offers a unique perspective of their conflict as each chapter speaks with the voice of one of these characters.

Sadly, although readers get a three-dimensional view of this story, the characters don't live up to expectations and the last page is a dead end. Writing this story from three points of view is an inventive angle, but these young people aren't exposed to any real choices. For the most part, parents and other adult characters appear out of touch with this generation, causing them to be useless in guiding these friends to a fulfilling life. Since the action of the story takes places on individual emotional levels, there were no competing ideas to challenge or inspire. Issues like smoking pot, religion and even sexual preferences were decided strictly on the basis of personal gratification. Since the author is obviously skilled at writing dialogue, this novel could have been enhanced with realistic discussions about these topics.

Hopefully, young adult readers will not think these characters represent their generation, rather, these three friends are more like poster children looking for direction. The symbolism of running away to California serves to highlight their aimless thoughts and wanderings. It is this reviewer's opinion that high school students need books in which they can think and not merely react.

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