TWO BOYS KISSING by David Levithan

 

After watching MSNBC's Ali Velshi's Banned Book Club segment this past Saturday, I realized that TWO BOYS KISSING by David Levithan was on my bookshelf, but I had never read it. I pushed it to the top of my TBR pile. Since its publication in 2013, this book has frequently been on banned and challenged lists. According to the author himself, many of those challenges and bans were because of the title and the cover art. All I can say is, "What a shame."

Craig and Harry used to be in a relationship, but not anymore. They are still friends and are determined to make it into the Guiness Book of World Records by beating the record for the longest continuous kiss. They've practiced and trained. They know how to sneak drinks without breaking the kiss and how to communicate with signals. They've had plenty of help planning the event. Everything is set and ready so let the kissing begin.

Woven throughout their kissing story are the stories of others. Avery and Ryan (meeting for the first time), Peter and Neil (sure of their love, but experiencing different reactions from their families), and Cooper (so frustrated, alone, and sad, that ending things seems like the only answer.) Holding all their stories together are the countless gay men of past generations who lived and died from a disease (AIDS) that the world declared was their fault.

Author David Levithan deftly moves from one voice to another in bold, tender, and honest conversations that will help readers feel closer to and more understanding of a subject not easily dealt with in the past or present. Understanding and acceptance have come a long way, but Levithan lets us know it's not enough.