This is a great book for any teen struggling to understand a gay classmate/friend/relative or for one who needs to come to terms with their own sexuality. I loved how extremely likable and relatable Bobby was and how he was exactly the same character both before and after coming out as gay.I was annoyed in the beginning about how slowly Bobby was coming out. First he told one person. Then another. Then considered telling someone else. Then so and so told so and so and they knew. On and on... That's when it hit me. What if there was something about me that people might think lesser of me for that others couldn't see? Like, what if I had to go around in high school and tell everyone that I was a girl? HOW LONG would that take? Forever. I was so relieved when the article just outed him all of the sudden, even though I thought it was wrong for it to have happened that way. At least he was done having unsure and awkward conversations with everyone he knew. It ripped off the Band-Aid.I knocked off a star for the "love" story. I mean, it wasn't a love story. Which seemed about right to me. It was just the first guy he dated. His character was a blah dud. But, who has mad forever love with the first person they ever date? So, towards the end when the blah dud told Bobby he loved him, I was like "what?" I think Bobby agreed with me, so that was cool.Just an FYI for someone considering letting a teen read this - go ahead. It's safe. Very chaste. Very YA. Perfect for a school diversity assignment or for anyone who needs to understand the feelings of a gay student. Awesome. For me this wasn't the life-altering masterpiece it seems to be for other people. It was good, but there was just something missing, some kind of depth that it got close to but didn't touch. It just ended kind of abruptly. I feel like I've read it many time before while trawling Nifty or Gay Authors for non-porn-fueled high school stories way back, probably around the time this was published or before. The emphasis on media attention gave it a little something extra though, that was nice.It was really interesting reading this years after it was published, when gay athletes are slowly coming out of the woodwork. Where Michael Sam just got drafted to the NHL just yesterday. Where he kissed his boyfriend in happiness and it aired on ESPN. Things are changing and it helps me put Bobby's story in perspective and get the ending that I had been hoping to see.
What do You think about Out Of The Pocket (2008)?
This book is amazing! I havent read anything this good in a long time. I didnt want it to end!!
—shujikun
This is a great book about an important and timely subject. Highly recommended.
—Angied
It was an okay book. Slightly generic story. Over all a good read.
—Mak
