story about growing up gay in an
Evangelical family. NY: Little, Brown and
Aaron Hartzler and his entire family are extremely strict, devout Christians. They believe Heaven is a real place and they believe in the Rapture, that Jesus is coming back. As a child he was thrilled by that idea, but as he turns sixteen, he's hoping Jesus will hold off until he has had a chance to "live". Soon Aaron begins to question everything as he comes to term with his sexuality and attempts to manage his parents' expectations. He turns rebellion by watching non-parent approved movies, non-Christian music, alcohol, and even some backseat groping with girls. He struggles to reconcile his upbringing and family beliefs with what he discovered his junior and senior years in high school.
This is a great book for teens 14-17 years. It deals with religion, but does not solely focus on the Rapture. It has rebellion and finding of sexual identity.
Hartzler's memoir is an excellent read. He does a remarkable job of looking at two sides on an issue without judging. His parents were extremely devout Christians while he experimented with some no so Christian activities. As Havighurst says, "adolescents must develop morals and values". Aaron questions what he has believed for sixteen years and begins to form his own truths.
Company.
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