Taylor Adams is a sixteen-year old gay high school student who is head over heels in love with his first boyfriend Will. Unfortunately the joy that he feels about his first romance is not shared by his parents. They are devout, fundamentalist Christians, and they thus believe homosexuality to be an abomination. In an effort to cure Taylor of his homosexual proclivities, they elect to send their son to a six-week, faith-based, behavior-modification program called "Straight to God".
This is the second of author Robin Reardon's books that I've read, and I am quick to admit that she is an impressive story teller. Her ability to get inside the head of her gay male protagonist is remarkably realistic, and her development of complex yet likable characters creates an interesting and memorable read. In this particular story she uses a narrative arc to transform characters who initially appear to be a certain way but eventually are revealed to contradict this first impression.
Reardon also weaves together two extremely paradoxical viewpoints into a story which ultimately challenges the assumptions of both arguments. She craftily challenges fundamentalists to re-examine their condemnation of homosexuals, and she gently urges gays to try to understand the motives which fuel these harsh, fundamentalist judgements.
Although there were some plot elements which I did not find to be particularly plausible, I sincerely regard this book to be one of the best I have read in terms of its presentation of how people of faith choose to perceive sexual orientation. It certainly would be one of the first books that I would recommend to someone who is struggling to reconcile their faith with their affectional identity. It could also be immensely helpful to the religious family member of a gay person who has just come out to them.
I was most disturbed by the methodology that the program employed to brainwash and control its residents. One example is the use of what they referred to as the "safe zone" in which the inmate was required to remain mute for a period of hours or days. This prevented them from ever questioning authority or expressing any opposing opinion. It also created feelings of frustration and helplessness, quite the opposite of the "safe" atmosphere it was supposed to provide.
I was also a bit annoyed by the manner in which the religious establishment eventually evolved to a place of pseudo-acceptance of gay identity. They ultimately conclude that homosexuality "used" to be a sin, but it is not any more. This sort of rationalization does not explain why God would ever create someone to be gay in the first place. And their insistence upon protecting the "sanctity" of marriage by disallowing gays to marry is also contradictory in that they continue to condemn sexual relations outside of marriage.
Perhaps the important reality is that the process of reexamination had begun. At least some of the fundamentalists were able to allow themselves to rethink their staid opinions and challenge their previous assumptions.
Over all, I loved the book, and do not hesitate to recommend it. I'm anxiously waiting to see what future work this author has in store for us. Five stars
Reardon’s stirring novel grapples with homosexuality and born-again Christianity. When Taylor Adams comes out, his parents ship him off to Straight to God, a camp for those who have gone astray. The nightmarish camp seeks to exorcise the satanic influence from its charges, some of whom are gay, and some of whom are petty criminals or drug addicts. The camp’s strict guidelines include no speaking for newbies (who wear yellow stickers on their clothing), the writing of Moral Inventories to be shared with group leaders, and prayer meetings. Taylor is furious about his incarceration, but through his intellect and open nature, he discovers leadership qualities in himself and learns that not everyone is the religious automaton they appear to be. Reardon’s first novel (A Secret Edge ) was geared to young adults; this new book, which includes frank language and sexual encounters, tries to reach out to older readers, albeit sometimes awkwardly (the explanation of text message–like acronyms, for instance, is clunky). While the extremes of the evangelical movement are harshly depicted, Reardon does a decent job overall of staying off a soapbox. The result is thoughtful and convincing.
