Openly Straight

By: Bill Konigsberg

Narrated by: Pete Cross

Rafe is a normal teenager from Colorado. He's been out since 8th grade, accepted by his peers & championed by his progressive parents. And while that's important, all Rafe really wants is to be a regular guy. To have his sexuality be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time. So when Rafe transfers to an all-boys' boarding school in New England, he decides to keep his sexuality a secret - not so much going back in the closet as starting over with a clean slate. But then he sees a classmate breaking down and realizes his own labels aren't well-concealed. And most of all, he falls in love with Ben...who doesn't even know that love is possible.

©2015 Bill Konigsberg (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"From the first, Pete Cross's narration describes the high spirits of Rafe and his family.... The humor continues outwardly throughout the book, but Cross undercuts it with Rafe's uncomfortable inner feelings.... Cross's delivery reflects how Rafe wrestles with honesty, hides truths in a romantic relationship, and finally faces the painful path to becoming his real self." ( AudioFile)

So realistic, it hurts.

This book had me hooked, and made me feel so many things. I felt joy, I felt pain, I felt stressed. But most of all, I felt happy that there was a book centered around a gay character, and it wasn't done in poor taste. I can't wait to read the next one in the series!

love

I love this book ❤ Would highly recommend. It's definitely in my top 10 faves.

Terrific story with even better narration

The story is interesting and a nice twist on coming of age - kid tries going back in closet, though he denies it, and finds a new set of problems. While some parts seem a bit out of line (convincing his old friends and family to help him hide) and some dialogue is maybe too unrealistic, it overall weaves thoughtful contemplation of who he is and was, with social interaction with all its complexity in a boys boarding school that claims tolerance, but can't avoid the fact that teenage boys will be as they tend to be good, bad and ugly.

What is truly impressive is the narration that carries out teen inflections and expressions and excellent character voices that really keep you going. You feel Rafe's joy, frustration, anger and his confusion and you hear clearly the responses of others. Overall, great job makes it all work.

Rafe is interesting and the premise is refreshing

Is the idea of a gay kid choosing to act Straight weird? For some people, including advocates and "out Proud" crowd, I can see why. However, as a gay guy with a decade of experience under his own belt, I can understand why Rafe did what he did. I am not saying I don't judge his attempt at reinvention to be stupid or childish, when even he himself admits it after reflection, but I get why he wanted to "fit in with the guys".
As we grow older, somethings come into clearer focus. I wasn't out in high school, because I told myself "why add drama", despite actually being in Boston and openly befriending gay/bi/lesbian friends. I also hung out with Jocks, nerds, and Anime geeks, because I didn't really want that part of me define who I am. However, it does eat at you to hide that part of yourself like Rafe does in the novel, not sharing that part of who you are with others, including your best friends. I came out to my friends after college, there was disbelief at first, but I think the thing they and me regretted most was that I couldn't share earlier and be comfortable with myself.
That's why this book is so powerful, it's not about liberal politics scaring gay kid back into the closet to belong, but something far more fundamental. Even in an open environment with plenty of gay people, many of us are just afraid to be ourselves and share like Rafe to lesser extents. We create a closet, even when it is not needed for safety or protection.
I like Bill Konigsberg take on Rafe and the attitude about being afraid to showcase yourself as gay, despite being gay. The closet is tempting not only to people in conservative areas, it's tempting for those who just want a sense of commonality with others and fears of exclusion by introducing this distinct differentiating variable of sexual attraction.
I know some have given this a negative review due to repeatability and maybe the hatred for Rafe's spoiled "privilege" that so many other gay guys growing up did not have. I can see that point and I respect those opinions, but as a gay man from a liberal area who created his own closet not out of need, I think those readers fail to realize that we all struggle with our own issues with being who we are. Being gay isn't a "One Size" fits all concept, Rafe's experience and mine maybe privileges denied to others who have to live in the closet out of fear, but at the heart of it, the closet exist because we all wanted to belong and accepted into our own groups.

A very emotional trip.

I really enjoyed this story and getting into the minds of the characters. It left me in a very pensive mood.
I'm looking forward to the sequel.