Out of the Pocket was reviewed on www.teensreadtoo.com.
OUT OF THE POCKET by Bill Konigsberg
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 9/18/08
Publisher: Dutton
Reviewed by: coollibrarianchick
Rating: 4 Stars
In the locker room, the word fag is tossed around jokingly between teammates. What they do not realize is that among them is someone struggling to accept that he is different, that he is gay.
It is one thing being gay - it is totally another thing playing a testosterone-driven sport, being the star quarterback, and being gay.
Bobby Framingham, star quarterback, who dreams of playing for Stanford, is an all around good guy; handsome, popular and gay. No one knows yet and he is not ready to tell anyone, either. Bobby realizes that there are a lot of issues and angles that need to be worked out before coming out. There is a matter of family, friends, teammates, and, of course, Carrie, the girl who is his best friend and who wants more than he can give.
There is one problem, an over-zealous student reporter that would love to do a story on him coming out - and who outs him sooner than what Bobby wishes. As if being a teenager isn’t hard enough, how is an outed star athlete going to handle such public exposure?
As to date, while there are many famous gay people in the arts, there are no openly gay people playing football, baseball, or basketball. Two people admitted to be being gay but it was long after their retirement. So many reasons to keep quiet – fear of being cut, hostile locker rooms, loss of fans. However, the world is changing and our sports culture needs to change, too.
Hopefully, we will see more young gay athletes challenge homophobic views held by others on who should be involved in sports. One line in the book that stands out is “being homophobic is just as bad as being racist.”
OUT OF THE POCKET is a good coming-of-age story with an honest and realistic portrayal of all of the character’s reactions. I think that it would make a good addition to GLBTQ collections in both public and school libraries, as it is truly a great example of finding yourself no matter what your sexual orientation/experiences may be.
You will find yourself rooting for Bobby just as I did.
---
It's been a while since I've given an update of how things are going with the book. I get a lot of questions about how it's doing, and the answer is that things are going well. The book is by no means a best seller, but has had encouraging sales and seems to be finding it's way into the hands of people who need it.
Reviews have been quite positive, knock on wood. I frequently get emails from readers saying that the book was meaningful to them, and truly, what more could I ask for?
Word of mouth is key. So if you enjoyed my book, please tell someone about it. Or better yet, tell a few people. Now that I'm mostly done with my tour, I hope that word of mouth will keep the momentum going.
Happy New Year!
...Wadorf to Your Astoria is done. Through. Finished.
This will be the final post here.
But fear not! If you go over to my brand-spankin' new website, billkonigsberg.com, you will see that I am still blogging over there.
This will be the final post here.
But fear not! If you go over to my brand-spankin' new website, billkonigsberg.com, you will see that I am still blogging over there.
Just four more days in 2012... Hard to believe how quickly --
Who the hell am I kidding?
This was the slowest year in the history of man. I don't mean that in a bad way. It just went slowly. To me, last December seems like years ago.
It was a great, slow year:
1.
Who the hell am I kidding?
This was the slowest year in the history of man. I don't mean that in a bad way. It just went slowly. To me, last December seems like years ago.
It was a great, slow year:
1.
Tomorrow is the first day of NaNoWriMo, also known as National Novel Writing Month. Every November, all sorts of writers take on the challenge of trying to write a draft of a novel in a month.
I'll tell you what, people who plan to vote for Mitt Romney:
I disagree with you, and not just a little. Your support of the Romney/Ryan ticket feels like a kick to the stomach, because as a gay man, this stuff is personal to me.
But you know what? Don't de-friend me.
I disagree with you, and not just a little. Your support of the Romney/Ryan ticket feels like a kick to the stomach, because as a gay man, this stuff is personal to me.
But you know what? Don't de-friend me.
What would happen at an all-boys boarding school in Massachusetts if an athlete came out as gay?
This is NOT the subject of my upcoming novel, Openly Straight. In fact, it is the setting for that novel, but it is the plot of my first novel, Out of the Pocket.
This is NOT the subject of my upcoming novel, Openly Straight. In fact, it is the setting for that novel, but it is the plot of my first novel, Out of the Pocket.
Today I've decided to be one of those helpful authors and let you know what happens when you attempt to use copywritten song lyrics in your novel.
I have been a highly effective person at times in my life. You don't become successful in a creative field without working diligently. It simply doesn't happen. Likewise, it's about impossible to succeed in any endeavor without concerted effort. I don't mean to brag, but when I'm on, I'm really on.
I woke up this morning thinking about the novel I am working on, BEST OF BIPOLAR DISORDER. There is a fantasy element in the novel. It's the first time I am working with an element of the fantastic in a novel.
This makes me nervous.
This makes me nervous.
So I had a HUGE treat yesterday... I got to have lunch with the former student who served as the inspiration for the character "Carrie" in OUT OF THE POCKET!
I hadn't seen her in nine years.
I hadn't seen her in nine years.
I have a new book deal!
I've wanted to scream it from the top of a mountain for the entire world to hear for the past couple months, but I couldn't -- not until the deal was signed and official. Well, it is now signed and official.
I've wanted to scream it from the top of a mountain for the entire world to hear for the past couple months, but I couldn't -- not until the deal was signed and official. Well, it is now signed and official.
Chuck said something yesterday that really struck me. It was a comment about how things have changed in his lifetime, especially for gay people.
The novel I am currently working on involves a journey taken by two best friends: Duffy and Aisha.
Duffy is 17, straight-but-different, and bipolar. He has lived his entire life in Billings, Montana.
Aisha is 19, a lesbian, and black.
Duffy is 17, straight-but-different, and bipolar. He has lived his entire life in Billings, Montana.
Aisha is 19, a lesbian, and black.
Contrary to the title, this posting is not about how I used to trudge four miles to school through the snow, and how "The Kids These Days" don't know how good they have it.
Instead, I want to focus on something that I feel "The Kids These Days" don't have.
Instead, I want to focus on something that I feel "The Kids These Days" don't have.
Sometimes when I start a new novel, I feel like I'm the laziest person on earth.
I'll get an idea and I'll get the urge to start writing. I'll hurry over to my computer and sit down and start typing, and a bunch of crap will come out. Within a page, I'm lost.
I'll get an idea and I'll get the urge to start writing. I'll hurry over to my computer and sit down and start typing, and a bunch of crap will come out. Within a page, I'm lost.
My stepfather -- may he rest in peace -- had a saying. Usually he said it in regard to violent "R" rated movies I wanted to see as a kid. He'd say, "Naw, that's bad for your unconscious."
Jim had a way with words.
Jim had a way with words.
Mabel and I went out for a nice walk today. We went to the park near our house, and we ran and chased birds and romped and generally had a great time.
Until we were attacked by an unleashed dog, that is.
Mabel loves everyone and everything. Every dog is her new best friend.
Until we were attacked by an unleashed dog, that is.
Mabel loves everyone and everything. Every dog is her new best friend.
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