The World of Normal Boys

The World of Normal Boys
Author K.M. Soehnlein
(Karl Soehnlein)
Country United States
Language English
Genre Gay fiction
Publisher Kensington Books
Publication date
Hardcover
September 8, 2000
Paperback
August 1, 2001
Media type Paperback and hardback
Pages 282 pp (United States paperback first edition)
ISBN 1-57566-661-8
OCLC 59530592
Website www.kmsoehnlein.com/normalboys/

The World of Normal Boys, published in 2001, is the debut novel of K.M. Soehnlein (Karl Soehnlein). The coming-of-age story centers on 13-year-old Robin MacKenzie, who discovers that he is unlike most other adolescent males. The book became a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and won the Lambda Literary Award.[1]

Plot

The book is written in the present tense. It's 1978, New Jersey: Saturday Night Fever and Grease are big. 13-year-old Robin MacKenzie is caught in a triangular relationship with next-door neighbor Todd Spicer and classmate Scott Schatz.

Robin develops a fascination for 17-year-old neighbor Todd who, despite often teasing him, initiates a sexual relationship with the younger boy, whom Todd invites to a party after which they go swimming on a golf course. Robin further forms a close bond with fellow freshman Scott Schatz, whose father is physically abusive. Robin learns that, two years earlier, Todd and Scott were involved in a sexual relationship. Robin is troubled by this, but his relationship with Scott is ultimately unaffected.

During the novel, Robin's younger brother Jackson dies some time after falling from a slide and breaking his neck, an incident Robin blames himself for although it isn't anyone's fault. As a result Robin's family begins to break down: his father becomes violent towards Robin, and Robin's longstanding bond with his mother begins to be affected. His younger sister Ruby becomes religious and also closer to Robin.

Characters

Main

MacKenzie
Spicer
Schatz

Supporting

References

  1. Gonzalez Cerna, Antonio (9 July 2001). "13th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Lambda Literary.

External links

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