Bryan Dennison wakes up one morning with a sudden desire to rescue cats stuck in trees, help little old ladies cross the street and make the world a better place. He also wants to wear a red sheet tied around his neck, like a superhero’s cape.
This is a complete turnaround from the self-involved jock he’s been in the past. Why can’t Bryan remember what brought about this astounding change? And why does his classmate Scott refuse to speak to or even acknowledge him?
The Red Sheet is a YA novel that deals with school bullying, acceptance of one’s own sexuality and what happens to all the kids who don’t “fit in” at school. Bryan’s attempts to become a better person are inspiring but also humorous at times, especially when he tries to help a Little Old Lady who’s tough as nails. Being a superhero isn’t easy! He also has some struggles with his family, and trying to forgive the father that walked out on him and his mom.
More than that, he has a mystery to solve: why does Scott hate him? What happened between them? As time goes on, Bryan realizes he hurt Scott deeply, though he can’t remember how. Working together as partners for an English project gives him a chance to know Scott better, and Scott begins to lower his guard. Bryan also becomes a catalyst for change in his high school when he stops sitting with the jocks at lunch and begins sitting with Scott. Soon other “outcasts” begin to join them and form their own Social Justice League table. The more time he spends with Scott, the more Bryan realizes he cares for Scott as more than a friend. But how can he win Scott’s trust when he can’t recall what he did wrong in the first place? When all the threads come together, Bryan learns a shocking secret about himself and discovers that sometimes forgiving oneself is the hardest job of all.
I really enjoyed The Red Sheet and the themes it discusses gave me a lot to think about. The author did a great job with Bryan’s voice--there’s a fair amount of cursing in the story, but that’s how high school guys talk. He’s more than a jock and a bully, he’s a young man with a heart and deep feelings and the courage to try to become a better person. Anyone going through adolescence (and those of us who have been there) will identify with him. This is a great book for young GLBT people and their supporters. It’s also a perfect read for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider—and who among us hasn’t? ( )