You are young and you want to be one of the guys, you want to be yourself, but what if you don't know what that self is? You explore your feelings and dream your dreams and maybe some day you will find out who you are - inside and out. ( )

This work of realistic fiction for young adults is about sexuality, self acceptance and coming out. I believe it is especially relevant to readers who are experiencing emotions similar to David's, questioning their own sexuality or know someone who is.

Reviewed by PH

I have mixed feelings about this book. To some extent I enjoyed reading about the characters in this book, but for the most part I felt it was nothing I hadn't read before. It also seemed to make things too casual for my taste (like excessive teenage drinking/sex), so I didn't have a ton of respect for the characters because of the things they were doing so freely. I could sympathize with some of their feelings at times, but at others, not so much. It's an interesting addition to my GLBT book collection, but I can think of a ton of other books on the subject that I enjoyed a lot more thoroughly. I enjoyed this book for what it was, though it didn't meet my expectations. ( )

David can't deny his attraction to other guys, which might not be a problem if his secret lover/track teammate didn't imbue every sexual encounter with shame and aloofness. His former best friend is no help, being too "out" for his own good and his girlfriend makes thing more complicated when she offers to let David test out his sexual uncertainty with her. While not particularly original, this coming out story might be comforting to high school students grappling with the same questions as David. ( )

David is a high school junior from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He's a runner for the high school track team. He goes to a private, parochial school on scholarship. David's best friend since elementary school is a boy named Eddie. Eddie is openly gay and trying to start a gay/straight alliance group in the school. This embarrasses David, even though he secretly harbors a crush on his track teammate Sean.

David's guilt over his growing attraction to Sean leads him to take drastic measures. He distances himself from his best friend Eddie, and he crudely attempts to use aversive therapy on himself, snapping himself painfully with a rubber band every time he has an inappropriate homosexual thought. He also attempts to advance physically with his girlfriend Kick (Katherine).

When Sean propositions David and the two become intimate with one another, it sets David's world on end. Not only does he become all the more obsessed with Sean, but he begins to question his own identity. He seeks help from a gay teen telephone hotline.

Ultimately David must choose whether to remain closeted while living a lie or to be honest with himself, his family, and his friends.

David Inside Out is a classic coming-out, coming-of-age story. It is a quick read, but very captivating. Written with emotion and humor, it is both believable and meaningful. It's poignant message drills into the heart of the reader, leaving them yearning for more.

Not only is the book a great addition to any young adult library, but it is an enjoyable and entertaining story for more mature readers as well. It's a heartwarming, unpretentious, and touching story about self discovery and acceptance. I highly recommend it. ( )