A Very, Very Bad Thing - Hardcover

Self, Jeffery

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1338118404 ISBN 13: 9781338118407

Publisher: PUSH, 2017

Synopsis

Marley is one of the only gay kids in his North Carolina town -- and he feels like he might as well be one of the only gay kids in the universe. Or at least that's true until Christopher shows up in the halls of his high school. Christopher's great to talk to, great to look at, great to be with-and he seems to feel the same way about Marley. It's almost too good to be true. There's a hitch (of course): Christopher's parents are super conservative, and super not okay with him being gay. That doesn't stop Marley and Christopher from falling in love. Marley is determined to be with Christopher through ups and downs-until an insurmountable down is thrown their way. Suddenly, Marley finds himself lying in order to get to the truth-and seeing the suffocating consequences this can bring. In A Very, Very Bad Thing, Jeffery Self unforgettably shows how love can make us do all the wrong things for all the right reasons-especially if we see them as the only way to make love survive.

About this title

About the Author

Jeffery Self is a writer, actor, and vlogger. If his face is familiar, it may be because he’s appeared in numerous films and television shows, including 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, and 90210. Or you're one of the millions of people who've viewed him on YouTube. Or you used to date him, or sit behind him in bio class. Drag Teen was his first YA novel.

For more about Jeffery, check him out on Twitter at @JefferySelf and online at jefferyself.tumblr.com and www.youtube.com/user/JefferySelf.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—What if you do the wrong thing for a good reason? Marley is just drifting through high school without much of a plan or purpose until he meets Christopher, the new kid in town. Christopher is cute, funny, and also happens to be the gay son of America's most famous homophobic preacher. The two boys quickly fall for each other—but when Christopher's parents send him on a conversion retreat, things get out of control very quickly. Marley is left with fame he never imagined and some tough choices to make about what really matters. A skilled combination of humor and heartbreak, quick pacing, and an intriguing opening paragraph will draw in readers. The author authentically captures the impulsiveness and idealism of the teen years as Marley, Christopher, and their friend Audrey search for their places in the adult world. The adults that make up the supporting cast are wonderfully imperfect and reinforce the concept of life as a series of choices. VERDICT A quick read but solid choice for fans of Jeff Zentner and John Corey Whaley. Recommended for all but the smallest high school and public libraries.—Elizabeth Saxton, Tiffin, OH

About this edition

• Publisher: PUSH
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1338118404
• ISBN 13: 9781338118407
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240