Either Way: Story of a Gay Kid

Gr 8 Up—Three story lines converge as Cael comes to understand that he is gay. He has always felt different and been subjected to repeated taunts of "Are you gay?" from his peers. Readers see snippets of the boy's life from elementary school through what appears to be high school. When Cael reads a book about a gay soldier, he finally feels less alone and eventually comes out. Readers also follow along as Cael and his classmates deliver speeches on the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage; "don't ask, don't tell"; the Defense of Marriage Act; states' rights vs. equal rights; and nationwide marriage equality. These reports are information-heavy, presented in dense, unappealing blocks of text. Excerpts from the book about the gay soldier make up the other third of the narrative. Though overused, the refrain "It's okay to be gay. Or not. Either way, it's okay" is affirming and helps offset the ignorant and hateful remarks Cael's peers make. Cook's illustrations add much-needed liveliness to the tale and supplement the tale. The ending ties the three pieces of the plot together in an unexpected (though unbelievable) way.