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Out
'I think I'm gay' are not the words a teenage girl wants to hear when she's about to confess to her best friend that she fancies him. But Natalie's got to disguise her own feelings for Will when he tells her his secret. Can she help him as he comes out to the rest of their class at school?
- GenresYoung Adult
56 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Kenrick
9 books15 followersJoanna Kenrick also writes under the name Jo Cotterill.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 16, 2025
Wow, that was unexpected. I would’ve never thought Will would just come out like that I mean, to talk about having the courage. I feel bad for Natalie, like Will was able to speak about his feelings but she couldn’t. To save her friendship with her longest best friend is a lot but he will never know she liked him but I would’ve never expected the ending to be like that
September 25, 2013
I had no idea how this book was going to pan out or whether I would even like it when I first picked it up at my college library, but I did know instantly that the size of Out and the synopsis made my decision easy to make, and so I chose to take it out and give it a go. My first guess on this book was that it would be a short little emotional book, with some honest truths on the subject inside and maybe a little lesson learning, but whether this was down to my out of proportion expectations or whether it was just what I would have prefered, who knows, but Out didn't deliver on that front, at all, and that possible made my enjoyment for the book a lot less than it could have been.
This was not only my first time reading about the subject of being gay, but was also my first short read, and I really feel that even with my limited amount of knowledge on the GLBT genre that there are much better, longer books that cover the subject so much better than Out does. To me, Out felt like it was targeted at much younger people than myself; in age ranges from 12 - 15, and while I didn't know this at the time, I think it's fair to say if I did know this, I more than likely would not have picked it up. While this is not the books fault and is more the fault of my college for placing it in the young adult section, it was still a problem I couldn't get past. I also feel that the synopsis was extremely misleading. Whether this is my naiveness considering the style of the cover or whether it genuinely is misleading, but the use of the word 'love' really seemed to annoy me as I made my way quickly throughout the story. While the synopsis spoke about our leading lady 'loving' the her best friend, and said best friend 'loving' someone else, I think the word they were looking for was actually fancy, or like, or even the phrase find attractive, but they most definitely were not meant to use love. I feel this is reason I expected some genuine relatable emotions and just got lot with a lot of shame and memories of days at my secondary school.
However, I didn't give Out no stars, so there must have been something, if not things I liked, right? Right, there were, but they're extremely personal, so no getting your hopes up. I personally have been through the difficulty of being unaccepted in secondary school; I was bullied for being bisexual after I came out at 13, which in the school I went to, was almost like a fashion statement, and while some of the girls and guys said it and then claimed it was a 'stage', I was honest and after awhile it all died down and no-one ever questioned me on it because they had considered my 'coming out' as a 'stage' too. While my school past is different to how the story in Out panned out, both the book and my experiences crossed paths on more than one occasion. The examples of rumours and myths in this book reminded me of those we had in school, and the instant harshness and generally repulsive behaviour from the other teenagers in the book really took me back to a time when people I used to know where just as ignorant and uneducated as these characters. While I didn't particularly like how short and almost too simple the story was, I did like how it made me remember an attitude I'd almost forgotten existed.
I do think that if this book had much more recognition in the younger parts of libraries, both at school and in the public, then it would be a great way to teach some of the children that the rumours and myths they think they know, that their miseducated knowledge and attitudes, that there general behaviour towards a brave step of actually stepping out, is all untrue. I also feel that if there more books, maybe a little bit detailed and descriptive, but similar to Out where out there for younger teens, then sexual and personal attitudes in our society would change. I'm glad I spent the 20 minutes on my bus journey reading this, however I doubt it'll be in my memory for longer than 2 weeks.
2 Stars.
My blog post on Out.
This was not only my first time reading about the subject of being gay, but was also my first short read, and I really feel that even with my limited amount of knowledge on the GLBT genre that there are much better, longer books that cover the subject so much better than Out does. To me, Out felt like it was targeted at much younger people than myself; in age ranges from 12 - 15, and while I didn't know this at the time, I think it's fair to say if I did know this, I more than likely would not have picked it up. While this is not the books fault and is more the fault of my college for placing it in the young adult section, it was still a problem I couldn't get past. I also feel that the synopsis was extremely misleading. Whether this is my naiveness considering the style of the cover or whether it genuinely is misleading, but the use of the word 'love' really seemed to annoy me as I made my way quickly throughout the story. While the synopsis spoke about our leading lady 'loving' the her best friend, and said best friend 'loving' someone else, I think the word they were looking for was actually fancy, or like, or even the phrase find attractive, but they most definitely were not meant to use love. I feel this is reason I expected some genuine relatable emotions and just got lot with a lot of shame and memories of days at my secondary school.
However, I didn't give Out no stars, so there must have been something, if not things I liked, right? Right, there were, but they're extremely personal, so no getting your hopes up. I personally have been through the difficulty of being unaccepted in secondary school; I was bullied for being bisexual after I came out at 13, which in the school I went to, was almost like a fashion statement, and while some of the girls and guys said it and then claimed it was a 'stage', I was honest and after awhile it all died down and no-one ever questioned me on it because they had considered my 'coming out' as a 'stage' too. While my school past is different to how the story in Out panned out, both the book and my experiences crossed paths on more than one occasion. The examples of rumours and myths in this book reminded me of those we had in school, and the instant harshness and generally repulsive behaviour from the other teenagers in the book really took me back to a time when people I used to know where just as ignorant and uneducated as these characters. While I didn't particularly like how short and almost too simple the story was, I did like how it made me remember an attitude I'd almost forgotten existed.
I do think that if this book had much more recognition in the younger parts of libraries, both at school and in the public, then it would be a great way to teach some of the children that the rumours and myths they think they know, that their miseducated knowledge and attitudes, that there general behaviour towards a brave step of actually stepping out, is all untrue. I also feel that if there more books, maybe a little bit detailed and descriptive, but similar to Out where out there for younger teens, then sexual and personal attitudes in our society would change. I'm glad I spent the 20 minutes on my bus journey reading this, however I doubt it'll be in my memory for longer than 2 weeks.
2 Stars.
My blog post on Out.
July 15, 2013
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
I'm for all readers being able to access books, people of all reading abilities, so it only seems fair to include Out in LGBTQ YA Month, a book published by Barrington Stoke for struggling and reluctant readers.
Natalie has been best friends with Will since she was six-years-old, but now she's 15, she's found her feelings for Will have changed, and she's seeing him in a completely different light. She likes him. She finds it very odd, but can't stop thinking about him, and knows she has to say something. What if he likes her too? But Will beats Natalie to it and makes an announcement of his own. He's gay. And now everything will change.
There is an author note at the beginning of the book from Joanna Kenrick, explaining that she wrote Out because she was asked to by someone who wanted a story where the gay character wasn't unhappy with the fact that he's gay. Out is the result. It depicts the friendship between two friends, and how Will's announcement affects them both. Natalie has to deal with the fact that she will never be with the boy she loves, and Will has to deal with deciding to come out publicly and ask out the boy he likes, Paul, or not.
It's a really sweet story. Natalie has her moments of struggling with Will's choices because of how they hurt her, but, for the most part, is really supportive of her best friend as he tries to work out what he wants to do. And Will is so brave, and doesn't regret the choices he makes, despite the consequences.
Simply told for those who struggle with reading, and a really good read that tells a great story.
Thank you to Barrington Stoke for the review copy.
I'm for all readers being able to access books, people of all reading abilities, so it only seems fair to include Out in LGBTQ YA Month, a book published by Barrington Stoke for struggling and reluctant readers.
Natalie has been best friends with Will since she was six-years-old, but now she's 15, she's found her feelings for Will have changed, and she's seeing him in a completely different light. She likes him. She finds it very odd, but can't stop thinking about him, and knows she has to say something. What if he likes her too? But Will beats Natalie to it and makes an announcement of his own. He's gay. And now everything will change.
There is an author note at the beginning of the book from Joanna Kenrick, explaining that she wrote Out because she was asked to by someone who wanted a story where the gay character wasn't unhappy with the fact that he's gay. Out is the result. It depicts the friendship between two friends, and how Will's announcement affects them both. Natalie has to deal with the fact that she will never be with the boy she loves, and Will has to deal with deciding to come out publicly and ask out the boy he likes, Paul, or not.
It's a really sweet story. Natalie has her moments of struggling with Will's choices because of how they hurt her, but, for the most part, is really supportive of her best friend as he tries to work out what he wants to do. And Will is so brave, and doesn't regret the choices he makes, despite the consequences.
'"It's part of who I am. I don't want to be living a lie... Do you want me to pretend?" he said softly. "Pretend it's not how I feel?"' (p52-53)
Simply told for those who struggle with reading, and a really good read that tells a great story.
Thank you to Barrington Stoke for the review copy.
September 10, 2014
A short and simple tale of a girl, Natalie, who discovers she is in love with her best friend, Will. But when she tries to tell him, he blurts out that he suspects he's gay and has feelings for Paul. Natalie keeps quiet about her feelings and supports him, especially when his attempt to ask Paul out does not proceed well. Although this text is written simply for reluctant teen readers, it actually tells a complex and sophisticated story - no dumbing down for its intended audience. The follow up is yet to come: what will Will's life be like now that his classmates all know about his sexuality? In their immediate response they use all the stock clichés of the frightened: he's dangerous, we shouldn't allow him in the locker room, he'll jump on anyone alone with him, he will have or get AIDS. All this predict problems for Will's immediate future. At least he has a supporting best friend who loves him enough to keep her own secret from him. Lovely pencil sketches by Julia Page decorate the narrative.
'n Eenvoudige dog emosioneel gesofistikeerde verhaal vir trae tienerlesers van 'n meisie wat verlief raak op haar beste vriend, net om skielik te verneem dat hy gay is. Ten spyte van haar gebroke hart ondersteun sy hom, veral wanneer hul klasmaats van sy seksualiteit uitvind. Julia Page se potloodsketse ondersteun die atmosfeer uitstekend.
'n Eenvoudige dog emosioneel gesofistikeerde verhaal vir trae tienerlesers van 'n meisie wat verlief raak op haar beste vriend, net om skielik te verneem dat hy gay is. Ten spyte van haar gebroke hart ondersteun sy hom, veral wanneer hul klasmaats van sy seksualiteit uitvind. Julia Page se potloodsketse ondersteun die atmosfeer uitstekend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2011
** For the full review please check out www.read2review.com **
There isn’t much description on the back only that Natalie loves Will, but Will loves Paul. At the very start of the book you wonder if Natalie will tell Will how she feels or not. She is about to tell him when he comes out to her.
Will then goes through turmoil wondering if he should tell Paul or not and how Paul would react if he did. When he does it doesn’t go well but Natalie is there for him.
This book would be an amazing read for anyone who is going through the same issues. I have two friends who are gay and both felt better when they came out but I am aware that it is not always this way for a lot of people and they face the same dilemma as Will.
This book is also accessible for many different people to read as like the previous four from Barrington Stoke that we have reviewed
**Read More At: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/j/...
There isn’t much description on the back only that Natalie loves Will, but Will loves Paul. At the very start of the book you wonder if Natalie will tell Will how she feels or not. She is about to tell him when he comes out to her.
Will then goes through turmoil wondering if he should tell Paul or not and how Paul would react if he did. When he does it doesn’t go well but Natalie is there for him.
This book would be an amazing read for anyone who is going through the same issues. I have two friends who are gay and both felt better when they came out but I am aware that it is not always this way for a lot of people and they face the same dilemma as Will.
This book is also accessible for many different people to read as like the previous four from Barrington Stoke that we have reviewed
**Read More At: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/j/...
January 9, 2014
I'm not really sure of the purpose of this book. Aimed at reluctant readers in their early teens. It is the story of a girl who has a crush on her male best friend who tells her he is gay before she has a chance to reveal her crush. I don't know whether the simplicity of the plot is due to a writing flaw or because it is aimed at reluctant reader. But if it is meant to help teens in the process of coming out, then it fails.
August 3, 2012
So fucking inaccurate.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews