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Peter
Pressured by his peers and society to conform to the stereotyped macho image, fifteen-year-old Peter feels both confused and repelled. His confusion and his horror increase when he finds himself attracted to his brother"s best friend, David, who is gay. Here is a daring, exceptionally honest novel about sexuality and the need to be true to oneself. Peter shares his every muddle and perception with us, and his candor just might help us find our own way.
229 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1991
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June 17, 2023
✰ 4.25 stars ✰
"A girl had kissed me and I’d pushed her away, but a bloke had stroked my hair, and I’d melted all over him. I could have ridden round for a week and never got away from that one.
The boys had seen it. Vince had seen it. I was the only dumb bunny who’d taken fifteen years to notice."
Life has not been sweet-picking for our young protagonist, Peter. His bike has been giving him constant troubles, his classmates have made it their life's goal to bully him endlessly, he's being pushed to have sex with his friend's sister to deny allegations that he's a poof (even though, he very much denies it). And to top of it all off, he meets twenty-year-old David, his older brother's college friend, who somehow unwittingly, makes Peter realize that maybe just maybe there may be something different about him, after all.
Peter and David - such a beautiful friendship was forged in such a short time, but it was the catalyst for so much of the storyline! I have to include this bit, because it was so soft and perfect, and haha, I LOVED Peter's outburst that happened after, because mostly it's something that happens internally, but how he just flew off the handles (literally so! - well, you have to read it to get the spoiler, but)
"Are you sure you’re all right?”
He stroked my hair, touching the back of my neck with his fingers now and then. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. And the softest. He cared—that I might be hurt, that I might fall off the stool.
He put his arm around my shoulders. I put my arms around him and hugged him, pressed my face against his chest and listened to his heartbeat through his shirt.
It was like coming home, like finding the place you’ve always wanted to be, and I could have stayed there forever holding on to him."
Peter's Mom and Dad - divorced they may be, and their appearance in the story may be small, but their impact was felt. After Peter's fallout, the family scene in the bathroom as Peter's mother tended to his bike scrapes, such perfect parents banter and real family dialogue. Even as they fought, Peter's observations 'He was going red under his suntan; she was going white under her makeup,' made the whole interaction so vivid in my mind! Peter's father vehemently denying to accept that his son could be gay, and his mother so gently chiding him, “What about accepting him as he was?” Mum said. “Couldn’t you love him simply because he was your son?”
It took me awhile to get familiar with the Australian jargon, but once I got the hang of it, I enjoyed myself immensely. Because, honestly, this is NOT a love story - you have to remember this, when you're reading it, especially if you go in expecting it to be a hard romance. This is a beautifully awkward and yet a tender understanding coming-of-age story for a young fifteen-year-old boy, Peter, living in Australia in the early 90's. Peter's voice is so fresh and humorous and so openly honest, and so painfully real, that despite the time, you can't help but relate to his conflicts.
The cast of characters is very limited - but you get so immersed into Peter's life, that everyone becomes a familiar face to you - be it his parents, his brother, the girls he's being coerced into hooking up with him, or the nightmarish bullies who can't seem to get enough out of tormenting him. Or as Vince so classically called them,
"He demanded names. I gave him names: “Slacko, Rats, Gaz . . .”
“They’re not names, they’re personality disorders,” Vince said."
I wish I could make this review a bit more coherent, but I'm just so surprised at how good it actually was. Everyone's reading tastes are different - some of you may be instantly thrown off by the slang, the lack of romance, but it was just Peter's growth as a person that shined. The title is 💯 rightfully so.
"Sex has got to be the ultimate in revealing yourself and I don’t want to reveal myself to just anyone."
Uff, that conversation with the youth center - I adored it, all of Peter's concerns were so achingly valid and so true for any adolescent. And honestly, it could have been handled so differently, but Kate Walker, just gave such fine answers to all of Peter's concerns that felt so honest and believable.
“We’re all different, we all respond to people differently.”
“You reckon I’m normal then?” I said.
He laughed. “In this job you learn quite early that there’s no such thing as normal.”
I would put the entire passage here, but it led Peter to take a closer firmer look at his newfound desires and when he stumbled into a bookstore to purchase a gay magazine, to see if it heightens any senses in him. The whole fiasco that entitled after, one can't help but sympathize with him, but once again, Peter's strength is in his thoughts and the voice Kate Walker brings to it.
"Except if I left it there, it was going to seize up the city’s plumbing and I’d be to blame. It’d be all my fault, because I was gay."
Vince was an MVP in his own funny way - the classic older brother, there were times when I alternated between wanting to either literally shake him for his flippant disregard to Peter's issues and then shake his hand to show my appreciation at how much he was willing to listen to Peter's problems and help him out. 🌟 When he and David witnessed the boys bullying Peter, I couldn't help chuckle at his “Who’s the smartarse with the suicide complex?” Such brilliant zingers, that even if he didn't treat Peter with love - you could still see under the façade that he did care about him - in the older brother sort of way.
And it was done with such a fine line of humor, so blunt and honest, Kate Walker's style of writing was clear-cut - she knew it's a sensitive subject, but she toed that line so effortlessly well. I could quote entire parts, where the bluntness is so subtly effective to show the seriousness of the situation, but in such a lighthearted manner with Vince - especially. Like in the brothers' final conversation, when Peter interrupts Vince, during his personal time -
“I did!” I said. “I phoned a telephone counselor.”
“What’ve you got to phone a counselor about?”
“That’s my business.”
He saved what was on the computer. “Were you thinking of bumping yourself off?”
“Don’t be stupid.”
“What’d you phone about?” He took two cigarettes from the pack, lit them, and put one in the ashtray for me.
“All right, it was about girls,” I said, and sat down.
“A girl?”
“Sort of.”
“Have you got someone pregnant?”
“Sort of.”
He switched off the radio. “What’s the problem?”
😆😆 I really just love the subtlety of it - it heightens the scenes, the interactions so so much - I was involved in their lives. It's such a short period of time - literally, one week, or a lifetime, as Peter described it, but I became a part of his family, as he navigated his way through the troubles in his life and in his head.
"Had he forgotten what it’s like not to know who you are, or what you are, or what you’re supposed to do?"
I loved David, he was such an easy-going kind-hearted soul! I wish him so much future happiness! I loved that he made Peter understand that there's still time to fall in love, I love that he didn't make the moves on him, because he knew he was still in the early stages of understanding and accepting his sexuality. The reassurance he gave Peter at the end, to let him know that he's still young, he still has time to find the one, to make the moves, when he feels comfortable to do so.
He was so confident in who he was, even if he's shy about it and hides away from it, if that makes any sense! And when he softly rejects Peter's advances and comforts him, he knew the boundaries and he respected them. I felt so happy that Peter could still feel happy, just to be his friend and ask him THE questions that were burdening him. ❤️❤️
“You’ve got nothing to lose by giving yourself more time.”
No, only him."
Just overall such a wonderful experience, I'm honestly very much surprised at how much I did enjoy it. 👏🏻👏🏻 I laughed a lot, I teared up at his emotional every-day struggles, I just felt so so much! It's a lovely tale of one boy's journey into discovering something about himself in a very humorous but real manner, probably very much prevalent during this time. Peter is a protagonist that has definitely warmed his way into my heart - his sarcastic brutally honest inner thoughts were a joy to read, even if he was having a tough time in my life, I couldn't help cheering him on, hoping that he'll figure it out. He's young - he has his whole life ahead of him. And I'm so glad that he did. 😊😊
“Any problems — you know where I am.”
It was a nice offer, and I’d take him up on it if I needed help.
And maybe one day, in a couple of years’ time, if I still felt the same about him, I’d turn up on his doorstep again."
"A girl had kissed me and I’d pushed her away, but a bloke had stroked my hair, and I’d melted all over him. I could have ridden round for a week and never got away from that one.
The boys had seen it. Vince had seen it. I was the only dumb bunny who’d taken fifteen years to notice."
Life has not been sweet-picking for our young protagonist, Peter. His bike has been giving him constant troubles, his classmates have made it their life's goal to bully him endlessly, he's being pushed to have sex with his friend's sister to deny allegations that he's a poof (even though, he very much denies it). And to top of it all off, he meets twenty-year-old David, his older brother's college friend, who somehow unwittingly, makes Peter realize that maybe just maybe there may be something different about him, after all.
Peter and David - such a beautiful friendship was forged in such a short time, but it was the catalyst for so much of the storyline! I have to include this bit, because it was so soft and perfect, and haha, I LOVED Peter's outburst that happened after, because mostly it's something that happens internally, but how he just flew off the handles (literally so! - well, you have to read it to get the spoiler, but)
"Are you sure you’re all right?”
He stroked my hair, touching the back of my neck with his fingers now and then. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. And the softest. He cared—that I might be hurt, that I might fall off the stool.
He put his arm around my shoulders. I put my arms around him and hugged him, pressed my face against his chest and listened to his heartbeat through his shirt.
It was like coming home, like finding the place you’ve always wanted to be, and I could have stayed there forever holding on to him."
Peter's Mom and Dad - divorced they may be, and their appearance in the story may be small, but their impact was felt. After Peter's fallout, the family scene in the bathroom as Peter's mother tended to his bike scrapes, such perfect parents banter and real family dialogue. Even as they fought, Peter's observations 'He was going red under his suntan; she was going white under her makeup,' made the whole interaction so vivid in my mind! Peter's father vehemently denying to accept that his son could be gay, and his mother so gently chiding him, “What about accepting him as he was?” Mum said. “Couldn’t you love him simply because he was your son?”
It took me awhile to get familiar with the Australian jargon, but once I got the hang of it, I enjoyed myself immensely. Because, honestly, this is NOT a love story - you have to remember this, when you're reading it, especially if you go in expecting it to be a hard romance. This is a beautifully awkward and yet a tender understanding coming-of-age story for a young fifteen-year-old boy, Peter, living in Australia in the early 90's. Peter's voice is so fresh and humorous and so openly honest, and so painfully real, that despite the time, you can't help but relate to his conflicts.
The cast of characters is very limited - but you get so immersed into Peter's life, that everyone becomes a familiar face to you - be it his parents, his brother, the girls he's being coerced into hooking up with him, or the nightmarish bullies who can't seem to get enough out of tormenting him. Or as Vince so classically called them,
"He demanded names. I gave him names: “Slacko, Rats, Gaz . . .”
“They’re not names, they’re personality disorders,” Vince said."
I wish I could make this review a bit more coherent, but I'm just so surprised at how good it actually was. Everyone's reading tastes are different - some of you may be instantly thrown off by the slang, the lack of romance, but it was just Peter's growth as a person that shined. The title is 💯 rightfully so.
"Sex has got to be the ultimate in revealing yourself and I don’t want to reveal myself to just anyone."
Uff, that conversation with the youth center - I adored it, all of Peter's concerns were so achingly valid and so true for any adolescent. And honestly, it could have been handled so differently, but Kate Walker, just gave such fine answers to all of Peter's concerns that felt so honest and believable.
“We’re all different, we all respond to people differently.”
“You reckon I’m normal then?” I said.
He laughed. “In this job you learn quite early that there’s no such thing as normal.”
I would put the entire passage here, but it led Peter to take a closer firmer look at his newfound desires and when he stumbled into a bookstore to purchase a gay magazine, to see if it heightens any senses in him. The whole fiasco that entitled after, one can't help but sympathize with him, but once again, Peter's strength is in his thoughts and the voice Kate Walker brings to it.
"Except if I left it there, it was going to seize up the city’s plumbing and I’d be to blame. It’d be all my fault, because I was gay."
Vince was an MVP in his own funny way - the classic older brother, there were times when I alternated between wanting to either literally shake him for his flippant disregard to Peter's issues and then shake his hand to show my appreciation at how much he was willing to listen to Peter's problems and help him out. 🌟 When he and David witnessed the boys bullying Peter, I couldn't help chuckle at his “Who’s the smartarse with the suicide complex?” Such brilliant zingers, that even if he didn't treat Peter with love - you could still see under the façade that he did care about him - in the older brother sort of way.
And it was done with such a fine line of humor, so blunt and honest, Kate Walker's style of writing was clear-cut - she knew it's a sensitive subject, but she toed that line so effortlessly well. I could quote entire parts, where the bluntness is so subtly effective to show the seriousness of the situation, but in such a lighthearted manner with Vince - especially. Like in the brothers' final conversation, when Peter interrupts Vince, during his personal time -
“I did!” I said. “I phoned a telephone counselor.”
“What’ve you got to phone a counselor about?”
“That’s my business.”
He saved what was on the computer. “Were you thinking of bumping yourself off?”
“Don’t be stupid.”
“What’d you phone about?” He took two cigarettes from the pack, lit them, and put one in the ashtray for me.
“All right, it was about girls,” I said, and sat down.
“A girl?”
“Sort of.”
“Have you got someone pregnant?”
“Sort of.”
He switched off the radio. “What’s the problem?”
😆😆 I really just love the subtlety of it - it heightens the scenes, the interactions so so much - I was involved in their lives. It's such a short period of time - literally, one week, or a lifetime, as Peter described it, but I became a part of his family, as he navigated his way through the troubles in his life and in his head.
"Had he forgotten what it’s like not to know who you are, or what you are, or what you’re supposed to do?"
I loved David, he was such an easy-going kind-hearted soul! I wish him so much future happiness! I loved that he made Peter understand that there's still time to fall in love, I love that he didn't make the moves on him, because he knew he was still in the early stages of understanding and accepting his sexuality. The reassurance he gave Peter at the end, to let him know that he's still young, he still has time to find the one, to make the moves, when he feels comfortable to do so.
He was so confident in who he was, even if he's shy about it and hides away from it, if that makes any sense! And when he softly rejects Peter's advances and comforts him, he knew the boundaries and he respected them. I felt so happy that Peter could still feel happy, just to be his friend and ask him THE questions that were burdening him. ❤️❤️
“You’ve got nothing to lose by giving yourself more time.”
No, only him."
Just overall such a wonderful experience, I'm honestly very much surprised at how much I did enjoy it. 👏🏻👏🏻 I laughed a lot, I teared up at his emotional every-day struggles, I just felt so so much! It's a lovely tale of one boy's journey into discovering something about himself in a very humorous but real manner, probably very much prevalent during this time. Peter is a protagonist that has definitely warmed his way into my heart - his sarcastic brutally honest inner thoughts were a joy to read, even if he was having a tough time in my life, I couldn't help cheering him on, hoping that he'll figure it out. He's young - he has his whole life ahead of him. And I'm so glad that he did. 😊😊
“Any problems — you know where I am.”
It was a nice offer, and I’d take him up on it if I needed help.
And maybe one day, in a couple of years’ time, if I still felt the same about him, I’d turn up on his doorstep again."
May 31, 2018
After reading it a second time
Fuck it, I love this book. Love Peter. Love Vince. Adore David. Wondering why I ever rated this less than five stars.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
What a wonderful little piece!
Peter was a delight to read. Full of compassion, love, curiosity, and tension. It's just a piece from Peter's, the protagonist, life. At fifteen, Peter is rather content, or at least somewhat. His parents, despite divorced, are all right. His older brother can be an ass at times, but he's not that bad. Sure, the guys from school that Peter rides his bike with he could do without, perhaps, or at least the hassling. Overall though, Peter is doing just fine.
When Vince, his older brother, brings around his friend David, Peter starts to question himself. David happens to be gay. Peter has never been that interested in girls, or at least not as much as his friends are. Then one day when Peter finds himself enjoying David's company, and even comfort in him, Peter begins to questions himself.
Peter is, as said, just a glimpse at Peter's life. But it's a short period in which Peter learns about himself, his family, and his friends, and love. This book is from the 90s so it's been a while since it was released. Peter has to deal with the fact that his father is a homophobe, that his mother insist on accepting everyone, and Vince's casual manner. At the same time, Peter is not sure if he's actually attracted to David, maybe he isn't gay after all? Or maybe he is?
This is all about Peter and him coming to terms with who he is, who he likes, how he feels. Peter is a wonderful protagonist throughout the novel. His relationship with his brother especially was touching. They'd been growing apart but the events that happen during this short book brings out their relationship in a way the past years haven't. And David was a nice character too, although not as prominent. The tension between Peter and David is palpable. It ties up nicely too (considering in what time this was published).
Peter is definitely recommended. The writing is beautiful, and the dialogue perfect! It's a touching and real story about coming to terms with oneself. Quite simple: Peter is a wonderful gem!
Fuck it, I love this book. Love Peter. Love Vince. Adore David. Wondering why I ever rated this less than five stars.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
What a wonderful little piece!
Peter was a delight to read. Full of compassion, love, curiosity, and tension. It's just a piece from Peter's, the protagonist, life. At fifteen, Peter is rather content, or at least somewhat. His parents, despite divorced, are all right. His older brother can be an ass at times, but he's not that bad. Sure, the guys from school that Peter rides his bike with he could do without, perhaps, or at least the hassling. Overall though, Peter is doing just fine.
When Vince, his older brother, brings around his friend David, Peter starts to question himself. David happens to be gay. Peter has never been that interested in girls, or at least not as much as his friends are. Then one day when Peter finds himself enjoying David's company, and even comfort in him, Peter begins to questions himself.
Peter is, as said, just a glimpse at Peter's life. But it's a short period in which Peter learns about himself, his family, and his friends, and love. This book is from the 90s so it's been a while since it was released. Peter has to deal with the fact that his father is a homophobe, that his mother insist on accepting everyone, and Vince's casual manner. At the same time, Peter is not sure if he's actually attracted to David, maybe he isn't gay after all? Or maybe he is?
This is all about Peter and him coming to terms with who he is, who he likes, how he feels. Peter is a wonderful protagonist throughout the novel. His relationship with his brother especially was touching. They'd been growing apart but the events that happen during this short book brings out their relationship in a way the past years haven't. And David was a nice character too, although not as prominent. The tension between Peter and David is palpable. It ties up nicely too (considering in what time this was published).
Peter is definitely recommended. The writing is beautiful, and the dialogue perfect! It's a touching and real story about coming to terms with oneself. Quite simple: Peter is a wonderful gem!
April 26, 2018
Crying. Sadness. Conflict. Love. Pain. Anger. Loss. Happiness. Understanding.
I can’t rate this book right now; I have a lot of different feelings. But I can say that David is a kinder, gentler version of Kit from Eight Seconds. Other than that, it’s very similar. I liked this one better, I think. It is also surprisingly close to It’s Like This, Cat, with the sad (to me) loss of a friend whom the narrator has known forever, but from whom he has grown too far apart for the friendship to continue, and it’s not exactly an amicable split. Sad.
I feel a rush of tenderness for the really ridiculously young-looking boy in the cover of this edition, sensitive, lost in a harsh, unthinking society.
I can’t rate this book right now; I have a lot of different feelings. But I can say that David is a kinder, gentler version of Kit from Eight Seconds. Other than that, it’s very similar. I liked this one better, I think. It is also surprisingly close to It’s Like This, Cat, with the sad (to me) loss of a friend whom the narrator has known forever, but from whom he has grown too far apart for the friendship to continue, and it’s not exactly an amicable split. Sad.
I feel a rush of tenderness for the really ridiculously young-looking boy in the cover of this edition, sensitive, lost in a harsh, unthinking society.
April 25, 2007
As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:
*Peter* is a simple read about a typical Australian teenager. Peter Dawson is like any other normal teenager. His divorced mother is working full-time as some health care specialist. His father comes and goes from time to time. He has a love/hate relationship with his older brother.
Peter enjoys his roaring bike. He has a group of peers that also enjoy bikes and motorcycles. These guys tease each other incessantly. Often, they'll be put on the spot to prove their masculinity or else they're "poofs".
However, these guys are riding near an area that has been fenced off. Peter has been told by his folks to get these guys away from the fence. Of course, the guys could care less. Peter is pressured to get the guys to comply with the rules. If he tells them to comply, then he'll be thought of as a poof. If he shrugs over it, he'll be cool. Ah, peer pressure...
Meanwhile, Peter also enjoys photography. He has his own dark room. Peter's older brother's friend from university, David has found out about Peter's hobby. David wants Peter to take pictures of him and his vehicle. However, Peter finds out that David is gay. When Peter finds out that his older brother, Vince, doesn't give a care about what people do behind closed doors, Peter adopts the same nonchalant attitude. However, he's curious about David.
A situation arises that Peter finds comfort in David's arms. When they're busted in their innocent embrace, Peter is forced to re-evaluate himself and his approaches to people. In a search for identity, Peter explores homosexuality and finds that he is not disgusted with it but rather nervous. Of course, this puts additional pressure on Peter as he knows that he'll be hassled by his friends as a poof.
I thought that *Peter* was a wonderful book that didn't dwell on the usual issues in other gay literature. *Peter* simply focused on a young man's awareness that he is indeed gay and the pressure that envelops such an awakening. The best part of it all was the last part where Peter develops his first crush with David. Of course, like some of our first crushes, Peter is crushed when he discover that David doesn't reciprocate the feelings.
For some of us, *Peter* will make us take a stroll down memory lane. Simply an easy read.
*Peter* is a simple read about a typical Australian teenager. Peter Dawson is like any other normal teenager. His divorced mother is working full-time as some health care specialist. His father comes and goes from time to time. He has a love/hate relationship with his older brother.
Peter enjoys his roaring bike. He has a group of peers that also enjoy bikes and motorcycles. These guys tease each other incessantly. Often, they'll be put on the spot to prove their masculinity or else they're "poofs".
However, these guys are riding near an area that has been fenced off. Peter has been told by his folks to get these guys away from the fence. Of course, the guys could care less. Peter is pressured to get the guys to comply with the rules. If he tells them to comply, then he'll be thought of as a poof. If he shrugs over it, he'll be cool. Ah, peer pressure...
Meanwhile, Peter also enjoys photography. He has his own dark room. Peter's older brother's friend from university, David has found out about Peter's hobby. David wants Peter to take pictures of him and his vehicle. However, Peter finds out that David is gay. When Peter finds out that his older brother, Vince, doesn't give a care about what people do behind closed doors, Peter adopts the same nonchalant attitude. However, he's curious about David.
A situation arises that Peter finds comfort in David's arms. When they're busted in their innocent embrace, Peter is forced to re-evaluate himself and his approaches to people. In a search for identity, Peter explores homosexuality and finds that he is not disgusted with it but rather nervous. Of course, this puts additional pressure on Peter as he knows that he'll be hassled by his friends as a poof.
I thought that *Peter* was a wonderful book that didn't dwell on the usual issues in other gay literature. *Peter* simply focused on a young man's awareness that he is indeed gay and the pressure that envelops such an awakening. The best part of it all was the last part where Peter develops his first crush with David. Of course, like some of our first crushes, Peter is crushed when he discover that David doesn't reciprocate the feelings.
For some of us, *Peter* will make us take a stroll down memory lane. Simply an easy read.
February 28, 2012
I wanted to like this book so much, and I did really enjoy it, but it just... fell flat at a few places for me. I get the fact that the book is more of a story about growing up than it is about gay relationships, but to make it such a major aspect of the novel and then just... never have it come to a head was cruel. Ever since the protagonist, Peter, is introduced to his brother Vince's best friend, David, who just so happens to be gay, there is tension. And a lot of it.
And nothing comes of it. The book plays it too safe, which I realize has a lot to do with the time period with which it was published, but as a reader I wanted something--anything. Instead I got a shitty conversation about feelings, and the fact that the five year difference in age was too large and that they couldn't have some form of a relationship.
I understand. One of them is underage. The other isn't. I think that's how it works, even in Australia (I'm from America). It would have been bold and hard to sell (it already was) if this relationship had been stirred up, but I wanted it so badly. They had great chemistry, and to see it completely flatline all of a sudden, it was just killer. It was cruel. xD
Now, what I liked... Almost everything besides that. The book was great, and at times funny, at times touching, and the conflict between his parents was written well. I hated his father for all of the reasons I was supposed to, and admired his mother for the reasons I was supposed to. I enjoyed the fact that Peter and his brother seemed to get along just a little better because of the events conspiring around them, and it was touching.
The dialogue was astounding. Realistic, thoughtful, perfect. Everything from the jeers of the other boys who rode dirtbikes by Peter's house, to his mother's kind words, to his brother's constant use of sarcasm. The dialogue was top-notch. Which made it painful, yet again, when things never panned out properly. I would have loved to hear the characters struggle through the beginnings of a relationship, especially because Peter was so young compared to David. There was so much missed opportunity there!
Kate Walker, if by some chance you happen upon this review and feel up for it, please write a sequel! There was an opening for one there, and gay teen fiction has ballooned since when this was originally published. It would be a waste not to revisit every single one of these wonderful characters.
And nothing comes of it. The book plays it too safe, which I realize has a lot to do with the time period with which it was published, but as a reader I wanted something--anything. Instead I got a shitty conversation about feelings, and the fact that the five year difference in age was too large and that they couldn't have some form of a relationship.
I understand. One of them is underage. The other isn't. I think that's how it works, even in Australia (I'm from America). It would have been bold and hard to sell (it already was) if this relationship had been stirred up, but I wanted it so badly. They had great chemistry, and to see it completely flatline all of a sudden, it was just killer. It was cruel. xD
Now, what I liked... Almost everything besides that. The book was great, and at times funny, at times touching, and the conflict between his parents was written well. I hated his father for all of the reasons I was supposed to, and admired his mother for the reasons I was supposed to. I enjoyed the fact that Peter and his brother seemed to get along just a little better because of the events conspiring around them, and it was touching.
The dialogue was astounding. Realistic, thoughtful, perfect. Everything from the jeers of the other boys who rode dirtbikes by Peter's house, to his mother's kind words, to his brother's constant use of sarcasm. The dialogue was top-notch. Which made it painful, yet again, when things never panned out properly. I would have loved to hear the characters struggle through the beginnings of a relationship, especially because Peter was so young compared to David. There was so much missed opportunity there!
Kate Walker, if by some chance you happen upon this review and feel up for it, please write a sequel! There was an opening for one there, and gay teen fiction has ballooned since when this was originally published. It would be a waste not to revisit every single one of these wonderful characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2011
Here is a daring, exceptionally honest novel about sexuality and the need to be true to oneself.
Peter, a dirt bike loving boy, meets his brother’s friend (who just happens to be gay), his life gets turned upside down. Despite the other bikers who claim he's a poof and don't care about anyone but themselves, his arse-hole brother, his over-sensitive mother and his never-around father, Peter's life hasn't been ideal. But now on top of that he has the pressure of his 'best-friend' pushing him towards his sister, while Peter's trying to figure out what these new feelings for his brother's friend David are.
This book. This book tortured me. It was recommended to me off a Gay Teen Book List, so I picked it up. It is such an easy read. I finished it in about two hours. The biggest problem I had with this book was that some parts moved slower than others did, and parts that should have been drawn out ended abruptly. The storyline is fantastic though. It really gets you thinking about what teens that do not have an ideal ‘coming-out’ atmosphere have to deal with when they finally realize who they are.
'I was already dying of it. I was turning hollow inside, draining away. Slowly. Losing myself. Everything I'd thought I was, I wasn't anymore.'
'I pressed my whole body into the corner of the cubicle. Hurt? I hadn't known what pain was till I'd run into this. Living hurt, breathing hurt. I wished I'd never looked. Wished I'd never lifted the lid. but the damn thing was out now, and it was crawling all over me.'
“What d’you want?”
“Nothing from you. You only want what suits you.”
“So do you. Everyone does.”
‘I’ve got a pretty vivid imagination, and when an idea pops into my head, I see it all: widescreen, Technicolor, highspeed zoom.’
Peter, a dirt bike loving boy, meets his brother’s friend (who just happens to be gay), his life gets turned upside down. Despite the other bikers who claim he's a poof and don't care about anyone but themselves, his arse-hole brother, his over-sensitive mother and his never-around father, Peter's life hasn't been ideal. But now on top of that he has the pressure of his 'best-friend' pushing him towards his sister, while Peter's trying to figure out what these new feelings for his brother's friend David are.
This book. This book tortured me. It was recommended to me off a Gay Teen Book List, so I picked it up. It is such an easy read. I finished it in about two hours. The biggest problem I had with this book was that some parts moved slower than others did, and parts that should have been drawn out ended abruptly. The storyline is fantastic though. It really gets you thinking about what teens that do not have an ideal ‘coming-out’ atmosphere have to deal with when they finally realize who they are.
'I was already dying of it. I was turning hollow inside, draining away. Slowly. Losing myself. Everything I'd thought I was, I wasn't anymore.'
'I pressed my whole body into the corner of the cubicle. Hurt? I hadn't known what pain was till I'd run into this. Living hurt, breathing hurt. I wished I'd never looked. Wished I'd never lifted the lid. but the damn thing was out now, and it was crawling all over me.'
“What d’you want?”
“Nothing from you. You only want what suits you.”
“So do you. Everyone does.”
‘I’ve got a pretty vivid imagination, and when an idea pops into my head, I see it all: widescreen, Technicolor, highspeed zoom.’
April 14, 2012
This was a fun, one-nighter read about Peter, a 15 y/o Australian boy, trying to come to terms with his sexuality in the face of societal and peer pressures. It is more about Peter's internal struggles and muddles than external events, though the plot is driven by events.
It was written for Australian kids and the Aussie slang, culturisms and turns of phrase where a lot of fun. You will like Peter.
It was written for Australian kids and the Aussie slang, culturisms and turns of phrase where a lot of fun. You will like Peter.
February 6, 2022
"I had a dream about him," I said.
"The camp bloke?"
"Yeah, last night. I dreamed he came into my room and sat on my bad."
"And!" Tony's eyes got wider. Wider that usual.
"He talked about lawnmowers."
"And!"
"That's it, he just talked."
Actually, it hadn't been a dream, not totally. It was one of those half-awake ones where I knew what was going on so I let it run, just to see what would happen. We're all curious...
"You ever dreamed about a bloke?" I asked him.
"No!" Tony's eyebrows went dead flat. "Never!"
With a denial like that, maybe he had, but he sure as hell wasn't taking about it.
One of the first LGBT books I've read and it was actually translated in my language. So I own the translated one and then when I started to read more and got a better grip of the English language I got the one in the original.
I still hold this book near and dear in my heart and I think that Peter's story is still relevant and gripping. This is an older book, released in 1991 so the world is strikingly different, there is a lot of homophobia, slurs and gay people are automatically associated with AIDS. Compared to todays YA LGBT books the difference of 30 years is striking.
I've read this book years ago and I still remembered some of the passages. The tender moment between Peter and David is forever seared in my brain.
I think we've come a long way and while I know there is still some extreme homophobia in some developing countries a huge percent of todays teenagers are a lot more accepting. I think Peter would have loved to see how far we've come.
Still a favorite after the re read and I will probably re read it again sometime in the future.
"The camp bloke?"
"Yeah, last night. I dreamed he came into my room and sat on my bad."
"And!" Tony's eyes got wider. Wider that usual.
"He talked about lawnmowers."
"And!"
"That's it, he just talked."
Actually, it hadn't been a dream, not totally. It was one of those half-awake ones where I knew what was going on so I let it run, just to see what would happen. We're all curious...
"You ever dreamed about a bloke?" I asked him.
"No!" Tony's eyebrows went dead flat. "Never!"
With a denial like that, maybe he had, but he sure as hell wasn't taking about it.
One of the first LGBT books I've read and it was actually translated in my language. So I own the translated one and then when I started to read more and got a better grip of the English language I got the one in the original.
I still hold this book near and dear in my heart and I think that Peter's story is still relevant and gripping. This is an older book, released in 1991 so the world is strikingly different, there is a lot of homophobia, slurs and gay people are automatically associated with AIDS. Compared to todays YA LGBT books the difference of 30 years is striking.
I've read this book years ago and I still remembered some of the passages. The tender moment between Peter and David is forever seared in my brain.
I think we've come a long way and while I know there is still some extreme homophobia in some developing countries a huge percent of todays teenagers are a lot more accepting. I think Peter would have loved to see how far we've come.
Still a favorite after the re read and I will probably re read it again sometime in the future.
September 28, 2014
I really can't figure out what to say about why I liked this book as much as I did, because nothing was super spectacular, and the ending kinda left me hanging a bit. I didn't love it, but I did really like it, and read the darn thing in less than a day.
It's a pretty simple story, and not a heck of a lot happens, however the writing is quite pleasant, and I liked the characters. I guess that's what it boils down to. Likable characters...
It's a pretty simple story, and not a heck of a lot happens, however the writing is quite pleasant, and I liked the characters. I guess that's what it boils down to. Likable characters...
November 24, 2017
Great, great read.
I loved the Australian vernacular, though I wasn't sure if it was Scottish or Australian. I've never heard "poof" as a gay derogatory term outside of Australia but something else made me think it might be Scottish, I forget what. I really enjoyed reading the book just because of the fun tone and writing style. The plot was great, and the writing made it come to life and feel real.
Hard to review the rest of the book without spoilers so... don't read anymore if you don't want spoilers.
This is an LGBT Catcher In The Rye, and Walker writes it incredibly. She really knows how to write a breakdown. And she can write romance too!
The best scene was definitely when David was holding Peter in the darkroom. Incredibly written, I could feel the whole thing.
It's a very enticing book that keeps you wondering until the end. Every time you're sure, Peter makes you think again. Is he really gay?
The end was interesting. It felt a bit rushed and strange.
I also didn't like that Peter's sexuality was never actually established. I can understand the concept that he still isn't sure so the reader doesn't get to know. I also understand the concept of being a kid and having crushes on people no matter sex and gender. I also understand the fluidity of sexuality, especially in youth. Despite this, I was really hoping for Peter to be gay. I thought it might be important to show readers, gay or straight, that you don't always know you're gay, you might only become aware of it when someone new enters your life and makes you think about it. I also wanted Peter to discover himself and his sexuality, but either way I'm glad he was satisfied with himself in the end even not knowing his sexuality.
I also thought it'd be great if Peter ended up being straight. It's important for straight people to know that they can question their sexuality and still decide by the end that they're straight. This is especially important for men to know, as women are already sort of expected to try a "lesbian phase" in college or whatever. It is important for straight people to know that they are valid in doubting themselves and their sexuality occasionally.
Either way, I really liked the book. I really liked David and Peter and even Vince and Tony. I especially liked how things ended with Peter and Tony's sister (Sophie?). It was nice that they got to talk and he apologized. I also liked that Peter called a help line and he didn't have an incredibly negative view of it. It's important for kids to know that there's always someone to talk to, even if it's a stranger.
Overall, hats off to Kate Walker for a great book.
I loved the Australian vernacular, though I wasn't sure if it was Scottish or Australian. I've never heard "poof" as a gay derogatory term outside of Australia but something else made me think it might be Scottish, I forget what. I really enjoyed reading the book just because of the fun tone and writing style. The plot was great, and the writing made it come to life and feel real.
Hard to review the rest of the book without spoilers so... don't read anymore if you don't want spoilers.
This is an LGBT Catcher In The Rye, and Walker writes it incredibly. She really knows how to write a breakdown. And she can write romance too!
The best scene was definitely when David was holding Peter in the darkroom. Incredibly written, I could feel the whole thing.
It's a very enticing book that keeps you wondering until the end. Every time you're sure, Peter makes you think again. Is he really gay?
The end was interesting. It felt a bit rushed and strange.
I also didn't like that Peter's sexuality was never actually established. I can understand the concept that he still isn't sure so the reader doesn't get to know. I also understand the concept of being a kid and having crushes on people no matter sex and gender. I also understand the fluidity of sexuality, especially in youth. Despite this, I was really hoping for Peter to be gay. I thought it might be important to show readers, gay or straight, that you don't always know you're gay, you might only become aware of it when someone new enters your life and makes you think about it. I also wanted Peter to discover himself and his sexuality, but either way I'm glad he was satisfied with himself in the end even not knowing his sexuality.
I also thought it'd be great if Peter ended up being straight. It's important for straight people to know that they can question their sexuality and still decide by the end that they're straight. This is especially important for men to know, as women are already sort of expected to try a "lesbian phase" in college or whatever. It is important for straight people to know that they are valid in doubting themselves and their sexuality occasionally.
Either way, I really liked the book. I really liked David and Peter and even Vince and Tony. I especially liked how things ended with Peter and Tony's sister (Sophie?). It was nice that they got to talk and he apologized. I also liked that Peter called a help line and he didn't have an incredibly negative view of it. It's important for kids to know that there's always someone to talk to, even if it's a stranger.
Overall, hats off to Kate Walker for a great book.
February 7, 2017
Growing up is never easy, even at the best of times, growing up different is even harder. Peter lives in a world where men are men and women are there for their use. Peter though is different, he knows what the culture wants of him, what his father wants of him. He knows that the last thing the culture wants, his father wants, is a poofter. At 15 Peter is figuring out some things about himself, things even he has trouble figuring out. Sure the girls are nice to look at, some are even willing to throw themselves at him or any other boy they fancy, but Peter just isn't interested.
Peter's older brother Vince introduces him to David, a uni buddy of his. David takes an unexpected shine to Peter, which is odd, but Peter likes the attention of the older man in a way that causes him to further question himself. When he finds out that David is gay, and doesn't fit any of the stereotypes he and his mates associate with poofters, he wants to know more but how can he ask the questions, how can he accept the answers, how can he deal with this and survive senior secondary school? A very good read, though I'd like more.
Peter's older brother Vince introduces him to David, a uni buddy of his. David takes an unexpected shine to Peter, which is odd, but Peter likes the attention of the older man in a way that causes him to further question himself. When he finds out that David is gay, and doesn't fit any of the stereotypes he and his mates associate with poofters, he wants to know more but how can he ask the questions, how can he accept the answers, how can he deal with this and survive senior secondary school? A very good read, though I'd like more.
March 11, 2015
I've been searching for this book for over a year and was overjoyed when Amazon finally had a few items in stock again! I devoured it within a day, because it was easy to breeze through but yet dealt with issues well and provided a nice stock of likable and non-likable characters.
I definitely had my issues with Peter sometimes but in the end I came to really like him, when he dealt with his situation head on and stopped his denial of things.
Sometimes the book felt a bit dated but since it didn't deal with pop culture or the likes it felt a lot more current than some of the other books (dealing with sexuality) that I've read did.
While I was reading I kept thinking "Okay, it really couldn't happen like this today" "No one talks like that anymore" and then I remember that the world still sucks and does react that way and I would get depressed all over again.
Some of the Aussie slang was a bit confusing to me but I've managed to figure most of it out.
I definitely had my issues with Peter sometimes but in the end I came to really like him, when he dealt with his situation head on and stopped his denial of things.
Sometimes the book felt a bit dated but since it didn't deal with pop culture or the likes it felt a lot more current than some of the other books (dealing with sexuality) that I've read did.
While I was reading I kept thinking "Okay, it really couldn't happen like this today" "No one talks like that anymore" and then I remember that the world still sucks and does react that way and I would get depressed all over again.
Some of the Aussie slang was a bit confusing to me but I've managed to figure most of it out.
October 17, 2015
The YA collection at my library has quite a bit of older Australian YA titles; I'm not sure why. I checked this one out instead of weeding it several weeks back, and then was surprised I couldn't renew it a second time because it had a hold. : D "Peter" is very of-its-time, but in a way that felt more historical than dated, so it still works. Plus, it's really good.
There's something about relationships in Australian novels that seems more practical than we do them here and that I really like even though (because?) it can be a little heart-breaking. A five year age difference is too much for teenagers, both almost-lovers can agree, but not in the US, where a hundred year age difference is nothing against true love. It reminded me a bit of Love and Other Perishable Items (Good Oil) in that way. Le sigh.
There's something about relationships in Australian novels that seems more practical than we do them here and that I really like even though (because?) it can be a little heart-breaking. A five year age difference is too much for teenagers, both almost-lovers can agree, but not in the US, where a hundred year age difference is nothing against true love. It reminded me a bit of Love and Other Perishable Items (Good Oil) in that way. Le sigh.
February 5, 2012
I thought this book was good overall. I thought the ending of this book wasn't that great. My reasons for thinking this way is because in the end peter and david never really got together and peter was still confused in the end of the book. I think that there could have been more things done with this book. Maybe the author wanted to end the book that way to leave us thinking and wondering what will happen to peter? Maybe the author wanted to convey a message to the reader? or maybe just wrote this book and theres really no meaning to it. Maybe she wrote it as just a story and there's no message or meaning behind it. Maybe she wanted to let the reader know that not every book has a double meaning.
July 25, 2007
I never would have guessed I could get so engrossed in the story of an Australian teenage boy trying to figure out whether he's gay. But of course, the adolescent struggle for identity is universal, even if the circumstances are different for each of us.
Is Peter really gay? Does he really have a crush on David, or is it just that David is the only person in the WHOLE WORLD who is actually nice to him?
That question remains unanswered at the end, but this novel is still a very satisfying read.
Is Peter really gay? Does he really have a crush on David, or is it just that David is the only person in the WHOLE WORLD who is actually nice to him?
That question remains unanswered at the end, but this novel is still a very satisfying read.
January 27, 2023
’Peter’ centers around Peter, a teenager who loves photography who is being forced by everyone around him to be a man. Whether that is doing death defying stunts on his dirt bike to prove his masculinity, working out from his beefhead dad, or having sex with every girl he encounters by his sex crazed best friend (who is obviously not having sex at all). Things change however when his brother’s good friend asks him to take photos of him and his car; and he starts feeling— something when he thinks of him.
There’s a lot to love about ‘Peter.’ There’s also a lot to dislike about it. The good! Peter himself is actually a wonderful character. At first, he’s so sure of his attraction to girls but then realizes that it’s only because everyone expects him to be into girls. The anxiety he experiences when he’s so completely confused as to how he feels is so real. Especially when the expectations of society form his every doubt. His attraction to his brother’s openly gay friend is also handled so beautifully. Instead of having THAT scene of exploring one’s sexuality, we’re instead offered a more mature handling of the situation. Offering comfort instead of physicality; ironically playing off the idea of what is expected with novels like this. The bad! Some of the supporting characters are pretty one note. His friends are all sex obsessed assholes who constantly bully each other to prove their own masculinity. His father is just one big beefy dude who hates the gays and won’t have his son be a ‘poofter’ (because what will everyone think?) I know they have their part to play in the story but I’m sure they got their own book’s worth of problems going on alongside Peter’s story.
It looks like this book doesn’t have much of a following. It seems to be more low key and less known than others. Yeah, it is at times sad and forlorn but the ending of the book does leave us with a bit of hope for Peter who is coming into accepting who he is. But it is written in a very honest and direct way. Harsh when it wants to be. Tender and honest when it needs to be
There’s a lot to love about ‘Peter.’ There’s also a lot to dislike about it. The good! Peter himself is actually a wonderful character. At first, he’s so sure of his attraction to girls but then realizes that it’s only because everyone expects him to be into girls. The anxiety he experiences when he’s so completely confused as to how he feels is so real. Especially when the expectations of society form his every doubt. His attraction to his brother’s openly gay friend is also handled so beautifully. Instead of having THAT scene of exploring one’s sexuality, we’re instead offered a more mature handling of the situation. Offering comfort instead of physicality; ironically playing off the idea of what is expected with novels like this. The bad! Some of the supporting characters are pretty one note. His friends are all sex obsessed assholes who constantly bully each other to prove their own masculinity. His father is just one big beefy dude who hates the gays and won’t have his son be a ‘poofter’ (because what will everyone think?) I know they have their part to play in the story but I’m sure they got their own book’s worth of problems going on alongside Peter’s story.
It looks like this book doesn’t have much of a following. It seems to be more low key and less known than others. Yeah, it is at times sad and forlorn but the ending of the book does leave us with a bit of hope for Peter who is coming into accepting who he is. But it is written in a very honest and direct way. Harsh when it wants to be. Tender and honest when it needs to be
July 6, 2018
4 stars for a beautifully written story. 1 extra star for the author's ability to get into the character and life of Peter, so completely and passionately.
Writing a coming of age novel about a 14 year old boy, struggling to come to terms with his sexuality ! Now that's something as out of my league as authoring Harry Potter !!
But I loved the book. It's got almost no frills, no poetic language, no overt melodrama. Just the everyday life and happenings of this lovable boy Peter.
And it's almost entirely in dialogue form. Either it's Peter taking to his friends and family or Peter talking to himself.
I liked Peter's mom, a hapless single mother cum career woman. I would have loved to see how she reacts to Peter being gay.
David is Peter's first love interest. I am glad the author didn't make things heavy between them. Peter is too young and unsure to make up his mind. That's only natural.
Apart from his sexual leaning, there is nothing different about the kid. He is just as pompous, bratty and vulnerable as any 14 year old. I loved the way the author brings this out.
Who says romance novel readers don't appreciate variety. This one is a unconventional gem.
Great read.
Writing a coming of age novel about a 14 year old boy, struggling to come to terms with his sexuality ! Now that's something as out of my league as authoring Harry Potter !!
But I loved the book. It's got almost no frills, no poetic language, no overt melodrama. Just the everyday life and happenings of this lovable boy Peter.
And it's almost entirely in dialogue form. Either it's Peter taking to his friends and family or Peter talking to himself.
I liked Peter's mom, a hapless single mother cum career woman. I would have loved to see how she reacts to Peter being gay.
David is Peter's first love interest. I am glad the author didn't make things heavy between them. Peter is too young and unsure to make up his mind. That's only natural.
Apart from his sexual leaning, there is nothing different about the kid. He is just as pompous, bratty and vulnerable as any 14 year old. I loved the way the author brings this out.
Who says romance novel readers don't appreciate variety. This one is a unconventional gem.
Great read.
December 3, 2017
A perfect little slice of life in a young Australian teen's life. Peter discovers that perhaps he is exactly what his so-called group of friends least want to have in their group. With the help of a sympathetic friend of his older brother's, he learns there is time for love to develop, even if that is not quite now.
June 12, 2025
Bewertung: 5 sterne
Dieses Buch geht sehr schön auf den struggle und die verwirrenden Gefühle ein, welche man vielleicht fühlt wenn man seine Sexualität hinterfragt. Es ist extrem gut geschrieben und es geht sehr gut auf alle aspekte ein (eigene verwirrung, druck von freunden, homophobie in der familie)
Dieses Buch geht sehr schön auf den struggle und die verwirrenden Gefühle ein, welche man vielleicht fühlt wenn man seine Sexualität hinterfragt. Es ist extrem gut geschrieben und es geht sehr gut auf alle aspekte ein (eigene verwirrung, druck von freunden, homophobie in der familie)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
A beautiful coming of age novel about a young man struggling to claim an identity of his own.
April 3, 2023
3.5
loved the massive font 😍
i read this for hope 🫡
loved the massive font 😍
i read this for hope 🫡
Read
December 14, 2023Realistic historic fiction at this point.
I don't know how much has changed but this felt like a fresh bruise and a perfectly ripe tomato.
I don't know how much has changed but this felt like a fresh bruise and a perfectly ripe tomato.
September 19, 2019
It was gud
September 5, 2010
Look at the cover. Betcha cannot guess what Peter by Kate Walker is about. What’s that? You think it’s about a teen named Peter who rides a motorbike? Oh, O.K., maybe you can guess. :) However, it’s not that simple.
Fifteen-year-old Peter lives with his Mom and his older brother Vince. His Dad, who lives on the other side of town, visits sometimes, but it always seems to devolve into fighting with Peter’s Mom. Peter likes to escape by riding his motorbike out on the paddock near his house, even though the other guys who ride are kind of douchebags. One day, Peter goes with Vince’s friend Mike to the grocery store to get fruit and veg while Vince picks up some brake pads. All of a sudden, rumors start flying that Peter’s a poof.
This book is by Australian author Kate Walker, so there were a few cultural terms that simply aren’t used in the USA, such as poof (gay). I didn’t need any help with them, as I knew what they all meant, and there’s enough context that it shouldn’t be a problem. It was also written in the early nineties, and there is a section where Vince is playing Pac-Man, but other than that it doesn’t feel dated at all.
The story is a pretty standard coming-of-age and coming-out story, although it was certainly groundbreaking in its time. I did like the developments with Peter’s father, and Vince’s attitudes were totally awesome for a brother. The ending, especially, was very successful, and really sent forth that message that it’s O.K. to be gay, it doesn’t mean you’re sick or anything.
I didn’t feel a strong connection to any of the characters. Peter was a decent protagonist, but since he was confused about who he was, so was I. He really starts to come into his own near the end, but for a lot of the book the only things the reader knows about him are his love of motorbiking and his hobby of photography. While Vince and Mike are both good, three-dimensional characters, they’re not given the screen time to really shine, but that’s fine as this is a protagonist-driven piece.
I really liked Peter, and I thought it stood up almost twenty years later, which is not always the case.
Fifteen-year-old Peter lives with his Mom and his older brother Vince. His Dad, who lives on the other side of town, visits sometimes, but it always seems to devolve into fighting with Peter’s Mom. Peter likes to escape by riding his motorbike out on the paddock near his house, even though the other guys who ride are kind of douchebags. One day, Peter goes with Vince’s friend Mike to the grocery store to get fruit and veg while Vince picks up some brake pads. All of a sudden, rumors start flying that Peter’s a poof.
This book is by Australian author Kate Walker, so there were a few cultural terms that simply aren’t used in the USA, such as poof (gay). I didn’t need any help with them, as I knew what they all meant, and there’s enough context that it shouldn’t be a problem. It was also written in the early nineties, and there is a section where Vince is playing Pac-Man, but other than that it doesn’t feel dated at all.
The story is a pretty standard coming-of-age and coming-out story, although it was certainly groundbreaking in its time. I did like the developments with Peter’s father, and Vince’s attitudes were totally awesome for a brother. The ending, especially, was very successful, and really sent forth that message that it’s O.K. to be gay, it doesn’t mean you’re sick or anything.
I didn’t feel a strong connection to any of the characters. Peter was a decent protagonist, but since he was confused about who he was, so was I. He really starts to come into his own near the end, but for a lot of the book the only things the reader knows about him are his love of motorbiking and his hobby of photography. While Vince and Mike are both good, three-dimensional characters, they’re not given the screen time to really shine, but that’s fine as this is a protagonist-driven piece.
I really liked Peter, and I thought it stood up almost twenty years later, which is not always the case.
March 1, 2017
Very easy to read with likeable characters and plenty of funny quirks. I especially loved the use of Aussie slangs and it's culture that is ingrained in the story. The ending however felt quite abrupt but nevertheless, I still very much enjoyed this book.
April 25, 2024
January 2024 TBR theme for me was reading old books from my youth I had (and still own). I starved for any queer media consumption when I was 16. Going to the library and looking for gay books which was very VERY small. So it's been kind of cool re-reading these young defining books for me. Of course, times have massively change and now we're part of every genre and you can actually find tons of LGBTQ Books everywhere.
Here is my New Eyes Review for Peter:
This book takes place in Australia where we find protagonist Peter who is questioning his sexuality especially after meeting his brother's best friend, David. I enjoyed this book as a teen and remembered how much I wanted something to happen. With this re-read, I saw much more nuance with Peter. A boy who wrestles with the stupidity of societal gender roles of what a "man" should be. He's a motorcyclist but also a photographer, his sometimes-sensitive nature coming into question by friends and family members. Also, questions if you can have a gay friend and not be associated as gay yourself. There's great commentary on this with Peter's brother.
With Pete's infatuated love interest David, I now saw a wise openly gay adult figure. Goes to show how perspective can change. I was upset as a teenager and didn't understand the dynamics of the age gap. I wanted them together so bad. The topics in the book are handled with maturity and the character show dimensions. Although cheesy with the Teen Hotline number scene in which Peter gets advice from a counselor, it's in context of maybe the rules and regulations of the time of what one can tell the youth. The book takes place in 1993 with the real concerns of the aid epidemic. We now have better tools to inform the youth even if we're still at battle of whether we can inform teens. Thank Gosh, for open minded individuals that find ways to relay information in safe ways.
Overall, I enjoyed this re-read and imagine a sequel in which maybe Peter's story is continued. Even with the ending we do get, it's a solid read and a short breezy book.
Here is my New Eyes Review for Peter:
This book takes place in Australia where we find protagonist Peter who is questioning his sexuality especially after meeting his brother's best friend, David. I enjoyed this book as a teen and remembered how much I wanted something to happen. With this re-read, I saw much more nuance with Peter. A boy who wrestles with the stupidity of societal gender roles of what a "man" should be. He's a motorcyclist but also a photographer, his sometimes-sensitive nature coming into question by friends and family members. Also, questions if you can have a gay friend and not be associated as gay yourself. There's great commentary on this with Peter's brother.
With Pete's infatuated love interest David, I now saw a wise openly gay adult figure. Goes to show how perspective can change. I was upset as a teenager and didn't understand the dynamics of the age gap. I wanted them together so bad. The topics in the book are handled with maturity and the character show dimensions. Although cheesy with the Teen Hotline number scene in which Peter gets advice from a counselor, it's in context of maybe the rules and regulations of the time of what one can tell the youth. The book takes place in 1993 with the real concerns of the aid epidemic. We now have better tools to inform the youth even if we're still at battle of whether we can inform teens. Thank Gosh, for open minded individuals that find ways to relay information in safe ways.
Overall, I enjoyed this re-read and imagine a sequel in which maybe Peter's story is continued. Even with the ending we do get, it's a solid read and a short breezy book.
August 22, 2011
Peter by Kate Walker is a very easy read indeed. The style of writing is very much aimed at the Young Adult market and may lack complexity for more mature readers. The story takes place over a week in the life of Peter Dawson during school vacation. He has few friends except for Tony, a sex obsessed Italian 15 year old, however he does seek something more and rides around with a group of trail bike riders. During this week, certain events take place where the group turn on him becuase he is seen innocently shopping with one of his brothers older friends who happens to be gay. Eventually events take place that have Peter questioning his own sexuality.
This is where some more mature readers may feel the book is let down. Peter has little question around his sexuality until about 80% way through the book and goes from straight, to questioning, to gay, within only a few pages. Such complex emotions are rarely so simple to come to terms with and in my opinion may make young adult readers who are coping with their own emotions feel more confused as to why it isnt so simple for them.
That aside, the book is not without merit. I loved the way Kate uses the differences in opinion between Peters Mother and Father to debate the arguments around sexuality. I loved the way that Peters brother Vince, is the a-typical older, superior brother, who again takes the news of the possibility that Peter could be Gay in his stride and shrugs it off with a “so what?”.
I flew through this book in an afternoon, and I certainly recommend it for the Young Adult market who are looking for a light read, but if your looking for a complex story with in depth character development and plot, I’d probably give this one a miss.
This is where some more mature readers may feel the book is let down. Peter has little question around his sexuality until about 80% way through the book and goes from straight, to questioning, to gay, within only a few pages. Such complex emotions are rarely so simple to come to terms with and in my opinion may make young adult readers who are coping with their own emotions feel more confused as to why it isnt so simple for them.
That aside, the book is not without merit. I loved the way Kate uses the differences in opinion between Peters Mother and Father to debate the arguments around sexuality. I loved the way that Peters brother Vince, is the a-typical older, superior brother, who again takes the news of the possibility that Peter could be Gay in his stride and shrugs it off with a “so what?”.
I flew through this book in an afternoon, and I certainly recommend it for the Young Adult market who are looking for a light read, but if your looking for a complex story with in depth character development and plot, I’d probably give this one a miss.
January 20, 2015
The writer did a good job with the main characters- I adored the protagonist Peter, his crush, David and his older brother Vince. Vince is too cool in all the right ways, but as the older brother of Peter, he is also a jerk, that just makes him real. Mom and Dad were two dimensional as were Peter’s frenemies. The muddles and events that drove Peter in the book were well described, along with his angst – he has lots of angst and internal dialogs.
The book is extremely well written. There is not a lot of extraneous material, which means that as the reader you can focus on the story and zoom through the book. I wouldn’t call it a page turner in the sense of a whodoneit, but it certainly commands your attention and moves you right along. It’s broken into small chapters, many of which are around five pages – so it’s easy to find a stopping point if you are reading it while doing other things (like traveling).
My criticism of the book is that it’s appropriate, 100% appropriate all the time. The ending was appropriate and suitable, but it wasn’t romantic or exciting. Appropriate is good, it’s safe and it’s too vanilla, in my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
Triggers: basically none, the book is appropriate for most. Lots of colorful language, for those that care about such things. Several questions by adults to Peter inquiring if he were suicidal – but as readers we can see from his point of view that he never was. He is just confused about certain things. Is unrequited love a trigger? Zero sex, some muted innuendo. The book is safe and appropriate.
I recommend it because it is fun. Solid book with engaging characters.
The book is extremely well written. There is not a lot of extraneous material, which means that as the reader you can focus on the story and zoom through the book. I wouldn’t call it a page turner in the sense of a whodoneit, but it certainly commands your attention and moves you right along. It’s broken into small chapters, many of which are around five pages – so it’s easy to find a stopping point if you are reading it while doing other things (like traveling).
My criticism of the book is that it’s appropriate, 100% appropriate all the time. The ending was appropriate and suitable, but it wasn’t romantic or exciting. Appropriate is good, it’s safe and it’s too vanilla, in my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
Triggers: basically none, the book is appropriate for most. Lots of colorful language, for those that care about such things. Several questions by adults to Peter inquiring if he were suicidal – but as readers we can see from his point of view that he never was. He is just confused about certain things. Is unrequited love a trigger? Zero sex, some muted innuendo. The book is safe and appropriate.
I recommend it because it is fun. Solid book with engaging characters.
August 6, 2013
Poignant and well written, Peter introduces us to a fifteen year old who is just coming into himself. He loves to ride dirt bikes and get dirty, but he's slowly realizing that maybe he's just a bit different than the other guys who ride, who always call him a poof and make fun of him. His mother babies him, not wanting him to be involved in such a dangerous sport, and he watches as his older brother becomes weirder and weirder: adopting new hairstyles and hanging out with new friends. It's the brother's new best friend, David, who throws Peter's life into a tailspin when Peter finds himself crushing on the openly gay older guy.
Peter is a heartbreaking and honest novel about the horror, repulsion, sadness, and fear of discovering oneself and learning who you are. It's not simply a coming out novel, for Peter has so much more going on in his life. He must learn how to live with and cope with problems with friends, family, and himself, and how to live his life the way he wants when so many people and forces are trying to stop him.
You can't help but feel for Peter, sympathetically and empathetically, because no matter where you are or who you are, no matter your sexuality, you've gone through something similar to he has when you were his age and just trying to figure yourself out.
Peter is a heartbreaking and honest novel about the horror, repulsion, sadness, and fear of discovering oneself and learning who you are. It's not simply a coming out novel, for Peter has so much more going on in his life. He must learn how to live with and cope with problems with friends, family, and himself, and how to live his life the way he wants when so many people and forces are trying to stop him.
You can't help but feel for Peter, sympathetically and empathetically, because no matter where you are or who you are, no matter your sexuality, you've gone through something similar to he has when you were his age and just trying to figure yourself out.
May 10, 2016
Kate Walker's Peter is a coming-of-age story told from the first person perspective of 15 year old Peter Dawson, who starts to question his sexuality after meeting his older brother's gay friend, David. David is tall, good-looking, perfectly dressed; everything that Peter is not. Peter hides his sensitive side and his love of photography from the local boys by joining them in their dirt bike races, and is increasingly concerned by his disinterest in girls; something the other boys only ever talk about. After meeting David, Peter begins to understand that you can't be the person that other people think you should be, that you can only be the person you yourself are meant to be.
I was surprised by Kate Walker's portrayal of the confusion and sometimes self-hatred that can come with discovering your sexuality may not be the "norm." Having gone through many of these same emotions myself, I could relate to Peter and sympathize with his character. I think this would be an excellent book for any young person who is questioning their sexuality to read.
I was surprised by Kate Walker's portrayal of the confusion and sometimes self-hatred that can come with discovering your sexuality may not be the "norm." Having gone through many of these same emotions myself, I could relate to Peter and sympathize with his character. I think this would be an excellent book for any young person who is questioning their sexuality to read.
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