The Book of David

by Anonymous

A told B,

and B told C,

I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree

In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no -- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

The well-known authors of Barn Dance and Knots on a Counting Rope have created a rhythmic alphabet chant that rolls along on waves of fun. Lois Elhert's rainbow of bright, bold, and cheerful colors makes the merry parade of letters unforgettable.

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Fiction, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Gay

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2014

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sometimes you just need that one person who really sees you-who sees through all the plays you're making and all the fakes you're trying to throw."




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Synopsis :

"He had everything: a family, friends, a girlfriend, an undefeated football team, and a half-dozen sports scholarships.
He also had a secret. A secret that is tearing him up from the inside.
Then he met someone who could understand him, and his secret, like no else could. . . .
But nothing stays secret forever."

The Review :

Every now and then when you're reading, you find yourself between the pages of that book. You see yourself in the situation the character's going through and you find yourself attached to the character. That's what happened to me in The Book of David.

I loved this book for many reasons, but mostly because it is one of the most heartbreaking, raw, and honest stories I've ever read. Also, because I very rarely cry in books, but this book had me crying. Not just like a single tear, but sobbing. I honestly cried myself to sleep. Still, throughout the tears, there are a few glimmers of hope.

I started this book at 10 P.M. and read all the way to 2 A.M., I just couldn't bring myself to stop. David narrates through journal entries that started as an English Literature assignment where the teacher would ask the students to write for the first (or last) ten minutes of class, but turned to a journal that he didn't feel like was an assignment. I loved how David wasn't holding back on what he was feeling.

I loved Jon and David so much. Their relationship was just so tragic and beautiful. I was so attached to them that when I finished, I didn't want to put it away so, I went back and reread some of my favorite parts. David mentions how a secret can tear you apart from the inside. And I have personal experience through what David is going through, and keeping that secret (being gay) from other people is something that can tear you apart. It's so terrifying of what other people might think of you, and terrifying to think about the people you love the most not accepting you and it can nearly kill you if they don't accept you. It's one of the hardest things that you could do, but sometimes you just have to be honest with yourself no matter how much it hurts.

I wish that I could tell whoever wrote this book how much I loved it. I started crying while I was writing this review.Truthfully, I wish I could better explain to you how much I loved this book. However, no words or review can explain to you how much I loved it. I would highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lest anyone casually peeping the reviews of this book think my one star is because I am a conservative or a homophobe, it is not. I am gay (you can check out my many other reviews for better books addressing the issues this book attempts to address). This book is about twenty years out of date and insults modern LGBT teens by throwing them back into closets they (hopefully) never have to inhabit again.

[Peter Monn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great and true story in the vein of Go Ask Alice. Check out my full review on my booktube channel at http://youtube.com/peterlikesbooks

[Kristen My Bookish Fairy Tale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic, horrific, heartbreaking, and an emotional roller coaster. The one thing I love about these books is the brutal honesty that pours off the pages. The gut wrenching feelings that leave you emotionally drained.

I felt so many different emotions that it is so hard to sift through them. I felt anger, helplessness, worry, fear, and love. Love from those who choose to love us for who we are instead of who they want us to be. There is nothing a child wants more in this world than for his parents to love him for who he is. Now who we are or who we become might not even be noticeable to ourselves until later but regardless of who we choose to love or be with does not define us as human beings.

Being gay or straight doesn't make someone a bad person and why should those who are Gay be subjected to the harshness of others just because they do not understand that it is, in fact, ok to love someone of the same sex. To those people who hate and show anger towards people who are Gay should be ashamed. You are very well entitled to your opinion's but for crying out loud keep it to yourself.

The Book of David isn't really a book that I can say I loved or didn't. I am thrilled to have been able to share the experiences of this poor boy. I am happy that he was able to get through it as best he could and I am so thrilled that he didn't let all of those hateful people define him. I think it took courage for him to stand up to his family and I know that he will be happier now that he no longer has to hide who he really is.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. I didn't know if I was up or down. I probably went through all the emotions reading this. Definitely couldn't put it down. All I keep thinking to myself was how horrible to have to live a lie or face persecution for something you can't control. To be afraid of being who you are. How incredibly unfair that is. Yes, we've come a long way but as a society we still have a long long way to go....

[Lexy Wiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every part of this book. This is the second book by anonymous I have read, I just finished Go Ask Alice. I enjoyed the characters and the conflict and the romance. I have seen other comments saying that it was out of date, and it is not. I am from the south and I hear words like this spoken constantly in the hallways of my school.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

i can't do it, redneck american culture and football are literally the two worst things basically ever

[Sean McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an emotional roller coaster, but it was brilliant. Read it in only two days; I couldn't put it down, plus it was an easy read. Definitely felt for all the characters and, less importantly, LOVED the 'The Music Man' jokes. And the 'Oklahoma' reference.

It only got four stars because there was two glaring typos: 1.) At one point Tyler, the jerkwad best friend of David, is referred to as "Trevor", as in The Trevor Project. Did "Anonymous" name Tyler "Trevor", then realize that he/she should probably avoid that because it's just to tongue-in-cheek? That's my best guess. 2.) There was some other word that was just... wrong. I don't remember what it was—it wasn't as memorable as "Trevor", but it was just as weird and glaringly obvious and wasn't even close to any word the author could have meant. How did the editor miss two such painfully obvious errors???

Besides those (relatively minor) typos, this book was without flaw. So, so good. A great quick read for older teens and young adults.

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing. And absolutely heartbreaking because I know this sort of thing still happens to kids all the time.

What started out as an English project turned into a life altering revelation. I loved the diary format. The characterization was spot on: those who were supportive went 110% and those who weren't were made me cringe.

This book should be a mandatory read for kids in school. For anyone, really.

**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[Kyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitely the best and least depressing of the anonymous books

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried hard not to make this review a spoiler, but I think I failed.
I think why I'm rating this so low is because of the ending. It doesn't end like the rest of the books in this series. It's a theme breaker and I resent it for that.
Also, I got this totally confused with Jay's Journal. I was expecting the author to be a Satanist, not gay. I wanted dark, disturbing moments (not because I'm a psychopath or anything...) not mushy, sweet moments that melted my heart and made me realize I'm going to die alone.
That being said, this wasn't half bad (besides that fricken ending). Occasionally I felt like I was reading a book version of Glee -they even had a few singing scenes- and that made it kind of cheesy. The romance in this book, though, stayed very realistic wasn't overly done to the point where you wanted to puke. Speaking of which, I hate when authors portray gay guys as catty bitches; luckily there were none to be found in this book. Everyone was real and I didn't roll my eyes once.
I've never read a book where the main couple is gay, they're usually a secondary couple, and I have to say I liked it. It was sweet and didn't shove gay rights down my throat or have outrageous, detailed sexual encounters (there are a few sexual moments, so my inner prude wouldn't give this to a kid until they're at least a sophomore in high school). Anonymous made it easy to connect to Jon and the author, so much so that I actually felt my almost nonexistent maternal instincts come out near the end when I wanted to protect and shield them from what was happening.
All in all, I think three stars is a decent rating, and this was a decent book. It probably would've been four stars if it had ended like all the others.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was at B&N browsing for books when I came across a boxed set written by Anonymous – The Anonymous Diary Collection: Lucy in the Sky, Letting Ana Go, The Book of David. Right there my jaw hit the floor --- there’s another one and I didn’t know!! Considering that I had read and loved all the other books (the two mentioned in the set as well as Go Ask Alice and Jay’s Journal), I knew that I had to have it.

I have to admit that the basis of The Book of David is very predictable once you have read the description. I knew (as I am sure many of you have guessed) that David’s secret is that he is gay. Although I was interested to see how Anonymous was going to tackle the subject, I was disappointed in the fact that we are essentially placing “being gay” on the same level as the drug/alcohol addiction situations presented in the other books. The Anonymous Diary Collection is known for giving readers a glimpse into a life on a downward spiral that if not corrected would result in death. I wasn’t sure how this situation could be seen similarly --- I was definitely nervous going into it.

I am glad that I stuck with my gut. I think The Book of David definitely fit into the Anonymous Diary Collection. David was on a downward spiral that if not corrected could lead to death – perhaps not physical death, but his spirit/soul was definitely being lost in the process of holding onto his secret and closing off his true self.


For the full review, please go to Phoenix's Library.

[Sparkleypenguin · Rating 3 out of 5]

You guys... This book was so hard to read. It was great in the beginning but now I just feel... sad. I wish society (it's getting better I recognize but still) would stop acting like this to fellow humans. Why would people feel the need to hit their own child just because he is gay? It doesn't make sense. I'm sorry for anyone and everyone who has been through the sort of homophobia that was portrayed in this novel. I'm sorry that Christians still believe in the "If you're gay you're going to hell" bull crap. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Great Book!!

[Syleena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I loved the book, The Book Of David, by Anonymous, because it demonstrated the idea of love having no boundaries. While reading this book, I was caught on the edge of my seat. I never knew what would happen next until it jumped out at me. This book really had a lot of meaning behind it. So many people struggle with identifying themselves and always get shunned for it. This book brought awareness to those who struggled with such hardships. After reading this book, I got a better understanding of what people actually go through in their daily lives.

Plot:
This book was about a teenage boy named David. At first, the book started out slow, following David’s life through his journal entries. David played football for his high school team, had the perfect varsity cheerleader girlfriend, and had his best friend, Tyler, by his side. David thought his life was perfect until Jon transferred to his school. David’s girlfriend, Monica, threw Jon right into their friend group. David couldn't help but feel attracted towards Jon, like some sort of force was pushing him into Jon’s arms. As the book went on, David’s supposed best friend, Tyler, started to catch on to David’s fascination with Jon. After Tyler uploaded a video of Jon and David making out online, David thought his life is over. David’s love for Jon didn’t quiver, however; after this mess occured, David still longed to be with Jon. Towards the end, David still dealt with a lot of pressure and ridicule but he knew that as long as he had Jon, everything was going to be okay.

Characterization:
David was a seventeen year old boy who had one big secret. After his secret was blown, he thought his life was over. He thought that since he liked boys, that something was wrong with him. David’s entire life revolved around people who hated homorsexuals. Between David’s pastor and his parents, David really didn’t have that many people on his side when his secret came out. Jon helped him out of his shell though by showing him that of they stuck together, they could conquer any boundary that came in their path.

Jon was a seventeen year old boy with a unlucky past. Before Jon moved to David’s hometown, he tried fitting in at his school after coming out as a homoosexual but everyone resented him after word broke out. Jon tried setting up a campaign for people like him but only got more hated because of it. After the bullying didn’t cease, Jon and his family moved away where he changed his name and tried to start a new life. After Jon met David, he finally felt whole again. After so many years of feeling alone and hated by everyone, Jon finally felt connected to someone.

Setting:
There were some clues hinting towards this book’s general setting of being a small town because of the amount of ridicule David received after the embarrassing video of him was posted online. The months of the book were put at the top of each of David’s entries, suggesting that almost two years had past. David also had access to many means of technology, such as his phone. This suggests that they were in a time period were phones were accessible and where technology was more relevant. The embarrassing video of David was posted on YouTube. This time period impacted David by the millions of people that viewed his embarrassing video online.

Thematic Connection:
The only main theme that emerged through this book was the feeling of being alone. David felt like the world was out to get him. He was always self conscious about others would think or say when he told them who he really was. After the video surfaced, David’s privacy was revoked and he felt more alone than ever. Even though Jon was there and feeling the pain alongside him, it was still a tough challenge to overcome as the years past.

Recommendation:
I recommend this book to young adult males and females ages 15 and up because of the sexual context that occurs in this book. Reading this book allowed me to be more open towards others suffering from similar struggles.

[Jocelyn Stocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response: I could barely put Book of David down. David’s struggles were so well captured; I could feel them myself, and I had to see how everything would pan out. The book was vivid and very tangible. The hardships David endured weren’t just limited to him; they made me think of the challenges I face in my own life.

Plot: On the surface, teenage David looked like he had it all. He was a star athlete with many prospective football scholarships, a great girlfriend, and great friends. Underneath it all, however, David was hiding a secret -- he was gay. David’s secret had become harder and harder to keep under wraps as he began to fall for the new boy in his English class: Jon. David and Jon were pulled together like magnets until their friendship became more. As the two grew closer, David and his former best friend, Tyler, began to drift apart. Jon and David tried to keep their relationship under wraps, and it worked for awhile. However, one person couldn’t possibly juggle a girlfriend, sports scholarships, a homophobic family and best friend, and a boyfriend in the heart of the Bible Belt. The night of the Homecoming dance, Jon and David were just a little too reckless, and someone caught their clandestine display of affection on video. When the video began to circulate, David’s world crashed down around him. His own parents and once-thought best friend turned on him and kick him out of the house. His own father even put him in the hospital. With the healing and support of his true friends, family, college football coach, and newfound love, David began the process of rebuilding his life in his own skin.

Characterization: One character who developed a lot through the book was Tyler. As David began to discover more about himself, he saw Tyler’s true colors. At one point, David could look past Tyler’s bad traits and see the kid who had been there for him his whole life. As they drifted apart, Tyler’s bad traits outweighed his good ones and he became too emotionally exhausting to be around. At the beginning of the book, Tyler was teetering between protagonist and antagonist. In the end, it was his jealousy, malice, and holier-than-thou attitude that left him all alone.

Impact of Setting: The book was set in a small town in Arkansas in 2014. Gay people who were out of the closet were still pretty rare in 2014, as homophobia back then was greeted with less backlash than what it is now. Due to the traditional hyper-religious nature of Southern communities such as his and the very small number of outed gay people, David felt he had to hide who he truly was.

Age Recommendation: I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone under the age of 14. The recommendation isn’t due to the exploration of sexuality in the book, but the exploration of adult oriented topics universal to any sexuality. The language is less than clean as well. Though the main character is a boy, the book’s themes are universal to gender as well.

[Jennifer Burg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in a day, but did have to take a few breaks towards the end of the book because I was sobbing so hard.

This is an incredible book that can help many LGBTQ teens who are feeling confused, lost, or unsupported.
Told from the perspective of a high school senior football player, the feelings are raw and real.

I could get on my soap box here and advocate for LGBTQ, but this review would become too long. Being gay is NOT a choice. I was a preschool teacher for 9 years and I could tell at age 3 if a child was gay. Reading this book the main character says it wasn’t his choice, it’s just who he is.

A good read for EVERYONE, but especially struggling teens.

[Jazmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look inside a teens mind struggling with the realities of being himself. In the form of go ask Alice taking a peek of what goes on a jocks mind when a new boy comes to his first period English class and he struggles to stop staring and noticing the little things. An easy read, gets a little heavy by the end but I feel like I’m a sense this is exactly what goes on in your mind when you’re really trying to discover who you truly are in this world. Coming to terms with you can’t control what other people think or feel it’s up to you to be honest with yourself and hold on to the people who see that honesty and lift you up instead of push you down.

[Paigeee😆💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really liked this book! The main topic isn’t relatable to everyone but the way it’s described can be relatable to anyone. I would definitely recommend this book I couldn’t put it down! ( except for one part that made me mad lol ) Oh and not to mention it’s a true story which I really like!

P.S if you read this and like it I recommend reading Lucy in The Sky! It’s from the same anonymous series but it doesn’t have any connection to this book! ☺️

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cautionary tale, written just fine. I'm not sure what it's cautioning against.
If I were a proud Southerner who read this book, I might be so angry about the insult to my part of the country that I'd vote for Trump just out of spite. Oops! Bad book!
I just realized that the two boys are named David and Jonathan. Now I'm offended.

[Sam Spina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely some cute moments and I can tell why 14yo me loved it

[natnat · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAR IS OVERRRRR

[David]

My name is also David. I recognize the large events occuring as it were somehow shown before I was born. I think intellectually for a prepared resolution as if I'm obligated to remain righteous. My fatherly intuition dictates if I'm to suffer prior to forseen circumstances one I be one close with may face. Two of my friends introduced to me, my name, this story occuring how ive been using dominants with my body, while acknowledging the intellectual stimulate ambidextrously unknown. Jon's right handed, mildly talented physically and thoughts are recognizably functional and constructive. He's very calm, collective, and interested towards extraciricular activities. John's left handed, more opinionated, short tempered, very talented regarding physical activities, silent, courageous, unselfish, intellectual knowledgeablly earns apparent intellect available. Caring. Intererest are unknown until shown.
My first two friends while my son was conceived shaped my thoughts of an obligation unable to ignor. While riding around with a slight sense of a story becoming louder and louder. Jon, John, myself, and another friend who preferred Johnathan road around the town. The sense of obligation demanded attention as I were "uplifted" beyond the body, elevated as it were sensed. Recognizing the graffiti, recognizing the vehicle, recognizing the names of all involved, I have an obligation to maintain. Until acknowledged corrective actions considering fair, righteous considerate impairments ignoring a quality of life which could provide a reason worthy to spend much needed time, exhausting to a resolve. Concerning actions of one decission to motion while ignoring a major initial action already in motion, such as; questions to reason for: Does it hurt to cut my arm? Would I cut your arm? Because I speak English and communicate effectively with similarly challenged minds, do I treat those not similar as of another concern to reason differently. Reasoning a comprehensive sense of a mass majority to accept slaughter house acctivities?
Who and what are we? And who am I?
I'm 44 now. I've been tormentented of all neighborly offerings subject to accept or deny. Going along and truly not knowing, continuing to reason prior to action, I've become ignorant and unworthy lacking the educations a righteous path would have introduced for correlation of reasonings to present proposing absolution. The merit sensed of an exercising student of the introductioner could i "Hope" could pave a path correlating introductions resolving conflictual hereasy stances. Sought to adequately address: hipocrically I eat meat, I know what is necessary to consume meat. Alone in this world to decide without influence, ( I'm hungry! What does it mean? I'm smelling good, bad, what do I do with no influential guidance, no judgement known, unknown, textures, taste, added flavoring) a beautiful deer walks by as I admire it, and I'm unaware how to communicate with it, so I mimic the deers sound in the attempt to communicate, unsatisfied with the desired results, why dictate any motion prior to correlating consideration necessary for a lengthier study to reason prior to a conclusive action motioned unsettling naturally.
All who accept slaughter house activities. I am David, obligated not of what's assumed, but of my fatherly intuition and obtainment of knowledge sought exhausted from reasoning for reasons of occurances all sense unsettling. As an instraument to adequately address, preferably punctual, yet acknowledge neglect from an introduction acted towards, demonstrated, shown, and offered confusion providing a method to satisfy your hungry bellies, conflicting an ignoring solution from the sacrificially considerate resolve provided now. Eat healthy. Nutrition is a relatively new field of study. I'm imbarressed and ashamed of the amount of time over the years that consideration has yet been initially contemplated of an initial action necessary to survive. Understandably the status quo presents structure lived by, survived by, worshiped by, instructed by, lead by (adjustment from one sense of motion to consider another, only after identifying the altimatums presented very well. The intention of providing a bridge to communicate ansestrially has been successfully implemented yet unfortunately obscured conflict (status quo), leadership accordingly to show value influentially persuade a growth desired motion inconsiderate of inaction non-determinded as of yet for a motion or as an action dictated to motion considerably desired of all acknowledged if and or for all what must be considered, for consideration prior motion.

Terms which ancestrially provide comunication yet to become widely acknowledged of presently alive subjects on earth. Understand prior constructions, no acknowledgements of an existence or the noise/distractions of the structure needed attention of the individualS mind. Limit distractions, and that focal energy maintains attention sustains towards the intended concentration. Are ancestors attempted to communicate with large concerns fearing the foresight comprehended from reasons occuring then up until now and later. You will want to consider these terms initial intentions and consider this through the presenter, I David present these terms without any act used for persuasion ethically as a challenged fearing father, please consider this and All? Using the unacknowledged, unknown questions sought for concluding; I x Revolution present not only my accepted name, but the risk elevating due to expressing my name for interpretation of you from you. To you. Because of the intellect unknown which i'm attempting to present for awareness provided of stimulating occurances, (available to adequately resolve the war,) unacknowledged due to a neglegence confusion from years of unsettling noises and distractions acted on, and upon to further motion from that action, thats ignorantly stupid. Now suggested, I require the consideration necessary to present with merit for the consideration of All attending life for our unknown Earth and all unknown of our life force. I sense I've lived this life before. Maybe, unknowingly, an error must be present so it must not be dictation interpreted yet concerning "long run" sensations sensibly providing reasons to consider provide presentations merital request to the attention for reasons termed.

Heaven_ idea of Earth as the greatest potential (relative is a state of grace; as the presenter im attempt to show passage of for your determination, yet required of those who lead, influence, persuade, the exploited must become acknowledged to an advanced leadership sense for an awareness those exploiters may sense the probability elevating as conflictual satisfaction provide alternatives alleviating the confusion to individually conclude potentials available providing recanted influential ridicule traced sensed paved to a new recalculation provided of the knowledge granted only of one's mind ( with out inflencial/ self determination), and body (with out interpretation to an agrivated stress response) self interpretation considering the impact responsible of sensations to another. Growth of sensible leadership flourishes commonly. The house of David remains in the house of commons. Hard to explain but notable. There will be than a state of grace, yet unknown obstacles present, correlated and accepted paths become acknowledged still unknown yet righteously acknowledged law of considerations attending presence sensed worthy of approach towards nirvana. Silently, focused, with all attentions considered, structural solidity stepping with action towards a common goal. Attempting to achieve Earth's greatest potential. Careful to act! Long run requires finess

Hell_
Poorest potential, forseen potential. Feared sufferages. Earth fails provision of unrestricted destructible force growth burdened inconsiderate nearly unaddressable. Note: At the very least if acknowledged presently nearing the state of Hell or engulfed. Hope. False hope is that of an out side force but what we could have control of will remain individual expressions of those we must consider not for selfish short gains, yet remain maintained transitioning. As anexploiter, unfortunately leaders of these days, remain maintained righteously consider cautious transitioning not to a selfish desired fulfillment be as an empty stressless sense of judgement upon only your self, intentions, inflections, preparations. How long until the earth is repaired? Consider what this presenter, I David must propose. The actions have been nonstop for beyond my comprehension of existence. If I were to mildly act once. Nothing or No one suggested too or not too, but I wanted you, wasn't ment to be, you did know if you wanted you or who. Lied to your self. Impacting future generations thousands of years later, with that same growth from that same lie. Hoplessly desired granting costfully: I'm your king! Am I lieing? Yes! I don't know the future and capable for a potential corrective dictation. The point of the note for an awareness to consider. Beings whatever in need, need be considered. Alleviate stress towards your personal initiatives as this presenting awareness for an acknowledgement to consider of the presenter I David offering reconciliation of your own initiatives, please were all on the same path tugging uncorrelately. Alleviated the acceptance you feel personally then I feel the sense of that hope to become capable to assist determining correlated guidance. Prior to it becoming too late. Oddly what's been sensed not too long ago.

Pergatory_ I do oddly sense this life force has recently been provided Earth. My potential heaven
I sense the intolerable, unfathemed loss, unbearing uncapable of anything regardlessly undictateable time beyound trillions indefinite. But I feel the sensed knowledge introduced an aware ness oddly to a goal) I know nothing because I don't know how I know this or if I even do or if anything typed provides anything . I'm not an institutionally well educated man. But i could assume and cautious to act than maybe initiate a motion. We understand is the correct way to interpret the unknown. We understand we do not know exactly or anything at all.
Lose consciousness if you haven't ever. Do not interviene inconsiderately! Do not oppose saving a life! Do not kill ever intentionally! Intrusions interpreted co-present hostile unsatisfactory resolve. Earth inhabitants. Life force with no home, or personally I'd have no home indefinitely unable to thrive at all to live. Please.

Terms sensible stated and manipulated to sense for selfish or satisfying comfort to what's unknown , mostly due to the ignorant leading unintentional where it's unsure, please because we must remain in motion yet we must not act towards a motion feared. Be Considerate? That is a key if you could sense it. Only the righteous may enter. We could save us all. Actions have consequences of course, but so do inaction.

I'm requesting twelve attorneys each by the name of David so that we understand the cautions of the long run, provide an iconic resolve coresponding preparation correlating unknown parties subjected and unwilling to address life in general worthy of their considerations.

[Celestino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I did not expect to be so immersed in it. I was rereading The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley and found this book for 4 dollars, so I bought it. It caught my attention for some reasons: 1) Go Ask Alice is a book that I have been recommended but when I read the synopsis I don't find interest in reading it. So I saw this and I saw it was by an Anonymous source "in the tradition of Go Ask Alice" and I turned it around and 2) an entry was written on my birthday (Nov. 6), and by what's written on the back I had a feeling this would deal with LGBTQ topics (3). I began reading it and couldn't stop.

There's a reason I gave this 4 stars. It is mostly because, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice, I believe this have to be diary entries. But sometimes I think the diary entries would be very well detailed, almost as a first person narrative. I don't own diaries and never have read one so maybe they are like that, but it was strange seeing him start writing like "This happened today" to almost narrating the whole day with dialogues and all. Maybe it is just me, and maybe this is supposed to represent the change of this journal from just a school assignment to more in-depth to the life of David (I believe that his name I mean... that's the title of this book). There's also some things I noticed: On one line Tyler is talking and they change the name to Trevor and go back to Tyler, a typo... and well the entry on the back dates Wednesday, November 6. When we got to that date on the book itself, it was Tuesday, November 6 and what's the entry on the back was actually written on Wednesday, November 7. I mean this is an Anonymous book with no author maybe they didn't check it? At the same time I mean this is a work of fiction so I don't know.

As for the story itself, it was very engaging. Here come some spoilers:

There's the whole way in which David already knew he liked guys, and that while he had a girlfriend, whenever he and Jon had some interaction it was kind of cute and adorable to me. Once he actually meets Jon and they had this chemistry it was for me hard to find a way that this could end well. I never read a book like this so I was scared this would go like Brokeback Mountain except with teens in a high school setting? Thank goodness it wasn't. But anyways... the characters were very cool, but I believe the characters I cared for the most was Jon and David. As their friendship progressed to something more it was really cool to see. However, we get Tyler being an asshole for most of the book. Seeing the following quote makes me scared sometimes people can see me like that:

"Trying to keep this friendship with Tyler had been so frustrating and painful, and I'd always felt racked with the fear that if I didn't do it just right, this very thing would happen. What had all that work and effort and trust and trying been for if it made me feel miserable?"

It was clear that Tyler was threatened by David. He was getting all the scholarships deals while he suffered that accident and he was just being an asshole and then not. His character was quite hard to place until he recorded David and Jon together and posting the video online. I was so so scared that Jon (Jay) would be devastated that it was happening again, and that David would turn his back on him and that Jay would end up dying, which I would not have been able to handle. It was quite surprising how Monica was so chill about David being into guys, but man... the parents sucked.

"What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I so upset? I hate myself for feeling this way—for feeling any of this. That's the saddest part of all, I guess. If being gay is a problem, I'm the problem."

Even before Tyler outed David, the church he attended to sucked, them saying how homosexual people were making God angry it was horrible, and it pokes on every reason why people who go to church and are gay have such a hard time with this.

"I'm one of the people who makes God mad. It makes me feel terrible about liking Jon so much. How can it make God mad that we're into each other? How is what we're doing hurting anybody else? Or God, for that matter? If it makes God so freaking mad, why does it feel so good?"

If I am honest, I never heard it was wrong, even when clearly many people here think it is wrong, growing up and discovering myself, I never saw it as wrong. God is all about loving everyone, so why would people be so upset at gay people? I dunno... this paragraph is just me thinking. But I liked the character of Brent, who gave David an insight on how someone who is gay can have a good future and not just to conceal it. I really liked the quote of "I wonder how Brent figured out he wasn't an 'abomination.'"

"I wish I could tell everybody I know about what it feels like to just be myself. I wish I could explain in words how good it feels to be honest with another person about who I am. This is who I am. This is what it feels like to be loved. It drives away every fear. It makes everything seem possible."

It was very nice when David started noticing he was who he was and that it was okay. How he started hanging out with Jon after every time he was with Monica... how when they had sex he felt something he never felt with anyone else before. I never expected the whole Jon moving away from Colorado for the reasons he did and I was very scared... but I mean nothing happened till when David was outed. As I stated I was so scared of what would happen but I was so glad that David started defending Jon and himself, just being himself no matter what people thought of him. Though it was extremely sad to see the parents being so closed minded. Saying that Jon made him that way when he has always been that way. That he was giving in to the temptation of Satan and all that BS. The mom saying if they prayed it would go away. The only family member there who was nice enough was Tracy, and I am so glad David got her out of the house in the end... with the whole he being hospitalized because his father knocked him out or something. It sucked, but I am so glad he had Jon and his parents, that he still had Monica and Brent and Tracy... and that David's dad is in jail and that he won't have to deal with him... but I felt for David when he said he wished his dad to change and his mother to be safe, even if she hates him for who he is. I dunno... This book ended so much better than I thought it could and I really enjoyed it. There's so much more I could talk about, but that's the problem with my reviews, I always leave things out lol. I liked the whole ending on how he states how he can't control many things except being happy with who he is. How Jon showed him to be honest with himself and the world and how when you have nothing to hide, there's no worry people will tell your secrets. It was great that he is attending college, that Jon is going near too... and I really liked the song Jon sang for a while and how he gave David a necklace with ROAR on the front and You're the one I always wanted. . . .

"Maybe that's how 'it gets better'—not because other people change, but because I do."

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5
Captain of the football team, David has feelings for Jon, the new guy in school, feelings he doesn't understand. He can't be gay though, because his girlfriend is head cheerleader. Plus his parents and church think homosexuality is a sin that can be cured. David and Jon are becoming closer, but can they ever be more than friends who steal knowing glances and smiles?

THE BOOK OF DAVID, like other fictionalized books by "Anonymous" is written in journal form. While better than some of the other books by "Anonymous", this novel is filled with stereotypes. The Jock who can't have these feelings, because jocks aren't gay. The Theater Geek, hello musicals. Homophobia in the locker room. Homophobic parents, though lacking the mother who gets it. Another Gay Athlete to show The Jock you can be gay and a jock. Fortunately there are non stereotypical characters too, teachers, classmates, and coaches at the high school and college level. While the plot and characters are fairly standard, I would still recommend THE BOOK OF DAVID to middle and high school kids, their parents and coaches.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best out of the “anonymous” series. A lot of people seem to think this book is out dated…it’s not. Really depends on where you’re from. Where I’m from, this book is pretty relevant and the author provides some great resources at the back of the book. I really liked how the main character was a stereotypical “masculine” guy and he has to realize that he can be both masculine and gay, and it’s okay to be that way - the idea of the “stereotypical” gay man is exactly that: a stereotype.

*spoilers for this book and the other anonymous books* I am SO glad this book didn’t end with one of the character’s dying. I was expecting it to happen thanks to the other books I’ve read in this series, and I thought it would be Jon. SO GLAD I was wrong there. There is a domestic abuse though, sadly. Thankfully the author did provide ideas on how to get out of that situation if the reader were to be in it.

Not the best book in the world, absolutely not. But this one was my favorite and probably most realistic (still, sadly) of the series.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I asked my local librarian for some Young Adult fiction that included football in the plot, looking for something my niece might enjoy reading. This is the book she recommended. I finished the book in one night. I was expecting football, and I definitely got plenty of that in this excellent story, but what I also got was a young man coming to terms with his own identity, and the reaction of those around him to the sudden shove out of the closet he receives from a supposed friend. The ending of the book was my favorite part. So many stories like this end with a convenient tragedy. This ending was very real. I was afraid it might be a little intense for my niece, so I told her about the book, and she wants to read it. I'll be interested to see what she thinks (she's 15).

[Denyse Springs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you kidding me? I literally sat there all day the other day reading as much as possible before I had to go to work. Like this book had me in a choke hold. And I don't even care if this is true or not true. I know all the rumors surrounding the author but like this book literally had me laughing, had me crying. Had me wishing and hoping for the fast and then are you kidding me? I just are you kidding me. This was definitely this story and the book of the month and I'm so glad that I got to read this for October.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this book. (Surprisingly) It will be short-but I liked how the gay characters have fleshed out personalities;their main aspect wasn't that they were gay(Unfortunately I see that a lot.)They seemed like real people.

[Nick D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Excessively simplistic. Just did not seem authentic.