Act Well Your Part

by Don Sakers

Lonely and unhappy in his new high school, Keith joins the drama club where he meets the good-looking Bran and falls in love.

Genres: Fiction, Gay

120 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1986

About the author

Don Sakers was launched the same month as Sputnik One, so it was perhaps inevitable that he should become a science fiction writer. A Navy brat by birth, he spent his childhood in such far-off lands as Japan, Scotland, Hawaii, and California. In California, rather like a latter-day Mowgli, he was raised by dogs.

As a writer and editor, he has explored the thoughts of sapient trees (The Leaves of October), brought ghosts to life (Carmen Miranda's Ghost is Haunting Space Station Three, Baen 1989), and beaten the "Cold Equations" scenario ("The Cold Solution," Analog 7/91, voted best short story of the year.)

Sakers is a member of the CoastLine SF Writers Group. He has taught sf-writing through Howard Community College.

In 2009, Don took up the position of book reviewer for Analog Science Ficiton & Fact, where he writes the "Reference Library" column in every issue.

In his day job, Don works for the Public Library.

Don lives at Meerkat Meade in suburban Baltimore with his spouse, costumer Thomas Atkinson.

Reviews

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an example of American young adult gay fiction from the 1980s that I read quite happily when I was not long 'out' all those years ago, and have now re-read prior to clearing it from my shelves. I can't decide if it's just rather dated now (pre-Internet, pre-mobile phones) or is actually really poorly written. Perhaps it's me that's grown up, and I want more realism these days. The story is a teen romance set in a high school of impossibly liberal attitudes for the 1980s. Rather than getting his head flushed down the toilet, or beaten up and left for dead on a barbed wire fence, the worst the lead character (Keith) and his boyfriend (Bran - yes, like the breakfast food) have to face is a bit of jealousy and pursed-lips disapproval from their peers in the drama group, which is more due to the fact that the Keith, new to the school, has within a few weeks ensnared the most popular student in the group, rather than the fact that it's a gay relationship. Even 'Mom' is totally supportive. It's all sweetly romantic, gushingly so at times. I wanted to bang their heads together and tell them how tough it still is out there for many high school students in 2018.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this many years ago and just recently discovered it in a box of books misplaced during my move.

It seems a bit dated in spots now but the writing holds up rather well, all things considered. I'm sure that it was quite daring in it's day.

[Lemuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a solid, great read! Simple is the keyword if you wanna read this book. Sakers' writing is very light and interesting to read. This is a standard High School Theater novel, and you should be able to read this no matter the occasion.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. It left me wanting more and wish it either had been longer or there would have been a sequel with these characters.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet. Enjoyed it. It definitely need editing though.