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Coming Out: High School Boys Share Their Stories
Living a lie can be tough, but the decision to come out as gay is not always easy, either—especially if you are still at school. Charlie, Clay, Josh, and Grant are openly gay high school boys who share their coming out stories.
“The absolute worst room in the entire school—worse than the bio lab during frog dissection season, when the whole room smells like formaldehyde, and worse than the basement bathroom that the janitor never cleans and is always sticky and smells like cigarette smoke—is the locker room.”
Fears are confronted, tears can’t be avoided, and friendships are put at risk. Each story is unique, but what is common for all of the boys is that when they claim the life that is rightfully theirs, it will get better.
“The absolute worst room in the entire school—worse than the bio lab during frog dissection season, when the whole room smells like formaldehyde, and worse than the basement bathroom that the janitor never cleans and is always sticky and smells like cigarette smoke—is the locker room.”
Fears are confronted, tears can’t be avoided, and friendships are put at risk. Each story is unique, but what is common for all of the boys is that when they claim the life that is rightfully theirs, it will get better.
- GenresGayLGBTShort Stories
226 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2017
113 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Jay Argent
24 books119 followersJay Argent is a novelist in his forties who lives a peaceful life with his husband. His favorite hobbies are music, movies, and romantic novels. He obtained a degree in engineering in 2001 and started his career in a management consulting firm. Right now, he is pursuing his true passion of writing.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 21, 2020
Four paths to the unicorn
Jay tells the story of four teen boy’s journey to being out and proud. You feel for all of them and hope their future remains bright. 3.5 for siblings (final story).
Jay tells the story of four teen boy’s journey to being out and proud. You feel for all of them and hope their future remains bright. 3.5 for siblings (final story).
August 24, 2017
While society is far more accepting in this day and age, coming out is one of the hardest -- if not THE hardest -- things these brave young men will do in their lives. It's not easy no matter who you are, how old you are or where you are, and I sincerely hope this book will encourage others to share their stories. I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways and I recommend it not only to people struggling with their sexuality but to EVERYONE so they can have a better understanding without judging.
Four stars.
Four stars.
April 26, 2018
Pushed out, pulled out, or just coming out
It never goes as planned. Fear of the unknown is always a problem for anything new, but when you know just enough about other's experiences, it can overwhelm all reason for everyone involved. This is a collection of high school boys struggling with themselves as they try to find their personal identity in life while adapting it to meet the expectations of family, friends, relatives, teachers, bosses, and even strangers. The search for the true partner, true mate, soul mate, or person that completes you is never easy. Rarely is the first choice the perfect fit. Even if no choice has been experienced, the fear of becoming known as gay is probably one of the worst fears possible. Most other fears can be avoided most of the time. Outing happens when least expected. But true friends' support will be there because it does not matter to be them when they love you for who and what you are to them. High school is the hardest part of most people's lives, yet it is when we discover and learn the most about survival, overcoming difficulties, love, and ourselves. Seek and ye shall be found out. Search and ye shall come out. Smile and ye shall be out.
It never goes as planned. Fear of the unknown is always a problem for anything new, but when you know just enough about other's experiences, it can overwhelm all reason for everyone involved. This is a collection of high school boys struggling with themselves as they try to find their personal identity in life while adapting it to meet the expectations of family, friends, relatives, teachers, bosses, and even strangers. The search for the true partner, true mate, soul mate, or person that completes you is never easy. Rarely is the first choice the perfect fit. Even if no choice has been experienced, the fear of becoming known as gay is probably one of the worst fears possible. Most other fears can be avoided most of the time. Outing happens when least expected. But true friends' support will be there because it does not matter to be them when they love you for who and what you are to them. High school is the hardest part of most people's lives, yet it is when we discover and learn the most about survival, overcoming difficulties, love, and ourselves. Seek and ye shall be found out. Search and ye shall come out. Smile and ye shall be out.
August 18, 2017
"Coming Out: High School Boys Share Their Stories" is exactly what the title says, a collection of short stories about a diverse group of teen boys and how each came out of the closet in their own unique way. I was very happy with this anthology. The stories were well thought out and well told, and the characters were likable and, of course, under the circumstances, easy to sympathize with. This is a work of fiction, it should be made clear. Whether the author based these tales on actual boys' experiences, I do not know. But regardless, the tales offer hope and inspiration for those who need it, and a good read for those already out of the closet.
April 24, 2024
This compilation of short stories in a diary-like format is exactly what you'd expect from the title; high school age boys confronting thefact that they're gay and coming to terms with it in a variety of settings.
Jay Argent's telling of each definitely hit home for me; I experienced much of the same stress, agnst, fear, and self-loathing that a number of these stories evoke and tell. However, the message from each was also inspiring and universal: be who you need to be despite what others may think, because in the end, their opinions don't matter. You loving yourself and being who YOU want to be is what DOES matter.
All in all, a good read for those who might be of similar age to these boys -- and thus get some guidance from their tales -- or for those who are older, for it shows how much we've progressed.
Jay Argent's telling of each definitely hit home for me; I experienced much of the same stress, agnst, fear, and self-loathing that a number of these stories evoke and tell. However, the message from each was also inspiring and universal: be who you need to be despite what others may think, because in the end, their opinions don't matter. You loving yourself and being who YOU want to be is what DOES matter.
All in all, a good read for those who might be of similar age to these boys -- and thus get some guidance from their tales -- or for those who are older, for it shows how much we've progressed.
August 20, 2017
Feelings, Fear, Family, and Friends
This is a wonderful collection of short stories covering exactly what the title says. It's high school boys dealing with coming out. The characters are wonderfully developed and the stories are varied. Dealing with the fear that characters have over what the impact of coming out will do to their relationships with the important people in their lives is the underlying theme. The truly important relationships are the ones that support you regardless of their understanding. I found the characters to be compelling and sympathetic. A few hours and I was through the book.
This is a wonderful collection of short stories covering exactly what the title says. It's high school boys dealing with coming out. The characters are wonderfully developed and the stories are varied. Dealing with the fear that characters have over what the impact of coming out will do to their relationships with the important people in their lives is the underlying theme. The truly important relationships are the ones that support you regardless of their understanding. I found the characters to be compelling and sympathetic. A few hours and I was through the book.
December 31, 2017
A collection of oh-so relatable stories
For anyone who has ever had to come out, these stories are so relatable. The terror that people won't accept you or of how things will change are spot on. I didn't come out until I was in my 20s, but I felt all of these things when I was in high school. These are truths that I am honored to read and immensely grateful that were shared.
For anyone who has ever had to come out, these stories are so relatable. The terror that people won't accept you or of how things will change are spot on. I didn't come out until I was in my 20s, but I felt all of these things when I was in high school. These are truths that I am honored to read and immensely grateful that were shared.
May 13, 2022
Very Relatable
The stores in this book are very relatable to how many teens and young adults feel. When it comes to the process of coming out everyone has a different story while have feelings similar to those in this collection.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling to come out or there parents to help then understand the struggle.
The stores in this book are very relatable to how many teens and young adults feel. When it comes to the process of coming out everyone has a different story while have feelings similar to those in this collection.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling to come out or there parents to help then understand the struggle.
June 15, 2017
Nice coming out stories.
You actually get curious to what comes next.
Will he see the other guy again? Will he find a guy? Will they stay together? Will they meet trouble?
Though none really experienced much trouble in the end... usually comes later anyway
You actually get curious to what comes next.
Will he see the other guy again? Will he find a guy? Will they stay together? Will they meet trouble?
Though none really experienced much trouble in the end... usually comes later anyway
August 19, 2018
Encouraging stories about a difficult topic
Coming out isn't easy. It's stressful and scary. You could be kicked out of your home, fired from your job and any number of other equally disruptive fates. These stories show that coming out is nearly always a life freeing event.
Coming out isn't easy. It's stressful and scary. You could be kicked out of your home, fired from your job and any number of other equally disruptive fates. These stories show that coming out is nearly always a life freeing event.
August 9, 2024
Amazing Collection of Stories
I hesitated reading this book, and I thought it would be something other than what it was. I really enjoyed the individual stories, and they emotionally touched my heart. While my life experiences were nothing these boys, I could really relate to the feelings they shared.
I hesitated reading this book, and I thought it would be something other than what it was. I really enjoyed the individual stories, and they emotionally touched my heart. While my life experiences were nothing these boys, I could really relate to the feelings they shared.
June 16, 2017
Who knew coming out nowadays was such a non-event? What a snoozefest zzzzzzzzzzz.
August 9, 2017
Good stories to read if you plan to come out.
If you are planning to come out these stories may give you a boost and perhaps some ideas on how to go about it.
If you are planning to come out these stories may give you a boost and perhaps some ideas on how to go about it.
December 3, 2017
Five Stars
March 9, 2019
Collected high school stories reflecting a calmer view of coming out than usual.
November 17, 2019
Jay Argent raised the bar very high by Fairmont boys series. Unfortunately, this book did not match high level standard referenced earlier.
November 9, 2023
A good read for kids just coming out who need to see all sides of a situation. I wouldn't read twice but I can see a teen-ager getting some real benefit from this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews