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Out
No one in Alex's world is who they seemed to be. Alex struggles with his faith when he witnesses a church member cheating on his wife and learns that his brother is gay. When his brother is brutally attacked, Alex is forced to decide where is loyalties lie and what he really believes in.
136 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 26, 2022
I love how that you don't have to be straight to have faith in God. Teaches homophobia and Gay rights. My favorite book so far.
November 26, 2010
I was initially excited to read "Out" by Sandra Diersch as a potential book for our community read program. The annotation was promising. The book appeared to be a quick,easy read that would be an inexpensive purchase. My hopes were quickly dashed, however.
The religious overtones in the book were an immediate turn-off. As the story begins, main character, Alex Straker, is gassing up his car when an apparently intimate couple dashes across the parking lot in front of him. Upon further inspection, Alex discovers that the man in this couple is the father of his long-time friend, Emma. It is apparent that Paul Carruthers is involved in an affair. Alex struggles with whether or not he should keep this knowledge to himself or tell someone. Alex goes immediately from this discovery to refusing to go to church on Sunday. How could a supposedly Christian man, and the head of the parish council, be involved in this kind of behavior? His refusal to go to church causes disharmony in his devoutly Catholic family. Added to this is his girlfriend, Laura's, own search for a church and religion.
Shortly thereafter, Alex sees his younger brother, Mark, hugging a boy. This, combined with his brother's distant, angry behavior, starts Alex wondering. He hears his brother sobbing and praying in his bedroom at night. When Mark confides in him that he is gay, more religious turmoil ensues. Mark struggles to understand a God who could create him like this and then tell him he is a sinner. When Mark and his boyfriend, Scott, are attacked by a group of homophobic teens, Alex is and his family deal with their issues and realize what is important - each other. Alex returns to church.
This all happens in a mere 131 pages. "Out," an Orca Soundings book, is meant for reluctant readers. I get and appreciate that, but do books for reluctant readers have to be crap writing? There is no attempt to create setting or mood. The language is simple and straight forward. The characters are flat and one dimensional. "Out" is all story. While I appreciate the attempt to deal with an important topic - gay teens and their struggles - I don't think a book like this does much good, especially when it is wrapped in the arms of religion. The topic deserves much better.
Though there is no "language," there is some underage drinking and heavy petting (good Catholics as they are, they are able to control themselves, however). Not recommended.
The religious overtones in the book were an immediate turn-off. As the story begins, main character, Alex Straker, is gassing up his car when an apparently intimate couple dashes across the parking lot in front of him. Upon further inspection, Alex discovers that the man in this couple is the father of his long-time friend, Emma. It is apparent that Paul Carruthers is involved in an affair. Alex struggles with whether or not he should keep this knowledge to himself or tell someone. Alex goes immediately from this discovery to refusing to go to church on Sunday. How could a supposedly Christian man, and the head of the parish council, be involved in this kind of behavior? His refusal to go to church causes disharmony in his devoutly Catholic family. Added to this is his girlfriend, Laura's, own search for a church and religion.
Shortly thereafter, Alex sees his younger brother, Mark, hugging a boy. This, combined with his brother's distant, angry behavior, starts Alex wondering. He hears his brother sobbing and praying in his bedroom at night. When Mark confides in him that he is gay, more religious turmoil ensues. Mark struggles to understand a God who could create him like this and then tell him he is a sinner. When Mark and his boyfriend, Scott, are attacked by a group of homophobic teens, Alex is and his family deal with their issues and realize what is important - each other. Alex returns to church.
This all happens in a mere 131 pages. "Out," an Orca Soundings book, is meant for reluctant readers. I get and appreciate that, but do books for reluctant readers have to be crap writing? There is no attempt to create setting or mood. The language is simple and straight forward. The characters are flat and one dimensional. "Out" is all story. While I appreciate the attempt to deal with an important topic - gay teens and their struggles - I don't think a book like this does much good, especially when it is wrapped in the arms of religion. The topic deserves much better.
Though there is no "language," there is some underage drinking and heavy petting (good Catholics as they are, they are able to control themselves, however). Not recommended.
November 9, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
When Alex Straker observes the father of one of his friends in a risqué situation with someone that wasn't his wife, Alex starts to question everything he knows. He's always gone to Church with his family and never rocked the boat. But the person he observed was an upstanding Church member and to Alex, it is all just hypocritical.
Alex disappoints his parents when he informs them that he no longer will go to Church with them. It causes a distance between him and his father, but his mother understands and supports his decision. To further confuse Alex, his brother, Mark, confides to him that he is gay. This is so not what Alex wants to hear. He had an inkling that this might be the case, but to hear the words uttered by his brother make them true, and he has a hard time dealing.
Alex is a jock and he knows that his brother will be harassed if he ever announces his orientation. When a fellow teammate is found taunting Mark, Alex keeps his mouth shut that Mark is his brother. Torn with his guilt and turmoil, Alex struggles to come to terms with what his life is about and how God, family, and friends all interconnect.
OUT is a short novel, but one that packs a punch. It gives the reader a lot to contemplate and ponder. Ms. Diersch is able to make Alex an authentic character. Alex struggles with real issues and handles them in believable ways. I was angered with the way he initially treated his brother, Mark, but his attitude is understandable, and probably more the norm rather than the exception.
By making me connect with the characters, I believe Ms. Diersch has achieved her goal...making the reader care.
When Alex Straker observes the father of one of his friends in a risqué situation with someone that wasn't his wife, Alex starts to question everything he knows. He's always gone to Church with his family and never rocked the boat. But the person he observed was an upstanding Church member and to Alex, it is all just hypocritical.
Alex disappoints his parents when he informs them that he no longer will go to Church with them. It causes a distance between him and his father, but his mother understands and supports his decision. To further confuse Alex, his brother, Mark, confides to him that he is gay. This is so not what Alex wants to hear. He had an inkling that this might be the case, but to hear the words uttered by his brother make them true, and he has a hard time dealing.
Alex is a jock and he knows that his brother will be harassed if he ever announces his orientation. When a fellow teammate is found taunting Mark, Alex keeps his mouth shut that Mark is his brother. Torn with his guilt and turmoil, Alex struggles to come to terms with what his life is about and how God, family, and friends all interconnect.
OUT is a short novel, but one that packs a punch. It gives the reader a lot to contemplate and ponder. Ms. Diersch is able to make Alex an authentic character. Alex struggles with real issues and handles them in believable ways. I was angered with the way he initially treated his brother, Mark, but his attitude is understandable, and probably more the norm rather than the exception.
By making me connect with the characters, I believe Ms. Diersch has achieved her goal...making the reader care.
December 9, 2013
Out by Sandra Diersch
Late one night, Alex is about to pull out of a gas station parking lot when he sees shadowy figures across the lot. As he leaves, his car headlights show that the couple in the shadows are a young woman and Mr. Caruthers, the father of his good friend Emma. Mr. Caruthers is a leader in the Catholic Church where Alex goes to mass. Alex has been questioning his faith and seeing Mr. Caruthers’s hypocrisy is the final thing that makes him decide not to go to church anymore.
But Alex has met a great girl named Laura who is interested in the church. His parents, especially his father, are upset that he doesn’t want to attend church services. Even Alex’s brother Mark doesn’t seem to doubt his faith. Still, Alex can hear him sobbing during his prayers every night. Why?
Well, I don’t think it’s giving away too much—because you guess from the title—that Mark is trying to work through his sexuality. The mix of faith, religious hypocrisy about infidelity (cheating on one’s husband or wife), religious discomfort with homosexuality, and violence against gays is the story of Out.
High school housekeeping: Out is part of the SideStreets series for teens working on their reading skills. In a short space it deals well with some serious issues. The Lexile level for Out is 690, so the reading level is the fifth to sixth grade. I recommend the book for teens reading at that level.
Late one night, Alex is about to pull out of a gas station parking lot when he sees shadowy figures across the lot. As he leaves, his car headlights show that the couple in the shadows are a young woman and Mr. Caruthers, the father of his good friend Emma. Mr. Caruthers is a leader in the Catholic Church where Alex goes to mass. Alex has been questioning his faith and seeing Mr. Caruthers’s hypocrisy is the final thing that makes him decide not to go to church anymore.
But Alex has met a great girl named Laura who is interested in the church. His parents, especially his father, are upset that he doesn’t want to attend church services. Even Alex’s brother Mark doesn’t seem to doubt his faith. Still, Alex can hear him sobbing during his prayers every night. Why?
Well, I don’t think it’s giving away too much—because you guess from the title—that Mark is trying to work through his sexuality. The mix of faith, religious hypocrisy about infidelity (cheating on one’s husband or wife), religious discomfort with homosexuality, and violence against gays is the story of Out.
High school housekeeping: Out is part of the SideStreets series for teens working on their reading skills. In a short space it deals well with some serious issues. The Lexile level for Out is 690, so the reading level is the fifth to sixth grade. I recommend the book for teens reading at that level.
September 9, 2013
What I think about this book, is that its a very good book to read. Reading "Out" really showed how being different really matter to some people. "Out" was based on an older boy name Alex who had different way of handling his religion etc.. Over the summer Alex had to make a choice on how to deal with his life.(friends,family,religion) Alex had a younger brother name Mark who also looked up to him. His brother had a big secret, and he could only share it with Alex. In this book you see how being different could change many people life including you yourself. This book is good for those who are against bullying and who are against stopping other people from being there selves. People can only do so much for people. Alex tries to please everyone but himself. Alex younger brother Mark tries to please everyone else and end up hurting nobody but himself. This book teach you to be yourself. Read the book and find out who took the hard end of the stick by trying to please everyone else.No matter how the story turn out remember to be yourself.
May 26, 2015
Another excellent book published by Lorimer Sidestreets.
I liked that this book takes a look at how life can change in an instant, making you realize what is really important.
The "popular" well liked boy has a secret and it concerns his brother. I liked that this book takes a look at what the issue of homosexuality through the eyes of the brother who chooses to ignore all the signs he sees coming from his brother, despite the fact that he loves him and wants to be there for him. You can feel the struggle from both of them - one needing support and the other unable to give it.
The family dynamics were interesting if a little bit shoved upon us without much background. Still, this book covers bullying, homosexuality, love, forgiveness and everything in between.
Loved it - too short as always though.
I liked that this book takes a look at how life can change in an instant, making you realize what is really important.
The "popular" well liked boy has a secret and it concerns his brother. I liked that this book takes a look at what the issue of homosexuality through the eyes of the brother who chooses to ignore all the signs he sees coming from his brother, despite the fact that he loves him and wants to be there for him. You can feel the struggle from both of them - one needing support and the other unable to give it.
The family dynamics were interesting if a little bit shoved upon us without much background. Still, this book covers bullying, homosexuality, love, forgiveness and everything in between.
Loved it - too short as always though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2010
I'm having a hard time thinking of a review for this. It was decently written. I think the story could have been expanded to make it longer than 131 pages.
I guess my main issues are towards the main character, Alex. I didn't really like him. I know his issues with his brother and with one of his friend's cheating parents were meant to make him unlikable. But most books where the main character is going through similar issues is written in a way that makes me really see their point of view.
I can almost see his homophobic view, but why punish one of his friend's and being all awkward around her because he saw one of her parent's cheating? That is the issue that really bugged me.
The book picked up toward the end and then...it ended.
I guess my main issues are towards the main character, Alex. I didn't really like him. I know his issues with his brother and with one of his friend's cheating parents were meant to make him unlikable. But most books where the main character is going through similar issues is written in a way that makes me really see their point of view.
I can almost see his homophobic view, but why punish one of his friend's and being all awkward around her because he saw one of her parent's cheating? That is the issue that really bugged me.
The book picked up toward the end and then...it ended.
August 10, 2011
I had really high exceptions for this book. And in all honesty, it did not live up to it.
The one thing i really hated about this book was the main character, Alex. He was just too overly angst-y and just 'everyone hates me.' Another thing was that the book seemed rushed, I understand that its a 131 page book but I feel like the author could have left somethings out and added more important details.
But all in all, I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend or anything.
The one thing i really hated about this book was the main character, Alex. He was just too overly angst-y and just 'everyone hates me.' Another thing was that the book seemed rushed, I understand that its a 131 page book but I feel like the author could have left somethings out and added more important details.
But all in all, I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend or anything.
February 4, 2016
Alex questions his Catholic faith, witnesses a family friend involved in an affair, is hot for his girlfriend Laura, and learns that his younger brother is gay. There's a lot happening here, resulting in not entirely satisfactory outcomes for me as a reader, other than the main storyline of Alex's brother.
February 17, 2014
Not a bad story just not really that unique. One of those stories that you have heard a lot if you read a lot. It was still well written and I think it should still be read especially if it helps people out.
November 16, 2012
This book was very dull and not at all what I was expecting.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews