Great book. Allowed me to visualize the life I never had in high school, had I known that I was gay. ( )

DRAMA QUEERS is Frank Anthony Polito’s Young Adult follow-up to BAND FAGS. Whereas BAND FAGS focused on Jack’s coming of age, DRAMA QUEERS focuses on Jack’s best friend Bradley during their 1987/1988 senior year in high school.
Bradley is gay and comfortable in his own skin, but he runs into situations where he isn’t so forthcoming about his sexuality and he veers from the motto “To Thine Own Self Be True”.
Lots of 80’s references abound, and if you were around then, some of those long-forgotten memories will put a smile on your face!
I didn’t think this book held as much insight into Bradley as BAND FAGS did for Jack. It is a suitable book for a young adult audience that will raise a lot of discussion questions.
The question I came up with in DRAMA QUEERS is that the relationship between Bradley and Richie (16 years old) can’t last beyond Bradley’s upcoming 18th birthday, otherwise Bradley can be arrested for statutory rape, and this is not addressed in the book. ( )

The book is about Brad. I remember Brad when I first read Band Fags! a few years ago. I recall not liking his character that much. Somehow, although Band Fags! was so good that I had to grab the copy of Drama Queers!, I did not start reading this book until a few days ago. And you know what.. I don't regret spending the money on his books. Polito entertains his readers well.

Sure, there were times I wish there were less flashbacks. There were times I wish I knew what was going on, when I turned to a new chapter. And that Brad would open his eyes and realized how lucky he was. For somehow who was so daring in Band Fags!, Brad was too coward in Drama Queers! to carry the story of a confident gay teenager. He got more kisses than some guys well into their 30's. And yet, Brad became so hopeless, that I could not help to wonder if that was just a trick to drag the book longer. Somehow, I felt like shouting at the book.. 'Enough already..'. But then who am I to question Polito, since that I enjoyed Band Fags! more than many gay books out there.

And then, story before the ending. I was caught surprise. I read every line carefully, aware that my emotion had changed from excited-with-a-little-boredom-too to oh-my-goodness. I felt I could almost shed tears. And you kknow what.. I really love the ending. I have to applaud the ending. This is how fairy-tales and happy-endings should be like.

Definitely a must-read, in my opinion. ( )