Then years ago, one book re-imagined how a gay love story could be told. Deft, honest and straightforward, The New York Times’ best-selling author David Levithan’s book “Boy Meets Boy” offered hope to young LGBTQ readers. Now Levithan has done it again: His just-released young adult novel “Two Boys Kissing” calls attention to the extraordinary, while embracing it as something that will one day slip into normalcy—something as magical and commonplace as a kiss between two boys. Sensitive and sentimental prose develop and envelop the lives of multiple characters striving to make change, or feel it—while striving to be themselves.
“Two Boys Kissing” was inspired by the true story of two 17-year-old boys who sought the Guiness Book of World Record for the longest kiss (32 hours), motivated by a desire to draw attention to the increase of hate crimes in their area. Narrated by a chorus of men who died from AIDS, one lost generation—unable to have been the role models for the next—addresses the newest LGBTQ community. Through the intertwining of multiple characters, “Two Boys Kissing” confronts gender roles, coming out and the concept of normalcy in a world where no real relationship is “normal.” Additionally, during the first two weeks of sales, Levithan is donating $2 from every book sold to The Trevor Project—the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services. The book is available also at Amazon.