carrionlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Ryan gets the options of small town life down perfectly. I think the book also strikes a balance rarely found in LGBTQ YA. The plot of Way to Go focuses just as much on Danny’s struggle with what to do with his life and his relationship with his family as it does on his being gay.
Overall, a great book for LGBTQ kids, but also easily relatable for anyone that’s ever felt like an outsider where they grew up.
Overall, a great book for LGBTQ kids, but also easily relatable for anyone that’s ever felt like an outsider where they grew up.
emmaghanem's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know why Way To Go isn't extremely popular in the YA community yet. It was a fantastic book full of meaning, and also just an adorable story. The main character Danny, has some trouble coming to terms with being gay. He tries to hide it, and deny it. The story is basically him trying to come to terms with it. I thought that he was an incredible character. He was kind and sincere to others, and he wasn't a jerk like his friend Kierce. I wish this book was a little thicker, so that I could have more to discuss! Way To Go was a very short story, but an extremely powerful one. I recommend this book to everyone.
georgie321's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hazelrobin's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
twinleafs's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked this book, but it reminded me of Perks of Being a Wallflower in more ways than one. Obviously there were other characters, but there was a straight guy who tried picking up everyone, a straight guy who was winging life, a might-be-gay guy (the main character), and then two girls that have connections with the main character. There were also mix tapes and dancing, and even a fight about how the main character was trying to hide how he was (possibly) gay. Did I mention it takes place in the '90s?
Like I said, I loved the book, but at the same time the similarities are visible for anyone who's read Perks.
Like I said, I loved the book, but at the same time the similarities are visible for anyone who's read Perks.
ashrocketship's review
3.0
This was a nice, solid coming-of-age-gay-in-the-90s story with a likable narrator and a good cast of characters to spend time with. It felt simultaneously very early 2010s and 90s and also way less Canadian than I expected. I'm betting this still felt like a big deal when it was published and it's sort of funny to feel sort of flat about it now because we've had so many more books with queer protagonists and so many who get more substantial happy endings, but this still had a nice arc with a nice message and a happy enough ending and I'm glad to have read it.
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
A straightforward story of figuring out who you are, and the courage to accept that revelation.
This was a wonderful, simple novel. No bells and whistles, no gimicks. Just a solid story. I really enjoyed Dan's character. He seemed like someone I get to know, someone I would be friends with this and this immediately put me at ease. Tom Ryan does an excellent job at creating realistic characters, and everyone seemed to remind me of someone I knew growing up.
I also loved the small town Canadian setting. That was also something I felt a deep connection with, and I understood the dynamics of Dan's situation. I think a lot of teens coming to terms with their sexual identity, will find a lot of themselves in Dan and his situation.
I felt like Tome was being an incredibly honest with this book. And I can confidently and whole heartedly recommend it to teens, parents, libraries, schools...everybody!
This was a wonderful, simple novel. No bells and whistles, no gimicks. Just a solid story. I really enjoyed Dan's character. He seemed like someone I get to know, someone I would be friends with this and this immediately put me at ease. Tom Ryan does an excellent job at creating realistic characters, and everyone seemed to remind me of someone I knew growing up.
I also loved the small town Canadian setting. That was also something I felt a deep connection with, and I understood the dynamics of Dan's situation. I think a lot of teens coming to terms with their sexual identity, will find a lot of themselves in Dan and his situation.
I felt like Tome was being an incredibly honest with this book. And I can confidently and whole heartedly recommend it to teens, parents, libraries, schools...everybody!