Totally Joe (The Misfits)

"Sometimes we live no particular way but our own."--Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia, "Eyes of the World"Joe Bunch, The Early Years:"My mom says that I played wedding for about a year and that I kept asking everybody if they would marry me. Even Jeff. (That was the only time anyone can remember Jeff threatening to clobber me on a regular basis.) I had my Lainy doll marry my Ken doll. I also had her marry some of my Barbies. And G.I. Joe. (I hated that the soldier doll had my name. I mean, please. I didn't play with him much. He was another Christmas present from my clueless grandparents. One time when they were visiting, my grandpa asked me if G.I. Joe had been in any wars lately. I said, 'No, but he and Ken got married last week.' Every Christmas since then, my grandparents have sent me a check.)""A dangerous book!" (I can just hear it being thundered from certain pulpits and radio talk shows.) "Boy dolls marrying boy dolls! Obscene! Pornographic!"As some of you already know, Alabama state representative Gerald Allen, who is reported to have had at least five meetings with President Bush, introduced state legislation earlier this year that would ban public funding for any books with gay characters or content to protect children from "the homosexual agenda."(No child left behind unless they're gay, right?)For those books already in the state's public and university libraries, Allen suggests that people "dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them.""But ain't that America, for you and me."--John Mellencamp, "Pink Houses"You may also have a tough time locating a copy of TOTALLY JOE in Oklahoma. According to an American Library Association press release issued earlier today:"The Oklahoma House passed 81-3 a nonbinding resolution May 9 asking public libraries 'to confine homosexually themed books and other age-inappropriate material to areas exclusively for adult access and distribution.' The resolution explains that because 'children need guidance and protection by adults to ensure their maturation is timely' parents should be 'free from interference from the distribution of inappropriate publicly cataloged materials.'"HR 1039 was introduced by Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City), who released a statement after the resolution?s passage that affirmed lawmakers are 'not looking to ban any books' but merely acknowledging that 'there are some issues little children aren't emotionally equipped to tackle, and many parents believe the issue of sexual preference is one of them.' "(Certain unenlightened library systems in Oklahoma are already scurrying to get these books back in the closet where they belong.)"E.T. does not have a fabulous name and is majorly ugly, but ever since the first time I saw him (I was six), I couldn't get him out of my mind. I began thinking I was from some other planet and wishing I could go home, just like E.T. I would even look up at the sky at night and try to pick out which planet was mine. I had a name for it--Wisteria."I think that's really the name of a flower or a perfume or something, but I liked the sound of it. I never told anybody, not Bobby or my aunt Pam or anybody. Wisteria was just for me."I never pictured Wisteria very clearly in my mind. I didn't know what the houses looked like or the trees or people or anything. When I imagined myself living there, it wasn't what I saw that mattered. It was what I felt. I felt at home.""Their eyes are all askingAre you in, or are you out,And I think, oh man,What is this about"--Ani DiFranco, "In or Out"If TOTALLY JOE was a story about Joe and Colleen instead of Joe and Colin, then it would be automatically added to school library collections serving fifth, sixth, and maybe seventh graders. The language, tone, and plot are that innocent. But because this is the story of Joe coming out and trying to navigate shark-infested hallways and school boards while being who he is, you can count on the book immediately making various hit lists referenced by "concerned" parents, preachers, and politicians."But that's no fair because then all the kids who don't know who they are can't read those books and find out who they are."--Response of an eighth-grade student to her teacher (Shari, my wife) reading an article aloud today about the aforementioned "situation" in Oklahoma.TOTALLY JOE is a very sweet, very funny, very enlightening companion book to James Howe's THE MISFITS. Having now been part of Shari's teaching THE MISFITS for four years, instigating a No-Name Calling Week based on that book, and having written and produced a school play also based on THE MISFITS, these characters have thoroughly become part of me.I didn't discover Cynthia Voigt's seven-book Tillerman cycle until after she'd already written the entire set, but I can imagine the long-awaited excitement of rejoining the characters in a new book in that series after coming to love Dicey, her family, and her friends. That's what TOTALLY JOE did for me. And, as Voigt did with many of the Tillerman books, TOTALLY JOE partially overlaps the events that we viewed from Bobby's perspective in THE MISFITS, and then moves the story forward beyond those events."There is a road, no simple highwayBetween the dawn and the dark of nightAnd if you go no one may followThat path is for your steps alone."--Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia, "Ripple"Following Joe Bunch's path through seventh grade is sheer joy. TOTALLY JOE is a totally ground-breaking book about the life and times of a funny, introspective, and gay middle school student.

This is such a fun book! Totally Joe is the second book in the Misfit series but can be read as a standalone. This middle-school series follows a group of friends, and I believe each book in the series follows one of their stories. Totally Joe is told from the point of view of Joe Bunch, an optimistic gay 12-year-old boy who is given the assignment to write his alphabiography: the story of his life from A to Z, which he writes in diary format.Things get especially interesting when he gets to “C,” which stands for Colin Briggs, Joe’s secret boyfriend.So though the course of the book as Joe works from A to Z, he bares his soul, and we follow him throughout the year as he realizes that he’s gay and figures out what that means for him and his life. Through the pages of his assignment, Joe comes out to his family, gets a boyfriend, all the while navigating the tricky waters of middle school. We get to experience firsthand what life is like for an out 12-year-old boy and the issues and challenges, as well and the joys and delights that he faces. It’s also worth mentioning that Joe is quirky and somewhat colorful, and certainly not afraid to be different, which, unfortunately, attracts the attention of bullies.But what was beautiful about this book was the unconditional support of his family and friends throughout his coming out and difficulties at school. It was also heartwarming to see the positive change that Joe, his friends, and their parents were able to bring about at school to the school, including issues of harassment and bullying. It was nice to see the adults in the story step up and take responsibility.I loved Joe’s vibrant, bubbly personality and bright, optimistic outlook, and it was a joy to read his story. I now want to read the other books in this series.

Regardless of people's view on the matter of homosexuality, Totally Joe does a good job demonstrating that those who do not fit the common thread are not any less human because of it. Totally Joe, while centering on his experiences as a homosexual, seemed more about the fact that he wanted to be treated with respect. Joe did not demand others accept his sexual orientation so much as he demanded they treat him as they would everyone else. The alphabiography was a fascinating concept that seemed like an excellent project for young adults. Not only does it require them to work on their writing skills, it also allows them a chance to discover who they are though self-expression. The No Name Calling Week, which was inspired by the companion novel The Misfits, is a fantastic idea and a great way for students to understand that agreement is not necessary, but respect is. If this is the type of books James Howe decides to write, audiences should decide to read them.

I enjoyed this book very much, for Being a 12 year old boy. I enjoyed it so much that i put down my controller for the time I was reading it. I really like how it illustrates the gay persons point of view. Although I am curious to see what this book would be like if it had an illustrator to do a few pictures.

This is an excellent book, giving an inside view of the experience of being a gay teenage boy & finding a relationship with someone who cares about you as you are. The protagonist, Joe, is a very likable character. I enjoyed the book very much & will likely share it with my granddaughter, whose older brother is gay.

My english teacher at school had us read this book. My whole class thought that the book would be lame but we found out diffrent. My class loved the life lessons. The book was about a kid that's name is Joe. He figures out that he is gay. To find out more read the book yourself!!!!

This gem is too short. You will love Joe. There are memorable insights in this very funny book. Finished it at 6:00 in the morning.

I love this book, it was so good! Came in good condition too

Pour peu qu'on digère cette nouvelle mode, surtout états-unienne, de pousser les enfants dès huit ans à faire leur coming out en matière d'orientation sexuelle (cfr. par ex YouTube "coming out of teen's) on trouvera ici un bon et agréable petit livre à emporter en vacances.L'histoire d'un petit bonhomme de 12-13 ans qui découvre et qui découvre aux autres son homosexualité naissante.Ce n'est pas un chef d'oeuvre impérissable, l'anglais (américain) n'est pas celui de Joyce, la profondeur des sentiments n'est pas celle de Tolstoï ni de Jane Austen; l'humour n'est pas comparable à celui de P.G.Woodehouse et le synopsis est plutôt mince, mais je verrais très bien ce livre au programme d'une classe du Collège et pourquoi pas dans nos écoles non anglophones. L'anglais y est tout à fait accessible.Aucune description douteuse (même pas suggérée) n'y est à déplorer.

I discovered this book after reading The Misfits and I would strongly recommend reading the Misfits first.I thought the Misfits was a better book - far funnier.This is also good though, I think worth 5 stars - and it is interesting how we already have some of the story in the misfits from another boy's point of view.In this book some of the old story is retold from Joe's point of view and then more of the story unfolds.The book is funny and well written and they way the story is revealed is very clever.Some critics say that Joe's life is unrealistic with his supportive family and friends.OK many gay teenagers do not have such a life - hence the extremely high rate of attempted suicides among gay teenagers and bullying.However, as a reader myself I like to read up-beat, positive stories like this and I think this sort of life does reflect reality for a lucky minority of gay youth these days. Times have changed greatly for the better since the author and I were teenagers (I am 45 and I believe James Howe is old enough to be my dad).If any of my three children is gay or has gay friends they will find a totally supportive and accepting family in my house.One of the things I liked in this book (and the Misfits) was how James Howe shows us what it means to have girlfriend/boyfriends when you are just 12 or 13: hanging out together, liking each other, perhaps not even speaking because you are too shy, hugging, holding hands and just maybe kissing. And it is clear that many in this age group still do not want to do kissing.

It is one of the best stories I have ever read: the characters are so attractive, the dialogues full of humor and often hilarious.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Easy and pleasant to read. I strongly recomemnd it. James Howe is a great writer and this series of books is fab.