Will Grayson

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

I come by my book suggestions in a variety of ways. Sometimes, a friend in real life, or online will suggest it. Maybe we’re going to feature it here on Eve’s Fan Garden and I need to read it to be prepared. Or, we could be doing an author chat and one of our guests will mention a great book they read. Or, maybe one of the authors I’m following on Facebook or Twitter will mention a great read.

So, I’ll log into my library’s web site, request the book and wait. By the time I get the book, I have no idea who/what/where I got the suggestion from. Picking up books at the library has become a little like Christmas for me – I never know what I’m getting.

Somewhere along the line, someone (possibly Elizabeth Eulberg but I’m not sure) recommended this book, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. I picked it up at the library along with a ton of other books and it sat on my shelf for a while. It was coming close to the end of the 4 week check-out period, so I got online and renewed it. Still it sat – till last   Thursday. For some reason, I picked it up and started to read. And, then I couldn’t put it down.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is the story of two teenage boys both named – guess what! – Will Grayson. Green and Levithan wrote alternate chapters, each telling the story of “his” Will Grayson. John Green’s Will Grayson is a straight boy, living with his mom and dad. He says he doesn’t feel emotion, but is that really true or is it a defense mechanism? His best friend is Tiny Cooper "the world's largest person who is really, really gay and the world's gayest person who is really really large.” In the meantime, Levithan’s Will Grayson lives with his single mom and is in the process of coming out. He tells his story in all lower case letters, partly to show his lack of self esteem.

One night, the two Will Graysons (and Tiny) meet. And, that fateful meeting changes the lives of all. They all learn lessons about...