What They Always Tell Us

Title What They Always Tell Us
Author Martin Wilson
Martin Wilson was born in Alabama and received a B.A. in English from Vanderbilt University. He currently works as a publicist in the book industry. What They Always Tell Us is his first novel.
ISBN 97803857335070
Publisher Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House)
Copyright Date 2008
Reading Level/Interest Age 12+
Genre Issues: Sexual Identity; LGBT Fiction
Plot Summary
Brothers James and Alex are only one year apart, but ever since last summer, when Alex swallowed Pine-Sol at an end-of-the-year party, they haven’t been very close. James just can’t understand why Alex would do something so stupid and Alex can hardly explain it either. As James anxiously awaits his college acceptance letters and deals with girl troubles, Alex finally starts to come out of his shell after joining the cross-country team and spending a lot of time with his brother’s friend, Nathen. Alex starts to realize there might be something more than friendship between he and Nathen and we come to learn that his “incident” might have had more to do with his own sexual identity than anything else. At the same time, Alex is forming a relationship with Henry, the ten-year-old who lives across the street and whose mother is involved in something mysterious that even starts to intrigue James. Slowly, both boys begin to learn about themselves and what it means to be brothers. This comes to a test when Alex reveals his homosexuality and his relationship with Nathen and James has to make a decision between loving his brother unconditionally and fitting in.
Critical Evaluation
This novel was definitely more mature and challenging than most of the books I’ve read in this genre. In fact, because the central plot is not driven forward by the conflicts of Alex’s discovering his sexual identity and coming out, it is hard to compare this book to other LGBT teen fiction. The narrative technique of switching between the brothers’ points of view from chapter to chapter was clever and allowed you to see both sides of each incident. On the other hand, because of this switching of point of view, the reader feels less drawn to either character in the intimate way that a first-person narrative would have. The book has a slow start, not jumping right into the action the way other novels in this genre do, but the relationships that develop slowly are that much more significant. I think this novel has a place for older, mature readers who, though they might be struggling with their own sexuality, are ready to read stories featuring gay characters in which the main plot and action does not revolve around the teen angst of coming out and being accepted (thought those themes are certainly explored).
Reader’s Annotation
How will Alex ever escape the stigma of being the kid who downed Pine-Sol? How will James ever survive senior year as his brother?
Curriculum Ties Could be tied into lessons about LGBT issues, tolerance and prejudice.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Do a first-person character sketch of Alex and then James, highlighting their different perspectives regarding the Pine-Sol incident.
Challenge Issues
Please see "Controversy & LGBT Teen Collections"
Why did I include this book?
Lambda Literary Award Finalist (2008); Rainbow List (2009, ALA); the author is a friend of a friend.