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Changing Jamie
by Dakota Chase
| List Price: |
$13.95 |
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$11.16 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
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$2.79 (20%) |
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Paperback
Publisher: Prizm Books
Jamie’s pretty much your average gay teenager. He’s not out with his folks, he’s got a crush on a fellow high school athlete, and his life isn’t perfect. It’s a good thing he has his friend, Billy, to take his mind off things, and to show him that all things are possible. Billy seems to be all Jamie isn’t. Billy’s openly gay, he has enough money to follow fashion trends, and he’s got dates all the time. Lots of them. With older men. When Billy starts acting weird and hiding things from him, Jamie’s whole life seems to tilt off its axis. His stepfather, who has never been the greatest role model, escalates his behavior until Jamie dreads going home. His English teacher assigns him tutoring sessions with the object of his crush, the gorgeous track star Dylan. Jamie’s not even sure he can talk to Dylan, let alone tutor him, but it’s impossible to talk to Billy about it. Billy’s too wrapped up in a very dangerous game they call bug chasing: trying to catch HIV. Learning about Billy’s risk-taking nearly shatters their friendship, and forces Jamie to look at the world in a whole new way. Can Jamie try to keep Billy safe and still stay on top of homework, a new boyfriend, and keeping his step-father in line?
| Customer Reviews: |
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| A Very Good Coming of Age Story |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Chase, Dakota. "Changing Jamie", Prizm Books. 2008.
A Very Good Coming of Age Story
Amos Lassen
Jamie is an average teenager and he is gay. His parents don't know and he has a crush on another athlete at his school. His friend, Billy, helps him take his mind off of his not-so-perfect life and to also let him know that everything is possible. Unlike Jamie, Billy is open about being gay, he has money and is fashion conscious and has lots of dates with hot guys who are older. Jamie's life seems to be a mess. His stepfather makes him dread going home and he has English tutoring assignments with the guy he as a secret crush on, Dylan, who is good looking and a track star. Jamie has trouble talking to Dylan and is sure he can't tutor him, He can't discuss this with Billy because he is too busy trying to become infected with HIV (bug chasing in his language). Watching Billy do this causes Jamie to look at the world differently and he wants to keep Billy safe. He has his hands full.
Growing up is not easy and it is even harder when you are gay. Jamie's problems with his abusive stepfather and keeping Billy safe as well as keeping up his grades and working on a new boyfriend really keep him occupied. Then to top everything else off, he is forced to come out in front of the entire school. The romance between Jamie and Dylan is so typical of young love and the character of Jamie is wonderfully drawn.
There are several typos in the text but overall this is a remarkable story. I especially thought Billy's subplot of "bug chasing" is very effective. Author Chase deals with the problems of adolescence effectively and this is quite an excellent read.
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| AWWWWW |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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This book was so sweat!!! I mean it was adorable; however, as a gay teen I wished the characters were a little more exlorative! The plot is compelling and the characters will make you laugh, cry, and threaten homoside! all in all a great read for the young gay community. If you are a gay adult on the other hand and want some steaming hot stuff than I would rethink your purchase!
xoxo ;)
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| Dissapointment. |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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I was really looking forward to this book, I felt that it might be an easy read, but in the end I was bored to death from all of the "plot twists". The character of Jamie was drab and see through, while his best friend was an obnoxious jerk.
I'm used to reading about gay teens that have an alcoholic step father, for some reason that's a common battle in these gay teenage romances. The author will feel like they are showing how strong the character is, when really the commonality of the whole 'battle' is just boring by this point.
I have a few more complaints but those were my biggest ones.
Oh, and the cover looked like it was done in paint.
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| A great gay coming-of-age read |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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In "Changing Jamie," the budding romance between track team members Jamie and Dylan rings very true. And it's not only their story that is very real. Their parents and classmates are very true to life. A very interesting addition here in what is an above-average gay coming-of-age tale is Billy, the protagonist's best friend. While there usually are best friends, this one has an extraordinarily dark edge. His storyline is about a very serious and contemporary subject--bug-chasing, the desire by some gay men (a fortunately extremely small group) to become infected with HIV, for a variety of sadly warped reasons. It's a very different sub-plot for a book like this, and the author handles its deftly, teaching a great lesson in the end. Overall, though, this is a solid, realistic, fun novel.
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| GREAT GREAT GREAT BOOK |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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This is a great book a must read for all teens...although the book is great i found parts of it hard to read as there was many mistakes..at one point in the book Dylan calls Jamie Billy...was a total mistake in the book....did anyone else notice this?
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