Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
This is the third book in a week and a half that has taken place at a boy's boarding school...
Rafe is from Boulder, CO. He is gay. He came out when he was in eighth grade. He has the parents that, I imagine, most gays salivate over. They are so open and understanding, and just want him to be happy as he is. Rafe is reasonably happy at home, but he feels like he wears this label of being gay. He has spoken at other schools about gay tolerance. His teachers ask him for the gay perspective on everything, as if it is different than the straight perspective. So, Rafe ends up in Natick, MA, hoping to be himself without a label. He doesn't necessarily lie about being gay, but he doesn't necessarily tell the truth either.
While he's at school, he meets Ben. He likes Ben, as a friend, at first, but on a much deeper level too. The problem is that Ben is straight, and thinks Rafe is too. Rafe takes Ben home for Thanksgiving, and things happen. Rafe ends up telling Ben that he is gay and it messes things up. Ben feels like he's been lied to, which is valid because he has been lied to. Rafe is hurt because, even if Ben's feelings aren't the same, he is losing his best friend.
Rafe ends up coming out all over again, and decides it's best to be who you are. Doesn't matter whether who you are is gay or straight.
That's the key people: be who you are.
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