Review: I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth The Trip. by John Donovan
Title: I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth The Trip.
Author: Donovan, John
Length: 228 pages
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, GLBTQ
Publisher / Year: Flux / 2010
Original Publisher / Year: HarperRow / 1969
To Be Released: September 1st, 2010
Source: From the publisher at Book Expo America
Rating: 5/5
Why I Read It: This was the first young adult novel to discuss homosexuality. I asked (begged?) for a copy from the publisher at BEA.
Date Read: 07/07/10
I recently started reading more realistic teen books that deal with real issues in a real way. Prior to this I mostly read just paranormal teen books for fun. Now I’ve come to realize (thanks to BEA!) that there are a lot of gems out there that discuss issues relevant to teens (and all of us) excellently.
I’ve also realized, thanks to blogging and the GLBT challenge, that not many books seem to contain GLBT characters. As I’ve asked around here before, if around 10% of the population is gay, lesbian, bi or transsexual, why aren’t at least 10% of the characters in novels, TV shows and movies portrayed this way? I’ve now started specifically looking for these books to ensure that they get the attention that they deserve, and that publishers and authors realize that there IS a market for them and more get published.
When I saw this book (OK, when Trisha of eclectic / eccentric mentioned this book!) I knew I wanted a copy. This book was originally published in 1969 and was ‘the first teen book to address homosexuality’. How incredible is that? Way back in 1969 a publisher (HarperRow, now HarperCollins) took a chance and published this book. I find this fact especially incredible as from what I hear it can still be quite difficult to get books published containing GLBT characters.
I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth The Trip. is a novel that, although published 40 years ago (this is the 40th anniversary edition) still feels perfectly relevant today. Nothing in the book is dated, other than maybe the passing mention of one kid’s rich relatives who have a color TV!
The book starts with Davy’s grandmother’s funeral. He is 13 and has lived with her in Boston since he was 5. His family is now arguing about what to do with him. In the end he agrees (somewhat reluctantly) to move to New York and live with his mother who has (grudgingly) agreed to let his dog Fred come as well.
Things aren’t all peachy in New York, however. Davy’s mother drinks (a lot) and goes on random rants and long chats with him, and doesn’t seem to life Fred very much. Luckily once a week he can escape to hang out with his father. He is quite lonely and really only has Fred to keep him company – his relationship with the dog is quite close and one that is easily believed.
When Davy starts school after New Years he becomes friends with Menlo, a young kid on the bus who looks up to him, and Altschuler, a kid in his class. School goes well, and his and Altschuler’s friendship grows, until something happens and Davy isn’t sure what it means. He really questions what it means, from page 163:
There’s nothing wrong with Altschuler and me, is there? I know it’s not like making out with a girl. It’s just something that happened. It’s not dirty, or anything like that. It’s all right, isn’t it?
When I first finished the book I wasn’t sure what to think. The ending is rather up in the air with Davy and Altschuler and the conversations about homosexuality don’t seem as involved as they could be. However upon further reflection (and after reading the great short essays by other authors included at the end of the book) I grew to really like how it ended.
Davy is still on the trip, and at 13 is still learning about himself. Also, with no one to look up to, no visible examples in sports, the movies, politics how can he know that it is OK? (Again, highlights the importance of abolishing the closet, as it would give kids more role models and let them know that it is OK and that there is nothing wrong with them.) The book really leaves things up in the air which might be part of the reason that it did so well and was endorsed by so many on all sides of the spectrum.
What was also refreshing in this book was his father’s response when discussing it. His mother freaked out, but the conversation Davy has with his father is brilliant and worth including, from page 176:
Then Father talks a lot about how hysterical people sometimes get when they discover that other people aren’t just what they expected to be. He tells me there are Republicans who are always secretly disappointed when friends turn out to be Democrats, and Catholics who like their friends to be Catholic, and so forth. He says that such people are narrow-minded, he believes, and funny too, unless they become hysterical about getting everyone to be just alike. Then they are dangerous. They become religious bigots, super-patriots, super-antipatriotic, and do I understand? I tell him I think I do, but can’t people learn to understand other people? He thinks they can, but only if they want to.
Overall I thought this was a great book that I think everyone should read. For more information about the book you can check it out on this link to the book on the Flux website.
I didn’t even know this book existed and it sounds l really good, thanks for reviewing it.
I love your blog which I discovered today.
Thanks for discovering me Emily, and I’m glad you like the sounds of this book. I hadn’t heard of it either before Trisha (eclectic/eccentric) started talking about it at BEA – then I had to go request a copy
The conversation seems great. But with GBLT, I have an opinion…lol
Yes, a lot of people do Nana. This is a good book though.
I’d never heard of this book before, it sounds great!
It really is Carina. If written today I wouldn’t like it as much as it is quite vague, but knowing it was the first, it is pretty incredible.
I really enjoyed reading this from a historical viewpoint, but as you know I didn’t much enjoy the book itself. Too Catcher in the Rye for me, I guess.
Oh gosh Amanda. Really glad I didn’t think it compared to Catcher in the Rye because I was NOT a fan of that book! Ickers.
I will, at some point in the future, read this one.
a bold move at time ,can remember the drama over whites a boys own story and that was after this so must have bee ground breaking ,all the best stu
Yes Stu, not a lot of detail or exploration compared to current literature, but it would have been a huge step at the time.
I’m glad you and Amanda got around to reading this! I, on the other hand, have been terribly remiss and not even come close to picking it up. Too, too many TBR books.
That is funny Trisha, because we both only got it because of you
It was really good, I especially loved the essays included at the end. I hope you get to it soon!
From the smaller excerpt that you posted in this review, I can tell already that I would really like this book, and like Davy’s voice. I had no idea that this book was even out there, and for such a long time too! Just goes to show you how hushed the GLBT plight is, even in literature. Great review! I will have to try this one!!
Yes zibilee. For such a momentous book – as the first published – it is too bad it was out of print for years. I’m happy that they have brought it back now. I hope you enjoy it.
Sounds like a really compelling, important read, and how awesome that it was published in the ’60s! I think I’ve seen it around the blogosphere before and am definitely interested. Great review, and I love the quotes you pulled!
It’s just being republished Meg so you likely have seen it around. Very interesting book, and not only because it was originally published so long ago. I hope you can find a copy and that you really enjoy it.
I’d love to read this for historical reasons alone, but it of course helps to know it’s also a great read
Yes, Ana, definitely good that it isn’t just historically important, it is also a good book.
This book sounds fantastique, definitely going on my tbr. I think I kind of prefer it that the ending is open, especially if Davy is only 13. And it came out in 1969? That makes it even better
I meant fantastic of course, shouldn’t mix the languages
Ah, c’est fantastique en Francais aussi!
It is definitely fantastic AND fantastique and yes, the open ending does fit in both with the time and with their ages. And the essays included at the end talk about that. I loved them!