Sprout (novel)

Last updated
Sprout
Sprout novel Dale Peck.jpg
Cover illustration of the novel Sprout by Dale Peck
Author Dale Peck
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Young adult novel
Publisher Bloomsbury USA
Publication date
2009
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages277
ISBN 1-59990-160-9

Sprout is a young adult gay novel by American author Dale Peck first published in May 2009. The novel depicts an openly gay teenage boy who moves to Kansas after his mother dies from cancer. While he struggles with harassment at school and two potential boyfriends, he has to decide if he will hide his sexual orientation in order to win a statewide essay-writing contest. An act of betrayal leads to the book's climax.

Contents

The book won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children's/Young Adult literature, [1] and was a finalist for the Stonewall Book Award in the Children's and Young Adult Literature category. [2] Booklist added the novel to its Rainbow List 2010, a bibliography of young adult books which include significant LGBT content. [3]

Peck says he based some characters and plot in the book on his own experiences growing up on Long Island, in New York, and in Kansas. [4]

Plot synopsis

The novel is written in the first person singular. [5] At times, it appears to be in the form of an essay or letter to the reader, but at other times it seems to be simply the protagonist telling his story. Portions of the novel are told in flashback, [5] depicting Sprout's first few months in school. Much of the book is written in the stream of consciousness narrative style. Significant portions of the book focus on peer pressure, the role social stratification and social cohesion play in rural life, and norms of social conservatism.

I have a secret. And everyone knows it. But no one talks about it, at least not out in the open. That makes it a very modern secret, like knowing your favorite celebrity has some weird eccentricity or other, or professional athletes do it for the money, or politicians don't actually have your best interests at heart. ... Anyway, you know this much: Being gay isn't my secret.

The novel opens with Sprout making claims about whether people know about his homosexuality, his short height, his poverty, or his dead mother (among other things). But Sprout claims to have a secret, but it is a secret which everyone knows about. The nature of Sprout's open secret is a narrative framing device which opens and closes the novel.

Sixteen-year-old Daniel Bradford is nicknamed Sprout. In a flashback, the reader learns that his mother dies of cancer when he is 12 years old. His father has trouble dealing with her death and becomes an alcoholic. Early one morning, Sprout's father announces they are leaving New York and heading for Kansas. Sprout's father buys a plot of tree-covered land near Hutchinson, Kansas. The family takes up residence in a very small vacation trailer. Sprout's father begins covering the trailer in vines, and plants upside-down tree roots all over the property. Sprout's father has no job; the family lives off the proceeds from the sale of their former home.

In another flashback, Sprout reveals that he has trouble fitting in at his new school due to his New York accent, odd way of dressing, poverty, and lack of a mother. He is harassed by the school bully, Ian Abernathy, but is befriended by an eccentric tomboy named Ruthie Wilcox. One day, after he and Ian both receive detention, the two boys wrestle. This leads to Ian initiating a sexual relationship with Sprout. [6] Sprout reveals that he and Ian continue to engage in sexual conduct on-and-off for the next four years, but that he desires an actual relationship. He distracts his peers from these facets of his life by dying his hair green (see the cover illustration).

At the end of Sprout's sophomore year, he meets Mrs. Miller, who teaches English grammar and literature at the high school. Mrs. Miller has discovered that Sprout is an excellent writer. The state of Kansas sponsors a (fictional) statewide essay contest. Over the past several years, Mrs. Miller has coached many students who have entered this contest, and her students have won the event more times than any other teacher in the state. During the summer, Mrs. Miller has Sprout come to her home each day to be coached by her. Sprout learns that Mrs. Miller, too, has a drinking problem. Mrs. Miller meets Sprout's father, and the two begin a relationship. Both adults also learn that Sprout is gay and has been having sex with Ian Abernathy. Mrs. Miller counsels Sprout to not mention his homosexuality in his essay, for fear it would alienate the politically conservative judges. That same summer, Sprout's relationship with Ruthie grows cold for several reasons.

Shortly after the start of his junior year, Sprout meets Ty Petit, a local Kansas boy whose father is a violent man who appears to believe in the Christian Patriot movement. (Ty's father idolizes Timothy McVeigh.) The Petit children were abandoned by their mother, which has left Ty with severe emotional issues—made worse by his father's constant child abuse. Ty and Sprout become close friends, and have several emotionally intense experiences together. Sprout also learns about deep secrets in Ty's past, such as the suicide of his twin brother who had suffered from severe depression. After being chased by a homicidal Saint Bernard, Ty kisses Sprout (Sprout's first kiss), and they begin a secret relationship. Ty continues to assert that he is not gay (even though he and Sprout have sex with one another). The climax of the novel centers around Sprout's betrayal of Ty at a critical moment. When Ty runs away from home after this incident, Sprout believes he is the reason behind it. Several other major issues are addressed (including Sprout's open secret) in the novel's few remaining pages.

Critical reception

Critic Greg Morago of the Houston Chronicle called the book "a poignant novel about coming out and coming of age." [4] It "has a lot to teach all ages about the oft encouraged but never easy process of being yourself and accepting yourself." [4] A review in The Horn Book Magazine was equally positive: "Structurally effective, caustically entertaining, unpreachy, and thought-provoking, Sprout is a satisfying look at the truths one young man unearths about himself." [7] Daniel Kraus, writing in Booklist, lauded the way that the author handles the movement of characters like Ruthie, Ian, Mrs. Miller, and Ty in and out of the story, calling this "both absorbing and jarring." [5] He gave the novel a glowing review: "But the prose is as intelligent and playful as Sprout himself... The lengthy, leisurely chapters allow readers to live through the characters rather than view them as mere plot pushers, and the result is a story rarely content to move in conventional directions." [5] A reviewer for School Library Journal enjoyed Peck's use of vocabulary and cultural references (such as to Guns & Ammo magazine and the Borg cube), noting this "will intrigue readers who enjoyed Lemony Snicket's built-in definitions in their younger years." [8] Critic and author Richard Labonte described the book as "More an 'out, so what' than a classic coming out story," and called it "charming yet sharp-edged". [9]

Kirkus Reviews gave the book a mixed but overall very positive review. "Peck's first aimed squarely at the YA audience is, at times, charming. Sprout's narrative voice is strong and realistic, and his observations are entertaining. As a whole, though, there're just too many issues. Add to the above: dating parent, teen pregnancy, betrayals of and by friends. Dedicated readers, especially young gays in the square states, will identify—and it's important enough for that reason." [10] School Library Journal also found flaws in the novel, concluding that the adult characters were not realistic and that some passages in the novel bordered on the sexually crude. [8]

Overseas reviews were mixed. A review in Melbourne, Australia's The Age newspaper concluded: "Queer teen fiction is flourishing, and the strength of Dale Peck's protagonist—sardonic, intellectually curious and impossibly sure of his identity—makes Sprout one of the more winning examples of it." [11] However, reviewer Vicky Edwards in Adelaide's Sunday Mail found the extensive vocabulary daunting, the plot slow, and the conclusion rushed. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Chocolate War</i>

The Chocolate War is a young adult novel by American author Robert Cormier, published in 1974. It was adapted into a film in 1988. Although it received mixed reviews at the time of its publication, some reviewers have argued it is one of the best young adult novels of all time. Set at a fictional Catholic high school, the story depicts a secret student organization's manipulation of the student body, which descends into cruel and ugly mob mentality against a lone, non-conforming student. Because of the novel's language, the concept of a high school secret society using intimidation to enforce the cultural norms of the school and various characters' sexual ponderings, it has been embroiled in censorship controversies and appeared as third on the American Library Association's list of the "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books in 2000–2009." A sequel was published in 1985 called Beyond the Chocolate War.

Dale Peck American writer

Dale Peck is an American novelist, literary critic, and columnist. His 2009 novel, Sprout, won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children's/Young Adult literature, and was a finalist for the Stonewall Book Award in the Children's and Young Adult Literature category.

<i>Annie on My Mind</i> 1982 novel by Nancy Garden

Annie On My Mind is a 1982 novel by Nancy Garden about the romantic relationship between two 17-year-old New York City girls, Annie and Liza.

Al Capone Does My Shirts book by Gennifer Choldenko

Al Capone Does My Shirts is a historical fiction novel for young adults by author Gennifer Choldenko. In this story, Moose Flanagan and his family move from Santa Monica to Alcatraz Island. The move was caused by the father's new job positions as an electrician and as a guard in the well known Alcatraz prison. The book was named as a Newbery Honor selection and in 2007 it received the California Young Reader Medal. It has three sequels, Al Capone Shines My Shoes, Al Capone Does My Homework, and Al Capone Throws Me a Curve.

Allan Stratton Canadian writer

Allan Stratton is a Canadian playwright and novelist.

Todd Strasser

Todd Strasser is an American writer of more than 140 young-adult and middle grade novels and many short stories and works of non-fiction, some written under the pen names Morton Rhue and T.S. Rue.

Gay teen fiction is a subgenre that overlaps with LGBT literature and young adult literature. This article covers books about gay and bisexual teenage characters who are male.

Richard Peck (writer) American young adult novelist

Richard Wayne Peck was an American novelist known for his prolific contributions to modern young adult literature. He was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder. For his cumulative contribution to young-adult literature, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1990.

Michael Thomas Ford is an American author of primarily gay-themed literature. He is best known for his "My Queer Life" series of humorous essay collections and for his award-winning novels Last Summer, Looking for It, Full Circle, Changing Tides and What We Remember.

<i>Life as We Knew It</i> (novel) book

Life As We Knew It is a young adult science fiction novel by American author Susan Beth Pfeffer, first published in 2006 by Harcourt Books. It is the first book in The Last Survivors series, followed by The Dead and the Gone. When an asteroid hits the moon and brings it closer to Earth, life in Northeastern Pennsylvania will never be the same again for Miranda and her family. The lack of food and extreme cold provides major threats to their survival.

<i>The Running Man</i> (Bauer novel)

The Running Man is a novel for young adults by Australian author Michael Gerard Bauer, published in 2004. It was the 2005 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers, and also won the Courier Mail 2005 People's Choice Award for Younger Readers.

<i>Tricks</i> (novel) book by Ellen Hopkins

Tricks is a young adult verse novel by Ellen Hopkins, released in August 2009. It tells the converging narratives of five troubled teenage protagonists. The novel is noted for its gritty realism in addressing issues of sexual activity and drug use for a young adult readership. This book has also been banned due to drug uses, sexual themes, and language.

<i>Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You</i> book by Peter Cameron

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is a young adult novel by Peter Cameron. James Sveck, the protagonist, tells the reader about his life, including the reasons he became a "Missing Misfit" and is seeing a psychiatrist.

<i>In Mike We Trust</i> book by Patrick Ryan

In Mike We Trust is a young adult gay novel by P. E. Ryan first published in 2009. It depicts a teenage gay boy who falls under the sway of his con artist uncle. The boy struggles with his sexual orientation as well as the need for honesty when his beloved role model asks him to lie.

<i>The Vast Fields of Ordinary</i> 2009 young adult gay novel by Nick Burd

The Vast Fields of Ordinary is a young adult gay novel by American author Nick Burd first published in 2009. The novel depicts the summer after high school graduation for a closeted suburban teenage boy, his openly lesbian new best friend, and the two boys he is interested in dating. The Vast Fields of Ordinary is Burd's debut novel.

<i>How Beautiful the Ordinary</i> book by Michael Cart

How Beautiful the Ordinary: Twelve Stories of Identity is an anthology of LGBTQ short stories for young adults edited by American author Michael Cart. It was first published in 2009. The anthology contains an introduction by Cart, 11 short stories, and one novella by acclaimed lesbian and gay authors.

<i>Shine</i> (novel) novel by Lauren Myracle

Shine is a 2011 young adult mystery novel by Lauren Myracle. The book was published on May 1, 2011, and follows a teenage girl investigating a hate crime involving the beating and near-death of her best friend in a small, North Carolina town. Shine won the 2012 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award and is on the ALA's "YALSA Reader’s Choice" and "Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults" lists for 2012.

<i>Such A Pretty Girl</i>

Such A Pretty Girl is a 2007 young adult novel by American author Laura Wiess. The book was first published on January 2, 2007 through MTV Books and deals with the subject matter of a teenage girl that must deal with the reality that the father that molested and sexually abused her and several others is getting an early release from jail.

Faery Rebels

Faery Rebels, also known as No Ordinary Fairy Tale, is a three-book fantasy series by Canadian author R. J. Anderson. Each book of the series centers around a faery who must venture out of their island to save the faery race.

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley American writer

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is an American children's and young adult book author. Her children's book The War That Saved My Life received the Newbery Honor Award in 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Valenzuela, Tony. "Winners of 22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards." Lambda Literary Foundation. May 28, 2010. Accessed 2010-05-28.
  2. ↑ "Stonewall Book Awards for 2010 Announced." Press release. American Library Association. January 19, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Rainbow List 2010." Booklist. March 1, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Morago, Greg. "Touching Story Grows From Sprout." Houston Chronicle. June 28, 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kraus, Daniel. "Young Adult Review: Sprout." Booklist. May 15, 2009.
  6. ↑ Although the nature of the sexual conduct is not described in the novel, Sprout tells his father and teacher that he is having sex with Ian. Thus, the nature of the relationship appears to be more than mere nudity or fondling, but it is later stated that they never kissed.
  7. ↑ Gershowitz, Elissa. "Young Adult Review: Dale Peck, Sprout." The Horn Book Magazine. July 1, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Knapp, Maggie. "Sprout." School Library Journal. June 1, 2009.
  9. ↑ Labonte, Richard. "Book Marks." Between the Lines. August 13, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Sprout." Kirkus Reviews. May 2009.
  11. ↑ Woodhead, Cameron. "Sprout." The Age. August 8, 2009.
  12. ↑ Edwards, Vicky. "Book World." Sunday Mail. October 4, 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.