Sexy (novel)

Sexy

File:SexyNovel.jpg First edition
Author	Joyce Carol Oates
Country	USA
Language	English
Publisher	Harper Collins
Publication date	February 15, 2005
Media type	Print (Hardback & e-book)
Pages	272 pp
ISBN	0060541490

Sexy is a novel by Joyce Carol Oates. First published in 2005, it is her fourth book written for young adults. The book's themes of pedophilia, homosexuality, and pre-marital sex as well as its adult language have caused it to be the source of attempts to ban the book from school libraries.

Plot summary

From the book jacket:

It was in November, a Thursday after swim practice. The thing with Mr. Tracy, Darren's English teacher.

The thing was how Darren would think of it, afterward.

The thing that was vague and not-named.

The thing that hadn’t happened, anyway.

Darren Flynn has the perfect life -- until that day in November.

After that day, after what happened (did it happen?), life is different. Darren is different. Nothing is as it was –– before. His friends, his family, even the people who are supposed to be in charge are no longer who Darren thought they were. Who can he trust, now?

This compelling, masterfully written novel by acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates explores one teenager's search for identity in a complex, deceiving world, and the answers he finds in the most unexpected places.

Sexy follows the character of Darren Flynn, a sixteen-year-old high school student and swim club member that questions his own sense of self and sexuality. He's attractive but shy, gets average grades, and constantly worries about not meeting others' expectations.

On one rainy night after a training session, Darren's friend leaves early, leaving him without a ride. His teacher, Mr. Tracy, offers to drive him home. Darren is wary of the man, who's gay but in the closet, but he reluctantly gives in. Nothing really happens on the ride home, but Darren still leaves shaken up. Shortly after, Mr. Tracy catches one of Darren's swim team members plagiarizing, gives him a bad grade, and causes that member to be thrown off the team. This prompts that member to start a rumor as revenge, and several other students start to anonymously accuse the teacher of hitting on boys; it ruins the teacher's life. Darren chose not to take part in the accusations but is now torn between his moral objections and his fear of being thought of in the same light.

Reception

Critical reception for Sexy has been positive, with Kirkus Reviews calling the book "a sympathetic portrait of a young man devoid of adult guidance". Bookpage and Teenreads both gave positive reviews, with Teenreads praising the book's themes. Publishers Weekly wrote "Rather than delineating the lines between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, Oates uses the uncertain teen's viewpoint to mine the gray area, inviting readers to draw their own conclusions about the events."