Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Graphia (2009), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 416 pages
Description
Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is. Five years ago, Josh's life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town�seems like the world�thinks they understand. But they don't�they can't. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there's Rachel, the girl he thought he'd lost years ago. She's back, and she's determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not.Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won't stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there's Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh's past. It's time for Josh to face the truth about what happened. If only he knew what the truth was . . ..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cinf0master
Striking out on a baseball bet forces a teen to face past emotional scars. At age 13, Joshua Mendel’s history teacher molested him for three weeks and changed the rest of his life. 5 years later, the 18-year-old baseball star is preparing to graduate and working on restoring his damaged
Show More
relationship with Rachel, a childhood crush. When Eve Sherman is released from prison, Mendel realizes he must confront her in an attempt to gain the answers to the questions that have haunted him for all those years. Blending present events with extensive flashbacks, Lyga creates a tightly paced narrative that explores psychological turmoil without resorting to either clinical terminology or oversimplification. Authentic and fresh, the narrative voice develops along with Mendel, gaining experience but never overpowering the tortured undertones. Lyga’s portrayal of the fight between Mendel and Eve Sherman’s husband is riveting and tense; the main character’s later reflections on that confrontation are equally powerful. Deftly weaving together a painful confession and ambiguous ending, Lyga’s dynamic writing style creates an emotionally wrenching and haunting tale. Show Less
LibraryThing member JuneCat
Boy Toy by Barry Lyga is a 409 page young adult novel that delineates the tale of Josh Mendel, a 12 year old boy who is manipulated into a sexual relationship with his teacher. The story goes back and forth from the present to the past and follows Josh as an 18 year old high school senior who still
There have been a number of highly publicized incidents involving minors and school staff. People may be prone to dismiss such occurrences because the perpetrator is a pretty female and they take a "boy's will be boy's" attitude. This book exemplifies the real damage that occurs to the child's psyche as a result of such abuse. I highly recommend reading it.
Show More
struggles with the aftermath of the affair, years later. The book depicts the sexual activity fairly graphically, but it is not gratuitously so. It is real and organic to the story and yes--it's disturbing to read as you consider that the boy is only 12 years old and suffering emotional damage from premature sexual activity. There have been a number of highly publicized incidents involving minors and school staff. People may be prone to dismiss such occurrences because the perpetrator is a pretty female and they take a "boy's will be boy's" attitude. This book exemplifies the real damage that occurs to the child's psyche as a result of such abuse. I highly recommend reading it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
This book was disturbing and super compelling. I seriously could not put it down. The story starts when Josh is 18. He's messed up. No, I mean really messed up. When he was 12, his history teacher sexually abused him. And what's worse? Her detailed confession made its way on to the internet and
Because of the abuse, Josh made a mistake with one of his friends. Rachel liked him, but he didn't know how to deal with it and an innocent game of Seven Minutes in Heaven (well, somewhat innocent anyway) ended disastrously. Rachel hasn't spoken to him in 5 years. Math, baseball, and his best friend Zik (who has never, ever asked him about what happened with Mrs. Sherman) are the things that get him through the day. Then Josh accidentally runs into Rachel one night and they start talking again. Josh begins to tell her his story. The whole story. The story he never told anyone except the police.
It's a roller coaster of emotions and even though Josh's story was truly disturbing, I couldn't put it down. I had to get to the end so I could see if he survived, if he could overcome what happened to him. This book is not for everyone. Graphic sexual situations between a teacher and her student will be hard to take for some. But it's a very powerful story. I was rooting for Josh the whole way through.
Show More
Josh is sure that all of his classmates and teachers know exactly what he did with her. And what's WORSE? Mrs. Sherman is getting out of jail. Early. Right now. Because of the abuse, Josh made a mistake with one of his friends. Rachel liked him, but he didn't know how to deal with it and an innocent game of Seven Minutes in Heaven (well, somewhat innocent anyway) ended disastrously. Rachel hasn't spoken to him in 5 years. Math, baseball, and his best friend Zik (who has never, ever asked him about what happened with Mrs. Sherman) are the things that get him through the day. Then Josh accidentally runs into Rachel one night and they start talking again. Josh begins to tell her his story. The whole story. The story he never told anyone except the police.
It's a roller coaster of emotions and even though Josh's story was truly disturbing, I couldn't put it down. I had to get to the end so I could see if he survived, if he could overcome what happened to him. This book is not for everyone. Graphic sexual situations between a teacher and her student will be hard to take for some. But it's a very powerful story. I was rooting for Josh the whole way through.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MeriJenBen
Josh, athletic and smart is, now a senior in High School. Josh was manipulated into a sexual relationship with his teacher, Eve, when he was 12 years old. Despite years of councilling, Josh still suffers guilt and shame surrounding the events. When he learns that Eve is being paroled, it sets off a
This is a book of extremely powerful moments, that make the entire book seem better than it actually is. The flashback scenes, in which Josh describes his relationship with Eve, are the most arresting, as the reader understands the situation in ways that Josh cannot. The scenes after the relationship is discovered, in particular, are very vivid. The part of the book set in the present is much weaker, as Lyga can't seem to decide what he wants us to thinkg. Josh is not particuarly likeable or sympathetic, and in some ways that works to the book's advantage, as it throws the reader off kilter. On the other hand, it does make you sympathise with those who dislike him. Josh's obsession with baseball statistics fell flat for me, as I don't know enough about baseball to have them inform the text, nor do I care enough to find out.
The ending of this book was a little to pat, a little to perfect. Much has been made about the sex scenes in this book, which I will say, strayed too far into bodice-ripper territory for me.
Show More
series of climatic events. This is a book of extremely powerful moments, that make the entire book seem better than it actually is. The flashback scenes, in which Josh describes his relationship with Eve, are the most arresting, as the reader understands the situation in ways that Josh cannot. The scenes after the relationship is discovered, in particular, are very vivid. The part of the book set in the present is much weaker, as Lyga can't seem to decide what he wants us to thinkg. Josh is not particuarly likeable or sympathetic, and in some ways that works to the book's advantage, as it throws the reader off kilter. On the other hand, it does make you sympathise with those who dislike him. Josh's obsession with baseball statistics fell flat for me, as I don't know enough about baseball to have them inform the text, nor do I care enough to find out.
The ending of this book was a little to pat, a little to perfect. Much has been made about the sex scenes in this book, which I will say, strayed too far into bodice-ripper territory for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lalalibrarian
only took me 24 hours. Mary Kay LeTourneau-style but from the perspective of the boy who was abused, five years later. Very intense.
LibraryThing member 4sarad
I thought this was a great book and was hard to put down. Lyga did a great job tackling a really tough subject... a young woman teacher taking advantage of and molesting her 7th grade male student. The main character, Josh, seemed like a real teenager and it was interesting being in his head as he
Show More
worked through his issues, 5 years after the fact. Pretty graphic at times, but a great read all around. Show Less
LibraryThing member TonySandel
Josh, a bright baseball-mad 17-year-old, is still suffering from the sexual relationship he had with Eve, his 25-year-old history teacher when he was twelve. His problems come to a head when she is released from prison.
LibraryThing member chibimajo
Josh was 'sexually molested' during his seventh grade year by his very attractive female history teacher. It started VERY slow, she would take him home after school and he would play video games while she corrected papers, etc. Until just before Christmas, when they started making out. And then
Show More
eventually having sex. And then in March (I think), the story comes out and a trial begins. Much of this story is told in flashbacks, from five years later. Josh goes to a therapist on a regular basis still, but has never opened up enough to truly start the healing process. Compelling and grotesque at the same time. Show Less
LibraryThing member meggyweg
This was a frank, realistic look at an very under-explored, misunderstood topic. I was extremely impressed by how deftly Lyga handled this; so many people romanticize child molestation when it’s a woman who is the offender. There is none of that in this story. You get to see how the abuse
Show More
affected Josh, his parents and his friends, and you even gain some understanding of Eve (nice symbolic name there)'s motivations. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheBookCellar
Barry Lyga writes a powerful story in which he holds nothing back. Boy Toy's written back and forth between Josh's flashbacks from 5 years ago and the present. At any given time, you're chance to be wondering what Josh's thinking, and later you find out. Joshua has withdrawn himself, and avoided
Show More
Rachel, because of the incident 5 years ago, until he bumps into her. Now he must face himself and open up with the truth. The plot kept me flipping pages, waiting to see what Josh would do next. Josh was a great narrator, his voice was pleasant and kept you reading. I definately will be checking out Barry Lyga's other works! Show Less
LibraryThing member annekiwi
Vascillating between the present and 5 years previous when he had an affair with his history teacher, the story of Josh Mendel was well written. I could have done without all the baseball stats, but it was part of the character. Josh Mendel is a senior in high school, infamous for his affair with
Show More
his history teacher when he was 12. His life has been turned upside down by the incident and he is not recovering. He thinks he is, but he's just treading water, waiting to escape from his dysfunctional parents, high school that doesn't challenge him, and his status as social pariah. While the story about his affair is disturbing, I think the author handled it well. In describing sexual encounters between a 12 year old boy and a 24 year old woman, he never gets graphic, but still gets the point across. Instead of giving intimate, play-by-play details he writes "she taught me her body" which can conjure up whatever the reader associates with that phrase. The one thing that I didn't understand were the "flickers". I wish the author could have developed that more, perhaps resolved that with Josh's shrink, etc. Since I stayed up until 1 AM knowing that I had to get up at 5 AM I am going to give this book 4 1/2 stars for a compelling, well-written story. Show Less
LibraryThing member kpickett
When Josh was in 8th grade he was sexually mollested by his english teacher. Now he is 18 and he is learning to deal with the trauma that has been inflicted on him. The book starts with Josh learning that his teacher is getting out of jail and tells the story of Josh's seduction in flashbacks.
Show More
Although a difficult topic I think readers will be drawn into this book and want to know what happens to all the characters in the end. There is sex, although not explicit, be warned. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheTaleTemptress
Boy Toy by Barry Lyga has to be one of the most disturbing but great books I've ever read. The subject matter is unsettling, to say the least, but the way the author handled it amazed me. The fact that this subject was handled so delicately and exertly by a male writer was phenomenal.The story
Show More
begins with 12 year old Josh carrying a private crush on his History teacher, Eve. Large for his age, Josh is sucked into a very adult and inappropriate relationship with Eve. The truth emerges when Josh attends a birthday party for one of his friends, Rachel, and a game of spin the bottle gets out of hand. Due to his actions in this scenario, Josh's secrets comes out to devastating results.Now, years later, Josh is 17 and about to graduate high school without ever having a normal, healthy relationship, especially not one with a girl his own age. He is angry and hostile, and fights his own inner feelings about Eve, even while battling a growing attraction to the very girl, Rachel, who started the downfall of his affair long ago. Being inside Josh's head as he battles his inner thoughts, desires, guilt, and new feelings is inspiring, unsettling, and at times, very uncomfortable. Although this book is labeled for teens, I would definitely not recommend it for younger teens, as the nature of the subject matter is very adult, and some of the scenes are extremely frank and gratuitous. This story, however, is definitely worth the read.I had a very difficult time putting it down and ended up reading it in one sitting. At the end of the book, you find yourself feeling sad for Josh's discoveries, but also very satisfied for his future. Show Less
LibraryThing member pam.enser
after teaching a class about sexual abuse and teachers having sex with their students, I'm intrigued.
LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
There is nothing comfortable about this book. I was completely pulled into Josh's world - both young Josh, believing he is seducing his teacher, and teen Josh, just barely surviving in a world where his most private affairs are a matter of public record. The horror of Josh's months of abuse is
Even reading with an adult's eye, I felt my opinions also change as Josh reevaluated his views on love, family, and friendship.
I'd give this to older teens interested in realistic fiction.
Show More
almost overshadowed by the resulting years of emotional exclusion by his parents, teachers and peers.Even reading with an adult's eye, I felt my opinions also change as Josh reevaluated his views on love, family, and friendship.
I'd give this to older teens interested in realistic fiction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Pankaj.Kumar
Boy Toy is a griping story of a school boy ,girl and a teacher and how their life changes when the teacher starts a relationship with the boy.The book have a shade of suspense on whether the relationship was planed or not by the teacher although it's somehow known to the reader from the staring
Show More
that the it's teacher planing but it's till a good read about the difficulties faced by the boy in it's relationship with his childhood friend. Show Less
LibraryThing member theWallflower
It's a YA book about a high school student who had a sexual affair with a teacher when he was twelve. Now he's eighteen, about to graduate, and he is *angry*. And he has every right to be. He feels extremely ostracized, mostly by his self. He hangs onto what he has -- baseball and math, as he has
And it fascinates me. Not to diminish anyone who was in this situation but, as far as the "dominant, aggressive, older male with younger female" relationship goes in writing, it's been done to death. "Dominant, aggressive older female, younger male" is not. Especially with stories like Mary Kay Letourneau, Debra Lafave, and Pamela Rogers Turner. It follows the mental state of the boy nicely, as he struggles for normalcy in his current relationships, and how his past troubles color him. But he's really coloring himself.
Once again Lyga knocks it out of the park (baseball!). I haven't read a book of his yet that I didn't like profusely. I got exactly what I wanted -- an answer to the question of how a boy gets in a sexual relationship with a teacher. The only thing I wish was that we got a little more insight into the teacher. We never really learn her deal. Was she abused? Was she just unhappy? What was her motivation in starting this relationship? She makes a confession, so there has to be something in there. Maybe this is like real life, where the state keeps the victim and victimizer in the dark about each other's state. And that is the scariest part.
Show More
flashbacks to his sexual assaults/incidents of abuse/molestations... I guess there's no real good word to call it. Because there's a huge double standard when it comes to this sort of thing. And it's nice that the story is written in such a way that there's no thing you can point to and say "if we eliminate that, this'll never happen again".And it fascinates me. Not to diminish anyone who was in this situation but, as far as the "dominant, aggressive, older male with younger female" relationship goes in writing, it's been done to death. "Dominant, aggressive older female, younger male" is not. Especially with stories like Mary Kay Letourneau, Debra Lafave, and Pamela Rogers Turner. It follows the mental state of the boy nicely, as he struggles for normalcy in his current relationships, and how his past troubles color him. But he's really coloring himself.
Once again Lyga knocks it out of the park (baseball!). I haven't read a book of his yet that I didn't like profusely. I got exactly what I wanted -- an answer to the question of how a boy gets in a sexual relationship with a teacher. The only thing I wish was that we got a little more insight into the teacher. We never really learn her deal. Was she abused? Was she just unhappy? What was her motivation in starting this relationship? She makes a confession, so there has to be something in there. Maybe this is like real life, where the state keeps the victim and victimizer in the dark about each other's state. And that is the scariest part.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bladechik99
This book was distressing to read at times. At some points in the story, the plot was either extremely graphic, or just emotionally upsetting and I had to put it down for a little while. Not that that's a bad thing, it was actually a fantastically written book, but the topic of a teacher molesting
Show More
her 12 year old student can be a bit too much to take sometimes. I liked how Josh grew throughout the story, and I loved the scene where he realized it wasn't his fault, and that it was something that was done to him, not by him. Show Less
LibraryThing member louis.arata
Don’t let the title mislead you: this is not a charming coming-of-age story. This is about sexual abuse.
Twelve-year old Josh Mendel has a crush on his history teacher, Eve. When she starts paying him particular attention, he eats it up. What he fails to understand is that Eve is manipulating him
Author Barry Lyga tackles a topic that is usually sugarcoated as a young boy initiated into the wonders of sex by an older, more experienced woman. Lyga addresses the power imbalance and abuse inherent in this type of relationship. While Josh may be ignorant of Eve’s deliberate designs, the reader is not. Lyga deftly rolls out the story of Josh’s becoming entangled in his own confusing, conflicting emotions until he believes he is the one who brings about Eve’s downfall and arrest.
Lyga alternates between twelve-year old and eighteen-year old Josh – during and after the abuse. When older Josh learns that Eve is to be released from prison for good behavior, he struggles to comprehend the guilt and shame he has carried around for so long. While his parents and his friend Rachel are concerned about how Eve’s release might be traumatizing for him, Josh isn’t even sure what his reaction is.
Lyga does not shy away from the graphic reality of the abuse. He captures beautifully the conflict Josh is desperate to untangle, and while Eve’s honesty at the end of the novel helps to bring the story to a close, life may not be quite this neat. Still, this is a small complaint amidst a powerful novel.
Twelve-year old Josh Mendel has a crush on his history teacher, Eve. When she starts paying him particular attention, he eats it up. What he fails to understand is that Eve is manipulating him
Show More
into a sexual relationship.Author Barry Lyga tackles a topic that is usually sugarcoated as a young boy initiated into the wonders of sex by an older, more experienced woman. Lyga addresses the power imbalance and abuse inherent in this type of relationship. While Josh may be ignorant of Eve’s deliberate designs, the reader is not. Lyga deftly rolls out the story of Josh’s becoming entangled in his own confusing, conflicting emotions until he believes he is the one who brings about Eve’s downfall and arrest.
Lyga alternates between twelve-year old and eighteen-year old Josh – during and after the abuse. When older Josh learns that Eve is to be released from prison for good behavior, he struggles to comprehend the guilt and shame he has carried around for so long. While his parents and his friend Rachel are concerned about how Eve’s release might be traumatizing for him, Josh isn’t even sure what his reaction is.
Lyga does not shy away from the graphic reality of the abuse. He captures beautifully the conflict Josh is desperate to untangle, and while Eve’s honesty at the end of the novel helps to bring the story to a close, life may not be quite this neat. Still, this is a small complaint amidst a powerful novel.
Show Less
LibraryThing member louis.arata
Don’t let the title mislead you: this is not a charming coming-of-age story. This is about sexual abuse.
Twelve-year old Josh Mendel has a crush on his history teacher, Eve. When she starts paying him particular attention, he eats it up. What he fails to understand is that Eve is manipulating him
Author Barry Lyga tackles a topic that is usually sugarcoated as a young boy initiated into the wonders of sex by an older, more experienced woman. Lyga addresses the power imbalance and abuse inherent in this type of relationship. While Josh may be ignorant of Eve’s deliberate designs, the reader is not. Lyga deftly rolls out the story of Josh’s becoming entangled in his own confusing, conflicting emotions until he believes he is the one who brings about Eve’s downfall and arrest.
Lyga alternates between twelve-year old and eighteen-year old Josh – during and after the abuse. When older Josh learns that Eve is to be released from prison for good behavior, he struggles to comprehend the guilt and shame he has carried around for so long. While his parents and his friend Rachel are concerned about how Eve’s release might be traumatizing for him, Josh isn’t even sure what his reaction is.
Lyga does not shy away from the graphic reality of the abuse. He captures beautifully the conflict Josh is desperate to untangle, and while Eve’s honesty at the end of the novel helps to bring the story to a close, life may not be quite this neat. Still, this is a small complaint amidst a powerful novel.
Twelve-year old Josh Mendel has a crush on his history teacher, Eve. When she starts paying him particular attention, he eats it up. What he fails to understand is that Eve is manipulating him
Show More
into a sexual relationship.Author Barry Lyga tackles a topic that is usually sugarcoated as a young boy initiated into the wonders of sex by an older, more experienced woman. Lyga addresses the power imbalance and abuse inherent in this type of relationship. While Josh may be ignorant of Eve’s deliberate designs, the reader is not. Lyga deftly rolls out the story of Josh’s becoming entangled in his own confusing, conflicting emotions until he believes he is the one who brings about Eve’s downfall and arrest.
Lyga alternates between twelve-year old and eighteen-year old Josh – during and after the abuse. When older Josh learns that Eve is to be released from prison for good behavior, he struggles to comprehend the guilt and shame he has carried around for so long. While his parents and his friend Rachel are concerned about how Eve’s release might be traumatizing for him, Josh isn’t even sure what his reaction is.
Lyga does not shy away from the graphic reality of the abuse. He captures beautifully the conflict Josh is desperate to untangle, and while Eve’s honesty at the end of the novel helps to bring the story to a close, life may not be quite this neat. Still, this is a small complaint amidst a powerful novel.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Dairyqueen84
Disturbing but powerful and beautifully written story about a boy who was sexually abused by his young beautiful teacher. Great discussion book, many layers of themes to examine.
LibraryThing member SRQlover
Really liked this book. Trigger warning though, and it was a bit hard for me to get through a couple of the chapters.
LibraryThing member mmglidden515
I could NOT put this book down. I just couldn't. Of all the YA literature I have read, this is the one book that I feel has made me THINK the most. I found myself discussing it with my husband non-stop.
PROS: Lyga writes in such a way that the most shocking parts of the story are incredibly
CONS: As much as I loved the book, I was REALLY annoyed by the prom scene. I just really wish that prom hadn't been an issue at all - I found the whole scene so cliche that I was rolling my eyes while I read. Still, I was able to overlook it.
Definitely recommend!
PROS: Lyga writes in such a way that the most shocking parts of the story are incredibly
Show More
believable. I had no idea how we were going to evolve the story in a way that didn't make Eve and Josh's interactions awkward to read, but every event flowed into the next one so effortlessly that you can completely understand how such a relationship might occur.CONS: As much as I loved the book, I was REALLY annoyed by the prom scene. I just really wish that prom hadn't been an issue at all - I found the whole scene so cliche that I was rolling my eyes while I read. Still, I was able to overlook it.
Definitely recommend!
Show Less
LibraryThing member razzbelly
Another one to add to my list of favorites. This book was wonderful. It grabbed me from the first page and never let go,
LibraryThing member nogomu
This is an incredible book. Loved every page.
Subjects
Awards
CYBILS Awards (Winner — Young Adult Fiction — 2007)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2008)
CCBC Choices (2008)
Original publication date
2007-07-18
Physical description
416 p.; 8.24 inches
ISBN
0547076347 / 9780547076348