The Drowning of Stephan Jones

by Bette Greene

Book Overview

As her mother battles a citizens' group that wants to ban all anti-Christian literature from the public library, Carla faces her own battle of torn loyalties when her boyfriend starts persecuting the homosexual owners of an antiques shop.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553074377
• ISBN13: 9780553074376
• Release Date: October 1991
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 6.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

It could really happen

This is a great story revolving around a very christian and church going young man and his blinded by love girlfriend. Andy is working a hate campaign towards the gentle and friendly gay couple Stephan Jones and Frank Montgomery for no reason other than the fact they are gay and the fact that Andy is using his religion as an excuse to do so. And then when Stephan drowns as a result of a vicious joke, the truth about Andy finally comes out. A very eye opening book. I did not realize that there are really people in this world that use religion as an excuse to act this way, but there really are.

Sarah`s review

This book will always be one of the best books. The reason I chose this book was because of the muder and lessons. This book is about a boy who commites hate crimes against a gay cuple, and his girlfriend standing up for what she believes in. My favorite character is Clara because even if she loves Andy she wants to go against his believes. My favorite part of the book is in the court room.

Haunting

I read this novel several years ago and often think about it. The story is haunting in how it accurately portrays the nature of prejudice. Hate crimes against gays are common and are currently becoming even more common. Novels like this one might help some young people think about the results of hatred and prejudice. Bette Greene deserves all the praise and awards she has received for her books!

An excellent, haunting book

This was an excellent book. I read this book years ago, and it opened my eyes to prejudice. I had never really given any thought to problems facing homosexuals when I was younger. After reading this book, I became aware of the fear some people have of gays. I also noticed how people are very uncomfortable with anything that goes against their beliefs or values, and I feel this book was the building block which enabled me to open my eyes to such things. The main character in the story is Carla Wayland. Carla's mother Judith is the town librarian, and she is basically reviled and looked down upon by the majority of the close-minded townspeople for her "liberal viewpoints". Judith tries to instill in her daughter Carla how important it is to stand up for one's beliefs, but as the book unfolds, we realize how little value Carla places on her mother's teachings. Although the readers understand Judith is struggling in the small-minded, close-knit town, Carla is going through struggles of her own which are much more "important" in her mind than her mother's. Carla is fighting to fit in at the local high school. Her boyfriend, Andy Harris, embodies everything she wants to be--he is handsome, wealthy, and very popular. Carla, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the town, and her friends count her mother as being a strike against her. In a nearby town, Stephen Jones and his boyfriend Frank Montgomery are struggling, too. They have moved into the town hoping to make a new life together, and have opened a small shop. However, they are put into fierce conflict with Andy and his macho friends, who are intolerant and afraid of homosexuals. As you can imagine from the novel's title, the story is destined for something horrible to happen--and it does. After the incident between Andy's friends and Stephen, Carla is forced to decide once and for all what she will do. Should she take the easy road, close her eyes to everyone else's flaws, and keep fighting for her place as a popular, accepted student? Or should she acknowledge her mother is a brave woman in her own right, and it is better to fight for what one believes in? Her struggle was interesting to me, but I have to admit--sometimes I just wanted to grab Carla by the hair and give her a good shake.Reading the novel now that I'm older, I do see its shortcomings. I agree with some of the critics--it was perhaps not as streamlined and did not flow as well as it could've. But all in all, I still believe it is worth the read, especially for those in the recommended age limit--14 and up. It was a visceral novel with much truth in it, especially in light of such events as the murder of Matthew Shepard, the 21-year old college student who was killed senselessly in Wyoming in 1998 because he was gay. It certainly left me with a lot to think about.

Here is a book that once read, can never be forgotten

This is a truly beautiful and well writin story. Once this book was in my hands, it hardly left there until the end. The Drowning Of Stephen Jones is a story for everyone who cares about what is happening in the world today, and those who simply love to read good books. Don't miss this novel!