Saturday, January 31, 2015

Timmy's Review of Poz by Christopher Koehler

This book was a very interesting look into a teenage mind. I really liked how realistic it was. Remy was just a great character. He made mistakes and he did stupid things. He also rationalizes everything he did to make logical sense in the mind of a teen boy. That is what makes him so believable. He doesn’t understand how bad what he was doing was until he finds himself HIV positive. I have never read a book that had an HIV positive character in it. It’s a sad thing, and the truth is that this book taught me more about HIV in terms of LGBT relationships than I would ever learn in school. In school, they only teach about HIV in terms of M/F relationships. How are we LGBT kids supposed to learn about it?

I have to say, I really loved Poz. There were a few things I didn’t love, but in the end, this book did something very important. If not only taught why safe sex for gay men is important, but also taught some key terms. “Safer sex,” “negotiated risk,” and “statutory rape” just to name a few. I have heard the last one, but the others were new to me. As an avid reader, it pleasantly surprises me when I learn things that I have never heard before. Why is this not taught in Sex Ed?

So the few things I didn’t like as much. I had trouble understanding some of the terms about rowing. I really would have liked a bit more explanation on these terms. Also, it bugged me that Remy made such a big deal about Mikey being like a brother. Then like snap, he was not! It made my head spin a bit. I would like to point out that neither of these things stopped me from enjoying this book.

One more point I would like to make. Though HIV is very serious and should not be taken lightly, this author really helped to show that with all the medical advancements, if treated seriously by the person who has the disease, it can be controlled and they can still have a happy life.

I love books that promote hope, and this book did that for me. I give Poz 5 Marbles. ~Timmy


Poz is available in ebook and print at 

About Poz

Remy Babcock and Mikey Castelreigh are stalwart members of the Capital City Rowing Club’s junior crew, pulling their hardest to earn scholarships to rowing powerhouses like California Pacific. Just a couple of all-American boys, they face the usual pressures of life in an academic hothouse and playing a varsity sport. Add to that the stifling confines of the closet, and sometimes life isn’t always easy, even in the golden bubble of their accepting community. Because Remy and Mikey have a secret: they're both gay. While Mikey has never hidden it, Remy is a parka and a pair of mittens away from Narnia. 

Mikey has always been open about wanting more than friendship, but Remy is as uncomfortable in his own skin as he is a demon on the water. After their signals cross, and a man mistakes Remy for a college student, Remy takes the plunge and hooks up with him. After a furious Mikey cuts Remy off, Remy falls to the pressure of teenage life, wanting to be more and needing it now. In his innocence and naiveté, Remy makes mistakes that have life-long consequences. When Remy falls in the midst of the most important regatta of his life, he can only hope Mikey will be there to catch him when he needs it most. 

Visit Christopher on his blog and 
follow him on Twitter @christopherink

22 comments:

  1. As always a very well thought out review, Thanks Timmy

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    1. Thanks Deeze! Thanks for stopping by!
      <3 Timmy

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  2. Oh, wow. 5 T-marbles! It goes straight to the Must read list.
    Great review!

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  3. Awesome review, Timmy! Great to see you loved it! I've got this one on my iPad- hope to get to it soon. Hope you're feeling better. <3

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    1. I am still in the hospital, but I am getting better every day. <3 Thank you for stopping by and reading my review.
      <3 Timmy

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  4. I have been following the blog tour for Poz and have had some great conversations with Mr Koehler. I am looking forward to reading this book.

    On a side note. I am sorry to hear you are in the hospital.

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    1. <3 I hope you like it as much as I did! Thank you, I'm working on getting better.
      <3 Timmy

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  5. Great review, Timmy. I've read a couple of Christopher's CalPac Crew books and really enjoyed them so I'll have to put this on my TBR list. I'm really glad it was an interesting story and educational too.

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    1. Are the others books I can read? Let me know what you think.
      <3 Timmy

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    2. Sorry, Timmy, not just yet. Maybe in a couple of years. <3

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  6. What a great review Timmy! Sounds like a good read from your comments. :) I hadn't heard that you were in the hospital- I hope you can go home soon! <3

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    1. Thanks Sara! I think it was a great read. I hope to be going home by the end of the week.
      <3 Timmy

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  7. Outstanding review, Timmy! I love how concise you are in your likes vs dislikes and the fact that you back each up with examples/explanations. I don't understand myself why more isn't taught in Sex Ed. It's like they think if they don't talk about, it's not happening. Bad choice by school districts. I'm so glad there are books that leave the reader learning more about any subject then when the reader started and hope is so very important. Thank you for such an excellent review, Timmy!

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    1. I have learned so much from books, and it's my goal to get books like these in school libraries. I would love to see this along with Omorphi, Safe, Silent, Foster High Series, and a few others in a library where they can be of help to other gay kids.
      <3 Timmy

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  8. I just purchased this book so I'm glad to get your take on it. My youngest just went through a week of 'healthy living' and sex ed was part of the curriculum. One of the things I liked about her program was that there was component where she was required to talk to one or both of parents about topics covered. But you are right that there was nothing specific for LGBT kids.

    I look forward to reading this book but I must admit, I'm really behind on my TBR pile.. Thanks, Timmy! Great review as always!

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    1. If you look at the books we read, there is almost always a "poor kid". This is true in real life as well. There are many kids Het or LGBT, who can't afford to buy thing like books. Add to that, that it is hard to find LGBT books in a books store. I myself do not have a credit card, so without my mom or gift cards, I wouldn't be able to get books. What do the kids that don't want their parents knowing do? It's tough. If these books were free in the library, they could save lives. (End rant) :)
      <3 Timmy

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and reading it! :)
      <3 Timmy

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  10. New author to me! Looking forward to this read!

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  11. New author to me! Looking forward to this read!

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