Play Book Tag discussion

3.5. So to start, I never really love the Young Adult (YA) category. This book has been on my TBR since its inception, (written in 2013), because a young then patient of mine adored it and highly recommended it. A Goodreads yearlong challenge finally allowed me to get to it.

The story is of two young (gay) best friends, 18 year olds in Iran, and one of them accepts a marriage proposal, leaving the other bereft and devastated. Leaving both at a loss of how to proceed.

One interesting feature of the book, which left me a bit surprised and confused, is that the atmosphere and cultural conflict is described to be traditional, and anti-gay. But that somehow, although not desired, transgender is somehow elevated as a better choice? That it is more okay (even if its not okay) to change your gender so the couples and pairs can look and seem heterosexual, and the direction of the love something the culture can understand and tolerate, than it is to stay in one's original bodies, and simply love one another amongst one's own gender. Teens are hung for discovered homosexuality, and yet somehow transgender, makes more sense to the traditional culture as a solution? I struggled with that, as I imagine any reader might.

The dilemma in the book is not quite a moral dilemma, but a cultural one. There is no choice really to be made. It is the culture that is in breach of morality. While the characters are trying to find their way. Not deny themselves or one another, but to fit into their worlds. I am however going to consider it a moral dilemma, although it is the culture's dilemma to solve.

Quick but powerful read, a definite coming of age.