Reviewed by Sarah Goodman Duffy
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: David Levithan
But even if you pull all the Queer books from our class, even if you could manage to somehow pull all the Queer books from this town, I guarantee you, you will not stop us from being who we are. The worst damage you can do is to make the more vulnerable of us feel bad about it. But you cannot hold back the ocean. The ocean will not be contained in such a way. — Mr. Howe, teacher of The Adventurers
Told through three overlapping storylines, David Levithan’s Answers in the Pages unfolds a story that is eerily similar to contemporary book bans in schools and libraries all over the country. The protagonist, Donovon, gets caught in the middle of a banned book crusade that his mom is leading. The book in question is The Adventurers, a classic novel about kids fighting the forces of evil without any parents getting in the way.
The “problem” with the book all comes down to how one interprets this sentence: “At that moment, Rick knew just how deeply he loved Oliver, and Oliver knew just how deeply he loved Rick, and the understanding of this moment would lead them to much of the happiness and adventure that came next.” This opens a discussion about whether the main characters of the novel are gay, and if whether or not they’re gay is precedent for removing the book from library shelves. These are the questions that Donovon, his classmates, parents, and teachers try to answer.
Within the Queer community, there is a practice of reimagining traditionally heteronormative characters and stories as Queer. This is done through parallel novels, fan fiction, online discourse, or Queer authors creating the stories they wish they had when they were younger. The Adventurers is an example of this and David Levithan does a wonderful job of demonstrating that even though book bans are seeking to eliminate representation, it doesn’t eliminate people that already exist.
Sarah Goodman Duffy served as a summer 2025 intern with Teaching for Change as a rising senior at Connecticut College, where she is double majoring in educational studies and art. When she’s not working, she can usually be found at a local coffee joint, drawing people on the Metro, or reading books by or about Queer people.
Find more recommended books on this topic on our LGBTQ+ booklist.
Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
Published by Random House Children's Books on May 10, 2022
Genres: LGBTQ
Pages: 176
Reading Level: Grades 6-8
ISBN: 9780593484685
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Publisher's Synopsis: A bold, timely novel about speaking up and coming out as parents lobby to ban a beloved book from the school curriculum by New York Times-bestselling author David Levithan.
When Donovan left his copy of The Adventurers on the kitchen counter, he didn't think his mom would read it — much less have a problem with it. It's just an adventure novel about two characters trying to stop an evil genius . . .right?
But soon the entire town is freaking out about whether the book's main characters are gay, Donovan's mom is trying to get the book removed from the school curriculum, and Donovan is caught in the middle.
Donovan doesn't really know if the two boys fall in love at the end or not — but he does know this: even if they do, it shouldn't matter. The book should not be banned from school.
Interweaving three connected storylines, David Levithan delivers a bold, fun, and timely story about taking action (whether it's against book censors or deadly alligators . . . .), being brave, and standing up for what's right.
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