Author: David Valdes
From lauded writer David Valdes, a sharp and funny YA novel that’s Back to the Future with a twist, as a gay teen travels back to his parents’ era to save a closeted classmate’s life.
All Luis Gonzalez wants is to go to prom with his boyfriend, something his “progressive” high school still doesn’t allow. Not after what happened with Chaz Wilson. But that was ages ago, when Luis’s parents were in high school; it would never happen today, right? He’s determined to find a way to give his LGBTQ friends the respect they deserve (while also not risking his chance to be prom king, just saying…).
When a hit on the head knocks him back in time to 1985 and he meets the doomed young Chaz himself, Luis concocts a new plan-he’s going to give this guy his first real kiss. Though it turns out a conservative school in the ’80s isn’t the safest place to be a gay kid. Especially with homophobes running the campus, including Gordo (aka Luis’s estranged father). Luis is in over his head, trying not to make things worse-and hoping he makes it back to present day at all.
Spin Me Right Round takes a teen, Luis Gonzalez, from modern times back to 1985. The beginning introduces Luis who attends a Christian high school and although he wants to attend prom with his boyfriend, Cheng, his school does not allow it. This rule seemingly stems from an incident back in the 80s involving a guy named Chaz Wilson. Luis has the motive to save Chaz to affect his school’s policy and he can, therefore, take Cheng to prom. The story then follows the differences between the past and present. There is progress, but there are also issues even as time moves forward. It’s a great concept, however, I feel the writing did not take the concept far enough. There seemed to be only a little exploration when there is a lot more that could be done.
The juxtaposition between the more closed 80s versus the more open present was nicely done. It is interesting to look at media and other resources from the 80s (and even 90s) and see how “hidden” the LGBTQIA+ community was where it existed, but it wasn’t as open as today. This part of the story was nicely illustrated to the reader; however, I feel Luis never actually grasped this concept. When he “helps” Chaz, he does not understand that he could be in danger. This situational awareness plus a very selfish mindset made Luis unlikable to me. Since the entire story revolved around him, it was difficult to fully connect with the story. While characters do not need to be likable, I think there should at least be better growth for them. I do not think this story quite got there for me. Overall, I think the concept was great, but the execution was not for me.
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