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Summary from the Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Twelve days in August change a sixteen-year-old soccer player’s perceptions of himself, his family, girls, and gays.

Excerpts:

This book is not as graphic in terms of sex, but the inside of the book jacket notes this book to be for ages 12 & up and the reading level in some school databases notes the book to be at the 5th grade level. Twelve Days in August does regard homosexuality as natural.

Additionally, words such as “pissed”, “hell”, “damn” and “fag” were found periodically throughout the book. Some characters are also smoking marijuana and drinking.

T.O. is the main character, telling the story from his point of view.

R.T. is a star soccer player and a bully.

A.B. is the new boy at school and takes the key position that R.T. feels belongs to him. When A.B. first arrives on the field with his twin sister, R.T.’s response [talking about the sister] is a whistle and then “Who the hell is that?” (p.10)

A.B. demonstrates his soccer abilities before the team and R.T. responds, “Who the hell is this guy, anyway?” (p.13)

Now R.T. continues with a conversation with, T.O.: “Going to the lake?” he (R.T.) asked..

I stared at him, surprised… “Not today….”

He shrugged and spoke low into my ear. “Too bad. We’ve got some good stuff.”

It took me a minute to get it. He was going to go smoke dope on the first day of practice?

“…A little toke now and then won’t hurt anyone…after practice….I’d never be stoned for a game.” (pp. 16-17)

T.O. gets home after school and finds his sister going over a letter, but hides it: “…her face turning beet red like mine…I was in junior high and B. [his stepmother] discovered my Playboy magazines under the mattress.” (p.24)

T.O.’s sister gets a ride home with R.T. one day and she says “…he wasn’t drunk, or stoned” (p.28).

R.T. tells T.O. he will not give up his soccer position to “a guy who’s not even a guy -- …Look at him run? Like a girl – oooh!” (p.34) “ ‘He’s missing plenty somewhere else.’ [R.T.] pointed at his crotch.” (p. 36)

“You’re gross,” I told him.

“Sure,” he said. “But so are fags.” (p.37)

At the lake, R.T. stares at K’s [T.O.’s girlfriend] chest and T.O. is thinking “just where I put my hand the other day…felt a bulge in my trunks and turned away…” (p.45).

R.T., another friend and T.O. go on a boat to a large rock and dock there. R.T. and the other guy are “rolling a joint…plastic bag of marijuana open…lips sealed tight as he [R.T.] held in smoke” and passes to his friend (p.49).

They plan to ruin A.B., but T.O. does not really want to: “I’m the one that should be pissed.” [T.O.’s remark] (pp. 50-51).

Still on the rock, R.T. and T.O. argue: “Now I’m gay too?...”

“The question is, does he come on to the sister or the brother?” [R.T’s remark]

“Asshole.” I lifted my fist (p.52).

The book eventually turns to a conversation between T.O. and his Uncle, who finally tells T.O. he is gay:

“…that made me a fag too—“[T.O. tells his Uncle and then continues]

“ …[A.B. is] the best [soccer player] we’ve ever had, even if he is gay.”

“…now he [R.T.] talks as if anyone…plays to A.B. is a fag—"

His Uncle: “Don’t use that word [fag] around me.”

[The Uncle continues] “I’m gay, [T.O.]. I’m a gay man. G isn’t just my business partner; he’s also my lover.

“…always hoped my brother [T.O.’s father] wouldn’t pass his prejudices on to you”

“Homophobia’s a national disease…” “If A.B. is gay…it’s hard enough to wake up, as a kid, and realize you’re different…greatest fear is someone like [R.T.] will find out…I know just how he feels.” (pp.158-160)

[Uncle is still talking on p.162] “Sometimes people ignore what they don’t want to see…”

T.O. learns to accept A.B. and his Uncle. The ending:

“…--maybe that’s why I hear and see things in a different way, on this warm night in August. Know what I mean?”

Research by M. Lyn