*Warning: Contains Spoilers For Will Grayson, Will Grayson*
Introduction
“You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friends nose”
Will Grayson, Will Grayson is an enchanting novel by John Green and David Leuithan. I have absolutely been obsessed with it lately. It has the realistic yet engrossing characters and plot that we have now learned to associate with John Green. On the other hand it also has a darker and definitely relatable side that Leuithan is responsible for. This collaboration of writers is perfect. They both bring out the struggles of both being a teenager and being homosexual so well. Green’s Will Grayson is admittedly needy and clingy but otherwise lighter and funnier. Leuithan’s Will Grayson is depressed and in general darker.
Characters
Just as the title promises this books revolves around the lives of two teenagers both named Will Grayson except they seem to lead very different lives. One day they coincidently cross paths and their lives change forever. This book very openly discusses homosexuality and it is set in a town and school where homosexuality is accepted. One Will Grayson is gay while the other has a very open, happy-go-lucky gay best friend named Tiny Cooper.
Tiny Cooper is one of the most energetic, optimistic, talented and loveable characters I have ever read about. Not only does he inspire everyone around him to be a better person he also pulls off the greatest musical ever seen. His character provides us with light, over the top, dramatic moments filled with humor that just makes everything so much more fun.
The first Will Grayson is a needy, pessimistic and easily embarrassed teenager who doesn’t seem to be doing a great job fitting into high school. It’s really ironic that he is best friends with Tiny Cooper who seems to constantly do something to embarrass him. However, he does explain that he is friends with Tiny because he defended his right to use the locker room even though he was gay which some people on the board disapproved of. Will wrote a letter to defend Tiny and ended up being called a “bitchsquealer” and was left friendless except for Tiny which he isn’t exactly optimistic about.
The second Will Grayson is extremely depressed, gay and lonely. He thinks he may have met his soul mate- an online friend called Isaac who he chats with. However, Isaac turns out to be a fake person created by a girl he knows from school called Maura.
Plot
Will Grayson and Will Grayson collide and cross paths when the second Will thinks he is meeting Isaac for the first time at a porn shop but instead runs into the first Will who coincidently happens to be there too. The second Will ends up meeting and starting to fall for Tiny Cooper whom he seems to have a special connection with. However, Will is just so messed up and depressed that eventually his personality and Tiny’s always happy personality collide and they end up breaking up.
Whilst all this is going on Tiny is still struggling to make sure his play goes perfectly. However he keeps changing the script which is driving everyone crazy. The first Will is mad at Tiny for how he portrays him in the play but they eventually make up. With the help of the second Will Grayson the two Wills give Tiny a surprise he’ll never forget. They show him how much they love and appreciate him. The play is a huge hit and everyone is absolutely thrilled.
In the end, everyone learns more about themselves and each other. And they end up forming a bond that will remain with them forever. The two Will’s learn more about themselves from each other. They end up understanding one another and the people around them better.
Conclusion
This book is definitely my favourite book this month. It has really made me think (just like most John Green books do). Plus, it has an amazing happy ending which is great. And a little unexpected considering John Green isn’t always a fan of happy endings. This book is also the first gay-themed YA book to be on the New York Times Children’s Bestseller List. Which is not surprising as it’s a wonderful book. However, the sexual content and language used may make it better suited for older teens.
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