And yet, it is.
Sexual virginity is part of the theme, but it's the least important part. Two threads run through the story: the loss of youthful
innocence (a more significant kind of purity than sexual inexperience), and the
true nature of self-acceptance, which has little to do with the approbation of
others.
The five 16-year-old friends who comprise the Ben Raphael All-star
Virgin Order all have their own reasons for being part of BRAVO. Two want
attention and affirmation from their peers and teachers. Three want to deflect
attention from personal secrets while garnering that affirmation. Their
individual motives all have certain elements in common, though: fear, neediness, and naiveté.
It’s these qualities that make the young men “virginal”—in the ways of the world and of
human nature.
One pivotal event serves as their initiation into adulthood. Although this assault by life’s harsh realities is painful and irreversible, it also helps the boys reorder their priorities. The insights they gain will help them find the kind of contentment that doesn’t come from being widely admired but instead comes, quietly and securely, from within.
A third, related thread has to do with a predatory female teacher, but that's a whole other discussion. If you read this novella and have questions about it, please feel free to message me. This is a touchy, complicated subject that has nothing to do with "slut shaming" and everything to do with abuse of authority, and it happens more often than you might realize. I was once a teacher, so my feelings are strong. (Guess you got a taste of my attitude in Xylophone if you read it.) Taking advantage of people too young, insecure, and/or troubled to make reasoned choices is INEXCUSABLE.
Thanks in advance if you choose to buy and read Ben Raphael's All-Star Virgins!
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