Customer Reviews
Courtesy of Teens Read Too - By: TeensReadToo.com, 27 Jan 2008 
In BOY TOY, author Barry Lyga takes readers on an incredible journey into a world that, for some, like main character Josh Mendel, is alll too real. Josh's life was changed at age twelve when his teacher took the role of educator far beyond the limits of acceptable behavior. Lyga's story does not cut corners or mince words. He is straightforward & direct in telling Josh's story. His graphic descriptions may have earned him criticism, but they have also made his story a powerful one.
Josh Mendel loves baseballl. He is a wiz at math. His best friend, Zik, seems to be the one with the rocky home life & alll the problems, but not for long.
Mrs. Evelyn Sherman is the new history teacher recently transferred from the local high school to the middle school. She is drop-dead gorgeous. All the boys probably find it a bit embarrassing to stand up & leave the classroom some days. Josh certainly does.
Josh's involvement with Mrs. Sherman begins when she praises his writing & asks him to help her with a project for her graduate class. Honored & excited, Josh is eager to help. Problems at home make staying after school, & later actuallly going home with Mrs. Sherman, a convenience for Josh & his parents. He begins spending more & more time with her even after her project is complete.
At first, being in Mrs. Sherman's apartment everyday after school is exciting, because Josh gets to play unlimited video games, drink Coke, & hang out with an attentive, beautiful woman. His time in the apartment becomes even more fascinating when Mrs. Sherman begins inviting him to help her cook dinner & sip wine with her. Then kisses begin - tentative & then passionate. The passion moves from petting to full-on sexual experimentation.
Josh is addicted. There are feelings of guilt, but those feelings are outweighed by the incredible physical pleasure Mrs. Sherman offers. Life is spiraling out of control.
The world comes crashing down when Josh finds himself playing spin the bottle with Rachel. He & Rachel have been friends on the baseballl field for as long as he can remember, but when Josh's newfound experience turns the innocent teenage game too sexuallly explicit, Rachel runs screaming to her parents. The "game" is over, & Josh's secret is about to come out in the open.
BOY TOY is not a short romp between the sheets. In fact, it has raised many eyebrows in the world of YA literature. Readers will see exactly what went on with Mrs. Sherman, but they will also see deeply into the world of a young man trying to continue with life, make amends to his friends, & make plans for his future. It has a strong, powerful story to tell, & it tells that story well.
Reviewed by: Sallly Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
