Rapture Practice: A True Story About Growing Up Gay in an Evangelical Family

Rapture Practice: A True Story About Growing Up Gay in an Evangelical Family

Aaron Hartzler

Publisher

Little, Brown and Company

Publication Year

2013

ISBN

9780316094658

Pages

390 pages

Genre

memoir

Format

full length

Item Type

Nonfiction

Annotation

Aaron Hartzler grew up in a home where he was taught that at any moment the Rapture could happen -- that Jesus might come down in the twinkling of an eye and scoop Aaron and his whole family up to Heaven. As a kid, he was thrilled by the idea that every moment of every day might be his last one on Earth. But as Aaron turns sixteen, he finds himself more attached to his earthly life and curious about all the things his family forsakes for the Lord. He begins to realize he doesn't want the Rapture to happen just yet -- not before he sees his first movie, stars in the school play, or has his first kiss. Eventually Aaron makes the plunge from conflicted do-gooder to full-fledged teen rebel. Whether he's sneaking out, making out, or playing hymns with a hangover, Aaron learns a few lessons that can't be found in the Bible. He discovers that the best friends aren't always the ones your mom and dad approve of, the girl of your dreams can just as easily be the boy of your dreams, and the tricky part about believing is that no one can do it for you. In this coming-of-age memoir, Hartzler recalls his teenage journey to become the person he wanted to be, without hurting the family that loved him.

Grade Level

6-8; 9-12

Lexile Measure

850L

Diversity Topics

LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Gay/Lesbian; gay; gay teenager

Main Character

male teenager

Race/Ethnicities

White

Family Formation

mother and father

LGBTQ+

gay male

Awards

Garden State Teen Book Award, 2016
Nonficton Grades (6-12)
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2014 Contemporary Concerns
Cybils Awards, 2013, Nominee, Young Adult Fiction
Kirkus Book Review Stars, 2013
Rainbow List, 2014 Teen Nonfiction

Keywords

religion; Christianity; Evangelic Christians; teenagers; high school; rapture; underage drinking; friendship; coming-of-age; oppression

Diversity Impact

indirect

Rapture Practice: A True Story About Growing Up Gay in an Evangelical Family

Find in your library

Find on Amazon

Find on Barnes & Noble

Share

COinS