Haskell Himself by Gary Seigel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sixteen-year-old Haskell Hodge is a former child star actor who is dealing with a crisis of identity in the worst time possible. Fearing he might be gay, in 1966 when such things were not acceptable, he is resigning himself to a lonely life. Meanwhile, in the neighborhood, bullies have set their sights on him and are relentless in their pursuit of Haskell. In a time of sexual freedom, Haskell learns the harsh lesson that freedom for some does not mean freedom for all. When a career opportunity comes along to play a bully on screen for a major movie, Haskell has to determine if he is willing to play the personal cost for his career success.
Very emotional book. We are taken on the rollercoaster of a lifetime in this book, the physical and emotional highs and lows that will end up shaping Haskell as much as his external environment. The author is able to recreate the feel of the sixties complete with the counterculture and revolution in social norms about clothing, music, drugs, dress, sexuality, formalities, and schooling while still giving us a poignant story about this boy who had to grow up to quick and is in danger of losing himself in the process.


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