The Making of Dr. Truelove by Derrick Barnes

From the Publisher

Diego is a sixteen-year-old boy with a problem. He loves his girlfriend, Roxy. And when they suddenly break up due to Diego's own insecurity issues, the boy is crushed. How ever will he win Shorty back?

On the trusty advice of his (crazy) best friend, Diego invents an alter ego known as Dr. Truelove. A sex and relationship e-columnist, Truelove is smooth where Diego is gawky, skilled where Diego is clueless. Truelove is, quite clearly, the way back into Roxy's heart. Or so it seems. . . .

Children's Literature

Diego Montgomery's story begins with an explicit description of his first sexual encounter with his girlfriend Roxy. Unfortunately for him, Diego's plans do not quite meet his amorous expectations. His ardent romance quickly starts to sputter downhill to the low point when Roxy suggests that they see other people. For Roxy, that means dating the star basketball player at her high school. Diego, on the other hand, cannot get Roxy out of his mind as he reminisces loving details of his sweetheart. Julius or J as he is called is Diego's friend who has a plan to bring Diego and Roxy together. J and Diego undertake a project, an internet advice column written under the pseudonym of Dr. Dexter Truelove. While J masterminds the publicity and more, Diego writes Dr. Truelove's "The Prescription" column. J feels that the popularity and hidden identity of the sex columnist will attract lots of attention, especially that of the females. The plan includes the revelation of the mysterious Dr. Truelove's identity at the high point his popularity so that Diego, the advice columnist, will win back Roxy's heart. There are lots of amusing moments as Diego and J build the persona and reader audience of Dr. Truelove.

VOYA

When things go wrong with his girlfriend, sixteen-year-old Diego turns to his best friend, J-Live, to help win her back from her new basketball-star boyfriend. Diego and J conspire to create Washington, D.C.'s hottest relationship advisor, Dr. Truelove, by building a presence on the Internet and staging events throughout the city. Diego struggles to hide his identity from his very southern family, while J becomes flashier and takes more risks, disguised in a mask and cape. Eventually Diego wins back his girl, through his passion for and knowledge of jazz, and he ends the reign of Dr. Truelove. Diego's first-person narrative alternates with columns from Dr. Truelove, which at times reveal more about Diego than his own thoughts. His family is lively and real, and among Diego's loving slob of a father, his professional mother, and his successful lesbian sister, there is a character who will appeal to every reader. Sex is central to this book, as is teenage sexual pressure and sexual anxiety, and Barnes writes about it with intelligence. The inclusion of popular culture and the central male characters will appeal to boys as well as girls, who will enjoy this story from an author who is clearly in touch with contemporary teenage life.

VOYA

Although the story starts out slowly, it picks up speed as more elements are added and readers become more familiar with the characters. Many teens will be able to relate to Diego's confusion about his feelings and his longing for that special someone. Some readers might not be able to identify with the culture portrayed in the book, but they will nonetheless enjoy being pulled along on this roller coaster of heartfelt feelings and crazy antics.

KLIATT

Nearly 16 years old, Diego is concerned because he's still a virgin. His relationship with Roxanne (aka Roxy) seems to be progressing satisfactorily until they decide to celebrate V-Day, losing their virginity between their 16th birthdays; hers is on the 10th of December and his is on the 12th. After a few logistical setbacks, such as Diego's father getting sick and keeping his "big ‘bama ass around the house," V-Day finally arrives, but Diego can't rise to the occasion long enough for them to celebrate. Upset by his premature ejaculations and immersed in self-pity and low self-esteem, Diego eventually drives Roxy into the arms of John-John McAfee, a popular basketball player. A clumsy math geek with little fashion sense, Diego knows he can't compete with the NBA-bound player. His only hope is to follow his best friend J-Live's ludicrous plan—create an online sex column that will serve several purposes: 1. It will boost Diego's self-esteem; 2. It will increase his knowledge of women; and 3. It will make him attractive to girls once they find he is really the columnist, Dr. Truelove. YAs will like The Making of Dr. Truelove. Though it is hilarious, especially the e-mails Diego writes and those he responds to, most of the language and the sexual scenes may be too mature for some readers.

Product Details