Book Review, "Daddy's Roommate

Written by: Michael Willhoite

Reviewed By: Julia Ransohoff
high school student writer

Daddy's Roommate tells to story of a young boy whose mother and father divorced. He now lives at two houses: one with his mother and one with his father and his father's new roommate, Frank.

The young boy loves both of his parents and comes to see Frank as his friend. His mother explains what homosexuality is, and he learns to appreciate that Frank makes his father happy.

Unperturbed by this, the young boys understands that "being gay is just one more kind of love." He sees the love he has for his parents and Frank, and applies this to the love between his father and Frank. At the end of the story, the young boy comes to realize that what makes a family complete is love, not a strict definition of family composition.

I would recommend this book not only for children who live in similar families situations, but for all children. By observing the upbeat, optimistic view of the boy in this story, children will learn both what makes a family complete, as well as what makes a family unique.

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