For those who know Warren's previous novels, this is the third in a series. The first, The Front Runner, is about a young gay distance runner who was outed on his way to the Olympics. For those who haven't read The Front Runner yet, Billy's Boy stands alone as a story.

Billy's Boy is a first person story, about a teen's passionate search to know more about his dead gay father, his lesbian mother's past... and his own sexual destiny.

John William, 14, describes himself as "the science geek from hell." He loves astronomy, dreams of exploring the universe as a NASA astronaut. But lately his attention is focused on Earth, his best friend Shawn, and his own awakening body. New in L.A., he hangs out with his straight girl buddy Ana and two Latino club kids, Teak and Elena, that he just met. William is sure he's straight, and he is irritated by Teak's effeminate attitude.

In this excerpt, William reluctantly agrees to go with his friends on that first scary L.A. adventure — a visit to a gay club. He wonders if his dad ever went to a place like this.

Says Library Journal: "Warren's ability to understand this character and tell his story in the lingo of 1990s youth is remarkable. Highly recommended for all fiction collections. "