Boy Toy is a "Must Read" for anyone, including teens 16 or older, who want a better understanding of this particular issue and the problems an adolescent male can face. It grapples with the psychological impact in future relationships, dating and an adolescent males views on sex. It should be emphasized that this book is a novel. At Sexlaws.org, we are all about facts, statistics, and laws; however, occasionally, a novel comes along that is so well written, well researched and relative to the facts surrounding a particularly sensitive issue, that it enhances it's educational value.

The Myth: Adolescent males are not victims of sexual abuse when the sex act is consensual and perpetrated by a female teacher.

Fact: Unfortunately, many people, believe this myth.

If you want to read a good book and gain a better understanding of the impact the "female teacher - boy student" relationship has, this book delivers. Many people do not view boys as victims in these relationships and, in fact, tell jokes and create stereotypes that fit all adolescent males into one mold. Is this viewpoint accurate? Or, is it ignorant and irresponsible?

There truly needs to be a shift in thinking and better education on this issues and for those people out there who seemingly think these criminal cases are a joke, this book may help you understand just how serious they are. The issues a boy faces when they're drawn into these relationships are complex and painful. Sometimes, a novel comes along that really hits the mark. This is one of those times. It offers insightful, responsible writing that doesn't romanticize this act, but rather emphasizes the impact and reality of life from a boy's perspective. It's appropriately uncomfortable.

Author Barry Lyga wrote "Boy Toy" with compassion, feeling and intelligence.

The main character, Josh Mendel has one of those secrets that everyone in town knows but doesn’t talk about; at least not so you can hear it. They protected him from the media so his name was never in the press or newspapers, but everyone knew and many lives were disrupted as a result.

Boy Toy is very realistic and very intense. This story could represent any one of the cases we've been reading about in the media. You will get to know Josh, the main character, very well and understand the boy toy title and stereotype. Whether you are a female or male reader there is something about Josh that everyone can relate to.

The book does have some strong language and sexual overtones. This would probably be more appropriate for the older young adults ages 16+.

Adults and teens alike will benefit from reading Boy Toy?

Boy Toy presents an honest view of what can happen in these cases involving older female sexual seductions of adolescent boys. It may help remove any stereo-typical ideas you have about sexually abused boys. It brings to light many complex issues that a teen faces going through an ordeal like this. Boy Toy will leave you feeling a lot more compassion for teens who have been sexually exploited and abused.

A sneak preview of chapter one is generously provided for download by Barry Lyga at www.barrylyga.com/new/boy-toy.html

Teacher Student Sex abuse alerts

Just a few cases to hit the news from November 2007 - March 2008

Nebraska: Teacher Sex Abuse Cases Reveal Patterns by Oskar Garcia AP
25-year-old math teacher Kelsey Peterson had a boyfriend a 13-year-old former student. People had complained to administrators three months earlier that Peterson spent too much time hanging out with the kids.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3850006

New Jersey: Digital Age Adds New Dimension to Incidents of Staff-Student Sex - By Lesli A Maxwell
The 44-year-old guidance counselor would send text messages to the 15-year-old boy on the boy’s cellphone in the middle of the school day. But the messages had nothing to do with academics or counseling.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/11/28/13webabuse.h27.html

Utah: Sex abuse crimes with juvenile perpetrators a trend of growing prevalence says county prosecutor - by Barbara Stinson Lee “I’ve been prosecuting everything from curfew violations to attempted homicide,” Beas-Nordell told the Intermountain Catholic Nov. 9. “But juvenile sex crimes committed against juveniles are growing in number and the county attorney is making them a priority.”
http://www.icatholic.org/indstory/2007/200742p03.html

Maryland: Local administrators stand ready to enforce zero-tolerance policies should abuse occur.
"In my time here?" asked Skip Hackworth, superintendent of schools for Mineral County for the past five years. "I haven't ever had to deal with a case of adult-on-student sexual harassment or misconduct. If we did, that teacher would be terminated...http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_324091257.html

International: Pregnant school girls paying the price for our follies! - by Demere Kitunga
Arguments made by the latter draw a moral wedge by citing erosion of the social fabric. But if the number of girls leaving school because of pregnancy and other sexuality related complications is growing in such an alarming rate, can we boast of having a social fabric intact in the first place?
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/11/26/103083.html

Alabama: Sexual misconduct plagues schools across America - WAFF48 News
"The standard for an employee in a school system should be hands off whether that student is 16 or at the age of consent or not," said Moore. But sometimes, Moore admits boundaries are crossed between students and teachers....and it happens everywhere. Students are raped...they're groped, seduced and think they're in love.
http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=7412256&nav=0hBE

Florida: Coral Springs Mother Sentenced On Sex Abuse Charge -Ft Lauderdale CBS4
A Broward County substitute teacher has been sentence to 2 1/2 years of house arrest and 12 years of probation after she pleaded no contest to having sex with a 17-year old boy.
http://cbs4.com/local/coral.springs.deborah.2.596572.html

Maine: Highlands teens found at hotel with teacher aide - By Amy McConnell Schaarsmith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A teacher's aide for Highlands Senior High School in Harrison was questioned Friday for renting a hotel room where the police found beer, marijuana, an open condom wrapper and at least four teenage girls and boys, including several of her 15-year-old son's friends. http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4476215.html

Oregon: Teacher Arrested After Alleged MySpace Posts
One of the boy's parents contacted authorities after noticing their son's MySpace page. Officers spoke with the boy and turned over their findings to police in Rainier, where Gleaves lives. Police said they believe the crimes happened at her apartment.
http://www.wmur.com/education/14857818/detail.html

Utah: Sexy substitute gets no jail time Judge admits if case involved male teacher with female student, prison would be likely - WorldNetDaily.com
A female high-school substitute teacher in Utah will serve no time behind bars for performing oral sex on a 17-year-old male student, despite comments from the judge that a man would have likely gone to prison. "If this was a 29-year-old male and a 17-year-old female, I would be inclined to order some incarceration," noted 3rd District Judge Mark Kouris during sentencing yesterday for Cameo Patch.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52044

Pennsylvania: Former Moon Teacher Arrested - High School Teacher Facing Sex Charges -
Beth Ann Chester, a freshman physical education teacher until she resigned on Dec. 27, confessed to having sex with a 14-year-old student in a car in a parking lot, police said. Police said they seized the student's cell phone and Chester's computer as evidence in the case. http://www.wpxi.com/news/14985386/detail.html

Vermont: Police Identify More Sex Abuse Victims
Richard Foster, 52, was arrested in September after the mother of one of his alleged victims found sexually explicit images from Foster on her son's cell phone. Police have now identified a total of four victims. Court documents say the abuse took place last summer and fall. http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=7587300&nav=menu183_4_2

Georgia: Carrie O’Connor, 34, of Mount Vernon, Georgia and a Montgomery County High School guidance counselor
Indicted on allegations of having sexual relations with a 16 year old male student in her car and in her home.
http://badbadteacher.com/carrie-oconnor-indicted/

Florida: Debra Lafave Arrested on Probation Violation for Talking to Teen Girl - FOX NEWS
Lafave, 27, allegedly had contact with the minor — a 16-year-old co-worker — at Danny Boys' restaurant in Ruskin, Fla., in violation of her probation, FOX News has learned.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315052,00.html

Massachusetts: Closing a sex abuse loophole - GateHouse News Service
It shouldn't have to take a legislative act to warn teachers they cannot use their positions to engage students, even if they are over the age of consent, in a sexual relationship. But apparently it does. The Legislature held a hearing last week on a bill that would criminalize sexual relations between teachers and students younger than 18.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinions/editorials/x491909712

Virginia: Wythe County teacher arrested again - Karen Sue Patton is charged with molesting two other 13-year-old boys. - By Joe Eaton Roanoke.com
A 41-year-old former Wythe County teacher who was arrested in January on charges that she sexually molested a 13-year-old student has been arrested once again, this time on charges that she molested two other boys. Karen Sue Patton, who last taught at Scott Memorial Middle School, was charged on Monday with three counts of carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and one count of assault and battery of a minor, Wythe County prosecutor Gerald Mabe said this afternoon. http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/54775