Meet the Character
RV
The heart of The Pizza Chronicles.
Fifteen-year-old RV is trying to figure it all out.
Starting high school at the demanding Boston Latin School, he’s navigating family expectations, school pressures, bullies, first love, and the confusing question he’s afraid to say out loud—that he might be gay.
With the support of his mentor Mr. Aniso and the people who care about him, RV learns that growing up isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about finding the courage to be honest with yourself.
The Pizza Chronicles
Five Books. One Journey.
Book 1 of 5
Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza?
RV is a good kid, starting his freshman year at the demanding Boston Latin School. Though his genes didn’t give him a lot of good things, they did give him a decent brain. So he’s doing his best to keep up in high school, despite all the additional pressures he’s facing: his immigrant parents, who don’t want him to forget his roots and insist on other rules. Some tough kids at school who bully teachers as well as students. His puny muscles. His mean gym teacher. The Guy Upstairs who doesn’t answer his prayers. And the most confusing fact of all — that he might be gay.
Luckily, RV develops a friendship with Mr. Aniso, his Latin teacher, who is gay and always there to talk to. RV thinks his problems are solved when he starts going out with Carole. But things only get more complicated when RV develops a crush on Bobby, the football player in his class. And to RV’s surprise, Bobby admits he may have gay feelings, too.
Book 2 of 5
Why Can’t Freshman Summer Be Like Pizza?
RV, having successfully completed his freshman year at the demanding Boston Latin School, is hoping for a great summer. He’s now fifteen years old and looking forward to sharing many languid summer days with his friend Bobby, who’s told him he has gay feelings too. But life and family and duties for a son of immigrant parents makes it difficult to steal time away with Bobby.
Bobby, too, has pressures. He spends part of the summer away at football camp, and his father pushes him to work a summer job at a friend’s accounting firm. On top of everything, RV’s best friend Carole goes away for the summer, jumping at an opportunity to spend it with her father in Paris. Luckily, there is always Mr. Aniso, RV’s Latin teacher, to talk to whenever RV is lonely — especially when RV inadvertently spills one of Bobby’s secrets, and Bobby is so angry RV is afraid he is ready to cut off the friendship.
Book 3 of 5
Why Can’t Relationships Be Like Pizza?
As RV enters sophomore year, his friendships and relationships create more questions than answers. RV still cares for Bobby, but Bobby seems a different, more distant person. RV’s best friend Carole is distracted by the ups and downs in her relationships with her French boyfriends, while RV’s new friend Mark is more focused on his family’s troubles.
School is a mixed bag. RV enjoys the Spanish club he has joined, run by his beautiful Spanish teacher, Señorita Sanchez. But he struggles with other subjects and annoying teachers, and always has to watch out for the school bullies who seem to know how to stay under the detention radar. As always, RV’s former teacher and mentor, Mr. Aniso, is there for advice, especially when near-tragedy strikes and RV needs his counsel to stay strong.
Book 4 of 5
Why Can’t Sophomore Summer Be Like Pizza?
It’s the summer after sophomore year and RV plans to enjoy new adventures after finishing two years of high school. He gets a job as an usher at a movie multiplex but discovers the realities of dealing with job stresses and unruly customers. It’s also time for him to start learning how to drive, and his father is eager to give him lessons — though he’s not the most patient of teachers.
RV opens himself up to a new relationship and it looks like the start of a budding romance — until it isn’t. And then there is RV’s family… Luckily, as always, Mr. Aniso is there to talk over anything bothering RV. But he’s away for the summer, so there’s only so much time and attention he can give. It looks like RV’s summer won’t be fun and games after all.
Book 5 of 5
Why Can’t Dating Be Like Pizza?
RV is now a junior. It’s the most important year of high school, as his guidance counselor makes clear, pushing him to improve his grades, get more active socially, and show colleges why they should accept him over other candidates.
RV has other things on his mind though. He met Luke, who shows him a whole new world of romance, movie making, and fun, but RV’s friends and family pull him in other directions. His old crush Bobby isn’t around much, and RV has to accept that he and Bobby are no longer an item, though he still has some feelings for him. But when Luke makes an unexpected announcement, RV learns that dating has painful downs as well as joyful ups.