Noah & Jordan are having to find ways of dealing with the real or percieved judgements & intollerance of other people in their lives their religious beliefs, and "climate" in the wider community. The 2 boys have not known that they can trust anyone else; Jordan &Noal live this all day, every day. Think that through, and consider how unsettling being in that situation would be. Think now different this story might be if the 2 boys knew that they had the unconditional support of a few other people. I think much of the responsibility for the deceipt, the lieing, the diversions & being "economical with the truth" rests on the shoulders of their friends & community
