The storyline is simple but beguiling. Yossi is heading into his final year at a Jewish high school and is conflicted by his sexual attraction to men. He seeks online help from a rabbi, who advises him to snap a rubber band on his wrist whenever he has sexual thoughts about other boys. Things take a turn when Josh turns up at his school and Yossi is given the job of introducing him to Jewish culture and prayers. Josh – non-observant and much more sexually experienced than Yossi – tells him about his encounters with both sexes. Attraction soon develops between them. More crucially, Josh introduces Yossi to new ways of thinking about his sexuality and reconciling it with his religion.

Glasman’s respect for Judaism is evident. His gentle revelation of its power and meaning for Yossi and other characters is shown in a complex and gradated fashion. His characters also read true, particularly Yossi’s widowed father, who is lovingly painted as a believable combination of kindness and taciturn forbearance. The book’s one false note comes at its climax, when Glasman attempts to fit far too much meaning and action into one social occasion. This is the only place where the dialogue falls flat. Regardless of this, I greatly look forward to reading more by this very talented young writer.