It’s the summer between high school and college, and Dade is struggling with a variety of issues. He’s gay, but hasn’t come out to his parents, and he’s in a secret relationship with a football player (who’s openly dating a popular girl). Things aren’t great at home, either, where his mother is drinking too much and his father is having an affair. Then he meets Alex Kinkaid, a little bit older, a drug dealer, but good-looking and kind. For the first time, Dade falls in love. As the summer progresses, Dade finds himself coming into his own, including owning his own sexuality, dealing with a crushing blow, and ultimately making the hard but right choices about his life. The author, Nick Burd, is a funny, wise, and honest guide. He’s thoughtful in his choices when telling this story, which makes this a particularly good read for teens. He also writes a great sentence and makes this coming-of-age story move. While sex is a prominent theme, it is handled with discretion. Content deals with drugs and alcohol. This book is definitely for older teens, grades 10 through college. Winner of the 2010 American Library Association’s inaugural Stonewall Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
