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rosepetals1984's review against another edition
3.0
"Boys of Summer" is certainly an anthology worth a summer afternoon of light, romantic reading in the YA GLBT spectrum. I found myself enjoying what it had to offer in the array of relationships between the boys that the various authors chose to showcase. I'll admit that the major aspect of this collection that kept me from giving it an even higher rating were that many of the stories were truncated abruptly - leaving the story unfinished or not as developed as it could've been if the story were a bit more rounded or slightly longer.
The collection, as edited by Steve Berman, offers ten stories of varied lengths, revolving around different teenage boys lives during the summer months and the boys they come to meet in their experiences. I'll focus on a few highlights and honorable mentions, but the collective array of stories offered here would be ones worth trying out for yourself to see what strikes you.
The first story in the collection, "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Swamp Thing" is perhaps one of the strongest stories in the anthology, telling the story of Chase and Shane - two boys who spend the summer venturing out on a boat and observing frogs and making note of the marine life around the area. I liked the natural nuances of each of the boys as well as their gradual progression of getting to know each other, even when they faced opposition from some of the members of the popular crowd. In the end, their story felt rounded and complete to developing their characters.
Another story I enjoyed was "Breakwater in the Summer Dark" - which told the story of two boys who attend a summer camp in the midst of a strange creature that lurks the lake, something like the Loch Ness Monster. It shows one of the boys having an attachment to the camp, maybe even the permanence of the creatures lurking there, while the other boy searches to find his own place while there - and determine his relationship. Cody and Harris are both likable, realistic characters, and the story progression is light and easy to follow.
The last one that really stood out for me in terms of the highlighted stories was "Leap" - which showcased the relationship between Ryan and Will coming to terms with each other and interacting in a way that showcases a "next step" for the both of them. I really liked the tone of the story, and it managed to be humorous and cute in spurts.
Special honors go to "Most Likely" and "Cave Canem". I think in the overall perspective of these stories, they progress in their own lighthearted way and people who like light reads and coming of age/slice of life stories will like them a lot more.
Overall score: 3/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bold Strokes Books.
The collection, as edited by Steve Berman, offers ten stories of varied lengths, revolving around different teenage boys lives during the summer months and the boys they come to meet in their experiences. I'll focus on a few highlights and honorable mentions, but the collective array of stories offered here would be ones worth trying out for yourself to see what strikes you.
The first story in the collection, "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Swamp Thing" is perhaps one of the strongest stories in the anthology, telling the story of Chase and Shane - two boys who spend the summer venturing out on a boat and observing frogs and making note of the marine life around the area. I liked the natural nuances of each of the boys as well as their gradual progression of getting to know each other, even when they faced opposition from some of the members of the popular crowd. In the end, their story felt rounded and complete to developing their characters.
Another story I enjoyed was "Breakwater in the Summer Dark" - which told the story of two boys who attend a summer camp in the midst of a strange creature that lurks the lake, something like the Loch Ness Monster. It shows one of the boys having an attachment to the camp, maybe even the permanence of the creatures lurking there, while the other boy searches to find his own place while there - and determine his relationship. Cody and Harris are both likable, realistic characters, and the story progression is light and easy to follow.
The last one that really stood out for me in terms of the highlighted stories was "Leap" - which showcased the relationship between Ryan and Will coming to terms with each other and interacting in a way that showcases a "next step" for the both of them. I really liked the tone of the story, and it managed to be humorous and cute in spurts.
Special honors go to "Most Likely" and "Cave Canem". I think in the overall perspective of these stories, they progress in their own lighthearted way and people who like light reads and coming of age/slice of life stories will like them a lot more.
Overall score: 3/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bold Strokes Books.
apostrophen's review
5.0
Edit: Price-drop, until September 17th, 2017, on the Bold Strokes Books web-store, in e- and paper- formats, 15% off.
"Portrait of the Artist as a Young Swamp Thing"
by Ann Zeddies
I think I'd fail if I tried to tell you how awesome an ability Zeddies has to capture the voice of a young gay teen trying so hard to be a part of the cool crowd. Shane is stuck with his family at a cabin at the lake - where there are cowboy sheets on his loft room bed - and not happy about it. He's even less happy when Chase - the weird geek he barely knows - is invited by his mother to sleep over for a few nights while Chase's parents are out of town.
Shane's progression and dawning realizations of the social world around him are charming. The romance here is just budding, and Shane's in a position that I found it so easy to empathize with: his love of art, which he knows most assume to be wrong for boys, is an immediate worry. His awareness that his parents are treating him differently now that they know he's gay. His worry that this has broken something. It all rings so true.
The dialog is wonderful and snappy and fluid - I adore Chase's love of all things amphibian, and had a visceral moment of triumph when Shane finally spoke his mind at a party.
Loved this. Wonderful start to the anthology, and definitely the right tone to begin.
"Get Brenda Foxworthy" quickly became near and dear to my heart. The titular character is that girl from high school - the one we all hated, who was cold and snobbish and outright mean from her position at the top of the social apex. In the tale, Brenda Foxworthy is the one who tosses around "fag" and anything else that would get a rise and shove someone down. In real life, I changed schools throughout my childhood, so I got to meet different incarnations of Brenda Foxworthy time and again. It's been my experience that nearly every queer person I've met has a Brenda Foxworthy. Everyone wishes they could have gotten even with Brenda Foxworthy.
The character in Shawn's story is one of three friends who decide that tonight is the night to get even with Brenda Foxworthy.
I really liked this story - and not just from the point of view of enjoying three young people try to turn the tables on a tormentor. The reasons behind what the three kids are doing align in their common hatred of their foe, but Dean, our narrator, has more to him than just basic revenge. The humiliated boyfriend and the teased tom-boy - alongside Dean - come up with what might be a pretty straightforward revenge scheme that might not come to much, but chance offers Dean the opportunity to accomplish something a bit more lasting.
The casual anger - and symbolic (and literal) violence these teens toss out reads with verisimilitude. There were things I wanted to do as a bullied teen that these kids pretty much do - and there were some things I did as a teen that they didn't, but I'm sure they would have agreed with; that I look back now and sometimes (a little, every now and then) consider that it might not have been a good idea doesn't matter. My teen self acted from a core of humiliation and high emotion. These teens read real.
The ultimate end of the tale I will not ruin, but suffice it to say I found the conclusion satisfying and rewarding - which, having read Syms before, doesn't surprise me.
Dia Pannes brings us "Cave Canem." It's a lovely story about Wyatt, a young gay man who - wait for it - volunteers at an abandoned animal rescue organization and specializes in those dogs that have been so mistreated they do not trust anyone. He has a way of touching these dogs, and bringing them back from the brink of hopelessness.
I mean seriously. Why not just deliver a dozen puppies to my husband and just be done with it, Dia? I should be fair and mention that cats are mentioned, but it's totally a dog story.
It's a conspiracy.
Sorry. Off track. The relationship Wyatt has with his mother is superb - the tale begins with her admitting that his father (his parents are divorced) is likely not going to show up after all (neither of them are surprised) and she offers some perfect motherly advice: avoid the bad boys; they always break your heart.
Cue the bad boy.
Wyatt's crush lands - hard - on a delinquent who is ordered to do some volunteer time as community service with the same shelter and rescue program. Brody is obviously a bad boy in training, and it's just as obvious to Wyatt that he shouldn't allow himself to fall for the guy. Here I love the progression of Wyatt's through processes. They're so true to life - Wyatt notices that one of the most mistreated dogs feels safe around Brody. So Brody couldn't be all bad, right?
Again, I'm not out to ruin the endings of these stories, but suffice it to say I love where Pennes left us. A criticism I often hear of short stories is how they so often leave you hanging. To me, that's in many ways the point - you want to fall in love with the characters, immerse yourself in the tale, and then - once presented with a complete piece of their lives - you want to drift for a while imagining the rest of their time together.
Believing in the magic of the world is at the core of the next story in BOYS OF SUMMER, L. Lark's "Breakwater in the Summer Dark." Here two characters find themselves together each summer as counselors at Oxwater Lake - a camp for kids - and their worlds intersect in a kind of middle ground: Cody is a city kid, and wants to study biology, and although he's been enjoying the company of girls, he's preoccupied with Harris. Harris is the son of the owners of the camp, a reader of fantasy novels, and a believer in the monster in the Oxwater Lake. That Cody is the one who sees the monster - and captures a shot on his cell phone - puts both their mindsets askew.
Cody and Harris dance around each other - Harris leads with belief, Cody ripostes with denial and then attraction, which Harris deflects... The interplay between the two, with the mystery of the potential monster in the background, is a delight. But for me, the central issue: belief vs reality, and which has more power - was the voice of the tale that Cody and Harris were speaking. It put me back to my own youth, and my own notions of how the world had to have some magic in it.
And I'm glad I still believe that.
"Brass" is the next story in BOYS OF SUMMER, co-written by Marguerite Croft and Christopher Reynaga, and boy do they capture the nervous energy of the kid with a crush. Our narrator is a band geek and his crush is the tuba-playing Ben. Ben is out, so there's no "is he or isn't he?" to worry about, but what if the feelings aren't returned? It's a very short story - less than seven pages - but the duo let you step into the young man's life at a pivotal moment. His courage finally tips over, and takes a chance.
It's a lovely little story (and one of the best "first kiss" stories I've read) and reminds the reader just how short a short story can be and still pack a punch.
The next tale in BOYS OF SUMMER is "Summer's Last Stand" by Aimee Payne, and it paints this familial fallout deftly. Corey and his sister are living with their Grandmother after the death of their mother (their father having bowed out long ago). Things have become very tense since Corey's coming out and his declaration that post-graduation he's going to leave their small town for somewhere better. He's not sure why his sister now seems to hate him, but he's tired of being a target. Their relationship is lovely and rings true: "I'm Corey, and this is my brat Emily," Corey says, introducing his sister to his friend's cousin.
The romance here sparks and just barely begins when the brother and sister find themselves at a party crashed by some of the town bullies, and hook up with Corey's friend and visiting (cute) cousin in their attempt to sneak away. "Summer's Last Stand" has a lot of tension to it - what's going on with his sister? What's going on with the cousin? Are they going to manage to avoid a smackdown? Of all the tales, it was the one that made me twitch the most in anticipation of something potentially going south.
It also reminded me that for all we gay folk tend to consider ourselves as individual, our families absolutely do have an influence on us (for good or ill) and that those who are lucky enough to have some solid family who stand behind them should remember to be grateful - the fallout isn't always just on the one coming out.
When I saw the title of the next story, which is Steve Berman's "Most Likely," I had a moment of sly grinning to myself. God. Yearbooks. For me they were basically a diagram of popularity and outcasts, done in tones, tints, and shades. They remind me of the beginning of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.
Berman (who also edited this collection) brings the kind of wonderful spec fic I've grown to expect from him. (I should add here, if you've not read Vintage, Steve's wonderful YA novel, you need to grab a copy.)
Steve's story centres around a yearbook that belongs to North Jersey boy Roque (our hero) and seems to be giving him a hand or two. The yearbook is a character in and of itself - pictures move, inscriptions change, and its ultimate goal is wonderfully unclear. Roque's incredulity gives way as the yearbook offers up hope in the form of innuendo about Roque's crush Gregg.
"Most Likely" also has a dollup of that same "family vibe" I adored in "Summer's Last Stand" and the relationship between Roque and his sister Leo snaps from the first page. The dialogue feels real, and the joy his younger sister gets in both pushing his buttons and showing him just how much she's capable of handling made me grin.
As a device to nudge Roque into taking action, the yearbook is clever. I've always been in love with the notion of magical books. Though I think they've all been destroyed, it almost makes me want to try and find my old yearbooks.
Likely they'd not be as magical, alas.
The next tale in BOYS OF SUMMER is "Bark if You Like Boys" by Sam Cameron and oh! I barked. The opening paragraph are lines of perfection in the realm of characterization, and from the first words I was completely in love. Puppy love, even.
Sean Garrity is a young man working in a bookstore over summer (for the record, this is the number one way to make me adore a character) who has been sneaking and reading all the fluffy romance novels with the half-naked Scotsmen on the covers (this is a close second) and who has been trying to find good homes for some puppies he found abandoned outside the bookstore (I refuse to comment as it may serve to later incriminate me).
Sean keeps a notice up on the board that these three puppies need a home, and someone starts leaving him pithy notes in return. When Sean meets two brothers, his gaydar pings and whistles and then goes dark. Mine was like that when I was Sean's age: unreliable at best.
There's some sincerely serious topics in this story, but the prose - and Sean's phenomenal inner voice - keeps the overall tone from slipping into maudlin. There are many types of courage on display in this story, and I loved them all.
(Fine. Even the puppies.)
Alex Jeffers has the final story in BOYS OF SUMMER, and his tale - deep breath for the full title - is "Wheat, Barley, Lettuce, Fennel, Salt for Sorrow, Blood for Joy." There is the front story of Luke: a young man named Luke on a long sailing ride with his father and stepmother. There is also a series of other stories weaving in and out of the narrative - pieces of mythology that are stepping up to Luke's dreaming mind and making themselves known. As Luke starts to have feelings for Levent, one of the young men who work on the boat, there's a lovely blending of his relationship with his father and stepmother (brava to Jeffers for this alone, by the way) and his potential relationship with Levent, and also with this mythology simmering in the background.
There's some sexual fluidity here that I really enjoyed, and Luke's issues with his mother and step-father back home rang true. The mixes of mythology, tradition, superstitions and cultures were handled deftly (especially in the confines of a short story) and the ultimate conclusion was one that left me smiling - both in terms of the story, and in how the story wraps up the theme of the anthology as a whole.
And that's my trip through BOYS OF SUMMER. With luck, I've enticed you with these tales - I don't think anyone in this day and age of TWILIGHT, HUNGER GAMES, or HARRY POTTER will feel I speak out of turn when I say that you absolutely don't have to be a young adult to enjoy some YA fiction. My fondest hope, though, is that a copy of this book ends up in the hands of someone who is like the boy I used to be. Because while the myths are wonderful, there's nothing like a contemporary character to look you in the eye and say, 'Hey. Here you are. And you're okay.'
"Portrait of the Artist as a Young Swamp Thing"
by Ann Zeddies
I think I'd fail if I tried to tell you how awesome an ability Zeddies has to capture the voice of a young gay teen trying so hard to be a part of the cool crowd. Shane is stuck with his family at a cabin at the lake - where there are cowboy sheets on his loft room bed - and not happy about it. He's even less happy when Chase - the weird geek he barely knows - is invited by his mother to sleep over for a few nights while Chase's parents are out of town.
Shane's progression and dawning realizations of the social world around him are charming. The romance here is just budding, and Shane's in a position that I found it so easy to empathize with: his love of art, which he knows most assume to be wrong for boys, is an immediate worry. His awareness that his parents are treating him differently now that they know he's gay. His worry that this has broken something. It all rings so true.
The dialog is wonderful and snappy and fluid - I adore Chase's love of all things amphibian, and had a visceral moment of triumph when Shane finally spoke his mind at a party.
Loved this. Wonderful start to the anthology, and definitely the right tone to begin.
"Get Brenda Foxworthy" quickly became near and dear to my heart. The titular character is that girl from high school - the one we all hated, who was cold and snobbish and outright mean from her position at the top of the social apex. In the tale, Brenda Foxworthy is the one who tosses around "fag" and anything else that would get a rise and shove someone down. In real life, I changed schools throughout my childhood, so I got to meet different incarnations of Brenda Foxworthy time and again. It's been my experience that nearly every queer person I've met has a Brenda Foxworthy. Everyone wishes they could have gotten even with Brenda Foxworthy.
The character in Shawn's story is one of three friends who decide that tonight is the night to get even with Brenda Foxworthy.
I really liked this story - and not just from the point of view of enjoying three young people try to turn the tables on a tormentor. The reasons behind what the three kids are doing align in their common hatred of their foe, but Dean, our narrator, has more to him than just basic revenge. The humiliated boyfriend and the teased tom-boy - alongside Dean - come up with what might be a pretty straightforward revenge scheme that might not come to much, but chance offers Dean the opportunity to accomplish something a bit more lasting.
The casual anger - and symbolic (and literal) violence these teens toss out reads with verisimilitude. There were things I wanted to do as a bullied teen that these kids pretty much do - and there were some things I did as a teen that they didn't, but I'm sure they would have agreed with; that I look back now and sometimes (a little, every now and then) consider that it might not have been a good idea doesn't matter. My teen self acted from a core of humiliation and high emotion. These teens read real.
The ultimate end of the tale I will not ruin, but suffice it to say I found the conclusion satisfying and rewarding - which, having read Syms before, doesn't surprise me.
Dia Pannes brings us "Cave Canem." It's a lovely story about Wyatt, a young gay man who - wait for it - volunteers at an abandoned animal rescue organization and specializes in those dogs that have been so mistreated they do not trust anyone. He has a way of touching these dogs, and bringing them back from the brink of hopelessness.
I mean seriously. Why not just deliver a dozen puppies to my husband and just be done with it, Dia? I should be fair and mention that cats are mentioned, but it's totally a dog story.
It's a conspiracy.
Sorry. Off track. The relationship Wyatt has with his mother is superb - the tale begins with her admitting that his father (his parents are divorced) is likely not going to show up after all (neither of them are surprised) and she offers some perfect motherly advice: avoid the bad boys; they always break your heart.
Cue the bad boy.
Wyatt's crush lands - hard - on a delinquent who is ordered to do some volunteer time as community service with the same shelter and rescue program. Brody is obviously a bad boy in training, and it's just as obvious to Wyatt that he shouldn't allow himself to fall for the guy. Here I love the progression of Wyatt's through processes. They're so true to life - Wyatt notices that one of the most mistreated dogs feels safe around Brody. So Brody couldn't be all bad, right?
Again, I'm not out to ruin the endings of these stories, but suffice it to say I love where Pennes left us. A criticism I often hear of short stories is how they so often leave you hanging. To me, that's in many ways the point - you want to fall in love with the characters, immerse yourself in the tale, and then - once presented with a complete piece of their lives - you want to drift for a while imagining the rest of their time together.
Believing in the magic of the world is at the core of the next story in BOYS OF SUMMER, L. Lark's "Breakwater in the Summer Dark." Here two characters find themselves together each summer as counselors at Oxwater Lake - a camp for kids - and their worlds intersect in a kind of middle ground: Cody is a city kid, and wants to study biology, and although he's been enjoying the company of girls, he's preoccupied with Harris. Harris is the son of the owners of the camp, a reader of fantasy novels, and a believer in the monster in the Oxwater Lake. That Cody is the one who sees the monster - and captures a shot on his cell phone - puts both their mindsets askew.
Cody and Harris dance around each other - Harris leads with belief, Cody ripostes with denial and then attraction, which Harris deflects... The interplay between the two, with the mystery of the potential monster in the background, is a delight. But for me, the central issue: belief vs reality, and which has more power - was the voice of the tale that Cody and Harris were speaking. It put me back to my own youth, and my own notions of how the world had to have some magic in it.
And I'm glad I still believe that.
"Brass" is the next story in BOYS OF SUMMER, co-written by Marguerite Croft and Christopher Reynaga, and boy do they capture the nervous energy of the kid with a crush. Our narrator is a band geek and his crush is the tuba-playing Ben. Ben is out, so there's no "is he or isn't he?" to worry about, but what if the feelings aren't returned? It's a very short story - less than seven pages - but the duo let you step into the young man's life at a pivotal moment. His courage finally tips over, and takes a chance.
It's a lovely little story (and one of the best "first kiss" stories I've read) and reminds the reader just how short a short story can be and still pack a punch.
The next tale in BOYS OF SUMMER is "Summer's Last Stand" by Aimee Payne, and it paints this familial fallout deftly. Corey and his sister are living with their Grandmother after the death of their mother (their father having bowed out long ago). Things have become very tense since Corey's coming out and his declaration that post-graduation he's going to leave their small town for somewhere better. He's not sure why his sister now seems to hate him, but he's tired of being a target. Their relationship is lovely and rings true: "I'm Corey, and this is my brat Emily," Corey says, introducing his sister to his friend's cousin.
The romance here sparks and just barely begins when the brother and sister find themselves at a party crashed by some of the town bullies, and hook up with Corey's friend and visiting (cute) cousin in their attempt to sneak away. "Summer's Last Stand" has a lot of tension to it - what's going on with his sister? What's going on with the cousin? Are they going to manage to avoid a smackdown? Of all the tales, it was the one that made me twitch the most in anticipation of something potentially going south.
It also reminded me that for all we gay folk tend to consider ourselves as individual, our families absolutely do have an influence on us (for good or ill) and that those who are lucky enough to have some solid family who stand behind them should remember to be grateful - the fallout isn't always just on the one coming out.
When I saw the title of the next story, which is Steve Berman's "Most Likely," I had a moment of sly grinning to myself. God. Yearbooks. For me they were basically a diagram of popularity and outcasts, done in tones, tints, and shades. They remind me of the beginning of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.
Berman (who also edited this collection) brings the kind of wonderful spec fic I've grown to expect from him. (I should add here, if you've not read Vintage, Steve's wonderful YA novel, you need to grab a copy.)
Steve's story centres around a yearbook that belongs to North Jersey boy Roque (our hero) and seems to be giving him a hand or two. The yearbook is a character in and of itself - pictures move, inscriptions change, and its ultimate goal is wonderfully unclear. Roque's incredulity gives way as the yearbook offers up hope in the form of innuendo about Roque's crush Gregg.
"Most Likely" also has a dollup of that same "family vibe" I adored in "Summer's Last Stand" and the relationship between Roque and his sister Leo snaps from the first page. The dialogue feels real, and the joy his younger sister gets in both pushing his buttons and showing him just how much she's capable of handling made me grin.
As a device to nudge Roque into taking action, the yearbook is clever. I've always been in love with the notion of magical books. Though I think they've all been destroyed, it almost makes me want to try and find my old yearbooks.
Likely they'd not be as magical, alas.
The next tale in BOYS OF SUMMER is "Bark if You Like Boys" by Sam Cameron and oh! I barked. The opening paragraph are lines of perfection in the realm of characterization, and from the first words I was completely in love. Puppy love, even.
Sean Garrity is a young man working in a bookstore over summer (for the record, this is the number one way to make me adore a character) who has been sneaking and reading all the fluffy romance novels with the half-naked Scotsmen on the covers (this is a close second) and who has been trying to find good homes for some puppies he found abandoned outside the bookstore (I refuse to comment as it may serve to later incriminate me).
Sean keeps a notice up on the board that these three puppies need a home, and someone starts leaving him pithy notes in return. When Sean meets two brothers, his gaydar pings and whistles and then goes dark. Mine was like that when I was Sean's age: unreliable at best.
There's some sincerely serious topics in this story, but the prose - and Sean's phenomenal inner voice - keeps the overall tone from slipping into maudlin. There are many types of courage on display in this story, and I loved them all.
(Fine. Even the puppies.)
Alex Jeffers has the final story in BOYS OF SUMMER, and his tale - deep breath for the full title - is "Wheat, Barley, Lettuce, Fennel, Salt for Sorrow, Blood for Joy." There is the front story of Luke: a young man named Luke on a long sailing ride with his father and stepmother. There is also a series of other stories weaving in and out of the narrative - pieces of mythology that are stepping up to Luke's dreaming mind and making themselves known. As Luke starts to have feelings for Levent, one of the young men who work on the boat, there's a lovely blending of his relationship with his father and stepmother (brava to Jeffers for this alone, by the way) and his potential relationship with Levent, and also with this mythology simmering in the background.
There's some sexual fluidity here that I really enjoyed, and Luke's issues with his mother and step-father back home rang true. The mixes of mythology, tradition, superstitions and cultures were handled deftly (especially in the confines of a short story) and the ultimate conclusion was one that left me smiling - both in terms of the story, and in how the story wraps up the theme of the anthology as a whole.
And that's my trip through BOYS OF SUMMER. With luck, I've enticed you with these tales - I don't think anyone in this day and age of TWILIGHT, HUNGER GAMES, or HARRY POTTER will feel I speak out of turn when I say that you absolutely don't have to be a young adult to enjoy some YA fiction. My fondest hope, though, is that a copy of this book ends up in the hands of someone who is like the boy I used to be. Because while the myths are wonderful, there's nothing like a contemporary character to look you in the eye and say, 'Hey. Here you are. And you're okay.'
achillespatroclus's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
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