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A review by betweentheshelves
The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
After losing his older sister in a car accident, Kermit is no stranger to grief. It seems that everywhere he looks, there's a reminder of her. A reminder that she's no longer there to give him advice, to support him. When Kermit goes back to school, he finds a mysterious note in his locker inviting him to the Minus-One Club. A club where all of the members have lost someone. A club where everyone gets grief.
One member of the club is Matt, the only out gay kid at school and someone who Kermit might have a crush on. Spending time with Matt seems to be one of the only things that helps Kermit with his grief. But as Kermit spends more time with Matt, he realizes how much pain Matt is actually hiding. And Kermit has to find the strenght to help keep Matt from falling apart.
Thanks to Henry Holt & Co. for an advanced copy of this book to review! Kekla Magoon is such a force in YA and kids literature that I knew I had to read her new book. This book definitely packs a punch; it doesn't flinch away from the difficult sides of grief, of religion, and of mental illness. There may be a lot to unpack in this book, but it doesn't feel overwhelming like it sometimes can.
This book is sort of fomatted like a series of vingettes in a way, as the chapters are very, very short. We get both present day and flashbacks of when Kermit's sister was alive. Throughout, we get to see Kermit struggling with his sexuality, especially because his parents are very religious. Kermit isn't sure how to feel about his feelings for Matt, and as readers, we can see this confusion playing out on the page. It's honestly wonderfully done.
The sections with Matt and Kermit are some of the best but also some of the most heart-wrenching. You can see how much Matt is struggling, with a non-existent support structure at home. Kermit does his best to be there for him, but they're also both teenagers. There's only so much he can actually do.
I also loved the concept of the Minus-One Club, inducting members who experience loss so they can realize that they aren't alone. The group evolves by the end of the book (by necessity), and I wish more high schools were able to have groups like this because it's so important to see that you're not alone when you're going through something traumatic like that.
The only thing I would change about this book is to add a little more resolution at the end. With the major event that happens towards the end of the book, I think the characters needed a little more room to breath. But other than that, this is a powerful book that you should have on your January TBRs!
One member of the club is Matt, the only out gay kid at school and someone who Kermit might have a crush on. Spending time with Matt seems to be one of the only things that helps Kermit with his grief. But as Kermit spends more time with Matt, he realizes how much pain Matt is actually hiding. And Kermit has to find the strenght to help keep Matt from falling apart.
Thanks to Henry Holt & Co. for an advanced copy of this book to review! Kekla Magoon is such a force in YA and kids literature that I knew I had to read her new book. This book definitely packs a punch; it doesn't flinch away from the difficult sides of grief, of religion, and of mental illness. There may be a lot to unpack in this book, but it doesn't feel overwhelming like it sometimes can.
This book is sort of fomatted like a series of vingettes in a way, as the chapters are very, very short. We get both present day and flashbacks of when Kermit's sister was alive. Throughout, we get to see Kermit struggling with his sexuality, especially because his parents are very religious. Kermit isn't sure how to feel about his feelings for Matt, and as readers, we can see this confusion playing out on the page. It's honestly wonderfully done.
The sections with Matt and Kermit are some of the best but also some of the most heart-wrenching. You can see how much Matt is struggling, with a non-existent support structure at home. Kermit does his best to be there for him, but they're also both teenagers. There's only so much he can actually do.
I also loved the concept of the Minus-One Club, inducting members who experience loss so they can realize that they aren't alone. The group evolves by the end of the book (by necessity), and I wish more high schools were able to have groups like this because it's so important to see that you're not alone when you're going through something traumatic like that.
The only thing I would change about this book is to add a little more resolution at the end. With the major event that happens towards the end of the book, I think the characters needed a little more room to breath. But other than that, this is a powerful book that you should have on your January TBRs!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Homophobia
Minor: Fatphobia and Vomit