captaincogs 's review for:

Leaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow

4.5

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Huge fan of the recent queer coming-of-age books being published. This is now the third or fourth one I've read in the last year and I half, and it makes me feel good to read about everyone's different experiences in the LGBTQ+ community. 

 

It’s so important to read about the different stories queer people, because they aren’t always super sad or amazingly happy all the time. Leaving the Station introduces you to Zoe’s journey of identity, love, and friendship as she tries to figure out her life and reflects on her first semester of college. What Zoe doesn’t expect is to meet Oakley, who is the complete opposite of Zoe but struggles in her own (queer) ways. The two of them help each other more than they will ever imagine on this cross-country train. 

 

I could not believe how fast I read this book. Big fan of Jake Maia Arlow after reading How to Excavate a Heart, so I knew I was going to be all over this book. 

 

Thank you, HaperCollins Children’s Books and Storytide, for the ARC!