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rachelditty 's review for:
Deposing Nathan
by Zack Smedley
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked this up because I needed something I thought I could get through fast for the end of August. It ended up ripping my heart out and putting me in the mind of a teenager in such an accurate way that I was disoriented whenever I put the book down.
Smedley did such an insane job at creating a realistic and heartbreaking scenario of what it's like to grow up in an abusive home while trying to discover who you are outside of those bonds. I hated Nate, but I also felt so incredibly sorry for him because I understood what he was going through (to an extent). Having his aunt be so cruel to him and not having any sane outlet to get those pent-up feelings out puts him in such an isolating scenario where he feels like he has no control, except to push himself further into a relationship with Cam that they both know is only explosive.
There were things his aunt did to him that he brushed off that absolutely broke my heart. At one point when she first hits him, he says something along the lines of, "not in an abusive way, though," and it just tore me to shreds. It's so tearing to see exactly why Nate acts the way he does but knowing he has to figure everything out for himself. The scene where he's crying at his mom's grave is just terrible to read.
I was shocked and disgusted when we find out it wasn't Cam at all who stabbed Nate, but his own aunt. Thank fuck she got taken away at the end. And it was so nice to see Nate's dad feel remorseful for not being there for his son, for not seeing what was happening, for not protecting him. He says he wants to do better, and I believe him.
At one point, I was reading this at the park with my friend. I asked how long we'd been there because I'd been so lost in this book, and she said it had only been an hour. I honestly thought we'd been there for at least three. This book is a vacuum; it made me feel as small and helpless as Nate felt, and even when I closed the cover I just felt jumbled and disoriented.
This was an incredible work of realistic fiction, and while I hate goodbyes, I'm glad Cam and Nate left each other on a semi-hopeful note, because we as readers know for a fact that Cam will remember everything that happened with Nate, and Nate will never forget Cam. It makes me hopeful that one day, maybe after college, when they've both worked through their issues, they can become friends again.
This was a fantastic book that took me completely by surprise. Best thrift-store find I've had in a long time.
Smedley did such an insane job at creating a realistic and heartbreaking scenario of what it's like to grow up in an abusive home while trying to discover who you are outside of those bonds. I hated Nate, but I also felt so incredibly sorry for him because I understood what he was going through (to an extent). Having his aunt be so cruel to him and not having any sane outlet to get those pent-up feelings out puts him in such an isolating scenario where he feels like he has no control, except to push himself further into a relationship with Cam that they both know is only explosive.
There were things his aunt did to him that he brushed off that absolutely broke my heart. At one point when she first hits him, he says something along the lines of, "not in an abusive way, though," and it just tore me to shreds. It's so tearing to see exactly why Nate acts the way he does but knowing he has to figure everything out for himself. The scene where he's crying at his mom's grave is just terrible to read.
I was shocked and disgusted when we find out it wasn't Cam at all who stabbed Nate, but his own aunt. Thank fuck she got taken away at the end. And it was so nice to see Nate's dad feel remorseful for not being there for his son, for not seeing what was happening, for not protecting him. He says he wants to do better, and I believe him.
At one point, I was reading this at the park with my friend. I asked how long we'd been there because I'd been so lost in this book, and she said it had only been an hour. I honestly thought we'd been there for at least three. This book is a vacuum; it made me feel as small and helpless as Nate felt, and even when I closed the cover I just felt jumbled and disoriented.
This was an incredible work of realistic fiction, and while I hate goodbyes, I'm glad Cam and Nate left each other on a semi-hopeful note, because we as readers know for a fact that Cam will remember everything that happened with Nate, and Nate will never forget Cam. It makes me hopeful that one day, maybe after college, when they've both worked through their issues, they can become friends again.
This was a fantastic book that took me completely by surprise. Best thrift-store find I've had in a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content