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A review by crtsjffrsn
Finding the Sky by A.M. Burns
4.0
Dillon Smith doesn't live in the best part of Dallas. And he's looking forward to the end of the school year, so he can spend the summer away from the gangs and the classmates who are pressuring him to join one. Even though he doesn't have a lot of friends, a gang's just not something he wants to be a part of. But when he stumbles into the gang's activities, he finds himself being treated as guilty for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Though he's never been in trouble, his mother doesn't believe him. Dillon's uncle, Bryan, offers to take him for the summer, giving him the opportunity to spend time at Bryan's house away from the city. Dillon isn't jumping for joy at the prospect, but he gets along with his uncle and at least he won't have to worry about any run-ins with the gang for the rest of the summer.
On the way to Bryan's house, they come across an injured hawk along the side of the road. To Dillon's surprise, Bryan suggests that they take the bird with him--his neighbors run a wildlife rehab, and their specialty just happens to be birds. This is just the start of Dillon's journey and the whole new world of possibilities that opens up to him. Over the course of the summer, perhaps in having the space to do so for the first time, he discovers more about himself and about life than he ever could have imagined. And his fast friendship with the son of Bryan's neighbors, Scott, proves to be a whole new experience all its own.
A coming-of-age story with some unique twists. Too many times those stories where young people question and come to terms with their sexuality are filled with pining and crushing over the hottest jock in school, harsh bullying, and overnight epiphanies accompanied with sudden confidence. While these are all realistic situations, it's great to read a book that looks at different challenges that a young man in this situation might face. Dillon's journey is one that definitely has its own challenges--and some of those are heartbreaking--but his story struck me as both fresh and authentic. A great LGBT YA title!
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
On the way to Bryan's house, they come across an injured hawk along the side of the road. To Dillon's surprise, Bryan suggests that they take the bird with him--his neighbors run a wildlife rehab, and their specialty just happens to be birds. This is just the start of Dillon's journey and the whole new world of possibilities that opens up to him. Over the course of the summer, perhaps in having the space to do so for the first time, he discovers more about himself and about life than he ever could have imagined. And his fast friendship with the son of Bryan's neighbors, Scott, proves to be a whole new experience all its own.
A coming-of-age story with some unique twists. Too many times those stories where young people question and come to terms with their sexuality are filled with pining and crushing over the hottest jock in school, harsh bullying, and overnight epiphanies accompanied with sudden confidence. While these are all realistic situations, it's great to read a book that looks at different challenges that a young man in this situation might face. Dillon's journey is one that definitely has its own challenges--and some of those are heartbreaking--but his story struck me as both fresh and authentic. A great LGBT YA title!
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]