A review by jlfred
Boy at the Window by Lauren Melissa Ellzey

4.0

I have not had a book hangover like this in quite a while. This book is going to stay with me for a very long time. I can't believe this is a debut novel. It's got 2 Korean-American MCs; first love; mental health; angst galore; flights to Neverland; and lyrical prose, a unique voice, and depth beyond what is usually found in YA or romance novels, in general. The story itself is about Daniel, who is recovering from a suicide attempt - first in a hospital/inpatient treatment facility, then at a new school. Outwardly, Daniel is a loner, stand-offish, unlikely or unwilling to engage with teachers or classmates. But that's only because the others can't see the immense adventures Daniel has with the rest of the Lost Boys in Neverland going on inside his head. Daniel has depersonalization-derealization disorder, which causes him to detach from his body in times of stress (most of the time). Sometimes he watches from afar as his body responds to the rest of the world, other times he explores the forests with his Lost Boys and sets traps for Captain Hook. As he slowly begins to make friends on the cross-country team, especially Jiwon, he finds himself spending less time in Neverland and making more connections in the real world. But with that comes more pain - from neglectful and abusive parents, from past friends, from the world - and the less time he spends in Neverland, the harder it is to get back there when the pain comes. When the worst happens, all he wants to do is get back to Neverland and stay there forever. Will his connection to Jiwan stop that from happening? And is that a good or bad thing?