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inthelunaseas 's review for:
Invisible Boys
by Holden Sheppard
Wow.
I'd seen this book floating around on my local library's shelves, but I didn't think much of it at first until I kept heard it getting brought up with queer book enthusiasts.
Firstly, I'm surprised it's by a Gero author.
Secondly, I'm surprised how much of a punch it packs.
While I've got family in Geraldton, I don't often go up that way. However, I'd love my best friend to read it, as she's Gtown born and bred, and it'd be awesome to get her input. But from my jaunts up that way, I was able to pinpoint locations (HJs! Woorree! Bluff Point!), which felt like I was in with the cool kids.
From the start, I had a feeling it wouldn't end happily. Charlie leads a miserable existence, and I really wanted the poor kid to be given a break. Everything keeps getting worse and worse for him, and he really needed a hand. Sure, it's offered to him a few times, with counselling and the sort, and he repeatedly rebuffs it... but if he had an adult in his life who really spoke to him on his level, maybe it wouldn't have been so hard.
I had a feeling it was Matt writing the letters from about the second or third one. While I'm saddened his story ended the way it did- and in the manner it did- it wasn't a surprise.
Zeke really made that impulsive a decision, huh? His parents did feel a little one dimensional, and I thought Robbie and Natalie might have given him a little loving support, but I think there needed to be a real push for him to run off. Given how important school was for him, I'm surprised he was willing to throw it all away, but... well, his father did punch him.
As sad as it is, Hammer's ending makes the most sense. With any luck he won't feel compelled to stay in the closet forever. Maybe he gets drafted, maybe he doesn't, but hopefully he grows and develops some confidence in himself. I can buy him saying he feels it's a choice, that he's not gay- he could very well be bi, and strongly leaning for me.
The book also does end in the middle of a scene. Maybe Zeke doesn't get on the bus. Maybe Hammer comes out to his brother. $2000 isn't a lot of money to get by in Perth. They're all under eighteen. But for all the Charlies and Zekes and Hammers in Geraldton: you deserve the greatest happiness.
I'd seen this book floating around on my local library's shelves, but I didn't think much of it at first until I kept heard it getting brought up with queer book enthusiasts.
Firstly, I'm surprised it's by a Gero author.
Secondly, I'm surprised how much of a punch it packs.
While I've got family in Geraldton, I don't often go up that way. However, I'd love my best friend to read it, as she's Gtown born and bred, and it'd be awesome to get her input. But from my jaunts up that way, I was able to pinpoint locations (HJs! Woorree! Bluff Point!), which felt like I was in with the cool kids.
From the start, I had a feeling it wouldn't end happily. Charlie leads a miserable existence, and I really wanted the poor kid to be given a break. Everything keeps getting worse and worse for him, and he really needed a hand. Sure, it's offered to him a few times, with counselling and the sort, and he repeatedly rebuffs it... but if he had an adult in his life who really spoke to him on his level, maybe it wouldn't have been so hard.
I had a feeling it was Matt writing the letters from about the second or third one. While I'm saddened his story ended the way it did- and in the manner it did- it wasn't a surprise.
Zeke really made that impulsive a decision, huh? His parents did feel a little one dimensional, and I thought Robbie and Natalie might have given him a little loving support, but I think there needed to be a real push for him to run off. Given how important school was for him, I'm surprised he was willing to throw it all away, but... well, his father did punch him.
As sad as it is, Hammer's ending makes the most sense. With any luck he won't feel compelled to stay in the closet forever. Maybe he gets drafted, maybe he doesn't, but hopefully he grows and develops some confidence in himself. I can buy him saying he feels it's a choice, that he's not gay- he could very well be bi, and strongly leaning for me.
The book also does end in the middle of a scene. Maybe Zeke doesn't get on the bus. Maybe Hammer comes out to his brother. $2000 isn't a lot of money to get by in Perth. They're all under eighteen. But for all the Charlies and Zekes and Hammers in Geraldton: you deserve the greatest happiness.