Grant ‘s debut deftly illuminates the tumultuous experiences of the teenage years. In small-town Haverty, high school senior Peter Hansen is conflicted about his future. His feuding parents are increasingly tearing each other to shreds, and Peter takes comfort in his bedroom closet, where Sharpie-inscribed messages penned by a former resident, Brooke, seem to mirror his own struggles: “I don’t know how much more of this I can take…is there more?” As the tension elevates, Peter meets a trio of new friends—Kevin, Ryan, and Mallory—from a rival school at a local coffeehouse, in a story that deals sensitively with tough issues. Grant excels in describing the inner demons of teenagers, their responses to tragedy and unhappiness, the intense complexity of their interactions, and the healing power of friendship. Kevin’s parents are dead, and his prospects for being able to afford college tuition are slim. Ryan’s depression has at times threatened his life, and Mallory is in love with Kevin, who won’t let himself be with her, even though he desperately wants to. As Peter grows increasingly close to his new friends, and as his parents separate and move toward divorce, he realizes he’s falling in love with Ryan, a transition Grant handles with grace.
The weighty emotion of Grant’s writing will resonate with readers. He expertly chronicles the crushing despair of depression—not just on the person suffering, but for their friends and loved ones as well—and empathetically navigates the realities of poverty, divorce, and sexual orientation. The text flows with careful and descriptive prose: “Dim bars of sun light shone through the lowered blinds, breaking up the darkness,” allowing readers to experience the same feelings as his multi-dimensional, nuanced characters. This first-rate coming-of-age tale will ring true to anyone who has ever had to experience the minefield of adolescent feelings.
Takeaway: This sensitive, insightful coming-of-age story faces tough issues with richly drawn characters.
Great for fans of: Sarah Dessen’s Someone Like You, Emily Gale’s I Am Out With Lanterns.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
An emotional story about a teen struggling at home with his parent's marital issues and ultimately how he handles their divorce. Peter is a well-written character with a story that took me through the lows of his despairs to the highs of his renewed sense of hope within a newfound group of friends and unexpected romance. I quickly became invested in this story. The cast of characters is interesting and memorable. The drama is good.
I loved this story of the unique bonds that are created in high school. The author created such a nostalgic feeling as he described friendships unlike those in any other stage of life.
He gave a beautiful portrayal of each character, providing realistic depth and showing their faults, strengths, and insecurities.
“with your friends.” gave the powerful reminder that everyone around you is fighting their own battle. Our battles are all different but kindness and empathy will always bring us together. It is that human connection that makes both the inevitable struggles and joys in life bearable and valuable.
