“The world is vast and meant for wandering. There is always somewhere else to go.”This beautifully written coming of age story chronicles eighteen-year-old Dade Hamilton’s last summer in Iowa before heading off to college. Dade is a lonely, insecure teen who will only admit to his ceiling fan that he is gay. He shares a secret relationship with popular jock, Pablo, who is in denial of his sexuality and has a beautiful girlfriend. Despite the many intimate moments they share together, Pablo often refuses to acknowledge Dade in public leaving him feeling forlorn and used. After coming to terms that he means nothing to Pablo, Dade moves on and eventually meets Alex Kincaid, his first true love. In the beautiful glow of this new relationship, Dade must contend with his parents’ unraveling marriage and the anxiety everyone in his hometown feels after the disappearance of nine-year-old Jenny Moore.
First time Young Adult author, Nick Bird, expertly captures the angst of all teens confused about their sexuality in the midst of dealing with everyday life problems. In Dade Hamilton, teens will identify with someone who learns how to become comfortable in his own skin and embrace the world outside of what is familiar to them. Due to some profanity and sexual situations, I recommend this book to older teens.
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