A novel in verse about one boy’s journey to coming out as gay, this book takes us through the narrator’s thoughts as he grapples with his secret, explores his feelings of difference, and ultimately finds support from his family and best friend.
What makes the book stand out are not only the powerful, poignant words from author Jonathan Bécotte (translated by Jonathan Kaplansky), but also Bécotte’s choices in displaying them. The words become art on the page, with various font types, sizes, and positioning adding emphasis and metaphor to the narrator’s feelings. “I don’t know what to think anymore or which way to turn,” we read, as the words spiral around the page. “Crying/has always been/a part of me,” we read on another, as the words drip vertically down.
There is sadness here, even anguish, but there is also ultimately a sense of finding support, hope, and self-confidence as we follow the narrator on his journey.
A moving, lyrical read that offers a standout example of the power of poetry. Recommended both for home bookshelves and for classrooms and libraries looking for ways to engage students with verse.
