
Reach for this book when your teenager expresses a desire to be seen as more than just a label, or when they feel the exhaustion of being a pioneer for their identity. While Rafe is comfortably out as gay, he moves to a new school to try being just Rafe, the athlete and writer, rather than the gay kid. This nuanced story explores the difference between hiding who you are and choosing which parts of yourself to share. It is a sophisticated look at honesty, friendship, and the labels we apply to ourselves and others, making it a perfect choice for mature teens navigating the complexities of social perception and self-discovery in high school.
Depictions of teenage romance and physical intimacy.
None.
A high school student who feels pigeonholed by a single aspect of their identity. This is for the teen who is weary of being a representative for a group and just wants to be an individual, or for any reader struggling with the ethical boundaries of privacy versus secrecy.
This book can be read cold. Parents should be aware that the book includes realistic teenage dialogue and depictions of underage drinking and party culture typical of the YA genre. A parent might reach for this when they hear their child say, I am tired of everyone making a big deal out of who I am, or if they notice their child is deliberately downplaying their interests or identity to fit into a new social circle.
A 14-year-old may focus on the romance and the novelty of the boarding school setting. An 18-year-old will better grasp the philosophical nuances of Rafe's experiment and the complex emotional fallout when his lie of omission impacts Ben's own self-discovery.
Most LGBTQ+ narratives focus on the struggle of coming out. This book is unique because it explores the exhaustion that follows being out. It asks if it is possible to truly be yourself while withholding a core part of your history, challenging the idea that being openly gay is the only way to live an authentic life.
Rafe Goldberg is a teenager from Boulder, Colorado, who has been out as gay since middle school. Tired of being the poster child for LGBTQ+ issues and being defined solely by his sexuality, he transfers to Natick, an all-boys boarding school in Massachusetts. There, he decides to go back into the closet, not out of shame, but to see if he can be known for his personality and athletic skill first. However, the plan complicates his life when he falls in love with his best friend, Ben, leading to a deep conflict regarding honesty, betrayal, and the weight of labels.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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