Post by Dabeagle on Apr 27, 2024 15:39:59 GMT -5
I'm going to give this book a letter grade - a C.
Right away we're introduced to our love interests - no mystery, no working toward anything. Jordan Ortiz came out at the beginning of his senior year, and his best friend who happens to be captain of the football team is his crush. Jordan is on the cheer squad. Oh, but surprise, Ben - Benjamin when Jordan is talking - Cooper is also gay and closeted. Both families are Roman Catholic. We never really see how religion plays out in the Ortiz family, but the Coopers are a little stranger. Ben has two brothers who I'd gotten the impression were older, but later it seemed like they were younger. I don't recall the book spelling this out. At one point Mr. Cooper tells his son they are good Catholics, referencing those Ortiz people with the gay son as apparently not being good Catholics. Ben worries about his parents, the wannabe insta-famous girl he sort of dates and his grandparents (who we never meet) who are, apparently, really, really good Catholics.
When Ben comes out to his dad, dad has done a 180, says he's been a bad dad and the whole Catholic thing is never brought up again. In fact it's later noted Jordan's family went to mass, but not the Coopers.
There were a few other minor things, but I found it more difficult to get invested in the book. I forced myself to read it, and some parts weren't bad, but I think this was intended for an audience that was more to the young side of the 'young adult' category.