One more year. That’s all Gunnar has to wait until graduation. More importantly, it’s one more year until he’ll feel safe to come out.
Gunnar has kept his sexuality a secret — only his twin sister knows he’s gay. Coming out now would make him the target of homophobic bullies at his school. But a year is a long time, especially when life starts moving at its own pace, and Gunnar meets guys he wants to date.
Set in rural Alberta, Under the Radar is the uplifting story of a teen who dreams of a life in which he can be himself.
What do you do when the one thing that you love more than anything else gets taken away from you? Kids throw tantrums, adults fight. Not Gunnar - Gunnar adapts!
Gunnar is the typical run-of-the-mill teen, eagerly anticipating the arrival of graduation so he can leave his small town (with its nosey neighbors) and live his life the way he chooses - far away from prying eyes. He has no plans for college and no definite plans for his future, but he also knows he doesn’t want to stay home - farming is definitely not for him.
American Street meets Long Way Down in this searing and gritty debut novel that takes an unflinching look at the harsh realities of gang life in Jamaica and how far a teen is willing to go for family.
This debut novel by Jamaican-born author Desmond Hall is a thriller that confronts police brutality, racism, gang culture and political deception. Bestselling author Jason Reynolds has said, “It's one of those tales that ties you up, turns you inside-out, wrings you like a wet cloth…. Hall is a hurricane of a writer.” Suffice it to say that this novel is riveting, dark, gutsy and a stark examination of both Jamaica and the kind of poverty that offers few choices for youth. It’s also a coming-of-age tale, and an inside look at gang life, which is certainly does not glamorize. The main character is super-well developed and realistic, and his choices tug at your heart-strings. The Jamaican patois (a sort of dialect) can be hard to follow, but the novel would lose a layer of richness without it. This new author is one to watch, and that’s an understatement. Highly recommended.
- P.W.