Ahoy there mateys! The science fiction element described in the blurb is what led me to read this one. I finished it because I wanted an answer to the posited question. However, the science fiction was a red herring. That made me angry. The ending was a complete cop-out. I wanted a YA sci-fi. Instead I got an angsty contemporary with a fake veneer of science fiction. Then ye add in the problematic elements. A kid trying to take care of his mother when she should be a parent. A brother who beats the crap out of the main character and that is considered just what brothers do. A protagonist who has to have a significant other in order to feel complete. Bullying that is inexcusable. The triggers for this one (taken from matey Melanie’s review) are: “attempted rape, sexual assault, outing, suicide, a lot of physical abuse, extreme bullying, homophobia, homophobic slurs, drug addiction, alcoholism, grief, depression, abandonment, loss of a loved one, talk of self-harm/cutting, and having a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.” Now to be fair, Melanie’s review gives this one four stars and explains why very eloquently. This book just didn’t work for me on any level. It walks the plank!

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