This is the second book I've read set during the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s this year, and while they both felt similar in the storytline, they're very different books overall. Destination Unknown is definitely the lighter of the two, though don't take that for it being a light book. It's definitely not, as it dives into Konigsberg's own fears he had growing up as a gay teenager in the 80s. 

Konigsberg's own experiences help in making this book feel authentic. While we know much more about AIDS now than they did in the 80s, all of the fears that Micah has are probably fears a lot of gay teenagers had. The evolving relationship between him and CJ was really well done; the progression of their relationship also mirrored Micah's own comfortability in his own identity. 

It's through his relationship with CJ that Micah sees how other people in his life also see the gay community. Your heart will break, but at least there's still a little bit of hope at the end.