Age: Middle School
LGBTQ+: Gay friend, gay-questioning protagonist
Location: small town Louisiana
Tough Issue: Grief & processing, death of a brother, paternal abuse

With a fast-moving plot, a "shorter" page length, and a gnawing question at the root of the story, this makes an appealing book for all junior high students. On top of the lgbtq themes, Kingston and his family have been rocked out of orbit with the sudden death of his brother (heart attack). Each family member isolates themselves, grieving in unhealthy ways that builds up to a powerful ending.