A full-hearted, optimistic, feel-good book that takes junior high angst and crushes it in self-expression, loving adults, awesome friends, a little bit of serving face, and a whole lot of glitter.

Martin is sailing into seventh grade with high grades, a shelf full of Mathlete trophies, a tight group of genuine friends, and a supportive mother — but he's struggling. His artist mom wants him to talk to her and generally express himself more but his mind freezes up whenever he tries. The white noise in his head is frustrating but livable until a class bully's snide remarks about Martin being gay push him over his limit and into a panic attack. He's never like-liked anyone so how's he supposed to know if he's gay let alone deal with the assumptions and hatred of others? Are his life and friends and everything about to change? And how can he figure out any of the big questions coming at him if he can't find a way to express himself? Enter tío Billy, his mom's confident, fashionable brother, who knows what Martin's going through.

In some ways very realistic, in others very optimistic. Feels a little preachy but no more than adults usually do to Junior high kids.

(I don't think I've never identified with a middle school character more, which is extremely surprising since we have almost nothing in common.)