Johanna has been nursing a wild crush on Reeve, whom she scarcely knows. She grasps at the opportunity to make a place in Reeve’s life for herself, even as Reeve pushes her away, and as both Johanna’s friends and ex-lovers of Reeve’s warn her that she’s getting into trouble.
Reeve lives in a home permeated with violence and substance abuse. She struggles to survive and protect her brother Robbie, who is perhaps autistic. She can’t risk letting anyone get too close, and violence is the only way she knows to push people away. Johanna, however, keeps coming back for more, and a pattern forms that becomes almost impossible to break.
Teens will find themselves deeply engaged in this very well-written book, which deals realistically with the difficult issues raised; however, it is disappointing to read yet another LGBT novel that is replete with pain, violence, and hopeless relationships.
Reviewed by, Nancy Silverrod
San Francisco Public Library
