Review: A bit melodramtic, questionable brutal violence and an ureal happy ending first love scenario
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 15, 2013
Admittedly, the author did capture my attention with the voice of the primary teenage character. I felt seduced by the author in this tale of covered up violence when our main protagonist goes way overboard to protect a secret suspected identity. The attempt to keep an open mind by the end of the story was difficult. The thought of our hero being almost beaten to death by his friend , Sam and his gang  didn't work for me. Granted, Sam was beaten up by Eli(the narrator of this story) first but my impression was a one on one.  However, this still doesn't justify that both Sam and Eli end up in the hospital. What is really difficult is completely passingover these events  a nonchalant  manner. Boy, this Eli is some kind of "saint" not to have any lingeringhostility toward his x-friend , Sam and his gang.Parts of this story were interesting giving the sentiments of an adolescent's thoughts and feelings. I did smile a couple of times during humorous interactions with parents and peers. Really, I do understand the idea that coming to one's own identity isdifficult in an oppressive cultural context.  This long winded tale of boy coming out, boy brutalizes offender, boy finds boy, boy looses boy, boy almost dies, boy reunited with boy just was too much.Like I said the story was ok. It could have been more than ok for me if after reading the story it didn't leave a sour taste.