This book is a knockout. The writing style of Thorpe is everything I could ever hope for, it’s just exactly right for me as a reader. I knew from Chapter One that this would very likely be a five star read and I was not mistaken. I looked forward to picking this book up every time I had a chance. I was eager to get to the ending and at the same time, wanted it to never end. There’s so much pain in the content of this book, but it is written about in such a realistic and beautiful way. Michael is one of my favorite narrators of all time.

It reminded me at times of Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginedes, one of my all time favorite reads, and it reminded me at other times of the movie Monster with Charlize Theron.

One of the best coming of age stories I have ever read.