What a strange, beautiful novel.

I keep deleting the sentences I start typing, because it's hard to know what to write about this book. It's not really *about* anything, in the sense of there being a clearly delineated plot, but it *is* a coming of age novel with a non-traditional protagonist.

I almost dropped the book because of the writing style. It's short and choppy, with moments of startling beauty sprinkled within. I kept going with it because it's won so many awards and I wanted to see why, and I'm glad I did. It's really a beautiful and heartfelt read.

I liked that Ari was so multifaceted. He was moody and self-conscious, angry and given to occasional (justified) violent impulses, sensitive and traumatized. And gay, though it takes him a while to realize that. Very concerned with his Mexican heritage, his family's secrets, and whether or not it's possible for him to be friends with girls who kind of annoy him, kind of have his best interests at heart.

In other words, he feels like a real kid.

I liked his relationship with his parents. He grows to understand them, to really see them as people and not just his parents. He grows to realize that other people can like him, care about him, want him around.

It's just... a nice novel. Give it a read.