when heroes die

by Penny Raife Durant

Twelve-year-old Gary Boyden struggles to come to terms with the knowledge that his beloved, much-idolized uncle Rob is gay and is dying of AIDS. A first novel.

Genres: LGBT, Fiction, Queer, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book moved me more than I was expecting it too. As well as being an examination of AIDS, it was about grief, and how young people can deal with grief when someone close to them dies. I didn't want to get choked up when I read this book, but I absolutely did. None of the tension felt manufactured, but some of the characters, particularly the best friend and the love interest, were one-dimensional.