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Night Kites
What do you do when your whole world is blown apart? A seventeen-year-old confronts love, betrayal, and his brother’s illness in this brave, deeply compassionate novel by M. E. Kerr
Life is going great for Seaville High senior Erick Rudd. He’s a good student, he has a girlfriend he’ll probably marry, and he’s on a straight path to college. Then his best friend’s girlfriend lets him know she’s attracted to him. Seventeen going on twenty-five, Nicki Marr is blond, green eyed, and gorgeous. Soon, Erick is seeing her on the sly.
Guilt ridden over his deception, Erick isn’t prepared for what happens next. He finds out that his brother, Pete, who’s ten years older and lives in New York, is very sick . . . with AIDS. Erick is stunned; he didn’t even know his brother was gay. It was Pete who told a five-year-old Erick that night kites don’t think about the dark, that they’re not afraid to be different.
How Erick and his parents deal with Pete’s illness—and how Erick handles his relationship with Nicki—are what make this book so unforgettable. Fearless and profoundly affecting, it will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
Life is going great for Seaville High senior Erick Rudd. He’s a good student, he has a girlfriend he’ll probably marry, and he’s on a straight path to college. Then his best friend’s girlfriend lets him know she’s attracted to him. Seventeen going on twenty-five, Nicki Marr is blond, green eyed, and gorgeous. Soon, Erick is seeing her on the sly.
Guilt ridden over his deception, Erick isn’t prepared for what happens next. He finds out that his brother, Pete, who’s ten years older and lives in New York, is very sick . . . with AIDS. Erick is stunned; he didn’t even know his brother was gay. It was Pete who told a five-year-old Erick that night kites don’t think about the dark, that they’re not afraid to be different.
How Erick and his parents deal with Pete’s illness—and how Erick handles his relationship with Nicki—are what make this book so unforgettable. Fearless and profoundly affecting, it will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1986
7 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
M.E. Kerr
46 books58 followersM. E. Kerr was born Marijane Meaker in Auburn, New York. Her interest in writing began with her father, who loved to read, and her mother, who loved to tell stories of neighborhood gossip. Unable to find an agent to represent her work, Meaker became her own agent, and wrote articles and books under a series of pseudonyms: Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, Laura Winston, M.E. Kerr, and Mary James. As M.E. Kerr, Meaker has produced over twenty novels for young adults and won multiple awards, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime contribution to young adult literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 15, 2012
My main problem with this book was the ending. Honestly, it's been a few years since I read it (I think three or four now, actually), so I don't remember much about it, but I definitely remember the ending. It was so empty and just wrong. It was like the author got tired of writing the book and just stopped. It seriously felt like there wasn't an end, barely even a little wrap up. Stories need a beginning, middle and end (although not necessarily in that order), and Night Kites totally lacked the end, which is kind of essential to storytelling in my (and probably most other logical people's) opinion(s).
June 11, 2010
Another one that was waaaay ahead of its time. About AIDS and its implications for families dealing with the disease. Very compelling.
May 6, 2013
(3.5 / 5)
A bit dated now, this is still a compelling story of its time - when AIDS was still the 'gay disease' and communities were up in arms about discovering inhabitants who were afflicted with it. There is some pretty triggering dialogue, but that is also to be expected for the period when it was set and words like 'fag' were thrown about with casual abandon (not to say it isn't today, but is more limited to certain social groups or demographics).
The ending is an open one, although you know what's to come. It allows a tiny sliver of hope because you don't see the finality of death - but I remember being a teen reading this, and being overjoyed to find characters, but then depressed by the fact that they all seemed to have death sentences.
A bit dated now, this is still a compelling story of its time - when AIDS was still the 'gay disease' and communities were up in arms about discovering inhabitants who were afflicted with it. There is some pretty triggering dialogue, but that is also to be expected for the period when it was set and words like 'fag' were thrown about with casual abandon (not to say it isn't today, but is more limited to certain social groups or demographics).
The ending is an open one, although you know what's to come. It allows a tiny sliver of hope because you don't see the finality of death - but I remember being a teen reading this, and being overjoyed to find characters, but then depressed by the fact that they all seemed to have death sentences.
December 30, 2008
Somewhat dated now, but a good read for an 8th grader coming of age in the 80s. The coolness of a character obsessed with Poe is exposed for the sham it is with the reality of then modern times.
February 2, 2024
Scott Pilgrim Didn't Ruin A Generation, Erick Rudd Did
Numbing, aching, sobering pain is how this book feels
I wrote a bunch of stuff and then Goodreads DELETED IT ALL
I'm finally on my computer, so now I can write my review without fear that Goodreads will delete it all when the app decides to randomly crash :D
First, I must go through the odyssey it was to get this book.
I first heard of this book while reading in article about AIDS representation in YA lit back in the summer. This was known as THE defining book as it was the first YA to actually include anything about AIDS (I'm sure it was mentioned jokingly in other novels at this point, but for a character to actual have it and the MC be empathetic? Groundbreaking. ME Kerr threw the first brick at Stonewall, RIP to everyone who died there 😞). So of course, I had to get it. The only problem? My library didn't have it, and you know Barnes and Noble doesn't carry any books unless they're viral on my greatest enemy, AKA BookTok 🤢. So I hopped onto Amazon to buy it, and guess what? It went out of print a LONG time ago, which didn't make sense to me considering the book was from ~2003. But I was able to find a copy and buy it from some second-hand girlie, and guess what? A month later, the book STILL wasn't here. My dad (who's account I bought the book on) ended up contacting the local authorities, suing the seller, and we made ~$10,000 in emotional destablization charges.
Just kidding! But that's pretty much what happened. Anyawys, I finally gor the book, and it turned out it wasn't even from ~2003, it was from 1988. Which explains a lot better why it went out of print (and why it was so groundbreaking). So I startd the book, but then things happened, and I never finished it, but jokes on you! Now I have! So onto the review.
This book is absolutely gorgeous. It was written in 1988, and unlike modern books set in the past, the pop culture references felt fresh and relevant. There was probably too many at the time of publishing, but given it's a period piece now, it really adds to the setting and helped me dive into the wild world of the 80's. Sure, a lot of the references went over my head, but they really helped connect me to the story. I can see why a reader from the 90's or 2000's would complain though, because at that point, the book was too old to be relevant but to new to be a period piece.
I've hidden LARGE portions of my review because of spoilers.
Now, there is some MAJOR symbolism/motifs for an outdated YA book. There's also major symbolism with the kites scene, which I can't really elaborate on, because I really don't remember it (I read this part about a month ago, so don't blame me (Taylor's Version)). However, I was expecting the kites to recur in a later part of the story, but they were only mentioned in one flashback scene. For a book titled "Night Kites", I was expecting a bit more. However, I enjoy the subtleness so I can't really complain.
Now, onto the content!
This book is about Erick, a senior guy who's dating Dill, a cheerleader virgin who's holding out till marriage. His best friend is this guy who's name I forgot but I will call him jake. jake's girlfriend is this rebel girl named Nicki who's a bit (read: a lot) of a slut. Everything is going just fine till Erick's brother Pete comes home from New York and it's revealed he has AIDS. The end.
I wish I was joking.
Also, there's this one scene where Nicki has just dumped jake and Erick is hugging him on the couch to make him feel better, when his dad walks in and starts yelling at him. I thought this was interesting because it shows how little Erick's parents actually care about Pete and his sexuality, and are only really caring about him because he's about to die.
So in conclusion, this book was really well written and so ahead of its time. I think if you are able to get a copy (please don't get one through secondary sellers on Amazon for your own sanity), it's worth the read and is finally relevant again as a period piece.
Also, it's okay if you're a cheater and homewrecker if you support the gays :)
Numbing, aching, sobering pain is how this book feels
I wrote a bunch of stuff and then Goodreads DELETED IT ALL
I'm finally on my computer, so now I can write my review without fear that Goodreads will delete it all when the app decides to randomly crash :D
First, I must go through the odyssey it was to get this book.
I first heard of this book while reading in article about AIDS representation in YA lit back in the summer. This was known as THE defining book as it was the first YA to actually include anything about AIDS (I'm sure it was mentioned jokingly in other novels at this point, but for a character to actual have it and the MC be empathetic? Groundbreaking. ME Kerr threw the first brick at Stonewall, RIP to everyone who died there 😞). So of course, I had to get it. The only problem? My library didn't have it, and you know Barnes and Noble doesn't carry any books unless they're viral on my greatest enemy, AKA BookTok 🤢. So I hopped onto Amazon to buy it, and guess what? It went out of print a LONG time ago, which didn't make sense to me considering the book was from ~2003. But I was able to find a copy and buy it from some second-hand girlie, and guess what? A month later, the book STILL wasn't here. My dad (who's account I bought the book on) ended up contacting the local authorities, suing the seller, and we made ~$10,000 in emotional destablization charges.
Just kidding! But that's pretty much what happened. Anyawys, I finally gor the book, and it turned out it wasn't even from ~2003, it was from 1988. Which explains a lot better why it went out of print (and why it was so groundbreaking). So I startd the book, but then things happened, and I never finished it, but jokes on you! Now I have! So onto the review.
This book is absolutely gorgeous. It was written in 1988, and unlike modern books set in the past, the pop culture references felt fresh and relevant. There was probably too many at the time of publishing, but given it's a period piece now, it really adds to the setting and helped me dive into the wild world of the 80's. Sure, a lot of the references went over my head, but they really helped connect me to the story. I can see why a reader from the 90's or 2000's would complain though, because at that point, the book was too old to be relevant but to new to be a period piece.
I've hidden LARGE portions of my review because of spoilers.
Now, there is some MAJOR symbolism/motifs for an outdated YA book. There's also major symbolism with the kites scene, which I can't really elaborate on, because I really don't remember it (I read this part about a month ago, so don't blame me (Taylor's Version)). However, I was expecting the kites to recur in a later part of the story, but they were only mentioned in one flashback scene. For a book titled "Night Kites", I was expecting a bit more. However, I enjoy the subtleness so I can't really complain.
Now, onto the content!
This book is about Erick, a senior guy who's dating Dill, a cheerleader virgin who's holding out till marriage. His best friend is this guy who's name I forgot but I will call him jake. jake's girlfriend is this rebel girl named Nicki who's a bit (read: a lot) of a slut. Everything is going just fine till Erick's brother Pete comes home from New York and it's revealed he has AIDS. The end.
I wish I was joking.
Also, there's this one scene where Nicki has just dumped jake and Erick is hugging him on the couch to make him feel better, when his dad walks in and starts yelling at him. I thought this was interesting because it shows how little Erick's parents actually care about Pete and his sexuality, and are only really caring about him because he's about to die.
So in conclusion, this book was really well written and so ahead of its time. I think if you are able to get a copy (please don't get one through secondary sellers on Amazon for your own sanity), it's worth the read and is finally relevant again as a period piece.
Also, it's okay if you're a cheater and homewrecker if you support the gays :)
December 17, 2015
Nella provincia americana degli anni ’80, l’omosessualità è un peccato da nascondere e l’AIDS fa paura, davvero molta paura. Lo sperimenta in prima persona Erick, un diciassettenne come tanti, alle prese con le scelte per il futuro e desideri in contrasto con l’amicizia più profonda, quando scopre che suo fratello maggiore è malato.
Pete, scrittore che non riesce a terminare nessun libro, vive a New York ma è costretto a tornare a casa dopo che la malattia gli fa perdere lavoro e casa, confessando alla famiglia quel segreto che ha custodito per tanti anni, quella diversità che andava tenuta nascosta. Nonostante i suoi genitori siano decisi ad aiutarlo in ogni modo possibile, la realtà dei fatti sta in queste parole di suo padre: “Non dobbiamo, per nessun motivo, parlare di questa faccenda con nessuno. E quando dico nessuno, intendo nessuno! Sono stato chiaro?”
Rapito da una storia d’amore che gli ha sconvolto la vita, Erick cerca di tenere i propri problemi separati da quelli della famiglia, consapevole di quanto siano gravi le condizioni del fratello. Con la sua semplice accettazione dei fatti, in effetti, riesce a comprendere Pete molto meglio di quanto non facciano i loro genitori.
Scontrandosi con l’ignoranza e la paura delle persone, la famiglia si compatta suo malgrado, mentre tutti i membri imparano qualcosa su se stessi e su quelli che credevano essere loro amici. Il legame tra Erick e Pete, invece di logorarsi per le difficoltà, si rafforza e i due fratelli scoprono di essere molto più simili del previsto, entrambi incapaci di pronunciare le fatidiche parole, quel “ti amo” tanto temuto, sebbene nel caso di Pete le cause siano in gran parte più sociali che personali.
Alla fine, purtroppo, né la paura frutto dell’ignoranza e del pregiudizio né l’inevitabilità della malattia possono essere sconfitte, non resta che l’amore tra fratelli e la gioia per un racconto scritto fino alla sua conclusione, finalmente.
Questo romanzo forse sembra anacronistico, oggi che le informazioni su AIDS e prevenzione della malattia sono alla portata di tutti, ma non dobbiamo dimenticare che paura e ignoranza convivranno sempre con gli esseri umani e le discriminazioni, purtroppo, non sembrano destinate a scomparire. L’autrice racconta una bella storia di amore fraterno, descrivendo con dialoghi serrati e diretti la realtà di una provincia bigotta, nella quale anche l’amore più impetuoso s’infrange contro la paura, ma dove alcuni spiriti riescono comunque a elevarsi al di sopra di tutto e volare liberi. (recensione già pubblicata su Romanticamente Fantasy Sito)
Pete, scrittore che non riesce a terminare nessun libro, vive a New York ma è costretto a tornare a casa dopo che la malattia gli fa perdere lavoro e casa, confessando alla famiglia quel segreto che ha custodito per tanti anni, quella diversità che andava tenuta nascosta. Nonostante i suoi genitori siano decisi ad aiutarlo in ogni modo possibile, la realtà dei fatti sta in queste parole di suo padre: “Non dobbiamo, per nessun motivo, parlare di questa faccenda con nessuno. E quando dico nessuno, intendo nessuno! Sono stato chiaro?”
Rapito da una storia d’amore che gli ha sconvolto la vita, Erick cerca di tenere i propri problemi separati da quelli della famiglia, consapevole di quanto siano gravi le condizioni del fratello. Con la sua semplice accettazione dei fatti, in effetti, riesce a comprendere Pete molto meglio di quanto non facciano i loro genitori.
Scontrandosi con l’ignoranza e la paura delle persone, la famiglia si compatta suo malgrado, mentre tutti i membri imparano qualcosa su se stessi e su quelli che credevano essere loro amici. Il legame tra Erick e Pete, invece di logorarsi per le difficoltà, si rafforza e i due fratelli scoprono di essere molto più simili del previsto, entrambi incapaci di pronunciare le fatidiche parole, quel “ti amo” tanto temuto, sebbene nel caso di Pete le cause siano in gran parte più sociali che personali.
Alla fine, purtroppo, né la paura frutto dell’ignoranza e del pregiudizio né l’inevitabilità della malattia possono essere sconfitte, non resta che l’amore tra fratelli e la gioia per un racconto scritto fino alla sua conclusione, finalmente.
Questo romanzo forse sembra anacronistico, oggi che le informazioni su AIDS e prevenzione della malattia sono alla portata di tutti, ma non dobbiamo dimenticare che paura e ignoranza convivranno sempre con gli esseri umani e le discriminazioni, purtroppo, non sembrano destinate a scomparire. L’autrice racconta una bella storia di amore fraterno, descrivendo con dialoghi serrati e diretti la realtà di una provincia bigotta, nella quale anche l’amore più impetuoso s’infrange contro la paura, ma dove alcuni spiriti riescono comunque a elevarsi al di sopra di tutto e volare liberi. (recensione già pubblicata su Romanticamente Fantasy Sito)
December 24, 2016
The whole Nicki thing was a little shoehorned in, but I understand why they did it - showing how isolating the disease could be. I went into it not knowing anything about the book, so I was pretty blindsided by the AIDS thing. Really happy with how they handled it though, especially considering that it was from 1986 - showed the pain and struggle and homophobia that the family went through. A tight, fast-moving, powerful novel - I read it in under 2 hours.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2009
Not sure but I think this is the YA novel I read as a part of a 7th grade science project on AIDS. Don't remember much about but for some reason it calls out to be logged in the books-read list. I thought the plot was that the main character got AIDS from a blood transfusion but the plot synopses I found don't seem to support this. I also don't remember the plot about the girlfriend, so this might be another case like "The Pyramid" "Chrome Yellow" where I for no apparent reason get a book and title cross attached in my mind. (I also used to have a wierd thing where Henry Miller and D.H. Lawrence got confused in my mind, but that at least had some basis in the writings of the former) Anyway, this is clearly turning into a very random review about almost anything except the content of the book. To cap it off I will say the few superfluous things I do remember about it. I remember the hardback copy I got from the school library had a drawing of a kite flying against a starry night type background and the words of the title popped out pretty spontaneously when I went to search it. I also remember it having one of the first uses of the expression "burning the candle at both ends" I came across and that I was a little confused by it at first read. This was the proferred explanation for the ill complexion of the AIDS afflicted character.
August 29, 2011
How can the wonderful M.E.Kerr be so unregarded now in the UK? This is absolutely superb, with a rare poignancy and skill. Some episodes, some moments and phrases from her books have sunk into me and will never leave: Erick getting helplessly more lost, deeper and deeper into the relationship with Nicki Marr in this book: "Charlie drinks..." in 'The Son of Someone Famous': gabby, anxious Carolyn Cardmaker in 'Is That You, Miss Blue?': so many scenes and gestures and phrases from the first two 'Fell' books. And all written in that seemingly relaxed, tersely articulate, simple way. 'Easy reading is damned hard writing', someone once said, and as Kerr's style and structure flow so lucidly and limpidly to the eye, one can only guess at the concentration and work needed to achieve it. No wonder her book about writing is called 'Blood On My Forehead'.
October 7, 2010
1. The book has got a lot better than the first couple of chapters. It doesnt seem like theirs a plot. Its basically just friends hanging out everyday. The main characters brother gets aids, and thats the biggest thing that has happened so far. Its a really slow moving book.
2. I just finished the book and i didnt like it that much. The ending of it was that the main characters brother died.
2. I just finished the book and i didnt like it that much. The ending of it was that the main characters brother died.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2015
I love how understated M.E. Kerr's writing is. She doesn't feel the need to bang you over the head with a message or even a moral. She's just like, hey, here are some people doing some things, they might be different from you, they might not... Keep it real, ya'll! But obviously with more skill than that...
March 24, 2011
Not bad :)
It was an interesting to read, but it feels like it lacks a little plot.
The book itself is better than most of my random selections from the library, though it honestly felt like nothing happened and I still don't really understand how the title applies.
3-23-11
It was an interesting to read, but it feels like it lacks a little plot.
The book itself is better than most of my random selections from the library, though it honestly felt like nothing happened and I still don't really understand how the title applies.
3-23-11
December 29, 2014
A guy is caught between his trusty longtime girlfriend who wants to wait to have sex, and this other, more mysterious girl who's ready and willing. Guess which one he chooses? Features a 1980s (meaning really awful and frustrating) depiction of AIDS and being gay.
43/60 tbr box.
43/60 tbr box.
November 18, 2008
total 80's book
February 10, 2009
Another superbly realistic novel for young adults, and one of the first to deal sensitively with the issue of AIDS.
April 30, 2009
I loved the descriptions of Nicki's outfits.
August 31, 2014
I love how the story unfolds, how there are parallel stories happening, but you don't realize it at first. There is so much sorrow and loneliness just under the surface. The ending was perfect.
March 6, 2020
Night Kites by M.E. Kerr
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+
Number of Pages: 216
The teen drama Night Kites by M.E. Kerr was a great progressive novel. It demonstrates important themes to the audience, like LGBTQ+ and self-discovery. Erick is a seventeen year old boy from Seaville, NY, and is the main character. The story is told from his point of view. The novel is pretty much about two different things- Erick’s friends and relationships, and his family. His family consists of his mom, his somewhat strict father who has problems communicating, and his old dog. However, most notably, he has his seemingly perfect brother Pete. In terms of his friends, he is in a steady relationship with his girlfriend, Dill. Jack is his best friend, and the two are “from the same mould.” Jack is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Nicki. Nicki is very different from Dill. She is an edgy, spunky, boy and pop culture-obsessed Gemini, and most definitely not a virgin. She is blonde, and is never seen without her jacket which has a picture of a traffic accident on the back. She does not get along well with girls, and her widowed father owns the local run-down motel, Kingdom by the Sea. Through the novel, the reader watches Erick’s drama unravel with which girl he really loves, his worries for his family, and Jack.
This book was written with a unique style that personally I enjoyed very much. Some people say the book was flat, static, or did not have a distinctive conflict and storyline, but personally I enjoyed it. Although I agree that sometimes the conflict may not be the most distinct, the book was an entertaining read, and something was always happening. Action did not really completely stop, it was just at times stronger than others. I think the book was written with good intentions and the want to make people aware of the reality of things happening in the world. Some of the exchanges made between characters were very cleverly made and fascinating to read. The characters all seem like real people, with real personalities, that make sense for that character in that time period; for example, the phone call with Nicki towards the end of the novel. The phone call read so real, so imperfect and emotional it felt like it was between real people. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I think it was definitely worth the read. I think anybody who enjoys teen drama, romance, the 80s or LGBTQ+ themed story will enjoy this book.
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+
Number of Pages: 216
The teen drama Night Kites by M.E. Kerr was a great progressive novel. It demonstrates important themes to the audience, like LGBTQ+ and self-discovery. Erick is a seventeen year old boy from Seaville, NY, and is the main character. The story is told from his point of view. The novel is pretty much about two different things- Erick’s friends and relationships, and his family. His family consists of his mom, his somewhat strict father who has problems communicating, and his old dog. However, most notably, he has his seemingly perfect brother Pete. In terms of his friends, he is in a steady relationship with his girlfriend, Dill. Jack is his best friend, and the two are “from the same mould.” Jack is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Nicki. Nicki is very different from Dill. She is an edgy, spunky, boy and pop culture-obsessed Gemini, and most definitely not a virgin. She is blonde, and is never seen without her jacket which has a picture of a traffic accident on the back. She does not get along well with girls, and her widowed father owns the local run-down motel, Kingdom by the Sea. Through the novel, the reader watches Erick’s drama unravel with which girl he really loves, his worries for his family, and Jack.
This book was written with a unique style that personally I enjoyed very much. Some people say the book was flat, static, or did not have a distinctive conflict and storyline, but personally I enjoyed it. Although I agree that sometimes the conflict may not be the most distinct, the book was an entertaining read, and something was always happening. Action did not really completely stop, it was just at times stronger than others. I think the book was written with good intentions and the want to make people aware of the reality of things happening in the world. Some of the exchanges made between characters were very cleverly made and fascinating to read. The characters all seem like real people, with real personalities, that make sense for that character in that time period; for example, the phone call with Nicki towards the end of the novel. The phone call read so real, so imperfect and emotional it felt like it was between real people. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I think it was definitely worth the read. I think anybody who enjoys teen drama, romance, the 80s or LGBTQ+ themed story will enjoy this book.
November 2, 2018
The book, Night Kites by M.E. Kerr definitely wasn't the best book I've ever read. I didn't think it was that great because there isn't really a big conflict or a big climax in the story. The book is basically about a high schooler named Erick and his problems with his family and with his friendships. There isn't action or suspense, it's just about Erick's life, so it bored me. Another reason why I didn't like this book is because it talks quite a bit about sex and homosexuality and I didn't like how it was portrayed, for example, Erick's family seems to recommend having lots of sex before marriage and it talks a lot about the issue of gay acceptance. I also didn't like this book because it was just about high school drama with relationships and chasing after girls. I would not recommend this book because I think reading it is just a waste of time, so I would recommend reading a more inspiring book like Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
Read
March 8, 2022Dunno exactly when I started this, it has been my subway book.
Interesting to see the perspective on aids during the 80s. And sad too. It is good that now people can lead totally normal lives with aids and it’s not a death sentence anymore.
It was sad how nicki chased men who didn’t like her. I always think book characters could use some therapy and introspection. She is young however and not real.
Interesting to see the perspective on aids during the 80s. And sad too. It is good that now people can lead totally normal lives with aids and it’s not a death sentence anymore.
It was sad how nicki chased men who didn’t like her. I always think book characters could use some therapy and introspection. She is young however and not real.
October 15, 2020
I first read this book when I was in 8th or 9th grade--checking it out from our local library--and as a young person coming of age when AIDS was ravaging the queer community, I found the story both gripping and moving. I read it again in my 20s and it still made me cry. It's one of my faves of all times.
May 18, 2020
A short melodramatic story
I was expecting more from this book but I felt like there should be more to the story. The relationship with Eric and Nicki should develop more and then there should be more story about his gay brother.
I was expecting more from this book but I felt like there should be more to the story. The relationship with Eric and Nicki should develop more and then there should be more story about his gay brother.
November 19, 2017
I loved the beginning and all of the characters but I think at the end the author made the main character too unlikable and his decisions completely idiotic and left him in a hard spot
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2019
One of the best books I have read. Keeps a pace from start to end. The characters are very well formed. One can listen to the songs mentioned in the book online while reading!!!
December 18, 2022
A great read. I really enjoyed this book which is both sad and revealing.
July 1, 2024
I spent most of the book frustrated with the main character.
June 10, 2023
Erick and Dill are settling into a comfortable relationship, although Erick's dad keeps telling Erick to sow some wild oats because marriage is forever. When Erick's best friend, Jack, falls for Nicki, the girl with the easy reputation, it's important to Jack that Erick likes her, too. But Nicki doesn't like Dill and vice versa. So when the four go to New York to see Bruce Springsteen for Jack's birthday, it's not great. Things go from bad to worse when Erick's dad shows up unexpectedly at his NYC apartment (where ONLY the boys are supposed to be staying) and announces that Pete (Erick's brother) is in the hospital. Suddenly Erick's life takes a dramatic turn when he starts and relationship with Nicki and Pete is diagnosed with AIDS.
Read
April 16, 2009JAR6+-Ker
August 27, 2010
Read this during a 12 hour flight back to Bangkok.
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