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Elephant Shoe
If his sixteen years of experience have taught Mikey Alston only one thing, it’s this:
Life is too damn cruel to face alone…
The ice took our car off the road.
The tree wrecked it.
Tate and I didn’t make it out unscathed.
My parents didn’t make it out alive…
I was eleven, and that’s the day my whole world was ripped away from me.
My brother, David, was twenty-one.
All the family I had left, I needed him.
He didn’t need me.
David packed me off, far across the country from my hometown in Devon.
Far from Tate and everything I’d ever known, to live with grandparents I’d never known.
Six years is a long time.
But now I’m back.
(Not through choice. Not mine, anyway).
And Tate’s still here. Only…
He’s not the boy I left behind.
He won’t speak to me. Won’t speak to anyone.
The one upshot of my return to a life I no longer fit, and he’s letting me down. Spectacularly.
Well, Tate, here’s the thing:
I’m not giving up on you. I’m not everybody else.
You can’t shut me out. You need me – we need each other.
And we will be friends again. Best friends.
I’m decided.
It’s decided.
PLEASE NOTE: Mild sexual content, moderate use of bad language and some difficult themes.
Life is too damn cruel to face alone…
The ice took our car off the road.
The tree wrecked it.
Tate and I didn’t make it out unscathed.
My parents didn’t make it out alive…
I was eleven, and that’s the day my whole world was ripped away from me.
My brother, David, was twenty-one.
All the family I had left, I needed him.
He didn’t need me.
David packed me off, far across the country from my hometown in Devon.
Far from Tate and everything I’d ever known, to live with grandparents I’d never known.
Six years is a long time.
But now I’m back.
(Not through choice. Not mine, anyway).
And Tate’s still here. Only…
He’s not the boy I left behind.
He won’t speak to me. Won’t speak to anyone.
The one upshot of my return to a life I no longer fit, and he’s letting me down. Spectacularly.
Well, Tate, here’s the thing:
I’m not giving up on you. I’m not everybody else.
You can’t shut me out. You need me – we need each other.
And we will be friends again. Best friends.
I’m decided.
It’s decided.
PLEASE NOTE: Mild sexual content, moderate use of bad language and some difficult themes.
500 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2018
17 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Edge
2 books56 followersJS Edge remains adamant that when she was a kid, she could fly.
Pfft to the nay-sayers.
Born and raised in northeast England, she now lives in the beautiful southwest, sharing her Devonshire home with four spirited children and a menagerie of furry friends. JS Edge is a queer author, writing queer fiction for young adults. A dedicated advocate for representation and understanding within the literary world, her work explores vital themes such as identity, acceptance, and growth. She is a terrible cook but an exceptional dreamer, and the Hometown Misfits series embodies her entire heart and soul.
Elephant Shoe and Staying Grounded are companion novels and they can be read as standalones.
Pfft to the nay-sayers.
Born and raised in northeast England, she now lives in the beautiful southwest, sharing her Devonshire home with four spirited children and a menagerie of furry friends. JS Edge is a queer author, writing queer fiction for young adults. A dedicated advocate for representation and understanding within the literary world, her work explores vital themes such as identity, acceptance, and growth. She is a terrible cook but an exceptional dreamer, and the Hometown Misfits series embodies her entire heart and soul.
Elephant Shoe and Staying Grounded are companion novels and they can be read as standalones.
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August 3, 2024Meet my boys...
Their story is one of loss and hope; acceptance and forgiveness; family, friendship and first love.
Read it.
Rate it.
Review it.
(Please and thank you).
That'd be bloody marvellous!
Happy Reading!
Their story is one of loss and hope; acceptance and forgiveness; family, friendship and first love.
Read it.
Rate it.
Review it.
(Please and thank you).
That'd be bloody marvellous!
Happy Reading!
September 9, 2022
This is indeed a very underrated YA book and I enjoyed the hell out of it . It’s been a long time since I’ve read a YA and I wasn’t planning to but something about the title called to me ( and the reason for that title is sweet and funny ) . I’m glad I gave it a try because it was fantastic. Mickey, who’s our MC and the voice of the book is absolutely adorable. He’s lovable and loyal but also flawed and childish and prone to dramatic overthinking and I just adored him. His love for Tate is stubborn and just beautiful The book is realistic and genuine and the writing is refreshing. Excellent!
November 30, 2018
Mikey lost a lot of things the day his parents' car crashed into a tree. Not just his parents, both killed in the crash, but also his best friend Tate, who was injured and never close to him again, and his whole way of life along with his older brother. David was 21, but he refused to take custody of Mikey and sent him away to live with grandparents he hardly knew, in a distant and unfamiliar town.
Mikey came to love his grandmother dearly, and to respect his now-deceased grandfather, but both loss and bitterness at his brother have been a poison at the core of his soul, making it hard to be really content. He has a good female friend (and once - only once, now ex - girlfriend) but she's a bit flighty and not a good emotional support. His beloved Gran is sliding deeper into dementia, and despite good neighbors stepping in, it's becoming unsafe to leave her on her own, and sometimes she gets angry and hostile at those who care for her. Mikey's doing a herculean job, putting the rest of his life on hold for her. Deep down, he knows he can't be enough, but he's still outraged when brother David strolls back into his life, and swoops them both up back to his hometown, and his family house.
Mikey is angry, and frustrated, scared about losing his only really beloved family to her own illness and confusion, bitter because brother David doesn't seem to recognize the damage he's inflicted on Mikey's life twice. I liked that he was a believable teen in this, holding grudges, not always wise, clinging to impossible hopes of going back to a simpler time, not seeing the stresses other people were coping with. It made him real, and my heart ached for him even when he was being a brat. (And also for those around him, perhaps doing the best they were able.)
Going back to school is part of the transition too, and when he does so, there is Tate. But not the Tate he remembers. This guy is glum, isolated other than one female sidekick, with a reputation for both outbursts of violence and for having kissed a guy who maybe didn't want it (or says he didn't.) Tate won't even look at Mikey, and this boy who was once closer than a brother treats him like a stranger.
But in a world where all the good things seem lost, Mikey is determined to break through Tate's reserve. He needs a friend, and he wants his old friend, the one who was the sunshine in his days as little kids. And as he pushes his way into Tate's notice, slowly things begin to change. But Mikey also has a girl who is interested and chasing him, whom he likes too much to brush aside, and the beginnings of a social circle that doesn't like Tate. Trying to balance out the people in his life is hard.
I really loved a lot of things about this book, most of all the characters. I loved that the motivations for painful actions were complicated, that no one was a real villain, that things that looked bad changed shape when you found out the motivations behind them. The only reason it wasn't 5-stars for me was that I had a very, very hard time believing Tate's big reveal had convincingly been kept a secret for that long. It felt contrived, and the cooperation of his parents in keeping that secret, and thereby making his life practically a lot harder, didn't work for me. It also felt unnecessary to the story - there was enough going on that something less, or less secrecy, would have worked.
Having said that, I loved these guys, cheered for them to find their good ending, wanted to smack Mikey and hug him in almost equal measures, and will read this one again. Well written, with very natural emotional impact, and warmth at the end.
Mikey came to love his grandmother dearly, and to respect his now-deceased grandfather, but both loss and bitterness at his brother have been a poison at the core of his soul, making it hard to be really content. He has a good female friend (and once - only once, now ex - girlfriend) but she's a bit flighty and not a good emotional support. His beloved Gran is sliding deeper into dementia, and despite good neighbors stepping in, it's becoming unsafe to leave her on her own, and sometimes she gets angry and hostile at those who care for her. Mikey's doing a herculean job, putting the rest of his life on hold for her. Deep down, he knows he can't be enough, but he's still outraged when brother David strolls back into his life, and swoops them both up back to his hometown, and his family house.
Mikey is angry, and frustrated, scared about losing his only really beloved family to her own illness and confusion, bitter because brother David doesn't seem to recognize the damage he's inflicted on Mikey's life twice. I liked that he was a believable teen in this, holding grudges, not always wise, clinging to impossible hopes of going back to a simpler time, not seeing the stresses other people were coping with. It made him real, and my heart ached for him even when he was being a brat. (And also for those around him, perhaps doing the best they were able.)
Going back to school is part of the transition too, and when he does so, there is Tate. But not the Tate he remembers. This guy is glum, isolated other than one female sidekick, with a reputation for both outbursts of violence and for having kissed a guy who maybe didn't want it (or says he didn't.) Tate won't even look at Mikey, and this boy who was once closer than a brother treats him like a stranger.
But in a world where all the good things seem lost, Mikey is determined to break through Tate's reserve. He needs a friend, and he wants his old friend, the one who was the sunshine in his days as little kids. And as he pushes his way into Tate's notice, slowly things begin to change. But Mikey also has a girl who is interested and chasing him, whom he likes too much to brush aside, and the beginnings of a social circle that doesn't like Tate. Trying to balance out the people in his life is hard.
I really loved a lot of things about this book, most of all the characters. I loved that the motivations for painful actions were complicated, that no one was a real villain, that things that looked bad changed shape when you found out the motivations behind them. The only reason it wasn't 5-stars for me was that I had a very, very hard time believing Tate's big reveal had convincingly been kept a secret for that long. It felt contrived, and the cooperation of his parents in keeping that secret, and thereby making his life practically a lot harder, didn't work for me. It also felt unnecessary to the story - there was enough going on that something less, or less secrecy, would have worked.
Having said that, I loved these guys, cheered for them to find their good ending, wanted to smack Mikey and hug him in almost equal measures, and will read this one again. Well written, with very natural emotional impact, and warmth at the end.
September 25, 2018
This was rather beautiful. Sometimes the writing felt a bit stop and start-ey but all in all it packed an emotional punch and made me very invested in the story of Mickey and Tate.
I loved the way the author treated illness and disability and her insight in the chaotic mind of teens under a lot of pressure was really done well.
It was sweet and very British indeed with a great use of dialect and natural speech cadences and patterns.
I have enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it.
I loved the way the author treated illness and disability and her insight in the chaotic mind of teens under a lot of pressure was really done well.
It was sweet and very British indeed with a great use of dialect and natural speech cadences and patterns.
I have enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it.
August 10, 2018
Elephant Shoe
By J.S. Edge
Published by the author, 2018
Five stars
What a great book. Mikey Alston has to be the least pleasant teenager since Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye. Sure, he’s been through a lot, not the least of which was the death of his parents in a car accident when he was eleven; an accident at which he and his best mate Tate McAllister were both present.
So, yes, Mikey has some reason to be angry, especially six years later when his older brother David decides to uproot him again and bring him back to the home from which he was banished in the aftermath of his parents’ tragic demise.
One good thing about being back where he grew up is that Tate is there, too. But Tate’s not the boy Mikey remembers. Tate’s no longer the boy who was everything to Mikey when they were kids.
J.S. Edge takes the YA coming-out story and gives it (sorry), an edge. Mikey is so mad at the world that he’s unable to see any of it with any perspective. He has been wronged, and he must face difficult issues in his life. But he is so unforgiving as to be almost repellant. Almost.
Mikey’s determination to make the weirdly aloof and hostile Tate McAllister his best friend again. His memories of his childhood with Tate—and his heartbreak over Tate’s standing him up just before he left town the first time—are at the core of what makes the story both powerful and compelling. Tate is a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and Mikey has to unravel the mystery of who Tate has become in order to reclaim some of his lost happiness.
I loved Mikey in spite of himself. This is a high school teen-angst book, so there are the inevitable teen players to strut their lines upon the author’s stage. But there aren’t any actual stereotypes. Nobody is all good or all bad. Teenagers are jerks, but they’re not always jerks. Sometimes, they can just be friends.
Likewise with the parents in this book—even the dead ones. Family can be fraught, especially with a child or teenager who is so wrapped up in their own problems that they don’t see the forest for the trees. One of the greatest unexpected joys in this life is discovering someone you dislike is worthy of your respect, perhaps even your affection.
This is the part of growing up that YA books often skip over in favor of drama or romance: healing and growing and learning to see the world through other people’s eyes.
And then there’s J.S. Edge’s title which, when I realized what it meant, brought tears to my eyes.
By J.S. Edge
Published by the author, 2018
Five stars
What a great book. Mikey Alston has to be the least pleasant teenager since Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye. Sure, he’s been through a lot, not the least of which was the death of his parents in a car accident when he was eleven; an accident at which he and his best mate Tate McAllister were both present.
So, yes, Mikey has some reason to be angry, especially six years later when his older brother David decides to uproot him again and bring him back to the home from which he was banished in the aftermath of his parents’ tragic demise.
One good thing about being back where he grew up is that Tate is there, too. But Tate’s not the boy Mikey remembers. Tate’s no longer the boy who was everything to Mikey when they were kids.
J.S. Edge takes the YA coming-out story and gives it (sorry), an edge. Mikey is so mad at the world that he’s unable to see any of it with any perspective. He has been wronged, and he must face difficult issues in his life. But he is so unforgiving as to be almost repellant. Almost.
Mikey’s determination to make the weirdly aloof and hostile Tate McAllister his best friend again. His memories of his childhood with Tate—and his heartbreak over Tate’s standing him up just before he left town the first time—are at the core of what makes the story both powerful and compelling. Tate is a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and Mikey has to unravel the mystery of who Tate has become in order to reclaim some of his lost happiness.
I loved Mikey in spite of himself. This is a high school teen-angst book, so there are the inevitable teen players to strut their lines upon the author’s stage. But there aren’t any actual stereotypes. Nobody is all good or all bad. Teenagers are jerks, but they’re not always jerks. Sometimes, they can just be friends.
Likewise with the parents in this book—even the dead ones. Family can be fraught, especially with a child or teenager who is so wrapped up in their own problems that they don’t see the forest for the trees. One of the greatest unexpected joys in this life is discovering someone you dislike is worthy of your respect, perhaps even your affection.
This is the part of growing up that YA books often skip over in favor of drama or romance: healing and growing and learning to see the world through other people’s eyes.
And then there’s J.S. Edge’s title which, when I realized what it meant, brought tears to my eyes.
September 22, 2018
~lgbt, disability, ptsd, dementia, grief, divorce, excessive drinking, bullying, cute, friendship, family, love, best coming out scene ever~
This book is so good. Like, let me just take a moment to thank the author because this book. was. so . good.
When you full on ugly cry over a Pokemon card - in a room full of people - you know the book is good.
But anyway.
This book follows Mikey, who at the age of 11 was in a fatal car crash with his parents and best friend. Both of the parents died and Mikey was shipped off to his grandparents across the country by his older brother.
Six years later his brother David decides to move Mikey back home with their grandmother, who is suffering from Dementia. And, much to the annoyance of Mikey, makes him enroll back into school (sixth form) where he discovers his ex-best friend Tate is a social outcast and doesn't want anything to do with him.
First of all I love that this is set in England, I hardily ever see books set here, so it's a pleasure when I do find one. Devon? Newcastle? I know where these places are and I know about accents and the school system, it's so refreshing!
All our characters and their situations feel so authentic.
Mikey is an extremely emotional, hot headed, angry, sad young man - but in his eyes his brother abandoned him after their parents died, then when settled into his new life, ripped him out of it and took control of him again.
He does act out, he is mean for no reason to characters that don't deserve it, but there is growth and understanding, so stick with him! He may be broken but he's fixable too <3
This book deals with a lot of things. The death of parents, grandparents with illnesses, loss and blame and anger, but it's also super cute and sweet.
Tate, Mikey's former best friend is dealing with A. LOT. I'm not going to ruin it, because the first half of the book we are going on a journey with Mikey, trying to figure out what is going on with everyone, especially Tate. But this book has disability rep. A disabled love interest. And I am HERE. FOR. IT! I had no clue going into this book and was not just pleasantly surprised, but ecstatic.
The relationship aspect of this book is really slow burn, which I really enjoyed. Also, let me just mouth off about how much I FREAKING LOVED Mikey's coming out scene! Like, it was on par with Mickey from Shameless, it was awesome! Made me grin from ear to ear in public, just like ~the Pokemon card scene~ made me cry from tear to tear in public.
There are a lot of ups and downs in the relationship -guilt, jealousy, self doubt, silly petty arguments, but it all feels authentic to the situation. The phrase 'You've got to love yourself before anyone else can love you' comes to mind with these two absolute precious souls.
I feel like I've rambled on but haven't even slightly delved into this book. Basically just go and read it. Cry, laugh, feel, love.
Review copy.
This book is so good. Like, let me just take a moment to thank the author because this book. was. so . good.
When you full on ugly cry over a Pokemon card - in a room full of people - you know the book is good.
But anyway.
This book follows Mikey, who at the age of 11 was in a fatal car crash with his parents and best friend. Both of the parents died and Mikey was shipped off to his grandparents across the country by his older brother.
Six years later his brother David decides to move Mikey back home with their grandmother, who is suffering from Dementia. And, much to the annoyance of Mikey, makes him enroll back into school (sixth form) where he discovers his ex-best friend Tate is a social outcast and doesn't want anything to do with him.
First of all I love that this is set in England, I hardily ever see books set here, so it's a pleasure when I do find one. Devon? Newcastle? I know where these places are and I know about accents and the school system, it's so refreshing!
All our characters and their situations feel so authentic.
Mikey is an extremely emotional, hot headed, angry, sad young man - but in his eyes his brother abandoned him after their parents died, then when settled into his new life, ripped him out of it and took control of him again.
He does act out, he is mean for no reason to characters that don't deserve it, but there is growth and understanding, so stick with him! He may be broken but he's fixable too <3
This book deals with a lot of things. The death of parents, grandparents with illnesses, loss and blame and anger, but it's also super cute and sweet.
Tate, Mikey's former best friend is dealing with A. LOT. I'm not going to ruin it, because the first half of the book we are going on a journey with Mikey, trying to figure out what is going on with everyone, especially Tate. But this book has disability rep. A disabled love interest. And I am HERE. FOR. IT! I had no clue going into this book and was not just pleasantly surprised, but ecstatic.
The relationship aspect of this book is really slow burn, which I really enjoyed. Also, let me just mouth off about how much I FREAKING LOVED Mikey's coming out scene! Like, it was on par with Mickey from Shameless, it was awesome! Made me grin from ear to ear in public, just like ~the Pokemon card scene~ made me cry from tear to tear in public.
There are a lot of ups and downs in the relationship -guilt, jealousy, self doubt, silly petty arguments, but it all feels authentic to the situation. The phrase 'You've got to love yourself before anyone else can love you' comes to mind with these two absolute precious souls.
I feel like I've rambled on but haven't even slightly delved into this book. Basically just go and read it. Cry, laugh, feel, love.
Review copy.
January 28, 2019
REREAD JAN 2019:
Adored this just as much second time around. Such a beautiful, beautiful story!
Splashed out on a physical copy, because this one is for sure a keeper.
***
ORIGINAL REVIEW JUNE 2018
Easily my favourite read so far this year!
I'm really not great at writing long, detailed reviews, but I received a free ARC in exchange for one, so I'm going to give it my best shot. Strap in guys, here we go...
Elephant Shoe is Mikey's story of tragedy, friendship, family, and first love. It's about acceptance and forgiveness and growth. And it has sooo many feels you would not believe!
Mikey's had it tough. He was orphaned at 11, let down by his big brother and shipped off across the country away from everything he knew. Six years later, just as he's made a new life for himself with his Gran in Newcastle, his despised brother, David, uproots him again, forcing him and gran to return to his childhood home in Newcastle. Mikey does not take this well and he doesn't keep it quiet. He's actually quite the whiny little bitch about it.
The only glimmer of goodness Mikey finds in Devon is his former best friend, Tate.
But Tate's got a truckload of his own problems, and he's not at all happy to see Mikey back.
There's a scene at a party which had me snorting tea from my nose I was laughing so hard. And many scenes I had to read through the blur of tears.
The growth and development of these characters was incredible. The slow burn friends-to(-enemies-to)-lovers was torturously perfect. And I loved that there was so much more to this story beyond the romance.
Massive thanks to J.S. Edge for letting me snag a last minute copy. I'm so glad I requested it.
I URGE YOU ALL TO READ THIS!
Adored this just as much second time around. Such a beautiful, beautiful story!
Splashed out on a physical copy, because this one is for sure a keeper.
***
ORIGINAL REVIEW JUNE 2018
Easily my favourite read so far this year!
I'm really not great at writing long, detailed reviews, but I received a free ARC in exchange for one, so I'm going to give it my best shot. Strap in guys, here we go...
Elephant Shoe is Mikey's story of tragedy, friendship, family, and first love. It's about acceptance and forgiveness and growth. And it has sooo many feels you would not believe!
Mikey's had it tough. He was orphaned at 11, let down by his big brother and shipped off across the country away from everything he knew. Six years later, just as he's made a new life for himself with his Gran in Newcastle, his despised brother, David, uproots him again, forcing him and gran to return to his childhood home in Newcastle. Mikey does not take this well and he doesn't keep it quiet. He's actually quite the whiny little bitch about it.
The only glimmer of goodness Mikey finds in Devon is his former best friend, Tate.
But Tate's got a truckload of his own problems, and he's not at all happy to see Mikey back.
There's a scene at a party which had me snorting tea from my nose I was laughing so hard. And many scenes I had to read through the blur of tears.
The growth and development of these characters was incredible. The slow burn friends-to(-enemies-to)-lovers was torturously perfect. And I loved that there was so much more to this story beyond the romance.
Massive thanks to J.S. Edge for letting me snag a last minute copy. I'm so glad I requested it.
I URGE YOU ALL TO READ THIS!
May 13, 2019
Mikey Alston is in for a rough trip in J.S. Edge’s Elephant Shoe. After surviving a car wreck that killed his parents and scarred his best friend Tate, Mikey must find some way back to emotional recovery, for him and for Tate. This book is emotional and I loved the journey as well as the emerging romance. I hope to see more of Mikey and Tate in the future! This one’s great for anyone who loves a good emotionally challenging story!
April 18, 2018
I received an ARC of this book from the author in return for an honest review. Here we go.
Normally, I hate books like Elephant Shoe. Had I known more about it before requesting the ARC, I wouldn't have gotten it. Thankfully, I went in blind.
Despite being a good chunk of the target demographic for LGBT YA (I'm a young adult! And I'm gay! And I'm genderqueer! Imagine the dollar signs publishers just heard, without knowing why.), I despise most of it. I find it pretentious and dull, too wrapped up in being LGBT to be a good book. Also, I just generally prefer fantasy, horror, or sci-fi. So, in theory, Elephant Shoe is not my cup of tea.
But I loved it so much.
Elephant Shoe follows a very flawed young man named Mikey (don't call him Michael), who lost his parents in an awful car wreck at eleven. We meet Mikey at seventeen, and he insists he's doing fine--he takes care of his Gran (she has dementia, and their interactions are some of the most heartwarming/wrenching in the book, which says a helluvalot), has his friends, and sometimes gets in a little bit of trouble. Fun times. But then, his asshat brother David waltzes back into his life and takes it over.
The following is verbatim from my notes:
- Fuck David.
- No, seriously, fuck David.
*skip ahead several items*
- Jesus titties now I'm feeling for David
So yeah, Edge has a wonderful gift for creating characters who you love but hate, understand but get exasperated by, and also a total fucking asshole called Gary Tinwell.
Fuck Gary
Due to David, Mikey and Gran move back to their hometown, somewhere in Britain, for somewhere else in Britain. Sorry for not remembering that, but every time I was reminded this was set in Britain I had to stroke my pet bald eagle and throw some tea into the ocean to calm my red(, white, and blue)-hot rage. Which I did a lot, because this book is as British as bad teeth, oppressing native peoples, and Mary Berry (as a person, I love you, Britain. But as an American, fuck you, Britain)
Anyway.
Mikey hates living in other-Britain (The Patriot is better than Darkest Hour!), in his childhood home. His room's a wreck, his family is all sorts of annoying (Mikey himself is rather annoying at times. . .perhaps it's genetic?), and he knows no-one anymore, least of all Tate. Tate, his former best friend, now a secretive boy with a singular friend, a sordid reputation, and a distinct lack of interest in Mikey.
Now, that's as much plot as I'm comfortable revealing in a review. I prefer to review based on how the book made me feel, and damn did this one make me feel.
J.S. Edge's writing sears and heals, cuts and comforts.
There were points throughout the book when I couldn't continue reading, because I was laughing too hard (drunk Mikey is a hoot), and there were times when I couldn't continue reading because I was crying too hard, or cheering out loud at new developments--this book inspires strong emotions, no doubt. You'll get sucked up in Mikey's emotional turmoil and it will become yours. You will be just as frustrated as he is, just as jealous and angry and sad and, sometimes, overjoyed and giddy.
This book will make you feel, man.
It comes out June seventeenth, and I recommend that every single person who reads this review buy it. Or, yunno what, let's switch that to just "every single person who reads". It's that good.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go cry again.
Normally, I hate books like Elephant Shoe. Had I known more about it before requesting the ARC, I wouldn't have gotten it. Thankfully, I went in blind.
Despite being a good chunk of the target demographic for LGBT YA (I'm a young adult! And I'm gay! And I'm genderqueer! Imagine the dollar signs publishers just heard, without knowing why.), I despise most of it. I find it pretentious and dull, too wrapped up in being LGBT to be a good book. Also, I just generally prefer fantasy, horror, or sci-fi. So, in theory, Elephant Shoe is not my cup of tea.
But I loved it so much.
Elephant Shoe follows a very flawed young man named Mikey (don't call him Michael), who lost his parents in an awful car wreck at eleven. We meet Mikey at seventeen, and he insists he's doing fine--he takes care of his Gran (she has dementia, and their interactions are some of the most heartwarming/wrenching in the book, which says a helluvalot), has his friends, and sometimes gets in a little bit of trouble. Fun times. But then, his asshat brother David waltzes back into his life and takes it over.
The following is verbatim from my notes:
- Fuck David.
- No, seriously, fuck David.
*skip ahead several items*
- Jesus titties now I'm feeling for David
So yeah, Edge has a wonderful gift for creating characters who you love but hate, understand but get exasperated by, and also a total fucking asshole called Gary Tinwell.
Fuck Gary
Due to David, Mikey and Gran move back to their hometown, somewhere in Britain, for somewhere else in Britain. Sorry for not remembering that, but every time I was reminded this was set in Britain I had to stroke my pet bald eagle and throw some tea into the ocean to calm my red(, white, and blue)-hot rage. Which I did a lot, because this book is as British as bad teeth, oppressing native peoples, and Mary Berry (as a person, I love you, Britain. But as an American, fuck you, Britain)
Anyway.
Mikey hates living in other-Britain (The Patriot is better than Darkest Hour!), in his childhood home. His room's a wreck, his family is all sorts of annoying (Mikey himself is rather annoying at times. . .perhaps it's genetic?), and he knows no-one anymore, least of all Tate. Tate, his former best friend, now a secretive boy with a singular friend, a sordid reputation, and a distinct lack of interest in Mikey.
Now, that's as much plot as I'm comfortable revealing in a review. I prefer to review based on how the book made me feel, and damn did this one make me feel.
J.S. Edge's writing sears and heals, cuts and comforts.
There were points throughout the book when I couldn't continue reading, because I was laughing too hard (drunk Mikey is a hoot), and there were times when I couldn't continue reading because I was crying too hard, or cheering out loud at new developments--this book inspires strong emotions, no doubt. You'll get sucked up in Mikey's emotional turmoil and it will become yours. You will be just as frustrated as he is, just as jealous and angry and sad and, sometimes, overjoyed and giddy.
This book will make you feel, man.
It comes out June seventeenth, and I recommend that every single person who reads this review buy it. Or, yunno what, let's switch that to just "every single person who reads". It's that good.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go cry again.
April 2, 2018
This story is a bit like peeling an onion; there will be tears, but it ends up as a part of a delicious dish, well worth the effort.
Elephant Shoe is a debut novel. It shouldn’t be this good, but it is. The characters are flawlessly flawed, which makes them so human and so believable. Some are more lovable than others, to be sure, but they are all real and true-to-life. I want to meet them all.
The story itself is nuanced and natural. It would be easy to be heavy-handed with the material but the author’s touch is deft and subtle, guiding us through each event and revelation without a single stumble.
The editor’s skills were also on display. The story has a lot of dialog, and it is written using the slang and idiom of British youth culture. Despite this, I can’t recall a single grammatical or spelling error aside from those deliberately written into the dialogue.
This is a beautifully executed coming-of-age and coming out Young Adult love story, clearly a labor of love manifested in words.
I received a free ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Elephant Shoe is a debut novel. It shouldn’t be this good, but it is. The characters are flawlessly flawed, which makes them so human and so believable. Some are more lovable than others, to be sure, but they are all real and true-to-life. I want to meet them all.
The story itself is nuanced and natural. It would be easy to be heavy-handed with the material but the author’s touch is deft and subtle, guiding us through each event and revelation without a single stumble.
The editor’s skills were also on display. The story has a lot of dialog, and it is written using the slang and idiom of British youth culture. Despite this, I can’t recall a single grammatical or spelling error aside from those deliberately written into the dialogue.
This is a beautifully executed coming-of-age and coming out Young Adult love story, clearly a labor of love manifested in words.
I received a free ARC in exchange for this honest review.
April 11, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. For a start it’s set in the UK. The accents come across really well. The characters are finely drawn and it’s easy to identify with Mikey. There’s a lot going on his life and you fully understand why he feels he has no control over what is happening around him and to him. His problems feel real and I found myself getting angry on his behalf. Without giving away any spoilers, it’s a bit of a roller coaster ride before he finally gets to where he wants to be. I can see this being part of channel 4’s ‘Skins’ series if it were still being made. I can’t recommend it enough.
August 5, 2023
A charming YA story, with a lot of very heavy themes. Mikey was often such a stubborn mess that it was just sometimes too much. He was also bad at keeping secrets, even though he clearly meant really well on the whole. Tate was an interesting character, with some unexpected twists. The title is really fitting. Lots of feelings.
March 10, 2019
This book was a rollercoaster.It took me through so many emotions...mostly it was hurt and angst but there were beautiful and funny times too. There were places were things felt abrupt , esp. the part where mikey figures out he is gay. But on the whole it was a beautiful experience. Loved Mikey..hated Tate initially but halfway through the book I was hopelessly in love with both of them.
May 23, 2018
Book: Elephant Shoe
Author: J.S Edge
Rating: 2 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank J.S Edge for providing with this ARC.
So, I really did want to give this one a higher rating that what I did, but I just couldn’t. While there were many parts that I did actually enjoy, I just could not bring myself to give it any higher ratings that a three. It’s good, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I know this is a debut and all, but I felt like it could had been a lot better.
The writing was very rough in some places. Some of the scenes made me wince; it was very, very poorly written. It was choppy, telling instead of showing, and everything that just made me wince and turned me off. The writing really took away from the story, which was actually pretty good. I think that if J.S works on her writing, the story will come out.
What I got out of the story, it was good, but, once again, the really choppy writing took away from it. The plot is heavy handed, but not too heavy handed that will turn readers off it. I like how it dealt with real issues, with real characters. It had a lot going for it, but, again, the writing took a lot away from it.
The characters were developed, but I felt like they weren’t as well rounded as they could had been. Sure, they were flawed, but, I don’t know, there was just something about them that made me not really connect with them. Don’t get me wrong, they were good, but at the same time, they were lacking.
Overall, not a really bad debut, but I really think there is a lot of work to be done.
Author: J.S Edge
Rating: 2 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank J.S Edge for providing with this ARC.
So, I really did want to give this one a higher rating that what I did, but I just couldn’t. While there were many parts that I did actually enjoy, I just could not bring myself to give it any higher ratings that a three. It’s good, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I know this is a debut and all, but I felt like it could had been a lot better.
The writing was very rough in some places. Some of the scenes made me wince; it was very, very poorly written. It was choppy, telling instead of showing, and everything that just made me wince and turned me off. The writing really took away from the story, which was actually pretty good. I think that if J.S works on her writing, the story will come out.
What I got out of the story, it was good, but, once again, the really choppy writing took away from it. The plot is heavy handed, but not too heavy handed that will turn readers off it. I like how it dealt with real issues, with real characters. It had a lot going for it, but, again, the writing took a lot away from it.
The characters were developed, but I felt like they weren’t as well rounded as they could had been. Sure, they were flawed, but, I don’t know, there was just something about them that made me not really connect with them. Don’t get me wrong, they were good, but at the same time, they were lacking.
Overall, not a really bad debut, but I really think there is a lot of work to be done.
June 7, 2018
*ARC provided by the author *
This was a bit too angsty for what I was in the mood for. I feel like, had I read it some other time, I would /could have enjoyed it much more.
There's two parallel stories that share a theme: both the story of Mikey's struggle to come to terms with leaving the past behind and moving forward into the life situation he's been thrust in; and also the story of the connection between Mikey and Tate. How they have to learn to build a new relationship as the people they are now, so different from who they used to be once upon a time.
I feel that the whole story could have been told in a much better organized manner, as it was, I had trouble connecting with the characters and bringing myself to care for the story and events. But I got there eventually.
There is a thing or two to say about how very little true moments of happiness are there, and the fact that the angst does get a bit too repetitive. Also, the background characters were pretty weak for the amount of space they took up. So yeah, this could definitely use some improvements.
But overall, it was okay (I'm away and relying only on my phone to write reviews for the next 2 weeks so I'm sorry if this is short and poorly articulate and messy).
This was a bit too angsty for what I was in the mood for. I feel like, had I read it some other time, I would /could have enjoyed it much more.
There's two parallel stories that share a theme: both the story of Mikey's struggle to come to terms with leaving the past behind and moving forward into the life situation he's been thrust in; and also the story of the connection between Mikey and Tate. How they have to learn to build a new relationship as the people they are now, so different from who they used to be once upon a time.
I feel that the whole story could have been told in a much better organized manner, as it was, I had trouble connecting with the characters and bringing myself to care for the story and events. But I got there eventually.
There is a thing or two to say about how very little true moments of happiness are there, and the fact that the angst does get a bit too repetitive. Also, the background characters were pretty weak for the amount of space they took up. So yeah, this could definitely use some improvements.
But overall, it was okay (I'm away and relying only on my phone to write reviews for the next 2 weeks so I'm sorry if this is short and poorly articulate and messy).
October 1, 2018
It's not a genre I'd normally read, but the blurb had me curious and I figured I should take a chance on something new. I'm so glad I did, this is an absolutely amazing debut novel.
I struggled to put the book down, and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it, wondering what would happen next, and seeing parts of Mikey & Tate's ups and downs all around me. I won't spoil your enjoyment of reading it, but the plot and characterisation are both brilliant. There are so many issues dealt with by the story, so many facets of life that we all encounter, and it feels so real for it. The writing is descriptive and emotive, and I've been on a rollercoaster of emotions right alongside the characters. I've felt anger, sorrow, frustration, hurt and love.
Edge's ability to draw emotion is fantastic, I felt the story as much as I read it. I felt a part of Mikey & Tate's journey and I willed the book not to end.
This might not be the kind of book you'd normally read, you might think you'll have no connection with the characters, or that a debut novel can't possibly be this good. You'd be wrong.
I can't wait to see what comes next from JS Edge; I've discovered a few new authors over the last couple of years, and she is definitely one to watch.
I struggled to put the book down, and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it, wondering what would happen next, and seeing parts of Mikey & Tate's ups and downs all around me. I won't spoil your enjoyment of reading it, but the plot and characterisation are both brilliant. There are so many issues dealt with by the story, so many facets of life that we all encounter, and it feels so real for it. The writing is descriptive and emotive, and I've been on a rollercoaster of emotions right alongside the characters. I've felt anger, sorrow, frustration, hurt and love.
Edge's ability to draw emotion is fantastic, I felt the story as much as I read it. I felt a part of Mikey & Tate's journey and I willed the book not to end.
This might not be the kind of book you'd normally read, you might think you'll have no connection with the characters, or that a debut novel can't possibly be this good. You'd be wrong.
I can't wait to see what comes next from JS Edge; I've discovered a few new authors over the last couple of years, and she is definitely one to watch.
March 12, 2018
Elephant Shoe is a story about forgiveness, about letting the past go and making the best out of the present, about two boys and their families and their friends and their shared memories and the obstacles they have to cross.
I can't tell you much, for there's a lot you must discover on your own. Mikey goes back to his childhood home after years away, and we go go back with him. Does he still know the people he left behind, or must he start from scratch even with those who meant the most to him?
Go on the journey with him as painful past and confusing present collide, as he discovers new feelings for a best friend he had never quite managed to forget and learns that nothing is ever as it seems, as cliche as it may sound.
This book features characters with disabilities, illnesses and etc, dealt in a way that most authors shy away writing- the way that is real.
Albeit having a few issues, this was only the first draft that I had the pleasure to read. And I cannot wait for you to get your hands on the final product.
I can't tell you much, for there's a lot you must discover on your own. Mikey goes back to his childhood home after years away, and we go go back with him. Does he still know the people he left behind, or must he start from scratch even with those who meant the most to him?
Go on the journey with him as painful past and confusing present collide, as he discovers new feelings for a best friend he had never quite managed to forget and learns that nothing is ever as it seems, as cliche as it may sound.
This book features characters with disabilities, illnesses and etc, dealt in a way that most authors shy away writing- the way that is real.
Albeit having a few issues, this was only the first draft that I had the pleasure to read. And I cannot wait for you to get your hands on the final product.
February 23, 2020
J.S. Edge captures the imperfect interactions of her teens' underworld perfectly. And she locks the reader in with a love story that aches with hope through her two main characters, Tate and Mikey.
My favorite genre is enemies-to-lovers, but Edge intensifies the plot by making the enemies best friends from boyhood, a boyhood savaged by tragic loss. Knowing that last part delayed my picking up this gripping novel; it shouldn't have. The tragedy becomes part of the fiber of the love story. Yes, this is a novel of losses and separations, but it is also a novel about the power of the human heart to battle any and all odds stacked against it.
That said, the intricacies of forming a relationship around and through the obstacles that would destroy it are faithfully rendered. And I daresay any reader will recognize the hearts in question on every page.
My favorite genre is enemies-to-lovers, but Edge intensifies the plot by making the enemies best friends from boyhood, a boyhood savaged by tragic loss. Knowing that last part delayed my picking up this gripping novel; it shouldn't have. The tragedy becomes part of the fiber of the love story. Yes, this is a novel of losses and separations, but it is also a novel about the power of the human heart to battle any and all odds stacked against it.
That said, the intricacies of forming a relationship around and through the obstacles that would destroy it are faithfully rendered. And I daresay any reader will recognize the hearts in question on every page.
July 7, 2018
3.5 stars
This was a very sweet story. At times a bit long winded in the last half, and could use a bit more editing, but I really enjoyed it. If you're a fan of YA, definitely check this out!
This was a very sweet story. At times a bit long winded in the last half, and could use a bit more editing, but I really enjoyed it. If you're a fan of YA, definitely check this out!
March 18, 2019
(I already reviewed the kindle edition)
May 8, 2018
Title: Elephant Shoe
Author: J. S. Edge
Publisher: J. S. Edge
ISBN: 9781789260649
Buy Link:
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
If his sixteen years experience has taught Mikey Alston only one thing, it’s this:
Life is too damn cruel to face alone…
The ice took our car off the road.
The tree wrecked it.
Tate and I didn’t make it out unscathed.
My parents didn’t make it out alive…
I was eleven, and that’s the day my whole world was ripped away from me.
My brother, David, was twenty-one. All the family I had left, I needed him. He didn’t need me.
David sent me away. Packed me off far across the country from my hometown in Devon – from Tate and everything I’d ever known, to live with grandparents I’d never known.
Six years is a long time.
But now I’m back.
(Not through choice. Not mine, anyway).
And Tate’s still here.
Only… he’s not the boy I left behind.
He won’t speak to me. Won’t speak to anyone.
The one upshot of my return to a life I no longer fit and he’s letting me down spectacularly.
Well, Tate, here’s the thing:
I’m not giving up on you. I’m not everybody else. You can’t shut me out. You need me – we need each other. And we will be friends again. Best friends.
I’m decided.
It’s decided.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Mikey's life was changed the day of the car accident. He lost not only his parents, but everything he knew. Unable to care for Mikey, his brother sent him to live with his grandparents leaving his best friend Tate behind. Between his anger at his brother David and never hearing again from his best friend Tate left him alone to try and rebuild his world alone. That is until the day David reappeared. After Mikey's grandfather died things gradually became more difficult as his grandmother's memory loss worsens. Things spiral out of control when David arrives telling Mikey that he and their grandmother are moving back home. Mikey's loss of control is difficult after everything he has given up, but worse of all is now after six years his brother is willing to take him in. Mikey is back home where it all started, but his old friend Tate is distant and cool towards him. Things are not always what they seem and Mikey is determined to rekindle his friendship if he can just figure out why Tate won't talk to him. Tate has his own secrets and problems to deal with creating chaos. Other friends add complications as they deal with usual high school conflicts. Add a school bully who seems determined to make Mikey's life miserable from the start.
This is a wonderful story weaving real-to-life issues a complex story line that held me spellbound form the start. Mikey's anger towards his brother and subsequent loss of control as his grandmother's health worsens was sad to experience, but his determination to overcome all of the challenges was inspiring. Tate's secrets had kept him locked up in his own world until Mikey's determination to get his friend back won the day. This was a wonderful book that I would definitely recommend.
Author: J. S. Edge
Publisher: J. S. Edge
ISBN: 9781789260649
Buy Link:
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
If his sixteen years experience has taught Mikey Alston only one thing, it’s this:
Life is too damn cruel to face alone…
The ice took our car off the road.
The tree wrecked it.
Tate and I didn’t make it out unscathed.
My parents didn’t make it out alive…
I was eleven, and that’s the day my whole world was ripped away from me.
My brother, David, was twenty-one. All the family I had left, I needed him. He didn’t need me.
David sent me away. Packed me off far across the country from my hometown in Devon – from Tate and everything I’d ever known, to live with grandparents I’d never known.
Six years is a long time.
But now I’m back.
(Not through choice. Not mine, anyway).
And Tate’s still here.
Only… he’s not the boy I left behind.
He won’t speak to me. Won’t speak to anyone.
The one upshot of my return to a life I no longer fit and he’s letting me down spectacularly.
Well, Tate, here’s the thing:
I’m not giving up on you. I’m not everybody else. You can’t shut me out. You need me – we need each other. And we will be friends again. Best friends.
I’m decided.
It’s decided.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Mikey's life was changed the day of the car accident. He lost not only his parents, but everything he knew. Unable to care for Mikey, his brother sent him to live with his grandparents leaving his best friend Tate behind. Between his anger at his brother David and never hearing again from his best friend Tate left him alone to try and rebuild his world alone. That is until the day David reappeared. After Mikey's grandfather died things gradually became more difficult as his grandmother's memory loss worsens. Things spiral out of control when David arrives telling Mikey that he and their grandmother are moving back home. Mikey's loss of control is difficult after everything he has given up, but worse of all is now after six years his brother is willing to take him in. Mikey is back home where it all started, but his old friend Tate is distant and cool towards him. Things are not always what they seem and Mikey is determined to rekindle his friendship if he can just figure out why Tate won't talk to him. Tate has his own secrets and problems to deal with creating chaos. Other friends add complications as they deal with usual high school conflicts. Add a school bully who seems determined to make Mikey's life miserable from the start.
This is a wonderful story weaving real-to-life issues a complex story line that held me spellbound form the start. Mikey's anger towards his brother and subsequent loss of control as his grandmother's health worsens was sad to experience, but his determination to overcome all of the challenges was inspiring. Tate's secrets had kept him locked up in his own world until Mikey's determination to get his friend back won the day. This was a wonderful book that I would definitely recommend.
December 31, 2018
Could not have chosen a better read to end this year on!
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
October 1, 2018
I want to write a glowing review for Elephant Shoe because I loved it, but the words aren’t coming and I just want to read it again so I can find the words! Or rather, I want it on audiobook so I can listen rather than read because these kids are so real and so wonderful and so bratty and so frustrating at times that my 52 year old brain needs the kind of relief from them that an audiobook would afford. I absolutely don’t mean this as a criticism! I ADORED the characters! Their brattiness, impulsiveness, immaturity, and willfulness are well represented, warranted and understandable. Adolescence is HARD! The characters frequently reminded me of my own kids at that age. Oi, thank goodness mine are past their adolescence now!
And maybe that’s the best way to express my feelings about this story, to liken it to how I feel about my own kids. No matter how frustrating and exasperating my kids could be during their adolescence, I have always adored them! Their angst and immaturity and stubbornness was a healthy, normal part of growing up and finding their place amongst their friends and in the world. Like my own kids, the teens in Elephant Shoe are lovable and exasperating and filled my heart with happiness. J.S. Edge did a fantastic job of bringing these flawed, beautiful characters to life in a way that spoke to me and felt authentic.
4.5 stars
And maybe that’s the best way to express my feelings about this story, to liken it to how I feel about my own kids. No matter how frustrating and exasperating my kids could be during their adolescence, I have always adored them! Their angst and immaturity and stubbornness was a healthy, normal part of growing up and finding their place amongst their friends and in the world. Like my own kids, the teens in Elephant Shoe are lovable and exasperating and filled my heart with happiness. J.S. Edge did a fantastic job of bringing these flawed, beautiful characters to life in a way that spoke to me and felt authentic.
4.5 stars
July 28, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. I'm not much of a reader but this was great. Well thought out and likeable characters, it had me both laughing and crying.
I really recommend this book to others, you won't be disappointed.
I really recommend this book to others, you won't be disappointed.
April 24, 2019
I'm so glad i happened upon this book. Beautiful story and amazingly written. One of my favorites.
September 23, 2024
It was a really cute story. I still remember these boys after reading it one year ago. I might reread it again one of these days. Highly recommended.
June 5, 2018
Disclosure: this review is based on a free ARC provided by the author.
Debut author J.S. Edge has crafted an engaging story about Mikey and Tate, two former best friends torn asunder by family decisions in the wake of a traumatic accident suffered when they were at the tender age of eleven.
Years later, Mikey unwillingly returns to his childhood home and community to find his formerly bright and affable best friend Tate now an isolated loner. Mikey's efforts to rekindle the friendship are stymied not only by his new classmates' disdain for Tate but by Tate's own desperation to hide secrets he fears would change everyone's view of him in ways he can't accept. Tate's motivation here may seem irrational, but children and teens can be cruel so there is real concern, plus we humans, especially in our teen years, don't always act rationally. Mikey's own secret, from others as well as himself initially, is the extent of his feelings for Tate which go beyond simple friendship. Mikey wears his heart on his sleeve whether it's his anger towards his older brother David for abandoning him or his love for both his Gran (suffering from dementia) and Tate. Mikey's emotional reactions as often hinder as much as help his pursuit of his goals.
The story takes place in northern England and Ms. Edge naturally uses regional slang and idiom in her characters' dialog which firmly sets the action in that locale. However, her use of eye dialect may present a barrier to some readers, slowing immersion in the story world or interrupting the flow once in.
But you empathize with both these flawed, lonely teens. You'll recognize the aftermath of traumas suffered in formative years. You'll hope Mikey and Tate's friendship and love for one another can help each other overcome their flaws, secrets, and scars. If you're older than the presumed target audience of this Young Adult offering, the story may evoke feelings related to a youthful friendship lost over time or a friendship you wish had been more but never was. But for all readers, it's a ultimately a story about Mikey and Tate's journeys towards self-acceptance, a lesson applicable at any age.
Overall I enjoyed Elephant Shoe ultimately finding myself wrapped up in the story and invested in the main characters. I'm pretty stingy with my stars (reserving 5 stars for impactful books) so I rated it 3 stars ("Liked it.") though I will note that if half stars were available, I'd give it 3.5.
Debut author J.S. Edge has crafted an engaging story about Mikey and Tate, two former best friends torn asunder by family decisions in the wake of a traumatic accident suffered when they were at the tender age of eleven.
Years later, Mikey unwillingly returns to his childhood home and community to find his formerly bright and affable best friend Tate now an isolated loner. Mikey's efforts to rekindle the friendship are stymied not only by his new classmates' disdain for Tate but by Tate's own desperation to hide secrets he fears would change everyone's view of him in ways he can't accept. Tate's motivation here may seem irrational, but children and teens can be cruel so there is real concern, plus we humans, especially in our teen years, don't always act rationally. Mikey's own secret, from others as well as himself initially, is the extent of his feelings for Tate which go beyond simple friendship. Mikey wears his heart on his sleeve whether it's his anger towards his older brother David for abandoning him or his love for both his Gran (suffering from dementia) and Tate. Mikey's emotional reactions as often hinder as much as help his pursuit of his goals.
The story takes place in northern England and Ms. Edge naturally uses regional slang and idiom in her characters' dialog which firmly sets the action in that locale. However, her use of eye dialect may present a barrier to some readers, slowing immersion in the story world or interrupting the flow once in.
But you empathize with both these flawed, lonely teens. You'll recognize the aftermath of traumas suffered in formative years. You'll hope Mikey and Tate's friendship and love for one another can help each other overcome their flaws, secrets, and scars. If you're older than the presumed target audience of this Young Adult offering, the story may evoke feelings related to a youthful friendship lost over time or a friendship you wish had been more but never was. But for all readers, it's a ultimately a story about Mikey and Tate's journeys towards self-acceptance, a lesson applicable at any age.
Overall I enjoyed Elephant Shoe ultimately finding myself wrapped up in the story and invested in the main characters. I'm pretty stingy with my stars (reserving 5 stars for impactful books) so I rated it 3 stars ("Liked it.") though I will note that if half stars were available, I'd give it 3.5.
September 23, 2018
ELEPHANT SHOE by J S EDGE
Orphaned at 11 Mikey is uprooted from his home and friends when he goes to live with his grandparents - going from the South West to the North East.
In his late teens he is then uprooted again - having to re-acquaint himself with his old home, family and friends, who have all moved on without him.
Elephant Shoe explores the difficulties Mikey faces during these changes.
It covers Mikey’s fractured relationship with his older brother, his determination to be the main carer for his grandmother and the difficulties he faces in re-building his relationships with old friends, in a humorous, insightful and thought provoking manner.
Its portrayal of young people accepting each other for who and what they are, albeit with some wobbles along the way, is wonderfully refreshing (especially given the bullying culture we hear so much about).
Elephant Shoe gives an uplifting message to young people.
It explores the different family dynamics, how families and individuals cope with loss and the difficulties faced when looking after elderly relatives.
I have read this debut novel twice since its release on 17/06/18 and it is a delightful read for anyone, regardless of age or gender.
Orphaned at 11 Mikey is uprooted from his home and friends when he goes to live with his grandparents - going from the South West to the North East.
In his late teens he is then uprooted again - having to re-acquaint himself with his old home, family and friends, who have all moved on without him.
Elephant Shoe explores the difficulties Mikey faces during these changes.
It covers Mikey’s fractured relationship with his older brother, his determination to be the main carer for his grandmother and the difficulties he faces in re-building his relationships with old friends, in a humorous, insightful and thought provoking manner.
Its portrayal of young people accepting each other for who and what they are, albeit with some wobbles along the way, is wonderfully refreshing (especially given the bullying culture we hear so much about).
Elephant Shoe gives an uplifting message to young people.
It explores the different family dynamics, how families and individuals cope with loss and the difficulties faced when looking after elderly relatives.
I have read this debut novel twice since its release on 17/06/18 and it is a delightful read for anyone, regardless of age or gender.
January 10, 2022
“’I love you’ and ‘elephant shoe’, they shape the mouth the same way when they’re spoken.”
Oh, such a beautiful and hurtful book. I had no idea what I was getting into and every subplot managed to surprise me in a good way. It is a book that touched on many topics, such as trauma, bullying, disability and friendship. They were really well handled, and the only one that left me a little disappointed was the family theme, and not because it was badly done: I only wish there had been more page time for the brothers and a more satisfying conclusion for the family, but I understand why leaving them on their way to healing fitted best the limited book-length.
Still, I loved all we did get. The transition from a harmful relationship to a healthy one was pretty well done, though I couldn't get to appreciate the amount of miscommunication and misunderstanding that is so very common in YA, it's more on me than the boys.
All in all, a lovely book that definitely deserves praise.
July 15, 2018
This coming of age novel deals with a number of contemporary issues which are elequently executed in a sensitive and realistic fasion. The characters are perfectly flawed and relatable. It is a story of frendship, love and acceptance, and it took me on an emotional rollercoaster as i laughed cryed and empathised along the way. Perfect summer read, it was just what i was looking for.
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