A Line in the Sand

by Robin Reardon

What could have been just another summer vacation on Hilton Head Island for 15-year-old, out-and-proud Dustin Hamilton takes turn after turn as his infatuation for the exotic Randy Aziz spins him in different directions. Dustin's clear but unspoken challenge to Randy, "Come out of the closet for me, just for a week," receives first a tentative and then a joyful "Yes!" from Randy.

The boys spend days, and a very special evening, on the beach together, learning that their lives are similar in some surprising ways. But coming out takes Randy in a direction neither boy predicted. It's a summer the boys—and their families—will never forget.

61 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

I'm an inveterate observer of human nature, and my primary writing goal is to create stories about all kinds of people, some of whom happen to be gay or transgender—people whose destinies are not determined solely by their sexual orientation or identity. My secondary writing goal is to introduce readers to concepts or information they might not know very much about. On my website, robinreardon.com, see individual book pages for “Digging Deeper” sections that link to background information and research done for the novel.

My motto is this: The only thing wrong with being gay is how some people treat you when they find out.

Interests outside of writing include singing, nature photography, and the study of comparative religions. I write in a butter yellow study with a view of the Boston, Massachusetts skyline.

Reviews

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've declared my adoration for Robin Reardon's stories before, and this one is no exception. If anything, it's too short! But it is constructed well, with the fascinating characters one has come to expect, and captures the reader as effortlessly as her longer narratives.

Fifteen year old Dustin is on holiday with his mom and dad, and he meets Randy. Randy is not out to his parents yet - he knows his dad will not accept his being gay. The spark between the two boys kindles a fire Dustin did not foresee. As simple and brief as the story is, it reminds one of the hectic emotions of one's teen years and is a worthwhile read.

Ek het al voorheen lofredes gesing oor Robin Reardon se verhale, en hierdie een (oor twee seuns wat mekaar tydens 'n vakansie ontmoet en 'n verhouding begin wat heeltemal anders verloop as wat hulle verwag het) is geen uitsondering nie. Reardon het duidelik nie tweehonderd bladsye nodig om komplekse en interessante karakters en verhoudings te laat ontwikkel nie. Haar verhaal herinner die leser aan die Sturm und Drang van die tienerjare en is beslis die moeite werd om te lees.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of this Reardons books which I read and am going to read I loved this story. Although it more derpressing than most of her other ones, I'm glad she raises issues of GBLT identity and how to handle them. I think the connotations that she gives with religion and personal feelings dealing with a gay son really were well thought out and carried through the story very well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has read her other books obviously and also anyone who is struggling with LGBT issues both publicly and privately, that they might find inspiration not only in this novel but in all of Ms. Readons other novels.

[Trudie Barreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin Reardon’s “A Line in the Sand” is a well-crafted YA novel dealing with the “coming out” of teenage Gay boys during a brief summer vacation on one of the Georgia barrier islands. Dustin, the narrator protagonist, is very Out, and has extremely supportive parents whose philosophy of guidance is no different than if their son was attracted to girls. The boys he meets during their vacation sojourn at the condo they visit every year, first Aaron during the prior summer and now Randy as the present tale begins, however, come from very homophobic family situations.

Because this is a very short book, it doesn’t really deal in depth with the issues these kids face, but rather sets the stage for more adult development. It has an interesting twist with respect to what appears to be Reardon’s favorite theme, the influence (or lack thereof) of religion in our current cultural rejection of homosexuality. Aaron’s family was Jewish, and abominated it from a moralistic perspective. On the other hand, Randy’s father, from Saudi Arabia, has left Islam behind and declared atheism as his personal perspective, but still maintains the dominant masculinity ethos of that religion. My only regret is that this book rather dropped the narrative at the end of the summer interlude; I really wanted it to go a little further.