What do you think?
Rate this book
Wild and Crooked
Critically acclaimed author Leah Thomas blends a small-town setting with the secrets of a long-ago crime, in a compelling novel about breaking free from the past.
In Samsboro, Kentucky, Kalyn Spence's name is inseparable from the brutal murder her father committed when he was a teenager. Forced to return to town, Kalyn must attend school under a pseudonym . . . or face the lingering anger of Samsboro's citizens, who refuse to forget the crime.
Gus Peake has never had the luxury of redefining himself. A Samsboro native, he's either known as the "disabled kid" because of his cerebral palsy, or as the kid whose dad was murdered. Gus just wants to be known as himself.
When Gus meets Kalyn, her frankness is refreshing, and they form a deep friendship. Until their families' pasts emerge. And when the accepted version of the truth is questioned, Kalyn and Gus are caught in the center of a national uproar. Can they break free from a legacy of inherited lies and chart their own paths forward?.
In Samsboro, Kentucky, Kalyn Spence's name is inseparable from the brutal murder her father committed when he was a teenager. Forced to return to town, Kalyn must attend school under a pseudonym . . . or face the lingering anger of Samsboro's citizens, who refuse to forget the crime.
Gus Peake has never had the luxury of redefining himself. A Samsboro native, he's either known as the "disabled kid" because of his cerebral palsy, or as the kid whose dad was murdered. Gus just wants to be known as himself.
When Gus meets Kalyn, her frankness is refreshing, and they form a deep friendship. Until their families' pasts emerge. And when the accepted version of the truth is questioned, Kalyn and Gus are caught in the center of a national uproar. Can they break free from a legacy of inherited lies and chart their own paths forward?.
438 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2019
42 people are currently reading
8978 people want to read
About the author
Leah Thomas
39 books593 followersLeah Thomas once wrote from a house in the woods, and now an apartment more or less by the sea (well, less). Her debut novel BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER MEET ME was a 2016 Morris Award finalist, and its sequel, NOWHERE NEAR YOU, is out now from Bloomsbury. Her third YA science fiction novel, WHEN LIGHT LEFT US, hit shelves this February.
A graduate of Clarion 2010, her short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, Black Static, Ideomancer, and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. She's mostly a dork and always feels uncomfortable about author bios. If she's not writing, she's likely teaching or cosplaying. Follow her on instagram (@fellowhermit), or on tumblr (cuttoothom).
A graduate of Clarion 2010, her short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, Black Static, Ideomancer, and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. She's mostly a dork and always feels uncomfortable about author bios. If she's not writing, she's likely teaching or cosplaying. Follow her on instagram (@fellowhermit), or on tumblr (cuttoothom).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
January 18, 2023
At its core, Wild and Crooked is a story of a friendship; sweet and pure teenage friendship.
Kalyn Spence and Gus Peake, two kids whose stories were tragically intertwined before they were even born, are the center of this tale.
Kalyn's Dad is in prison, accused of murdering Gus's Dad.
When Kalyn moves to Samsboro, into her paternal Grandmother's home, she is forced to attend school under an alias for fear of repercussions from the locals.
She tries to fly under the radar, but finds her new persona exhausting. She befriends Gus, who definitely stands out in a crowd, and finds his honesty and quiet demeanor refreshing.
Gus has lived in Samsboro his whole life with his Mom, who has never fully recovered from the tragic loss of his father, even though she is now married to a wonderful woman, Tamara.
Gus, who has cerebral palsy, spends most of his time with his best friend, Phil, but longs for a bigger life outside of Samsboro.
Once Gus and Kalyn begin spending time together, they quickly grow close and are both shocked when they discover how they are connected.
This relationship is everything.
A platonic bond that is truthful and sweet and exactly what the world needs. I really enjoyed reading them together.
Soon the kids are uncovering long-held, small-town secrets and exposing evidence about the tragedy that has never been brought to light.
Part mystery, part coming of age, part exploration of identity, this book will not fail to touch your soul.
I don't think Leah Thomas could have fit more hard-hitting topics in here if she tried!
Identity, perceptions, reality, love, hate, forgiveness; it's life. The characters are great. I loved Kalyn and Gus both so much and even Phil, self-proclaimed antisocial personality disorder and all.
I was pleasantly surprised when the book took a mysterious turn and the kids started their own investigation. I had a lot of fun reading that aspect of the story.
I need more people to read this and be talking about it. I think there is a lot of really great rep in here and the various stories were so honestly told. It was really moving, although some aspects needed the reader to suspend belief a wee bit.
So, yeah, if you are into YA Contemporary, pick this one up! It's so worth it!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Bloomsbury, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to reading more from this author!
Kalyn Spence and Gus Peake, two kids whose stories were tragically intertwined before they were even born, are the center of this tale.
Kalyn's Dad is in prison, accused of murdering Gus's Dad.
When Kalyn moves to Samsboro, into her paternal Grandmother's home, she is forced to attend school under an alias for fear of repercussions from the locals.
She tries to fly under the radar, but finds her new persona exhausting. She befriends Gus, who definitely stands out in a crowd, and finds his honesty and quiet demeanor refreshing.
Gus has lived in Samsboro his whole life with his Mom, who has never fully recovered from the tragic loss of his father, even though she is now married to a wonderful woman, Tamara.
Gus, who has cerebral palsy, spends most of his time with his best friend, Phil, but longs for a bigger life outside of Samsboro.
Once Gus and Kalyn begin spending time together, they quickly grow close and are both shocked when they discover how they are connected.
This relationship is everything.
A platonic bond that is truthful and sweet and exactly what the world needs. I really enjoyed reading them together.
Soon the kids are uncovering long-held, small-town secrets and exposing evidence about the tragedy that has never been brought to light.
Part mystery, part coming of age, part exploration of identity, this book will not fail to touch your soul.
I don't think Leah Thomas could have fit more hard-hitting topics in here if she tried!
Identity, perceptions, reality, love, hate, forgiveness; it's life. The characters are great. I loved Kalyn and Gus both so much and even Phil, self-proclaimed antisocial personality disorder and all.
I was pleasantly surprised when the book took a mysterious turn and the kids started their own investigation. I had a lot of fun reading that aspect of the story.
I need more people to read this and be talking about it. I think there is a lot of really great rep in here and the various stories were so honestly told. It was really moving, although some aspects needed the reader to suspend belief a wee bit.
So, yeah, if you are into YA Contemporary, pick this one up! It's so worth it!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Bloomsbury, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to reading more from this author!
July 23, 2019
I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but I think that if the cover looks like this one, and also the main characters are two completely platonic best friends, and one is a pan girl and one is a gay guy and the girl’s dad is in prison for murder and the guy has cerebral palsy, then there’s an exception.
My belief in that exception made me really excited for this book, but unfortunately I felt completely meh about it. Presumably because I am cursed.
A lot of this about this book - the characterization, the core friendship, the backstories - felt really rushed. And it’s hard to feel anything but meh about a book when you’re like wait, how did we get here? It’s the end of the book? But I haven’t FELT anything yet!
This is a suuuper character-driven book, and I never felt like I knew the characters beyond kind of cartoonish surface-level stuff. They felt more like archetypes (dare I say stereotypes) more than people.
Which was a major bummer.
Bottom line: I really, really, reallyyyy super duper wanted to like this. But I didn’t feel much about it at all.
--------------
is there someone I can speak to about the phenomenon of feeling completely meh about books I was excited for?? because I've gotta tell ya, I'm pretty goddamn sick of it!!!!
review to come
--------------
all you need islove books with representation and covers that look like this one
(thanks to bloomsbury for the arc)
My belief in that exception made me really excited for this book, but unfortunately I felt completely meh about it. Presumably because I am cursed.
A lot of this about this book - the characterization, the core friendship, the backstories - felt really rushed. And it’s hard to feel anything but meh about a book when you’re like wait, how did we get here? It’s the end of the book? But I haven’t FELT anything yet!
This is a suuuper character-driven book, and I never felt like I knew the characters beyond kind of cartoonish surface-level stuff. They felt more like archetypes (dare I say stereotypes) more than people.
Which was a major bummer.
Bottom line: I really, really, reallyyyy super duper wanted to like this. But I didn’t feel much about it at all.
--------------
is there someone I can speak to about the phenomenon of feeling completely meh about books I was excited for?? because I've gotta tell ya, I'm pretty goddamn sick of it!!!!
review to come
--------------
all you need is
(thanks to bloomsbury for the arc)
May 21, 2019
“He turns so freaking pink. Look, I’m pretty queer, but hell if blushing boys aren’t the cutest thing since frolicking kittens.”
Did I just read a book with healthy sexual and disability representation and a completely platonic friendship between a female and male? Why yes, yes I think I might have.
Wild and Crooked follows two young people. One is a young woman named Kayln, whose father is in prison for murdering a man when she was a baby. The other is young man named Gus, whose father was the one that happened to have been murdered by Kalyn’s father when he was just a baby. Kayln has moved back to her hometown, which means the town that her father committed the crime at and starts back at highschool under a different identity. She soon befriends Gus, not knowing he is the son of the man her father murdered and they become very close friends. Obviously, once they find out who the other is, problems are had and need to be figured out and to put an even bigger wrench in things, it turns out that Kayln’s father might be innocent so now they are also searching for what really happened the night both their father’s life essentially ended.
We get a lot of amazing representation in this book. Gus has Cerebral Palsy, I do not have this disability so I cannot speak on the complete accuracy of it but I can talk as someone who is chronically ill and the feelings that he expresses and the role he takes because of how society acts towards him often. I thought it was done authentically, sometimes brutally but completely sensitively. I also loved that this was not the focus on Gus’s story, it was a part of him – it was never ignored but it also didn’t get turned into something for an able person to become a hero from. Thank god. Wild and Crooked also has very strong sexuality representation, while this book has ZERO romance, Gus is pansexual and Kayln is a lesbian. It is talked about and discussed but again, it’s not made a huge deal of – it’s just who they are and they love and accept each other for it instantly. It made my heart so very happy to see this beautiful, flawed, PLATONIC friendhsip between Gus and Kayln.
We also get a third character into the mix more and more as the story goes on and that is Phillip, and he’s an oddball. He’s incredible socially awkward and talks as though everything is a movie or a role-playing game – it’s the only way he can relate. No, he does not have Autism – it is noted in the book that he didn’t quite make the cut but he did have a head injury as a child and that seems to have affected him. I don’t want to say too much about him, he’s a very interesting character – love him or hate him, again he feels pretty real.
This contemporary story won’t be for everyone. I think we’ll see a lot of people DNFing it actually. This is completely character driven. Yes, there is a murder mystery plot going on and at times it does get a bit tense and you will probably never guess it all until it all gets revealed near the end but it’s not the heart of the book. The heart of the book is these characters and their lives and their growth and relationships. It also clocks in at over 400 pages, so if you aren’t into character driven books – this isn’t going to be for you. I thought it was incredible, I feel completely in love with these characters and the disability representation in particular just meant so much to me. If you think this one sounds like something you might enjoy then be sure to check it out!
Thank you to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an e-arc of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
Did I just read a book with healthy sexual and disability representation and a completely platonic friendship between a female and male? Why yes, yes I think I might have.
Wild and Crooked follows two young people. One is a young woman named Kayln, whose father is in prison for murdering a man when she was a baby. The other is young man named Gus, whose father was the one that happened to have been murdered by Kalyn’s father when he was just a baby. Kayln has moved back to her hometown, which means the town that her father committed the crime at and starts back at highschool under a different identity. She soon befriends Gus, not knowing he is the son of the man her father murdered and they become very close friends. Obviously, once they find out who the other is, problems are had and need to be figured out and to put an even bigger wrench in things, it turns out that Kayln’s father might be innocent so now they are also searching for what really happened the night both their father’s life essentially ended.
We get a lot of amazing representation in this book. Gus has Cerebral Palsy, I do not have this disability so I cannot speak on the complete accuracy of it but I can talk as someone who is chronically ill and the feelings that he expresses and the role he takes because of how society acts towards him often. I thought it was done authentically, sometimes brutally but completely sensitively. I also loved that this was not the focus on Gus’s story, it was a part of him – it was never ignored but it also didn’t get turned into something for an able person to become a hero from. Thank god. Wild and Crooked also has very strong sexuality representation, while this book has ZERO romance, Gus is pansexual and Kayln is a lesbian. It is talked about and discussed but again, it’s not made a huge deal of – it’s just who they are and they love and accept each other for it instantly. It made my heart so very happy to see this beautiful, flawed, PLATONIC friendhsip between Gus and Kayln.
We also get a third character into the mix more and more as the story goes on and that is Phillip, and he’s an oddball. He’s incredible socially awkward and talks as though everything is a movie or a role-playing game – it’s the only way he can relate. No, he does not have Autism – it is noted in the book that he didn’t quite make the cut but he did have a head injury as a child and that seems to have affected him. I don’t want to say too much about him, he’s a very interesting character – love him or hate him, again he feels pretty real.
This contemporary story won’t be for everyone. I think we’ll see a lot of people DNFing it actually. This is completely character driven. Yes, there is a murder mystery plot going on and at times it does get a bit tense and you will probably never guess it all until it all gets revealed near the end but it’s not the heart of the book. The heart of the book is these characters and their lives and their growth and relationships. It also clocks in at over 400 pages, so if you aren’t into character driven books – this isn’t going to be for you. I thought it was incredible, I feel completely in love with these characters and the disability representation in particular just meant so much to me. If you think this one sounds like something you might enjoy then be sure to check it out!
Thank you to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an e-arc of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
May 28, 2019
THIS BOOK!!! I have so many thoughts & a full review is coming soon!
Merged review:
This book just got me. Representation, diversity, a healthy platonic relationship between a male and female, true crime, and dark humor. What else could you want!? This book may not be for everyone because there is a strong mystery/true crime theme in the book. However, Leah Thomas' writing is flawless and I just could not put this book down. Unpredictable, hilarious, emotional, and overall just a stunning read! 5 Stars across the board for me!
Merged review:
This book just got me. Representation, diversity, a healthy platonic relationship between a male and female, true crime, and dark humor. What else could you want!? This book may not be for everyone because there is a strong mystery/true crime theme in the book. However, Leah Thomas' writing is flawless and I just could not put this book down. Unpredictable, hilarious, emotional, and overall just a stunning read! 5 Stars across the board for me!
June 2, 2019
I loved this so much & Leah Thomas really did not disappoint with this!!!! Murder mystery and rural towns and not only queer teens, but (so many) QUEER ADULTS TOO. Discussions on poverty & small towns which I loved.
Also, I've seen reviewers say stuff about pan rep and after reading, I don't believe the MCs are pan.
Kalyn is lesbian (says it explicitly) and Gus is gay/questioning, and Gus also has cerebral palsy & aphasia. He struggles with one of his arms (the right, I believe) & his foot, so he has a limp, always uses a foot brace, and occasionally uses a cane on bad days.
Also, I've seen reviewers say stuff about pan rep and after reading, I don't believe the MCs are pan.
Kalyn is lesbian (says it explicitly) and Gus is gay/questioning, and Gus also has cerebral palsy & aphasia. He struggles with one of his arms (the right, I believe) & his foot, so he has a limp, always uses a foot brace, and occasionally uses a cane on bad days.
June 9, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight .
This book is an absolute can't-miss. That is it, you need to read it. It is so wonderfully quirky and completely full of heart. There is diversity bursting at the damn seams, and it features one of the best platonic friendships I have ever had the pleasure to read about. There's discussion about a crapton of social issues that are really important for kids to read about. Gus and Kalyn's families both play such a huge part in the book too, and their stories are equally important. I am keeping this short and sweet because there isn't much more to say- it's so much about the evolving relationship and debunking stereotypes. You just need to experience the thing, okay? Great.
Bottom Line: You need Gus and Kalyn in your life so... go forth and obtain them!
This book is an absolute can't-miss. That is it, you need to read it. It is so wonderfully quirky and completely full of heart. There is diversity bursting at the damn seams, and it features one of the best platonic friendships I have ever had the pleasure to read about. There's discussion about a crapton of social issues that are really important for kids to read about. Gus and Kalyn's families both play such a huge part in the book too, and their stories are equally important. I am keeping this short and sweet because there isn't much more to say- it's so much about the evolving relationship and debunking stereotypes. You just need to experience the thing, okay? Great.
Bottom Line: You need Gus and Kalyn in your life so... go forth and obtain them!
November 17, 2019
There's more than one way to be a fragile person.The strong family and frienship elements in this story were my absolute favorite parts. Kalyn and Gus immediately form this connection as Kalyn begins school in a new town, but both are keeping complicated secrets about their pasts and their unknown connection. While I loved the relationships that developed throughout the story, I didn't really like the characters. Kalyn, especially bugged me with her 'Rose' persona, and I thought Phil's perspective could have nbeen left out completely. But overall, I thought the story was enjoyable, especially once we got to Kalyn and Gus investigating more into their past.
July 12, 2019
"Just because people only see thorns in us, just because for so long I couldn't see anything else, doesn't mean we've got no petals"
tw: murder, lynching, mention of abortion, homophobic comments
Even though this book took me a while to get through, thanks to my reading slump, I still enjoyed this a whole lot. This is a story of finding friendship in the most unlikely of people, exploring your identity, and a whodunit all wrapped in one! One of the nicest things about this book was for once there was no romance. You read that right, folks. No romance here, just friendship. And I am here for it. Plus, there is a great range of representation in this book that makes this book all the more lovable.
Kaylyn Spence might be your average high school girl...if her last name wasn't Spence, that is. Daughter of a murderer and hated in the town of Samsboro, Kaylyn, finds herself back at home using a false name at school to get by without being tormented by the students and citizens of her tiny hometown. Surprisingly enough, her made up persona fairs well with the students and soon she finds her way climbing the social ladder. However, Kaylyn finds this to be exhausting and makes a friend she can be her true self with, or so she thinks. Little does she know her new friend's father is the exact man Kaylyn 's dad murdered.
"My dad is the reason his dad doesn't exist anymore, and his dad is the reason mine never came home."
Gus Peake feels as though he's never really fit in. Whether it be his cerebral palsy, speech impediment, or the fact that town automatically pities him since the death of his father, he can't catch a break. Until the day he meets Kaylyn, who treats him as if he isn't a fragile piece of glass like everyone else and has no idea who his father is. For that reason alone Gus and Kaylyn instantly hit it off as friends until both of the pasts come back to haunt them.
One of the things that I loved about this story was that even though Kaylyn and Gus have every right to hate each other after their families pasts are revealed they still chose not too. And instead chose to begin their own investigation of sorts as new evidence proves that Kaylyn's father may not be the murderer. Kaylyn, Gus, and Gus' long time best friend Phil start to hunt for answers that may have been covered up and never meant to be found out. I have to say it does get a ugly along the way, with scenes of the citizens of Samsboro lynching what appears to be made up body topped with Kaylyn's father's mugshot as it's head. Drinks, fists, and slurs are all thrown towards Kaylyn, Gus, and Phil, which are all for the most part challenged, but it definitely still got ugly at times
"People need hard proof. Even when they git it, they say it isn't hard enough."
As far as the representation in this book, I have to say I was very pleased with it. Gus suffers from cerebral palsy, and even though I can't personally speak on behalf of the representation, I still think that is was handled very well. That's specifically coming from my medical experience working with patients with CP. People have also mentioned that Gus is pansexual, and while I didn't read any on page confirmation of this, Gus does question his sexual identity throughout the story. Gus also has two mom's which was hella heart-warming to read throughout this. Kaylyn, is a lesbian which is confirmed throughout the book multiple times. All of this just worked so well for the character's, their arc's, and the plot itself.
"We're sorted into categories, but we can be nothing alike. I don't even mean how some of us are hemiplegic and others are paraplegic, or how some of us are spastic and others aren't, or some of us having learning disabilities and other's don't. I mean on a personal level, we're all different people."
The only issue I had with the book was the pacing. The beginning and the end were interesting enough but the middle seemed to lag before we got to the revelations of Gus' father's murder. I found myself having to push through the middle more often than not hoping the end would be worth it. And while I did like the way the story ended, I can't say I was 100% sold on these giant revelations. At least I didn't guess the ending for once though!
All in all, this was definitely a refreshing story to change things up. Especially if you're looking for a book that is purely built on friendship and no romance. There are so many important life topics touched upon in this book that make a perfect contemporary read for the summer!
Blog | Twitter | Instagram
October 9, 2019
I was so excited to read Wild and Crooked because I’ve been hearing such amazing things about it, and the premise sounded like something I would totally enjoy. Unfortunately, this was one of those cases where the book just wasn’t for me, because I can see why people have liked it, but I found the reading experience a bit underwhelming.
One of the main issues that I had with the story was that I didn’t particularly like the writing style. There was something about it that made me disconnect from the story and not want to keep reading it like I was expecting to. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the slang used, and I think that because of that along with other things, I couldn’t care less about the characters nor the story.
Since the book is told in two POVs, we got to see a bit about each character’s lives and inner monologues, and basically got to know them a bit better. However, something that I noticed was that there wasn’t any difference between the two characters’ inner monologues, and there were times where I didn’t know the perspective I was reading from.
When it comes to the characters, I have to say I had a love/hate relationship with them. I didn’t like our female protagonist. At all. I found her so annoying and couldn’t really understand her arc throughout the story. The male protagonist was much more real and easy to like.
On the other hand, something that I totally adored seeing was the friendship. I think it was pretty well done and in a quite realistic way, and I enjoyed the dynamics between these two characters.
I really appreciated the author adding some diversity in the cast, and a huge plus of the story was that there was no romantic relationship between the two main characters, which was amazing and so refreshing in a YA book. Now, I don’t know if the representation was good or not (I can’t really speak on that), but there were certain moments where some things were happening that didn’t sit really well with me.
When it comes to the plot, I found it a bit underwhelming. I didn’t like the way it was done. I find that mysteries (of some sort) that tend to start in the middle of a book less engaging, so since Wild and Crooked happened to have one of those, I was pretty bored and disconnected with the plot the entire time.
Overall, I was pretty let down with Wild and Crooked. I had such high expectations, but unfortunately they weren’t reach since I had so many issues with the writing and some of the characters.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t change my opinion whatsoever. All thoughts are my own.
Thank you Macmillan and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | BlogLovin’
One of the main issues that I had with the story was that I didn’t particularly like the writing style. There was something about it that made me disconnect from the story and not want to keep reading it like I was expecting to. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the slang used, and I think that because of that along with other things, I couldn’t care less about the characters nor the story.
Since the book is told in two POVs, we got to see a bit about each character’s lives and inner monologues, and basically got to know them a bit better. However, something that I noticed was that there wasn’t any difference between the two characters’ inner monologues, and there were times where I didn’t know the perspective I was reading from.
When it comes to the characters, I have to say I had a love/hate relationship with them. I didn’t like our female protagonist. At all. I found her so annoying and couldn’t really understand her arc throughout the story. The male protagonist was much more real and easy to like.
On the other hand, something that I totally adored seeing was the friendship. I think it was pretty well done and in a quite realistic way, and I enjoyed the dynamics between these two characters.
I really appreciated the author adding some diversity in the cast, and a huge plus of the story was that there was no romantic relationship between the two main characters, which was amazing and so refreshing in a YA book. Now, I don’t know if the representation was good or not (I can’t really speak on that), but there were certain moments where some things were happening that didn’t sit really well with me.
When it comes to the plot, I found it a bit underwhelming. I didn’t like the way it was done. I find that mysteries (of some sort) that tend to start in the middle of a book less engaging, so since Wild and Crooked happened to have one of those, I was pretty bored and disconnected with the plot the entire time.
Overall, I was pretty let down with Wild and Crooked. I had such high expectations, but unfortunately they weren’t reach since I had so many issues with the writing and some of the characters.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t change my opinion whatsoever. All thoughts are my own.
Thank you Macmillan and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | BlogLovin’
July 9, 2023
this was my most anticipated book for my pan readathon, and it has a bunch of things i love; queer rep, disability rep, platonic relationship between the mcs, and some murder mystery vibes, so i’m pretty bummed that i don’t love this.
content/trigger warnings; mentions of death of father, incarcerated father, sick grandmother, ableism, f slur, mentions of past child abuse, mentions of racism, transphobia, bullying/abuse, kissing, blood, r slur, classism, drug use, violence, mention of swastikas and hitler, slut shaming, d slur, queerphobia, mentions of past conversion therapy, murder, descriptions of dead bodies, mock lynching,
rep; kalyn (mc) is a lesbian. gus (mc) has cerebral palsy and aphasia, and is pansexual. gus has two moms, one who is fat. phil (sc with a couple pov chapters) has antisocial personality disorder.
there are some things i enjoyed. like i said, i love that the main relationship is platonic and how even though it’s a quick friendship, it’s deep and important and they love each other so much. i love that the main characters are queer and that one is disabled. i like the unfolding mystery of what happened between the fathers of the main characters. i appreciate how the main character addresses all the ableist bullshit abled people do and say. it’s a relief that one of the characters being obsessed with and manic pixie dream girl-ing the main character is called out.
but as far as likes go, that’s about it. the list of things i don’t like is a bit bigger.
ableism stuff; the use of “handicapped” and “people with disabilities” and “special needs” instead of just saying disabled. the r slur is used, which is so unnecessary. gus’ mom infantilizes and talks over him, and while kalyn calls it out and gus is aware of it and eventually confronts his mom about it, we don’t see her accept it’s wrong, apologize, and do better.
phil, gus’ best friend, uses gus’ disability against him during an argument. when he’s mad and doesn’t want to hear what gus is saying, he walks away from gus at a pace gus can’t keep up with due to his disability. it’s specifically mentioned that phil knows how fast gus is capable of walking and purposely goes way beyond that speed. using someone’s disability to cut off communication with them when you’re mad at them is ableist. and abusive.
the portrayal of antisocial personality disorder plays right into the hateful, harmful stigmatization of “aspd = evil.” there’s a lot of ableism directed at phil and he spends the entire book genuinely believing his aspd means he’s soulless and less than human. he’s portrayed as being violent because of his aspd. the word "sociopath" is used multiple times in reference to him, which is a literal slur against people with aspd to vilify and dehumanize them. aspd isn’t even mentioned by name until the end — the entire book there’s this mystery about phil, until the end when he reveals to gus that he has aspd as a way to prove to him that he’s a lost cause who isn’t worth friendship, love, or anything. honestly, it seems like the author based this representation on the belief that lacking empathy makes someone inherently a bad/evil person.
queer stuff; the use of the f and d slurs — those words are not inherent to queer rep! you don’t need to use them! being a man is equated to having a penis and being a lesbian is equated to not liking penis. “outed” is used to describe the main character’s life and past being revealed on the news, and while that’s invasive and gross, i don’t like “outed” used to refer to things not queer related. gus only starts questioning his sexuality because kalyn tells him he’s in love with his best friend, which i found to be quite forceful and invasive and something she really has no place to insist on.
kalyn says “look, i’m pretty queer, but hell if blushing boys aren’t the cutest things since frolicking kittens.” and i just don’t feel her statement of thinking boys are cute when they blush warrants a disclaimer about her sexuality, because she doesn’t have to be attracted to boys to find them objectively cute in certain situations. but if she really needed a disclaimer, maybe use the term she identifies with that makes it clear she isn’t attracted to boys (gay) instead of the term that doesn’t because it’s purposely vague and doesn’t literally mean same gender attraction (queer).
i wish there had been more of an emphasis on queerness. some people say there are good conversations about queerness, but other than kalyn mentioning being gay and gus mentioning questioning his sexuality like twice, there is no conversation about these two being queer. their queerness isn’t a focal point of the story, in fact, you could take it out and literally nothing would change. queerness doesn’t have to be the story or a whole storyline, but i don’t know, i kind of prefer when it’s actually relevant in some capacity, especially when more than one character is queer, because let’s face it, queer people talk about queer with each other. it’s a whole thing.
other stuff; some fatphobic language in how some characters’ weight is described, as well as the angle kalyn tilts her head at being described as giving her “unflattering chins.” kalyn is supposed to be this badass girl, but there are times when she’s really just rude, judgmental, and borderline abusive — like that time when she was five and her friend ditched her for continuing to be racist to her, so she cut the girl’s ponytail off. what the actual fuck. as much as i like the mystery-ish aspect, i wish it hadn’t taken over the entire book.
this one could also go in the queer category. kalyn talks about how her and gus aren’t romantic, but that they still love each other, because you can love someone without wanting to fuck them. and it’s interesting that she then wonders why people can’t see nuances like that, because she completely missed the nuance of romance and sex not being the same thing or inherent to one another.
content/trigger warnings; mentions of death of father, incarcerated father, sick grandmother, ableism, f slur, mentions of past child abuse, mentions of racism, transphobia, bullying/abuse, kissing, blood, r slur, classism, drug use, violence, mention of swastikas and hitler, slut shaming, d slur, queerphobia, mentions of past conversion therapy, murder, descriptions of dead bodies, mock lynching,
rep; kalyn (mc) is a lesbian. gus (mc) has cerebral palsy and aphasia, and is pansexual. gus has two moms, one who is fat. phil (sc with a couple pov chapters) has antisocial personality disorder.
there are some things i enjoyed. like i said, i love that the main relationship is platonic and how even though it’s a quick friendship, it’s deep and important and they love each other so much. i love that the main characters are queer and that one is disabled. i like the unfolding mystery of what happened between the fathers of the main characters. i appreciate how the main character addresses all the ableist bullshit abled people do and say. it’s a relief that one of the characters being obsessed with and manic pixie dream girl-ing the main character is called out.
but as far as likes go, that’s about it. the list of things i don’t like is a bit bigger.
ableism stuff; the use of “handicapped” and “people with disabilities” and “special needs” instead of just saying disabled. the r slur is used, which is so unnecessary. gus’ mom infantilizes and talks over him, and while kalyn calls it out and gus is aware of it and eventually confronts his mom about it, we don’t see her accept it’s wrong, apologize, and do better.
phil, gus’ best friend, uses gus’ disability against him during an argument. when he’s mad and doesn’t want to hear what gus is saying, he walks away from gus at a pace gus can’t keep up with due to his disability. it’s specifically mentioned that phil knows how fast gus is capable of walking and purposely goes way beyond that speed. using someone’s disability to cut off communication with them when you’re mad at them is ableist. and abusive.
the portrayal of antisocial personality disorder plays right into the hateful, harmful stigmatization of “aspd = evil.” there’s a lot of ableism directed at phil and he spends the entire book genuinely believing his aspd means he’s soulless and less than human. he’s portrayed as being violent because of his aspd. the word "sociopath" is used multiple times in reference to him, which is a literal slur against people with aspd to vilify and dehumanize them. aspd isn’t even mentioned by name until the end — the entire book there’s this mystery about phil, until the end when he reveals to gus that he has aspd as a way to prove to him that he’s a lost cause who isn’t worth friendship, love, or anything. honestly, it seems like the author based this representation on the belief that lacking empathy makes someone inherently a bad/evil person.
queer stuff; the use of the f and d slurs — those words are not inherent to queer rep! you don’t need to use them! being a man is equated to having a penis and being a lesbian is equated to not liking penis. “outed” is used to describe the main character’s life and past being revealed on the news, and while that’s invasive and gross, i don’t like “outed” used to refer to things not queer related. gus only starts questioning his sexuality because kalyn tells him he’s in love with his best friend, which i found to be quite forceful and invasive and something she really has no place to insist on.
kalyn says “look, i’m pretty queer, but hell if blushing boys aren’t the cutest things since frolicking kittens.” and i just don’t feel her statement of thinking boys are cute when they blush warrants a disclaimer about her sexuality, because she doesn’t have to be attracted to boys to find them objectively cute in certain situations. but if she really needed a disclaimer, maybe use the term she identifies with that makes it clear she isn’t attracted to boys (gay) instead of the term that doesn’t because it’s purposely vague and doesn’t literally mean same gender attraction (queer).
i wish there had been more of an emphasis on queerness. some people say there are good conversations about queerness, but other than kalyn mentioning being gay and gus mentioning questioning his sexuality like twice, there is no conversation about these two being queer. their queerness isn’t a focal point of the story, in fact, you could take it out and literally nothing would change. queerness doesn’t have to be the story or a whole storyline, but i don’t know, i kind of prefer when it’s actually relevant in some capacity, especially when more than one character is queer, because let’s face it, queer people talk about queer with each other. it’s a whole thing.
other stuff; some fatphobic language in how some characters’ weight is described, as well as the angle kalyn tilts her head at being described as giving her “unflattering chins.” kalyn is supposed to be this badass girl, but there are times when she’s really just rude, judgmental, and borderline abusive — like that time when she was five and her friend ditched her for continuing to be racist to her, so she cut the girl’s ponytail off. what the actual fuck. as much as i like the mystery-ish aspect, i wish it hadn’t taken over the entire book.
this one could also go in the queer category. kalyn talks about how her and gus aren’t romantic, but that they still love each other, because you can love someone without wanting to fuck them. and it’s interesting that she then wonders why people can’t see nuances like that, because she completely missed the nuance of romance and sex not being the same thing or inherent to one another.
April 24, 2019
This was so different from what I expected it to be but in the best way possible. I don’t even want to mumble on about what the book is about, because you can clearly read that from the synopsis. Instead, I’m going to tell you what you don’t know just from reading the synopsis.
This book has some great representation. Both of our main characters are queer (Gus is pansexual and Kalyn is a lesbian) but that’s (thankfully) never the focus of the story. They just are and it’s not some big plot twist to shake up the reader. Kalyn is open about liking girls very early on and Gus is a little confused but coming to terms with it nonetheless. There are also some other queer characters but I’m not going to ruin it all for you. In addition to this, Gus has cerebral palsy. This is definitely a part of his story line, but it doesn’t make up who he is. At least, he’s learning that. The representation just felt very realistic.
The characters are all flawed but not because of the way they were written. They are imperfect because that is just the reality of human beings. While I felt like Kalyn’s role was a bit cliche, I still liked everyone. Since this story is told through different POVs, each person really added to the story and no one really felt underdeveloped to me. Each person existed as a part of the whole story, instead of as a supporting character that simply weaves in and out conveniently.
The book is very easy to follow along with, but in the beginning, I have to say that I was a little underwhelmed. Not much happens for the first quarter of the book, but once it finally got into the good stuff, I really enjoyed the read. I was not expecting there to be any type of mystery in this, because the synopsis clearly states that one kid’s father was murdered and that the other kid’s father was the one doing the murdering. Seems pretty clear cut… right? I figured that this was going to be a story about the two of them overcoming what happened between their parents, if at all possible. You get some of that for sure, but there’s a lot more to this story, too.
The pacing was done really well besides the beginning dragging for me a bit. I really enjoyed Leah Thomas’ writing style. I can seriously appreciate her ability to switch between three very different voices and still make it all flow together well. I also love that the relationship between Kalyn and Gus was completely platonic but still so important throughout the novel.
It’s hard to review a book when you enjoyed it, but overall, I thought it was great. It is not at all what you would expect it to be, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Leah Thomas wrote a story that is completely unpredictable and I think that that is something to be treasured. If you enjoy well written contemporaries with good representation and interesting plot twists, I��d definitely recommend this to you. It’s an easy, enjoyable read. Also…. that cover!!!
This book has some great representation. Both of our main characters are queer (Gus is pansexual and Kalyn is a lesbian) but that’s (thankfully) never the focus of the story. They just are and it’s not some big plot twist to shake up the reader. Kalyn is open about liking girls very early on and Gus is a little confused but coming to terms with it nonetheless. There are also some other queer characters but I’m not going to ruin it all for you. In addition to this, Gus has cerebral palsy. This is definitely a part of his story line, but it doesn’t make up who he is. At least, he’s learning that. The representation just felt very realistic.
The characters are all flawed but not because of the way they were written. They are imperfect because that is just the reality of human beings. While I felt like Kalyn’s role was a bit cliche, I still liked everyone. Since this story is told through different POVs, each person really added to the story and no one really felt underdeveloped to me. Each person existed as a part of the whole story, instead of as a supporting character that simply weaves in and out conveniently.
The book is very easy to follow along with, but in the beginning, I have to say that I was a little underwhelmed. Not much happens for the first quarter of the book, but once it finally got into the good stuff, I really enjoyed the read. I was not expecting there to be any type of mystery in this, because the synopsis clearly states that one kid’s father was murdered and that the other kid’s father was the one doing the murdering. Seems pretty clear cut… right? I figured that this was going to be a story about the two of them overcoming what happened between their parents, if at all possible. You get some of that for sure, but there’s a lot more to this story, too.
The pacing was done really well besides the beginning dragging for me a bit. I really enjoyed Leah Thomas’ writing style. I can seriously appreciate her ability to switch between three very different voices and still make it all flow together well. I also love that the relationship between Kalyn and Gus was completely platonic but still so important throughout the novel.
It’s hard to review a book when you enjoyed it, but overall, I thought it was great. It is not at all what you would expect it to be, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Leah Thomas wrote a story that is completely unpredictable and I think that that is something to be treasured. If you enjoy well written contemporaries with good representation and interesting plot twists, I��d definitely recommend this to you. It’s an easy, enjoyable read. Also…. that cover!!!
August 31, 2019
4 stars
TW: references to murder, poverty, lynching, mention of abortion, homophobic comments
Rep: lesbian MC, questioning gay male MC with cerebral palsy & aphasia
The Writing
I don't really remember much about the writing to be honest with you. I thought Kalyn's voice came through really clearly in the writing, but Gus was kind of... really forgettable at times and I'm not sure if that was the point or not??? I found Phil's PoV to be really interуsting and I loved the themes that each of the three narrators touched on and the way they put their own twist on it and I know that it was all written by the same author but like,,, listen, their thoughts all felt really distinct and I loved it.
The Plot/Pacing
If someone were to give you an elevator pitch of this book, they would probably say that the plot involved solving a murder that had happened twenty years ago and while that is a part of this book and it's a part I really enjoy, I question whether you can say it's really the main plot of this book. Because at its heart, this story isn't about a murder mystery at all. It's about two people meeting and becoming friends despite all of the circumstances that should seemingly push them apart. And if you know me at all, you know that that's literally one of my favorite tropes ever and shows up in my favorite book ever (*cough* Radio Silence *cough*). That said, I really loved the way that trope was executed in this book. Also?? The fact that it's between these two queer people and there's absolutely no hint at a romance whatsoever just makes my lil' queer heart so happy.
The Characters
Listen, I know I say this a lot about books I read, but I would literally die for both Gus and Kalyn and none of y'all could stop me. Their friendship is so pure and precious and the way they care about each other and constantly show up for each other makes me really emotional and if I cry while writing this review, it is a hundred percent Leah Thomas' fault. Their personalities literally should not work together in any way shape or form, but they do and it's wonderful. Also, I really appreciated the way that both Kalyn's and Gus' queerness was handled in this book and the way it was treated as completely normal and wasn't really a central part of the story. And I definitely can't speak on the disability rep in this, but I would like to point out that Gus is a disabled questioning gay boy, if anyone is looking for that rep!
Overall
I fell in love with this book and I'm just really glad it exists. There's just,,, so much hiding behind a veneer of a simple murder mystery and not only does it do the mystery really well, it also gives the reader so much more than just a mystery. It's filled with complex relationships and blurred lines and it's just really really good and I don't even know how to put it into words but oh my god do yourself a favor and read this book.
TW: references to murder, poverty, lynching, mention of abortion, homophobic comments
Rep: lesbian MC, questioning gay male MC with cerebral palsy & aphasia
The Writing
I don't really remember much about the writing to be honest with you. I thought Kalyn's voice came through really clearly in the writing, but Gus was kind of... really forgettable at times and I'm not sure if that was the point or not??? I found Phil's PoV to be really interуsting and I loved the themes that each of the three narrators touched on and the way they put their own twist on it and I know that it was all written by the same author but like,,, listen, their thoughts all felt really distinct and I loved it.
The Plot/Pacing
If someone were to give you an elevator pitch of this book, they would probably say that the plot involved solving a murder that had happened twenty years ago and while that is a part of this book and it's a part I really enjoy, I question whether you can say it's really the main plot of this book. Because at its heart, this story isn't about a murder mystery at all. It's about two people meeting and becoming friends despite all of the circumstances that should seemingly push them apart. And if you know me at all, you know that that's literally one of my favorite tropes ever and shows up in my favorite book ever (*cough* Radio Silence *cough*). That said, I really loved the way that trope was executed in this book. Also?? The fact that it's between these two queer people and there's absolutely no hint at a romance whatsoever just makes my lil' queer heart so happy.
The Characters
Listen, I know I say this a lot about books I read, but I would literally die for both Gus and Kalyn and none of y'all could stop me. Their friendship is so pure and precious and the way they care about each other and constantly show up for each other makes me really emotional and if I cry while writing this review, it is a hundred percent Leah Thomas' fault. Their personalities literally should not work together in any way shape or form, but they do and it's wonderful. Also, I really appreciated the way that both Kalyn's and Gus' queerness was handled in this book and the way it was treated as completely normal and wasn't really a central part of the story. And I definitely can't speak on the disability rep in this, but I would like to point out that Gus is a disabled questioning gay boy, if anyone is looking for that rep!
Overall
I fell in love with this book and I'm just really glad it exists. There's just,,, so much hiding behind a veneer of a simple murder mystery and not only does it do the mystery really well, it also gives the reader so much more than just a mystery. It's filled with complex relationships and blurred lines and it's just really really good and I don't even know how to put it into words but oh my god do yourself a favor and read this book.
April 13, 2019
This book is probably going to be great for certain readers, but the writing and humor style in this book did not mesh with me in the slightest.
I also was not expecting such an integral mystery plotline in this book. This isn't necessarily bad, but I was hoping for more exploration of the justice system in relation to the central case and more discussion of how criminality/murder affects those in close proximity. Instead, the story focuses more on solving the case, and the reader doesn't really get answers until the end, which doesn't allow for much in-depth exploration of the implications of these answers the characters found.
Though there was a lot about this book that didn't sit right with me, it does have central queer characters and a focus on friendship, so I know it could be a really important book for some readers. Unfortunately, it's a low two stars from me.
I also was not expecting such an integral mystery plotline in this book. This isn't necessarily bad, but I was hoping for more exploration of the justice system in relation to the central case and more discussion of how criminality/murder affects those in close proximity. Instead, the story focuses more on solving the case, and the reader doesn't really get answers until the end, which doesn't allow for much in-depth exploration of the implications of these answers the characters found.
Though there was a lot about this book that didn't sit right with me, it does have central queer characters and a focus on friendship, so I know it could be a really important book for some readers. Unfortunately, it's a low two stars from me.
October 6, 2023
Rep: lesbian mc, pan mc with cerebral palsy, mc with antisocial personality disorder
May 17, 2019
4.5 stars
This story was everything I hoped it would be. I cannot wait to write my review but I need a couple of days to process my thoughts.
***HUGE Thanks to Bloomsbury for sending an ARC in exchange for my honest review.***
------------
Full review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
This book caught me off guard in the best way possible. The premise alone had my full attention, but the delivery of the story is what really captivated me. I struggled with Leah’s last story but this was the complete opposite – I could not get enough.
This was the story of two young kids, Kayln and Gus, who were connected via their past, their parents, and their future. They did not know each other before school started but they could not deny that they were destined to know each other after striking up an innocent conversation. Gus was born with cerebral palsy and did the best he could given that he lost his father before he was born, of which his mother never fully recovered emotionally. Kayln lost her father when she was young but lost him to prison when he was convicted of murdering someone. That someone turned out to be Gus’ dad.
You can see how this was an intense story, right? These two teens should hate each other but instead they chose to get to know the other without their shared history dictating their thoughts, emotions, feelings, and actions. The first half of the book felt like it could have been a coming-of-age romance story. Kayln finds a girl she likes while Gus finally comes clean to his best friend, Phil, about his feelings. However, that did not happen. That’s not to say the first part of the story was all hearts, romance, and puppies. It was packed full of tense moments that made me gasp. Secrets started to come out and truths were revealed. That pushed me into the second half of the book where the real nitty-gritty started. It was a wild roller coaster ride! This was where the truth of what really happened finally came to light.
The characters were hands down amazing. Gus was a wonderful, heart-tugging character. I wanted nothing more than to give him a hug. Kayln felt incredibly believable with the massive stigma she had to carry around. She was always being tried for her father’s transgressions while Gus was always coddled. These two just wanted to be treated like any other teen but it was just not in the cards for them. Small towns are toxic that way. Thomas was masterful with her character development and arcs. They were complicated and real. It was such a great thing to read.
I’m trying really hard not to give too much away! I wish I could really dive into this story but I only want to wet your whistle… are you intrigued yet? If this is not on your radar – IT SHOULD BE! This is one book you won’t be able to put down! If you’re like me and a junkie for Making a Murderer, then you simply have to get this book in your hands.
This story was everything I hoped it would be. I cannot wait to write my review but I need a couple of days to process my thoughts.
***HUGE Thanks to Bloomsbury for sending an ARC in exchange for my honest review.***
------------
Full review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
This book caught me off guard in the best way possible. The premise alone had my full attention, but the delivery of the story is what really captivated me. I struggled with Leah’s last story but this was the complete opposite – I could not get enough.
This was the story of two young kids, Kayln and Gus, who were connected via their past, their parents, and their future. They did not know each other before school started but they could not deny that they were destined to know each other after striking up an innocent conversation. Gus was born with cerebral palsy and did the best he could given that he lost his father before he was born, of which his mother never fully recovered emotionally. Kayln lost her father when she was young but lost him to prison when he was convicted of murdering someone. That someone turned out to be Gus’ dad.
You can see how this was an intense story, right? These two teens should hate each other but instead they chose to get to know the other without their shared history dictating their thoughts, emotions, feelings, and actions. The first half of the book felt like it could have been a coming-of-age romance story. Kayln finds a girl she likes while Gus finally comes clean to his best friend, Phil, about his feelings. However, that did not happen. That’s not to say the first part of the story was all hearts, romance, and puppies. It was packed full of tense moments that made me gasp. Secrets started to come out and truths were revealed. That pushed me into the second half of the book where the real nitty-gritty started. It was a wild roller coaster ride! This was where the truth of what really happened finally came to light.
The characters were hands down amazing. Gus was a wonderful, heart-tugging character. I wanted nothing more than to give him a hug. Kayln felt incredibly believable with the massive stigma she had to carry around. She was always being tried for her father’s transgressions while Gus was always coddled. These two just wanted to be treated like any other teen but it was just not in the cards for them. Small towns are toxic that way. Thomas was masterful with her character development and arcs. They were complicated and real. It was such a great thing to read.
I’m trying really hard not to give too much away! I wish I could really dive into this story but I only want to wet your whistle… are you intrigued yet? If this is not on your radar – IT SHOULD BE! This is one book you won’t be able to put down! If you’re like me and a junkie for Making a Murderer, then you simply have to get this book in your hands.
December 25, 2020
4 stars.
Ohhhh my goodness, Wild and Crooked is such a beautiful and hard-hitting book. It really tugged at all my heartstrings and I'm just :') so EMOTIONAL :') This was a book I practically flew through, because once I started, I simply could not put it down.
Wild and Crooked is mainly told through two POVs, Kalyn and Gus, and I enjoyed reading through both of their perspectives, especially since on the surface, they were on opposite sides of a very tragic situation - a murder that happened in their small town of Samsboro almost two decades ago. Kalyn and Gus couldn't be more different, shaped by the drastically different environments they grew up in - Kalyn has to hide who her father was and as a result, has to pretend to be someone she's not, and Gus has cerebral palsy and aphasia, which everyone always treats him differently and talks down to him for. Kalyn is loud, blunt, and always says whatever is on her mind, while Gus is on the quieter side and has the world's biggest heart.
But somehow, despite their differences, they formed an unlikely, beautiful friendship and complemented each other so well. They both grew up in the aftermath of what happened with their dads, with society placing predetermined judgments on who their dads were and as a result, who they are supposed to be. Kalyn and Gus dealt with so. much. (it truly broke my heart) and they are both such strong characters and AHHH I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH. (Also, both are queer <3) I felt so emotional and empowered reading this book, as I witnessed both of them redefine themselves and break out of the boxes their families and Samsboro put them in. In the last half of the book, Phil (Kalyn and Gus' friend) also gets a few chapters in his own POV, and I found it very fascinating to read in his perspective and understand his own struggles
At the heart of this book is a tragic murder mystery, and it was really interesting to see the truth unravel as Kalyn and Gus (and Phil) took it upon themselves to figure out what really happened between their parents and families decades ago. This book really shows how a simple misunderstanding between friends, family loyalty, and ignorance/hatred (ugh f*ck homophobia !!!!!) can cause so much pain that will carry through a whole generation. Wow. That hit me so hard :') I will say, though - I felt a little disappointed / underwhelmed when the truth was finally revealed in the end, causing me to dock the rating by 1 star.
I really, really enjoyed reading this book, and my review seriously does not do it justice. I can't even begin to address the beautiful character development + friendships (Kalyn & Gus' friendship >>>>> their platonic relationship gave me so much serotonin) and the complex intricacies of the storyline + mystery that all came together in the end. I definitely highly recommend Wild and Crooked, especially if you're looking for a diverse, hard-hitting contemporary mystery with fascinating characters and a message to never accept what society thinks you are!!
OH THERE WAS ALSO NO ROMANCE AND I LOVED THAT - just a super supportive, amazing platonic relationship between two queer characters <33 it made my heart feel so full <333
(also completely unrelated to the book itself but this was my 44th read of the year - which means i only need to read ONE MORE BOOK until i reach my 2020 reading goal !!!!!! sO EXCITED)
Ohhhh my goodness, Wild and Crooked is such a beautiful and hard-hitting book. It really tugged at all my heartstrings and I'm just :') so EMOTIONAL :') This was a book I practically flew through, because once I started, I simply could not put it down.
Wild and Crooked is mainly told through two POVs, Kalyn and Gus, and I enjoyed reading through both of their perspectives, especially since on the surface, they were on opposite sides of a very tragic situation - a murder that happened in their small town of Samsboro almost two decades ago. Kalyn and Gus couldn't be more different, shaped by the drastically different environments they grew up in - Kalyn has to hide who her father was and as a result, has to pretend to be someone she's not, and Gus has cerebral palsy and aphasia, which everyone always treats him differently and talks down to him for. Kalyn is loud, blunt, and always says whatever is on her mind, while Gus is on the quieter side and has the world's biggest heart.
But somehow, despite their differences, they formed an unlikely, beautiful friendship and complemented each other so well. They both grew up in the aftermath of what happened with their dads, with society placing predetermined judgments on who their dads were and as a result, who they are supposed to be. Kalyn and Gus dealt with so. much. (it truly broke my heart) and they are both such strong characters and AHHH I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH. (Also, both are queer <3) I felt so emotional and empowered reading this book, as I witnessed both of them redefine themselves and break out of the boxes their families and Samsboro put them in. In the last half of the book, Phil (Kalyn and Gus' friend) also gets a few chapters in his own POV, and I found it very fascinating to read in his perspective and understand his own struggles
At the heart of this book is a tragic murder mystery, and it was really interesting to see the truth unravel as Kalyn and Gus (and Phil) took it upon themselves to figure out what really happened between their parents and families decades ago. This book really shows how a simple misunderstanding between friends, family loyalty, and ignorance/hatred (ugh f*ck homophobia !!!!!) can cause so much pain that will carry through a whole generation. Wow. That hit me so hard :') I will say, though - I felt a little disappointed / underwhelmed when the truth was finally revealed in the end, causing me to dock the rating by 1 star.
I really, really enjoyed reading this book, and my review seriously does not do it justice. I can't even begin to address the beautiful character development + friendships (Kalyn & Gus' friendship >>>>> their platonic relationship gave me so much serotonin) and the complex intricacies of the storyline + mystery that all came together in the end. I definitely highly recommend Wild and Crooked, especially if you're looking for a diverse, hard-hitting contemporary mystery with fascinating characters and a message to never accept what society thinks you are!!
OH THERE WAS ALSO NO ROMANCE AND I LOVED THAT - just a super supportive, amazing platonic relationship between two queer characters <33 it made my heart feel so full <333
(also completely unrelated to the book itself but this was my 44th read of the year - which means i only need to read ONE MORE BOOK until i reach my 2020 reading goal !!!!!! sO EXCITED)
April 21, 2019
Gosh, this is great. Quirky, different and full of interesting characters.
But also sad.
Review to come.
But also sad.
Review to come.
August 16, 2020
DNF at 15%. (I've never been a DNFer but I'm trying out a new strategy for my ableism hate reads.) I liked Kaylin, a lot, and the book's first chapter with her seemed really promising. She has a unique voice as a narrator with her slang, although I see how that could come across as stereotypical. (However, I do know someone who talks similarly so it just reminded me of them!) Gus... on the other hand. I am just. so. tired. of disabled characters who have low self-esteem related only to their disability. I'm not saying this never happens... and yes, teenagers can definitely be insecure. But the insecure, bullied, babied disabled teenager who ~learns to be confident~ is a cliche that we need to get away from. Not all representation is good representation; it's not enough to just have a disabled character in your book. To me, his chapters read like someone who'd done a fair bit of reading on ableism, but still just wasn't able to crack the surface of Gus's disability to actually give him a personality outside of it, to see him as just another character. (The author/Gus SAYS all the right things, his BFF was a kid who treated him normally, and yet... I really don't know much about Gus besides he's disabled, he has low self-esteem, and his family dynamics.) I also felt that Phil was really stereotypical (although quirky enough to have promise as almost like a "character actor" role) and the implications of the spoilers I've read about him don't help on the ableism front either. I really wanted to like this book and its premise, but to me it just wasn't worth continuing due to this plus the blatant ableism and homophobia from other characters (which, again, not unrealistic, but I'd like to see it addressed, and maybe it is later in the book). Can we move on to nuanced disabled characters please? Maybe one with a lot of bravado and outward confidence, but still emotionally vulnerable underneath if the author wanted to address self-confidence -- that would be a huge improvement on the ~down on themselves b/c bullied and not "normal"~ stereotype I keep seeing.
April 27, 2019
Thank you to Bloomsbury for the chance to review this title ahead of its release date.
WILD AND CROOKED, like the last book I read of Leah's WHEN LIGHT LEFT US, was stunning. I went in thinking one thing and getting another. I love books like that. It's like reaching into a Halloween bucket of candy and coming out with the peanut butter cup prize.
This story follows three POV's, but mainly the focus is on two. Gus, who has cerebral palsy, and Kayln, who is the daughter of a murderer. The two kids strike up a nonconventional friendship which leads them down a path of self-discovery and solving the mystery of a decades-long murder cover-up.
The first half of the book seemed very much almost a love story but not. I caught on pretty quickly what was happening. There were tense moments where some secrets threatened to spill, and when they did, it was a like a bomb exploded. I was biting my lip as I was reading, on edge. The second half took a bit of a detour and focused more on the past and how to right the wrongs of their families and town.
I loved the characters. Every one of them. We have some serious queer reps, as well as mental and physical illnesses that you think would impede out heroes, but it only makes them stronger in the long run. Leah Thomas has a way with her characters that puts me in awe. Her talent is flawless. She weaves stories through complicated narratives with ease. She gives us a glimpse into the lives of flawed and fierce teens who lean on each for support.
The platonic queer friendships are something rare in YA books, so this book was refreshing. The murder mystery reminded me a lot of Making a Murderer and had me hooked from the first chapter.
I can't describe how much I love Leah Thomas and all of her novels. If you haven't read WHEN LIGHT LEFT US or her earlier works, do so, and add this one to your WANT TO READ. You won't be disappointed.
WILD AND CROOKED, like the last book I read of Leah's WHEN LIGHT LEFT US, was stunning. I went in thinking one thing and getting another. I love books like that. It's like reaching into a Halloween bucket of candy and coming out with the peanut butter cup prize.
This story follows three POV's, but mainly the focus is on two. Gus, who has cerebral palsy, and Kayln, who is the daughter of a murderer. The two kids strike up a nonconventional friendship which leads them down a path of self-discovery and solving the mystery of a decades-long murder cover-up.
The first half of the book seemed very much almost a love story but not. I caught on pretty quickly what was happening. There were tense moments where some secrets threatened to spill, and when they did, it was a like a bomb exploded. I was biting my lip as I was reading, on edge. The second half took a bit of a detour and focused more on the past and how to right the wrongs of their families and town.
I loved the characters. Every one of them. We have some serious queer reps, as well as mental and physical illnesses that you think would impede out heroes, but it only makes them stronger in the long run. Leah Thomas has a way with her characters that puts me in awe. Her talent is flawless. She weaves stories through complicated narratives with ease. She gives us a glimpse into the lives of flawed and fierce teens who lean on each for support.
The platonic queer friendships are something rare in YA books, so this book was refreshing. The murder mystery reminded me a lot of Making a Murderer and had me hooked from the first chapter.
I can't describe how much I love Leah Thomas and all of her novels. If you haven't read WHEN LIGHT LEFT US or her earlier works, do so, and add this one to your WANT TO READ. You won't be disappointed.
June 1, 2019
Wild and Crooked was a really good read overall, I loved the different point of views and how flawed, complex and human each character felt to me, too. I really liked the developing friendship between Kalyn and Gus, the no-romance, the underlying mystery and the complex family relationships and history, too, and yay for diversity too! Definitely a good read! :)
Full review of Wild and Crooked available on my blog.
Thank you to Bloomsbury & NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influenced my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bloglovin'
Full review of Wild and Crooked available on my blog.
Thank you to Bloomsbury & NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influenced my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bloglovin'
July 6, 2020
3.5 STARS
Kalyn’s father languishes in prison for the murder of Gus’s dad, claiming innocence. The teens two outcasts shouldn’t be friends, but are drawn together.
I expected WILD AND CROOKED to be a murder mystery, with unlikely friends teaming up to find the true killer. Instead, Leah Thomas’s book is more of a buddy story, the killing a weak, subpar subplot.
Gus has CP and aphasia, disabilities I’ve rarely seen in young adult literature. It’s just part of who he is, not his whole identity. The other characters didn’t feel special or unique.
Thomas writes with such strong voices for her MC narrators I often tripped over the words instead of focusing on the story, which could be because I’m bit familiar with southern metaphors.
I was disappointed that the mystery was almost an afterthought and the resolution had little payoff. Had I known this, I might not have read it, which isn’t the fault of WILD AND CROOKED.
Kalyn’s father languishes in prison for the murder of Gus’s dad, claiming innocence. The teens two outcasts shouldn’t be friends, but are drawn together.
I expected WILD AND CROOKED to be a murder mystery, with unlikely friends teaming up to find the true killer. Instead, Leah Thomas’s book is more of a buddy story, the killing a weak, subpar subplot.
Gus has CP and aphasia, disabilities I’ve rarely seen in young adult literature. It’s just part of who he is, not his whole identity. The other characters didn’t feel special or unique.
Thomas writes with such strong voices for her MC narrators I often tripped over the words instead of focusing on the story, which could be because I’m bit familiar with southern metaphors.
I was disappointed that the mystery was almost an afterthought and the resolution had little payoff. Had I known this, I might not have read it, which isn’t the fault of WILD AND CROOKED.
December 12, 2018
This is not a love story. But it is a story full of love. Kalyn's father is in prison for murdering Gus’s own father decades ago in the rural town of "Shitsboro." This small town harbors deep rooted prejudices, and old disputes run strong. Equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and dead serious, this story heralds no apology in its execution. The vibrant Kalyn and warmhearted Gus become friends despite the surrounding politics of their families, and they aren’t afraid of searching for what really happened all those years ago. Leah Thomas’ writing is flawless and the story is unpredictable. Already I wish I could read it again for the first time.
September 30, 2019
I didn’t like this book as a whole, but I also didn’t like it for a lot of different reasons. But let’s get to I think the only thing I liked about this book: hella diversity. I appreciated the multiple main queer characters, multiple queer side characters, and the platonic relationship between the opposite sex queer main characters. It was also nice to see a character with CP on page, and although I can’t judge the accuracy of his character, the author thanked a sensitivity reader in the acknowledgments so I’m assuming his characterization and the accuracy of CP was well-handled.
Now onto what I didn’t like:
- I was sold a completely different book. The synopsis promises a mystery about two rivals coming together to solve a murder both of are connected to. And you get that—about three-hundred pages into the four-hundred-and-fifty page story. What we get instead is a look into the friendship of two people who by all accounts should be enemies, and they deal with their pasts and the pasts of their parents. Which would be quite engaging if:
- I have a single, solitary fuck about any character. I didn’t though, because their characterizations were so weak and cloaked in stereotypes that they may as well have been discount John Green characters. Kalyn and Gus, the two main characters, aren’t too bad—each of them at least had a motive and like a singular hobby each, but they don’t have goals, aspirations, multiple fucking hobbies. The side characters are just bland, and I couldn’t keep a lot of them straight (no pun intended). I think the worst offender has to be Phil, the main character Gus’ “best friend”.
- I didn’t like Phil AT ALL. He was an insufferable nerdy stereotype who’s one defining personality trait was that he spouts quotes from classic literature. Sure, he has nerdy “interests” but those really only service the spouting of quotes and occasionally crop up when the plot needs them to. Although, this isn’t the main reason I hate Phil. No, the main reason I hate Phil is that for the first 100 pages of this novel, Phil treats Kalyn as a prize to be won, and FORCES Gus, under the guise of friendship, to ask Kalyn out to Homecoming for him. Thanks, I hate it. But after that, he gets better, surely? Right? Wrong. The entire rest of the book, Phil treats Kalyn as some Alaska-esque figure that will save him and Gus from their repetitive lives in their small town. He literally calls her their “catalyst” multiple times. This never gets resolved.
- This story has a mystery, so we may as well talk about it. This book has the kind of mystery that couldn’t be solved beforehand by the audience, and that’s the one thing I HATE in a mystery. What’s the fun of trying to guess the mystery if you physically don’t have enough clues to do so? I guess technically a reader could solve the mystery because we know the person beforehand and blah blah blah—it’s a long shot though. There was no buildup, there was no layering and pacing of clues, there wasn’t even a good amount of searching for clues. A lot of them just fell into the main character’s lap.
- The pacing in this book is ABHORRENT. It take almost two-hundred pages to get to the inciting incident of the story, and what we’re treated to is easily the worst part of the book—slow, dry, and annoyingly pretentious. Then some actually halfway-decent character work is done but fuck if the plot actually advances any, and then in the last hundred and fifty pages, the mystery is solved, as well as plot hijinks that takes way too long to wrap up despite it being the most engaging part of the story, which is saying a lot because honestly it wasn’t engaging at all.
So, yeah. Didn’t like this a ton. Wouldn’t recommend.
Now onto what I didn’t like:
- I was sold a completely different book. The synopsis promises a mystery about two rivals coming together to solve a murder both of are connected to. And you get that—about three-hundred pages into the four-hundred-and-fifty page story. What we get instead is a look into the friendship of two people who by all accounts should be enemies, and they deal with their pasts and the pasts of their parents. Which would be quite engaging if:
- I have a single, solitary fuck about any character. I didn’t though, because their characterizations were so weak and cloaked in stereotypes that they may as well have been discount John Green characters. Kalyn and Gus, the two main characters, aren’t too bad—each of them at least had a motive and like a singular hobby each, but they don’t have goals, aspirations, multiple fucking hobbies. The side characters are just bland, and I couldn’t keep a lot of them straight (no pun intended). I think the worst offender has to be Phil, the main character Gus’ “best friend”.
- I didn’t like Phil AT ALL. He was an insufferable nerdy stereotype who’s one defining personality trait was that he spouts quotes from classic literature. Sure, he has nerdy “interests” but those really only service the spouting of quotes and occasionally crop up when the plot needs them to. Although, this isn’t the main reason I hate Phil. No, the main reason I hate Phil is that for the first 100 pages of this novel, Phil treats Kalyn as a prize to be won, and FORCES Gus, under the guise of friendship, to ask Kalyn out to Homecoming for him. Thanks, I hate it. But after that, he gets better, surely? Right? Wrong. The entire rest of the book, Phil treats Kalyn as some Alaska-esque figure that will save him and Gus from their repetitive lives in their small town. He literally calls her their “catalyst” multiple times. This never gets resolved.
- This story has a mystery, so we may as well talk about it. This book has the kind of mystery that couldn’t be solved beforehand by the audience, and that’s the one thing I HATE in a mystery. What’s the fun of trying to guess the mystery if you physically don’t have enough clues to do so? I guess technically a reader could solve the mystery because we know the person beforehand and blah blah blah—it’s a long shot though. There was no buildup, there was no layering and pacing of clues, there wasn’t even a good amount of searching for clues. A lot of them just fell into the main character’s lap.
- The pacing in this book is ABHORRENT. It take almost two-hundred pages to get to the inciting incident of the story, and what we’re treated to is easily the worst part of the book—slow, dry, and annoyingly pretentious. Then some actually halfway-decent character work is done but fuck if the plot actually advances any, and then in the last hundred and fifty pages, the mystery is solved, as well as plot hijinks that takes way too long to wrap up despite it being the most engaging part of the story, which is saying a lot because honestly it wasn’t engaging at all.
So, yeah. Didn’t like this a ton. Wouldn’t recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2019
I really wanted to like this book, but a lot about it just didn't sit right with me.
The biggest issue I think I had was Phil's characterization. From early on he's portrayed as a stereotype of someone autistic, from the formal way he speaks and the use of verbatim quotes, to his deep interest/obsession in certain fantasy worlds/videogames/etc. He's also shown as lacking empathy, which isn't an autistic trait, but is often thought to be one by allistic (non-autistic) folks. At some point in the book, he says he was tested for autism but "fell short" of the spectrum; that doesn't change the fact that he is portrayed in a way that is read as autistic.
Apparently, all of these things began after a serious head injury he sustained as a child, including the lack of empathy, the tendency towards violence--including drowning animals and setting fires. So the reader is supposed to understand that what first appears to be autism, and then his apparent sociopathy, was caused by a head injury, which is just completely inaccurate about autism (it's genetic) and as far as I know, not true about sociopathy either.
Eventually he reveals he has antisocial personality disorder, which is the clinical term for sociopathy. I just didn't understand this choice for him, especially given the fact that sociopaths are known for being manipulative and charming, which we didn't see at all in Phil's character. Instead, he read as an autistic nerd/geek who also happened to set fires, drown animals, and have a potential for extreme violence... who struggled with people and making friends, who understood the world through the lens of his geeky interests, like D&D, sci-fi, and fantasy novels.
There is already so little accurate representation of autistic folks in literature, and to have a character like Phil who reads as autistic, but is also conflated with being a sociopath, for no reason I can figure out that's relevant to the plot--it was disappointing to me, as an autistic person.
I did love the queer rep, and based on the book's acknowledgements, it seems like the author did employ a sensitivity reader for Gus's character, although I can't speak for how accurate the portrayal of his cerebral palsy was (I would be keen to read some reviews by readers with CP).
However, all the characters fell flat to me. Some seemed like stereotypes, like Garth, whose behavior is never really explained. The mystery wraps up neatly, maybe a little too much so, and we're given very little space to process what is revealed before the novel ends. I would skip this book--if you're looking for queer rep, there are much better/less problematic books out there.
The biggest issue I think I had was Phil's characterization. From early on he's portrayed as a stereotype of someone autistic, from the formal way he speaks and the use of verbatim quotes, to his deep interest/obsession in certain fantasy worlds/videogames/etc. He's also shown as lacking empathy, which isn't an autistic trait, but is often thought to be one by allistic (non-autistic) folks. At some point in the book, he says he was tested for autism but "fell short" of the spectrum; that doesn't change the fact that he is portrayed in a way that is read as autistic.
Apparently, all of these things began after a serious head injury he sustained as a child, including the lack of empathy, the tendency towards violence--including drowning animals and setting fires. So the reader is supposed to understand that what first appears to be autism, and then his apparent sociopathy, was caused by a head injury, which is just completely inaccurate about autism (it's genetic) and as far as I know, not true about sociopathy either.
Eventually he reveals he has antisocial personality disorder, which is the clinical term for sociopathy. I just didn't understand this choice for him, especially given the fact that sociopaths are known for being manipulative and charming, which we didn't see at all in Phil's character. Instead, he read as an autistic nerd/geek who also happened to set fires, drown animals, and have a potential for extreme violence... who struggled with people and making friends, who understood the world through the lens of his geeky interests, like D&D, sci-fi, and fantasy novels.
There is already so little accurate representation of autistic folks in literature, and to have a character like Phil who reads as autistic, but is also conflated with being a sociopath, for no reason I can figure out that's relevant to the plot--it was disappointing to me, as an autistic person.
I did love the queer rep, and based on the book's acknowledgements, it seems like the author did employ a sensitivity reader for Gus's character, although I can't speak for how accurate the portrayal of his cerebral palsy was (I would be keen to read some reviews by readers with CP).
However, all the characters fell flat to me. Some seemed like stereotypes, like Garth, whose behavior is never really explained. The mystery wraps up neatly, maybe a little too much so, and we're given very little space to process what is revealed before the novel ends. I would skip this book--if you're looking for queer rep, there are much better/less problematic books out there.
September 5, 2019
I'll start by saying that contemporaries aren't my cup of tea, so I was a bit reluctant when I started reading this one. Let me tell you, I loved it so much that I am so glad I eventually read it and I'm definitely going to read it again in the future!
Two things I loved most about it, one being the friendship between Gus and Kalyn! On my God, I wasn't expecting them to become such good friends, I was expecting the level of cuteness that ensued and I was also not expecting how dedicated and loyal they were to each other! It was so refreshing reading a novel about two teenagers being such good friends and if that doesn't day something for how friendships are portrayed in YA books, I don't know what does. Kalyn and Gus and friendship goals and I just loved loved LOVED them!
The second thing that I really liked was the whole mystery aspect. There was a plot twist in the end and I was reading the last few chapters almost out of breath, trying to reach the point of the final revelation. This book had me guessing all the time, I was trying so hard to solve the case myself and I was glad I couldn't predict what happened!
The characters were all well written, they had distinct personalities, unique voices and I was also happy to see so much representation! We have disability, LGBTQ+ people, all in all, it was a very modern and inclusive book.
In conclusion, I have to say that this sory is as beautiful as is the cover of the book, which was the first thing that made me check it out. It's a fun, heartbreaking and poignant book, such a gem in the midst of all the cliche YA contemporaries.
Two things I loved most about it, one being the friendship between Gus and Kalyn! On my God, I wasn't expecting them to become such good friends, I was expecting the level of cuteness that ensued and I was also not expecting how dedicated and loyal they were to each other! It was so refreshing reading a novel about two teenagers being such good friends and if that doesn't day something for how friendships are portrayed in YA books, I don't know what does. Kalyn and Gus and friendship goals and I just loved loved LOVED them!
The second thing that I really liked was the whole mystery aspect. There was a plot twist in the end and I was reading the last few chapters almost out of breath, trying to reach the point of the final revelation. This book had me guessing all the time, I was trying so hard to solve the case myself and I was glad I couldn't predict what happened!
The characters were all well written, they had distinct personalities, unique voices and I was also happy to see so much representation! We have disability, LGBTQ+ people, all in all, it was a very modern and inclusive book.
In conclusion, I have to say that this sory is as beautiful as is the cover of the book, which was the first thing that made me check it out. It's a fun, heartbreaking and poignant book, such a gem in the midst of all the cliche YA contemporaries.
June 25, 2019
4.5 stars!
Review coming soon!
Review coming soon!
Read
April 2, 2024The combination of the mystery, the plot, the backstory, and the characters made this story really intriguing
August 31, 2020
this was so weird yet i really liked it??
July 3, 2024
2024 reads: 185/250
kalyn spence has returned to samsboro, kentucky, the town in which her incarcerated father killed someone. for her own safety, she adopts a new identity as rose poplawski. gus peake is only known by two things in samsboro: “the disabled kid” or the kid whose dad was murdered, but he just wants to be known as himself. when kalyn and gus meet, they become friends, but things get rocky when their families’ histories are uncovered.
this was a pretty interesting book. when i started it, i just thought the two mcs would become friends, find out kalyn’s dad murdered gus, have a falling-out, then become friends again. while that did indeed happen, there was also a mystery aspect to this. kalyn’s mom is determined to get kalyn’s dad out of jail, and the more kalyn and gus talk, the more they realize their dads’ real stories may not line up with what they’re been told by their moms and by the news.
i also appreciated how gus’s disabilities, cerebral palsy and aphasia, were represented. i am not an expert in cerebral palsy, so i can’t speak to that too much, but i think it was pretty accurate compared to real-life people i know with cerebral palsy. his aphasia was also represented very well! so far, i’ve only read three books with aphasia rep, but this one is definitely on the top. as a graduate student in speech-language pathology, i was not surprised to read in the acknowledgments that the author got help from her slp sister for this aspect.
unfortunately, there were several moments of ableism, but these were mostly challenged.
i’d recommend this to anyone wanting to read a YA book focusing on a platonic friendship and a decades-old mystery.
kalyn spence has returned to samsboro, kentucky, the town in which her incarcerated father killed someone. for her own safety, she adopts a new identity as rose poplawski. gus peake is only known by two things in samsboro: “the disabled kid” or the kid whose dad was murdered, but he just wants to be known as himself. when kalyn and gus meet, they become friends, but things get rocky when their families’ histories are uncovered.
this was a pretty interesting book. when i started it, i just thought the two mcs would become friends, find out kalyn’s dad murdered gus, have a falling-out, then become friends again. while that did indeed happen, there was also a mystery aspect to this. kalyn’s mom is determined to get kalyn’s dad out of jail, and the more kalyn and gus talk, the more they realize their dads’ real stories may not line up with what they’re been told by their moms and by the news.
i also appreciated how gus’s disabilities, cerebral palsy and aphasia, were represented. i am not an expert in cerebral palsy, so i can’t speak to that too much, but i think it was pretty accurate compared to real-life people i know with cerebral palsy. his aphasia was also represented very well! so far, i’ve only read three books with aphasia rep, but this one is definitely on the top. as a graduate student in speech-language pathology, i was not surprised to read in the acknowledgments that the author got help from her slp sister for this aspect.
unfortunately, there were several moments of ableism, but these were mostly challenged.
i’d recommend this to anyone wanting to read a YA book focusing on a platonic friendship and a decades-old mystery.
July 22, 2021
I've had some difficulty getting into books lately, but I found myself unable to put this one down.
What I liked: story focusing on friendship and platonic love (there's not even a b-plot romance); the characters and the MCs twisted sense of humor; the themes of identity and being true to yourself and of seeing beyond perceptions (of others and of themselves); the exploration of heavy topics without falling into melodrama; one of the MCs is disabled and (from my limited perspective as an abled person) it feels generally well-handled
What could have been better: the story is kind of split in two, with the first half focusing on building up the friendship and then the other turning into a sort of teen-led investigation/aftermath of new revelations about a murder, I would have liked these story elements to be integrated a bit more; a deeper exploration of class and the role it plays in the justice system - it is definitely touched upon, but could have gone even further
All in all a solid read.
What I liked: story focusing on friendship and platonic love (there's not even a b-plot romance); the characters and the MCs twisted sense of humor; the themes of identity and being true to yourself and of seeing beyond perceptions (of others and of themselves); the exploration of heavy topics without falling into melodrama; one of the MCs is disabled and (from my limited perspective as an abled person) it feels generally well-handled
What could have been better: the story is kind of split in two, with the first half focusing on building up the friendship and then the other turning into a sort of teen-led investigation/aftermath of new revelations about a murder, I would have liked these story elements to be integrated a bit more; a deeper exploration of class and the role it plays in the justice system - it is definitely touched upon, but could have gone even further
All in all a solid read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews