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Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks
Being the kid abducted by old Ms. Easton when he was four permanently set Cole’s status to freak. At seventeen, his exit plan is make it through the last few weeks of high school with his grades up and his head down.
When he pushes through the front door of the school and finds himself eighty kilometers away holding the door of a museum he was just thinking about, Cole faces he’s either more deluded than old Ms. Easton, or he just teleported.
Now every door is an accident waiting to happen—especially when Cole thinks about Malik, who, it turns out, has a glass door on his shower. When he starts seeing the same creepy people over his shoulder, no matter how far he’s gone, crushes become the least of his worries. They want him to stop, and they'll go to any length to make it happen.
Cole is running out of luck, excuses, and places to hide.
Time for a new exit plan.
When he pushes through the front door of the school and finds himself eighty kilometers away holding the door of a museum he was just thinking about, Cole faces he’s either more deluded than old Ms. Easton, or he just teleported.
Now every door is an accident waiting to happen—especially when Cole thinks about Malik, who, it turns out, has a glass door on his shower. When he starts seeing the same creepy people over his shoulder, no matter how far he’s gone, crushes become the least of his worries. They want him to stop, and they'll go to any length to make it happen.
Cole is running out of luck, excuses, and places to hide.
Time for a new exit plan.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2018
19 people are currently reading
1060 people want to read
About the author
'Nathan Burgoine
50 books461 followers'Nathan Burgoine grew up a reader and studied literature in university while making a living as a bookseller. His first published short story was "Heart" in the collection Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. Since then, he has had dozens of short stories published, and despite being "the tall queer guy who writes mosly shorter queer fictions" novels have happened between the novellas and short stories.
A cat lover, 'Nathan managed to fall in love and marry Daniel, who is a confirmed dog person. Their ongoing "cat or dog?" détente ended with the rescue and adoption of huskies. They live in Ottawa, Canada, where socialized health care and gay marriage have yet to cause the sky to cave in.
You can find 'Nathan on the web at nathanburgoine.com.
A cat lover, 'Nathan managed to fall in love and marry Daniel, who is a confirmed dog person. Their ongoing "cat or dog?" détente ended with the rescue and adoption of huskies. They live in Ottawa, Canada, where socialized health care and gay marriage have yet to cause the sky to cave in.
You can find 'Nathan on the web at nathanburgoine.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
March 1, 2024
The mind wants to be open, but all the noise and anxiety and pressure keeps it shut...
If you could walk through a door and turn up anywhere in the world, where would you go?
As for me, I would love to show up in a bank vault, and considering how broke I am, I may get off with enough money to sink an economy. And I would not regret it. Not one bit. But I digress, in all seriousness... I would open the door and end up on a marble balcony with art deco tiling overlooking Central Park.
Cole, on the other hand, ends up in an aviation museum. Confused, groggy and weak, he has to find a way to get back to school before lunch break ends. And he does, only he ends up inside his locker. For someone who is gay, has a history of being teased about his history, it appears like an easy-to-explain situation, amirite?
Nope. Cole has to learn how to deal with the fact that he can literally teleport through doors. Any time he walks through a door, he has to visualise where he wants to go otherwise he will end up in the last place he thought of. That kind of responsibility is not easy to handle. But for Cole, it kinda is because he is a master list maker. A bonafide type A who has to have a plan for everything otherwise he ends up like the rest of us freaks who don't know how to control our minds and end up vomiting over the carefully curated order around us.
He has some great friends around him too. Who are a great lesson in the seamless application of the LGBTQ spectrum in literature. Which we damn sure need more of. His parents are the parents we all wish we had.
This is only the third book I have read this year that has left me looking and feeling like
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is the perfect YA Fantasy novel for the grouchy ass adult who needs an exit plan from her grouchy ass life. Well, it is for young adults but speaking as an 11-year-old in the body of a 25-year-old which sometimes feels 75 years old I can say with the utmost confidence that this book will entertain everyone.
Following Cole on his wild misadventures as an amateur teleporter will lead to some interesting places. From the glass door bathroom of his crush [hubba hubba], to his favourite board game cum coffee shop to the creeps who keep following him around and wanting to melt his brain. Luckily for Cole, he always has a plan.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you could walk through a door and turn up anywhere in the world, where would you go?
As for me, I would love to show up in a bank vault, and considering how broke I am, I may get off with enough money to sink an economy. And I would not regret it. Not one bit. But I digress, in all seriousness... I would open the door and end up on a marble balcony with art deco tiling overlooking Central Park.
Cole, on the other hand, ends up in an aviation museum. Confused, groggy and weak, he has to find a way to get back to school before lunch break ends. And he does, only he ends up inside his locker. For someone who is gay, has a history of being teased about his history, it appears like an easy-to-explain situation, amirite?
Nope. Cole has to learn how to deal with the fact that he can literally teleport through doors. Any time he walks through a door, he has to visualise where he wants to go otherwise he will end up in the last place he thought of. That kind of responsibility is not easy to handle. But for Cole, it kinda is because he is a master list maker. A bonafide type A who has to have a plan for everything otherwise he ends up like the rest of us freaks who don't know how to control our minds and end up vomiting over the carefully curated order around us.
He has some great friends around him too. Who are a great lesson in the seamless application of the LGBTQ spectrum in literature. Which we damn sure need more of. His parents are the parents we all wish we had.
This is only the third book I have read this year that has left me looking and feeling like
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is the perfect YA Fantasy novel for the grouchy ass adult who needs an exit plan from her grouchy ass life. Well, it is for young adults but speaking as an 11-year-old in the body of a 25-year-old which sometimes feels 75 years old I can say with the utmost confidence that this book will entertain everyone.
Following Cole on his wild misadventures as an amateur teleporter will lead to some interesting places. From the glass door bathroom of his crush [hubba hubba], to his favourite board game cum coffee shop to the creeps who keep following him around and wanting to melt his brain. Luckily for Cole, he always has a plan.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2018
Wow, I'd never read a book about teleporters, never even *thought* about that particular trope spin, but I suppose there's a first time for everything. : )
I loved the awkward situations that 17 y.o. high school student Cole kept getting himself into, as he accidentally *poofed* himself all over the place, when he wasn't concentrating quite hard enough on where he wanted the current door he was walking through to take him.
And as the story progressed, hearing more about Cole tapping into his gift, how and what it felt like, while he got more familiar with traveling in the blink of an eye, that was some damn decent world-building fun, for sure.
Cole was an extremely-quirky MC, with his general awkwardness and tendency to plan things out in great detail, but he was also very endearing, so I found myself liking him immediately. Picture Maps from the Nash Summers series of the same name, except dialed down a notch or three.
The story felt extremely YA, which I rarely mind; however, I wasn't the biggest fan of how much page time was spent on the Rainbow Club at school and all of the friend drama. All of that ended up feeling like an LGBTQIA Inclusivity 101 Lesson, which started to feel sort of preachy and tedious as a non-noob gay.
After feeling a bit like the teleporting theme had been slightly overshadowed by "everything else", I loved the parts of the book when the mysterious "Colenappers " came out swinging (figuratively) and turned into , forcing Cole into a standoff with them, but confronted them on his own terms.
When Cole finally got that steel in his spine, back the hell up, because he was taking no shit anymore, which was pretty awesome to see.
“I’m running on coffee and anger, and I’ve got finals on Monday. I’m so done with you people.”
The book had plenty of humor, but I found it to be more 'chuckles ' funny than TJ Klune'esque "OMG, I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe " funny.
The romance was pretty subdued, as Cole and Malik pussy-footed around one another endlessly, which definitely added to the extremely YA feel that I mentioned. They're adorable together, but I would've liked more talking about feelings than a very quick, "I really like you" and one quick kissing scene before the parental groundings began.
The book ended with a hopeful HFN epilogue from only two weeks down the road, which was very upbeat and I enjoyed a lot, but no real long-term relationship plans were discussed.
I'd rate this book at around 3.75 stars and recommend it to any YA fans who enjoy completely left-field, oddball stories. And yes, that pretty much describes me to a "T".
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)
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January 3, 2019
Sci-fi (teleportation!) romance filled with TONS of queer rep- Yes, PLEASE.
I really enjoyed Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by the very reliable Nathan Burgoine. Nathan instinctively knows how to get the right balance between action, humor, and romance, and he does it so well in this book.
I read Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks in one day (well, one day fused into one night because I stayed up way past my bedtime reading). I just couldn't put it down. I loved the diversity, the excitement, and the *squee*-factor of it all.
I loved how we got one POC MC, the other MC has a deaf father, and a whole group of friends that span the breadth of the queer spectrum. Plus, these kids were imperfect, impulsive kids, and I loved that in YA.
I really, really dug the premise of the story. At heart, I'm a huge sci-fi nerd, and the teleportation and the way it was described really intrigued me. I wanted to know MORE, and I actually wish we had a sequel or more meat to the sci-fi aspects of the story because I found them to be fascinating and under-explained.
I also liked the sweet romance, which was just getting going at the end of the story. I related to the awkward, excited, nervous feel of the beginning of their dynamic, and they were so adorable together by the end. Though, to be honest, I could have used a little more romance-y romance, but that's just my preference.
I think Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks will appeal to all YA fans. It was fun, funny, exciting and a whole lot more. Nathan Burgoine has a winner on his hands.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I really enjoyed Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by the very reliable Nathan Burgoine. Nathan instinctively knows how to get the right balance between action, humor, and romance, and he does it so well in this book.
I read Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks in one day (well, one day fused into one night because I stayed up way past my bedtime reading). I just couldn't put it down. I loved the diversity, the excitement, and the *squee*-factor of it all.
I loved how we got one POC MC, the other MC has a deaf father, and a whole group of friends that span the breadth of the queer spectrum. Plus, these kids were imperfect, impulsive kids, and I loved that in YA.
I really, really dug the premise of the story. At heart, I'm a huge sci-fi nerd, and the teleportation and the way it was described really intrigued me. I wanted to know MORE, and I actually wish we had a sequel or more meat to the sci-fi aspects of the story because I found them to be fascinating and under-explained.
I also liked the sweet romance, which was just getting going at the end of the story. I related to the awkward, excited, nervous feel of the beginning of their dynamic, and they were so adorable together by the end. Though, to be honest, I could have used a little more romance-y romance, but that's just my preference.
I think Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks will appeal to all YA fans. It was fun, funny, exciting and a whole lot more. Nathan Burgoine has a winner on his hands.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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January 4, 2019
4.25 ❤️
It's best to go on this ride blind, in my opinion. However, I will say, simply put, this journey begins and ends with Cole; he narrates the entire slice of life/coming of age tale, so if you don't like him, you're probably not going to enjoy the book.
I loved him. I really did. He's adorkable with his lists and bullet journal and making up quirky names for people and love for Meeples which, P.S., is there a cuter name for a place? Every time I read the word even, I smiled. Cole is clever and funny and GAH! I just loved him.
His relationships with Malik and his parents pulled on my heartstrings. The jock/nerd trope was utilized splendidly. Malik is a jock but not a dumb jock nor is he mean. His protectiveness of Cole scored MAJOR brownie points with me. Burgoine captured that high school vernacular and style of interacting and made it amusing and relatable. The interactions between him and his parents were just funny. It was a breath of fresh air to not just have supportive parents but parents that are still in love with each other and don't mind torturing their offspring with it!
Cole's father is hearing impaired so they all sign. This was my first experience with reading signed dialogue and I was fascinated by the syntax of it. It was also soooooo cute how Cole signed letters when he was nervous. I appreciate those details in my reads.
This is a character-driven story with very little angst and a smooth writing style that is easy to get caught up in. The seamlessness of the inclusion was really impressive to me. Oftentimes it seems authors use diversity to show how "woke" they are which makes it feel contrived or forced. True, all of Cole's friends are queer but it still seemed like the natural order of things, that they were truly his friends which was evident on page rather than sticking an Asian person in here and jamming an ace person in there to meet some sort of tacit quota.
There wasn't a lot of conflict in this narrative but I found the action storyline balanced the narrative and filled my quotient of action/suspense. Above all, this story is fun and entertaining with solid world-building and an adorkable main character who I couldn't help but be charmed by. In all honesty, this is what I was looking for out of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and didn't get so thank you Mr. Burgoine for filling that void.
Overall, I found this to be a cozy and refreshing young adult read and would LOVE it if there were a follow up in the works.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's best to go on this ride blind, in my opinion. However, I will say, simply put, this journey begins and ends with Cole; he narrates the entire slice of life/coming of age tale, so if you don't like him, you're probably not going to enjoy the book.
I loved him. I really did. He's adorkable with his lists and bullet journal and making up quirky names for people and love for Meeples which, P.S., is there a cuter name for a place? Every time I read the word even, I smiled. Cole is clever and funny and GAH! I just loved him.
His relationships with Malik and his parents pulled on my heartstrings. The jock/nerd trope was utilized splendidly. Malik is a jock but not a dumb jock nor is he mean. His protectiveness of Cole scored MAJOR brownie points with me. Burgoine captured that high school vernacular and style of interacting and made it amusing and relatable. The interactions between him and his parents were just funny. It was a breath of fresh air to not just have supportive parents but parents that are still in love with each other and don't mind torturing their offspring with it!
Cole's father is hearing impaired so they all sign. This was my first experience with reading signed dialogue and I was fascinated by the syntax of it. It was also soooooo cute how Cole signed letters when he was nervous. I appreciate those details in my reads.
This is a character-driven story with very little angst and a smooth writing style that is easy to get caught up in. The seamlessness of the inclusion was really impressive to me. Oftentimes it seems authors use diversity to show how "woke" they are which makes it feel contrived or forced. True, all of Cole's friends are queer but it still seemed like the natural order of things, that they were truly his friends which was evident on page rather than sticking an Asian person in here and jamming an ace person in there to meet some sort of tacit quota.
There wasn't a lot of conflict in this narrative but I found the action storyline balanced the narrative and filled my quotient of action/suspense. Above all, this story is fun and entertaining with solid world-building and an adorkable main character who I couldn't help but be charmed by. In all honesty, this is what I was looking for out of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and didn't get so thank you Mr. Burgoine for filling that void.
Overall, I found this to be a cozy and refreshing young adult read and would LOVE it if there were a follow up in the works.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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February 29, 2024Edit: February 29th, 2024: The Bold Strokes Books webstore is having a Leap Year deal, and since the last leap year included Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks, you can nab the e-book version from their webstore for less (today only)!
This link will take you right to 'Exit Plans' on their webstore.
June 2nd, 2019: Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is on the Prix Aurora Awards ballot for Best Young Adult Novel!
Oh! I was also on the WROTE Podcast, talking quite a bit about how Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks came to be, so if you're in the mood for a listen, take a gander here.
Hello! It's me, the author, being authory.
It's almost time for Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks to make it out into the world. That's terrifying, but also it's exciting. (But mostly terrifying.)
In fact, if you're on NetGalley, it's available to request now, which is pretty awesome (but mostly terrifying). If you're not on NetGalley, my understanding is it's free, so you could give it a whirl. And if you're a queer youth? Hit me up. I'll figure out a way.
So. About Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks.
Cole is pretty near and dear to my heart because he's the teenage kid I didn't quite get to be. He's sixteen, gay, a nerdy planner who carries a bullet journal everywhere, considers all manners of possibilities and scenarios in hopes of not having to think on his feet, and just wants to get out of high school and start his path to a career he's already picked out and been planning since forever.
I was many of those things. I was most of those things. Except, of course, I wasn't out. I was sixteen a few decades ago, and while Cole has an awesome rainbow club at school, I did not.
Oh, and Cole just developed a teleportation problem. That hasn't happened to me, either.
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is—I hope—a fun and nerdy adventure, with just a dash of romance, and maybe a chase scene and a standoff worthy of the kind of books I loved to read when I was a Cole's age, only this time it's queer.
Oh, and maybe there's a kiss or two.
Enjoy!
This link will take you right to 'Exit Plans' on their webstore.
June 2nd, 2019: Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is on the Prix Aurora Awards ballot for Best Young Adult Novel!
Oh! I was also on the WROTE Podcast, talking quite a bit about how Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks came to be, so if you're in the mood for a listen, take a gander here.
Hello! It's me, the author, being authory.
It's almost time for Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks to make it out into the world. That's terrifying, but also it's exciting. (But mostly terrifying.)
In fact, if you're on NetGalley, it's available to request now, which is pretty awesome (but mostly terrifying). If you're not on NetGalley, my understanding is it's free, so you could give it a whirl. And if you're a queer youth? Hit me up. I'll figure out a way.
So. About Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks.
Cole is pretty near and dear to my heart because he's the teenage kid I didn't quite get to be. He's sixteen, gay, a nerdy planner who carries a bullet journal everywhere, considers all manners of possibilities and scenarios in hopes of not having to think on his feet, and just wants to get out of high school and start his path to a career he's already picked out and been planning since forever.
I was many of those things. I was most of those things. Except, of course, I wasn't out. I was sixteen a few decades ago, and while Cole has an awesome rainbow club at school, I did not.
Oh, and Cole just developed a teleportation problem. That hasn't happened to me, either.
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is—I hope—a fun and nerdy adventure, with just a dash of romance, and maybe a chase scene and a standoff worthy of the kind of books I loved to read when I was a Cole's age, only this time it's queer.
Oh, and maybe there's a kiss or two.
Enjoy!
January 17, 2021
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM BOLD STROKES BOOKS VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU!
Yeah, that worked. I was transported and eager to stay there.
You remember that moment, the one where your crush sees you for the first time, you exist as more than a label for a thing that takes up space. Malik just experienced it. Cole just experienced the validation of his entire miserable childhood existence as the freak who got snatched by an old cat lady...the hawt guy he's lusted after Noticed Him. What's so adorable is that, being told from Cole's PoV, adults see the way Malik's maneuvering himself into Cole's orbit and really, really, really hoping his butthead jock friends don't get him declined like a noun in Latin class.
And so begins a charming story of teenagers in love, figuring out how to relate to each others' antithetical crowds and what to say to keep Him from figuring out how scared you are, what the hell do I do with my hands, am I staring at his eyes too long, good god not a boner no please god no....
I will not lie: I don't care for the YA genre at all because being a teenager was a fucking misery and I'd just as soon not relive it. What I am saying is, this book and I? We weren't going to be besties. Until I found out about the teleporting thing. Well, this changes everything and how, gimme gimme now. The added levels of anxiety, of learning how to use something he'd never so much as conceptualized could exist, plus his *amazing* new superpower's implications...yeah, totally hooked me. Plus the entire parent-amazingness plus irritating overprotectiveness, how he's so close with his Rainbow Alliance, his teddy bear bestie Alec, I was so deeply delighted by these good-memory echoes. Then, in my usual careless fashion, I read it, liked it, laughed out loud until my sides hurt three separate and distinct times, and...forgot to write a review.
For two years. Holy fuckme, two solid years. I am a bad boy.
So, as I am also a registered Republican (long story...Warren/Social Democrat who's never voted GOP in his entire life), I'm going to blame someone else: Author Burgoine dropped two w-bombs. It sapped my will to write. See? It's all his fault.
Yeah, that worked. I was transported and eager to stay there.
Malik King knew my name? I let the little thrill in my chest play out a couple of seconds before I squashed it.
You remember that moment, the one where your crush sees you for the first time, you exist as more than a label for a thing that takes up space. Malik just experienced it. Cole just experienced the validation of his entire miserable childhood existence as the freak who got snatched by an old cat lady...the hawt guy he's lusted after Noticed Him. What's so adorable is that, being told from Cole's PoV, adults see the way Malik's maneuvering himself into Cole's orbit and really, really, really hoping his butthead jock friends don't get him declined like a noun in Latin class.
And so begins a charming story of teenagers in love, figuring out how to relate to each others' antithetical crowds and what to say to keep Him from figuring out how scared you are, what the hell do I do with my hands, am I staring at his eyes too long, good god not a boner no please god no....
I will not lie: I don't care for the YA genre at all because being a teenager was a fucking misery and I'd just as soon not relive it. What I am saying is, this book and I? We weren't going to be besties. Until I found out about the teleporting thing. Well, this changes everything and how, gimme gimme now. The added levels of anxiety, of learning how to use something he'd never so much as conceptualized could exist, plus his *amazing* new superpower's implications...yeah, totally hooked me. Plus the entire parent-amazingness plus irritating overprotectiveness, how he's so close with his Rainbow Alliance, his teddy bear bestie Alec, I was so deeply delighted by these good-memory echoes. Then, in my usual careless fashion, I read it, liked it, laughed out loud until my sides hurt three separate and distinct times, and...forgot to write a review.
For two years. Holy fuckme, two solid years. I am a bad boy.
So, as I am also a registered Republican (long story...Warren/Social Democrat who's never voted GOP in his entire life), I'm going to blame someone else: Author Burgoine dropped two w-bombs. It sapped my will to write. See? It's all his fault.
March 21, 2020
Fantastic contemporary YA sci-fi with (1) an adorable romance, (2) queer high school kids who are friends with each other instead of being alone with a group of non-queer friends, and (3) an enthusiasm for board and card games. Yay, yay, and yay! I really hope Burgoine writes more YA, even though I also like his adult stuff, because he’s done a great job portraying nerdy teenagers here and I want more of that!
October 23, 2018
I haven't read a book in a single sitting since before I had kids. I thought parenthood, and the chronic lack of sleep associated with it, had perhaps changed my brain and I just wasn't capable of that kind of binge-reading anymore.
Turns out I was just reading the wrong books. Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks swept me away, and kept me up hours past my bedtime flipping page after page of this wonderful book. I had very high expectations, being both a fan of the author and aware from reading the back blurb that this was going to push a lot of my buttons in a good way (queer characters, superpowers, kickass teens with mild to nonexistent levels of angst? All of the yes!!) but it manage to exceed every single one of these expectations with the way it played out the characterization. Teens who are out, and proud, and have a Rainbow Club at school, and the story is NOT about bullying? check.
Queer representation that encompasses asexual AND nonbinary representation? Check.
A storyline involving a bisexual character that a) actually acknowledges that bisexuality is a thing and b) manages to avoid all the harmful tropes? Check.
A story that's suspenseful, full of conflict, and populated entirely by queer characters, and almost none of the conflict is about "the gay thing"? SO MUCH CHECK
A story that has all of that, plus adventures, superpowers, and a whole lot of geekiness.
Probably one of my top reads of 2018.
Turns out I was just reading the wrong books. Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks swept me away, and kept me up hours past my bedtime flipping page after page of this wonderful book. I had very high expectations, being both a fan of the author and aware from reading the back blurb that this was going to push a lot of my buttons in a good way (queer characters, superpowers, kickass teens with mild to nonexistent levels of angst? All of the yes!!) but it manage to exceed every single one of these expectations with the way it played out the characterization. Teens who are out, and proud, and have a Rainbow Club at school, and the story is NOT about bullying? check.
Queer representation that encompasses asexual AND nonbinary representation? Check.
A storyline involving a bisexual character that a) actually acknowledges that bisexuality is a thing and b) manages to avoid all the harmful tropes? Check.
A story that's suspenseful, full of conflict, and populated entirely by queer characters, and almost none of the conflict is about "the gay thing"? SO MUCH CHECK
A story that has all of that, plus adventures, superpowers, and a whole lot of geekiness.
Probably one of my top reads of 2018.
June 16, 2019
**** 3.5 stars ****
Very YA, by which I mean you could feel comfortable recommending it to kids. Quirky and upbeat, without any of the dreadful dreary bullying, homophobia, and parental abuse that sometimes seem de rigueur in queer YA fiction.
If I was rating it solely on my reading enjoyment, I'd round down to 3 stars; but when I think of it in terms of its intended audience I want to round up.
For a review with some actual substance to it, see Heather's. And for a review with not only substance but a picture of the world's only penis museum, be sure to see Mwanamali's.
Very YA, by which I mean you could feel comfortable recommending it to kids. Quirky and upbeat, without any of the dreadful dreary bullying, homophobia, and parental abuse that sometimes seem de rigueur in queer YA fiction.
If I was rating it solely on my reading enjoyment, I'd round down to 3 stars; but when I think of it in terms of its intended audience I want to round up.
For a review with some actual substance to it, see Heather's. And for a review with not only substance but a picture of the world's only penis museum, be sure to see Mwanamali's.
January 6, 2025
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
“I was a planner. Planning was the only way I’d gotten any freedom at all.
But this shit? There was no plan for this.”
I may not have the same power of teleportation through doors that Cole has, but I do like to make to-do lists, that help me plan what I have to do. And for starters, trying to hone in on the indelicate and unpredictable nature of his teleportation skills is definitely high on the list. 📋 While also managing the day-to-day affairs and relationships of his fellow members of the Rainbow Club, while also trying to keep his hopeless crush at bay on the cute athlete, Malik, there's plenty on Cole's plate for him to handle.
And oh, did I also mention that when he was four years old, he was kidnapped, even though he has no recollection of it whatsoever, returned unharmed and his captor swears that she had nothing to do with it... Enough to earn him the nickname Colenap - for 'a thing like that? It doesn’t go away.' All he wants is to graduate with that chip no longer on his shoulder, finally having an exit plan that won't continue to define him as a teenage freak. Clearly, fate's not on his side. 😥
“My list of things that could go wrong with this whole teleporting thing?
It just got a whole lot worse.”
I did want to like it; I did like the cute feelings that emerged, the easy-going dynamic between Cole and his friends, the kind understanding in which the author covered various aspects of sexuality, the unique humor that filtered in. 🌈 But, for the life of me, I cannot forgive how random it all felt! Not to mention, the impromptu way in which the plot eventually took off in a direction that does feel a bit all over the place, and one that just kinda leaves you wondering - did I dream all this?
Poof!
I'm kidding; it had its sweet and relatable moments. The romance between Cole and Malik had a fun spark to it; the damsel in distress twist was --- well, it's YA, I'll let it go. Plus, Meeples was a cozy and charming cafe, one that definitely made the ambience of the story a lot cozier, but still with a mysterious, if not suspicious aura to it. But, I just felt like it was loose threads that did not really converge. I know the side stories of his fellow Rainbow Club's life were given to show like the normalcy of Cole's life, how as he is one who is supportive and considerate, is there for his friends to offer well-solicited advice and vice versa. The diverse queer representation was also nicely handled, which is good. It's fine. 🏳️🌈👍🏻
“Whenever a door closes, somewhere a window opens.”
But, it still felt so haphazard, that I could not sense that it was any merit to the actual teleportation dilemma Cole found himself in that really baffled me; and what did, felt very underdeveloped and too out of the blue for me to acknowledge it as making sense, nor get any aftermath of said development. Because the way it was introduced also was so sudden and unexpected that by the time it made sense, I was past the point of appreciating it. 🙍🏻♀️ For then it just became a sci-fi action thriller that blew over my head for how abruptly it came to the scene and just faded away. Maybe I'm missing the grand scheme of it; like there is an underlying meaning to his teleporting that is channeling his desire to evade his own personal matters, when he doesn't have to avoid them, but has the courage to face them head on... 🥺
There was one side story that I felt did add to that aspect. Cole's relationship with his father who specialized in ASL and often worked as an interpreter. I liked it because it provided an example of the importance of not misinterpreting one's voice; it was a quiet, perhaps subtle reflection to be respectful of one's choice of sexual identity. It also allowed Cole to be more observant and discerning of other's body language and get himself out of tight situations (more often than not) and speak up for himself without hesitation or fear. 🙏🏻
So, yeah. It could have been better; the constant jumping, while fun at first as Cole experimented with his talents, also became a bit tiresome. The potential was there, maybe with a little more development, I could have enjoyed it more rather than the -- not disappointed, but just - okay, yeah, I was disappointed, because I wanted it to reach a point that never came. It's an easy and breezy read, sure; but I did not feel like it gave me enough to make it a satisfying experience. 😔
“I was a planner. Planning was the only way I’d gotten any freedom at all.
But this shit? There was no plan for this.”
I may not have the same power of teleportation through doors that Cole has, but I do like to make to-do lists, that help me plan what I have to do. And for starters, trying to hone in on the indelicate and unpredictable nature of his teleportation skills is definitely high on the list. 📋 While also managing the day-to-day affairs and relationships of his fellow members of the Rainbow Club, while also trying to keep his hopeless crush at bay on the cute athlete, Malik, there's plenty on Cole's plate for him to handle.
And oh, did I also mention that when he was four years old, he was kidnapped, even though he has no recollection of it whatsoever, returned unharmed and his captor swears that she had nothing to do with it... Enough to earn him the nickname Colenap - for 'a thing like that? It doesn’t go away.' All he wants is to graduate with that chip no longer on his shoulder, finally having an exit plan that won't continue to define him as a teenage freak. Clearly, fate's not on his side. 😥
“My list of things that could go wrong with this whole teleporting thing?
It just got a whole lot worse.”
I did want to like it; I did like the cute feelings that emerged, the easy-going dynamic between Cole and his friends, the kind understanding in which the author covered various aspects of sexuality, the unique humor that filtered in. 🌈 But, for the life of me, I cannot forgive how random it all felt! Not to mention, the impromptu way in which the plot eventually took off in a direction that does feel a bit all over the place, and one that just kinda leaves you wondering - did I dream all this?
Poof!
I'm kidding; it had its sweet and relatable moments. The romance between Cole and Malik had a fun spark to it; the damsel in distress twist was --- well, it's YA, I'll let it go. Plus, Meeples was a cozy and charming cafe, one that definitely made the ambience of the story a lot cozier, but still with a mysterious, if not suspicious aura to it. But, I just felt like it was loose threads that did not really converge. I know the side stories of his fellow Rainbow Club's life were given to show like the normalcy of Cole's life, how as he is one who is supportive and considerate, is there for his friends to offer well-solicited advice and vice versa. The diverse queer representation was also nicely handled, which is good. It's fine. 🏳️🌈👍🏻
“Whenever a door closes, somewhere a window opens.”
But, it still felt so haphazard, that I could not sense that it was any merit to the actual teleportation dilemma Cole found himself in that really baffled me; and what did, felt very underdeveloped and too out of the blue for me to acknowledge it as making sense, nor get any aftermath of said development. Because the way it was introduced also was so sudden and unexpected that by the time it made sense, I was past the point of appreciating it. 🙍🏻♀️ For then it just became a sci-fi action thriller that blew over my head for how abruptly it came to the scene and just faded away. Maybe I'm missing the grand scheme of it; like there is an underlying meaning to his teleporting that is channeling his desire to evade his own personal matters, when he doesn't have to avoid them, but has the courage to face them head on... 🥺
There was one side story that I felt did add to that aspect. Cole's relationship with his father who specialized in ASL and often worked as an interpreter. I liked it because it provided an example of the importance of not misinterpreting one's voice; it was a quiet, perhaps subtle reflection to be respectful of one's choice of sexual identity. It also allowed Cole to be more observant and discerning of other's body language and get himself out of tight situations (more often than not) and speak up for himself without hesitation or fear. 🙏🏻
So, yeah. It could have been better; the constant jumping, while fun at first as Cole experimented with his talents, also became a bit tiresome. The potential was there, maybe with a little more development, I could have enjoyed it more rather than the -- not disappointed, but just - okay, yeah, I was disappointed, because I wanted it to reach a point that never came. It's an easy and breezy read, sure; but I did not feel like it gave me enough to make it a satisfying experience. 😔
July 28, 2022
I discovered author 'Nathan Burgoine several years ago. I love his Triad Blood series. Also love Of Echoes Burn, Nathan's short story compilation. Is it possible Nathan's new book, Exit for Teenage Freaks is now my favorite book of his? It's rare I read a novel with a MC so clearly realized. Nathan writes Cole so 3-dimensionally, you swear you know him from the moment he speaks. That clarity along with a kick-ass story makes this one of my favorite YA novels for 2018. Nathan mixes Sci-Fi with budding male/male teen romance and the combination works perfectly. Love, love, love this book and of course the diverse group Cole calls friends makes for some exciting sequel possibilities. But even if this ends up being a stand-alone, Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks should be at the top of to-read lists for teens and adults alike.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2021
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2019/02/26/...
Rating: 3.5 Stars - that place between like and love
I received a copy of Exit Plans For Teenage Freaks from Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rating: 3.5 Stars - that place between like and love
I received a copy of Exit Plans For Teenage Freaks from Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 24, 2019
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks
By ‘Nathan Burgoine
Published by Bold Strokes Books, 2018
Five stars
“The more I did this, the worse it got. Or maybe…maybe it was getting better?”
Wow. I have a new superpower I want.
‘Nathan Burgoine is a Canadian author who offers us a brilliant LGBT YA novel with a Canadian accent, spiced up with a startling paranormal surprise that transforms the comfortable tropes of YA romantic drama into something different and adventurous.
Cole Tozer is a happy gay teen. Well, as happy as any teenager can be. He has amazing parents, potential career plans, and a supportive LGBT club at his school. Even more, aside from his group of close friends, Grayson, Alex and Nat, a gorgeous local jock, Malik King, seems to be sniffing around the Rainbow Club and Cole himself. All of this is well within expectations for YA storytelling, but Burgoine rachets things up immediately with Cole’s unexpected and frightening “gift.” Interestingly, this crucial subplot only begins to take center stage in the last quarter of the book, but the author leads us deftly to that place in a way that seems logical and inevitable.
The key to YA novels is the characters, and the entire Tozer family is deeply and affectionately portrayed. There are no bad people here – only those who would seek to take away Cole’s identity approach bad-guy status; and they are more unimaginative than evil. The supporting cast gets more than its due, casting Cole’s gentle, caring nature into high relief as he copes with the escalating strangeness around him, as well as his unbelieving optimism regarding Malik’s interest.
As Cole begins to accept that his unwanted gift might be something worth fighting to hold onto, he must challenge himself to be braver, more spontaneous, and willing to step outside his comfort zone. The whole story is a metaphor for growing up and embracing one’s complete self, as it should be in a book like this – but it is all done with such a delightful sense of excitement, that the reader gets fully engaged in the excitement. The best YA novels let adult readers relive parts of their own youth, working through anxieties that we all had, but most of us never fully processed. Cole Tozer is a harbinger of our time; a reason to hope for the best. As such, he is a gift worth sharing.
By ‘Nathan Burgoine
Published by Bold Strokes Books, 2018
Five stars
“The more I did this, the worse it got. Or maybe…maybe it was getting better?”
Wow. I have a new superpower I want.
‘Nathan Burgoine is a Canadian author who offers us a brilliant LGBT YA novel with a Canadian accent, spiced up with a startling paranormal surprise that transforms the comfortable tropes of YA romantic drama into something different and adventurous.
Cole Tozer is a happy gay teen. Well, as happy as any teenager can be. He has amazing parents, potential career plans, and a supportive LGBT club at his school. Even more, aside from his group of close friends, Grayson, Alex and Nat, a gorgeous local jock, Malik King, seems to be sniffing around the Rainbow Club and Cole himself. All of this is well within expectations for YA storytelling, but Burgoine rachets things up immediately with Cole’s unexpected and frightening “gift.” Interestingly, this crucial subplot only begins to take center stage in the last quarter of the book, but the author leads us deftly to that place in a way that seems logical and inevitable.
The key to YA novels is the characters, and the entire Tozer family is deeply and affectionately portrayed. There are no bad people here – only those who would seek to take away Cole’s identity approach bad-guy status; and they are more unimaginative than evil. The supporting cast gets more than its due, casting Cole’s gentle, caring nature into high relief as he copes with the escalating strangeness around him, as well as his unbelieving optimism regarding Malik’s interest.
As Cole begins to accept that his unwanted gift might be something worth fighting to hold onto, he must challenge himself to be braver, more spontaneous, and willing to step outside his comfort zone. The whole story is a metaphor for growing up and embracing one’s complete self, as it should be in a book like this – but it is all done with such a delightful sense of excitement, that the reader gets fully engaged in the excitement. The best YA novels let adult readers relive parts of their own youth, working through anxieties that we all had, but most of us never fully processed. Cole Tozer is a harbinger of our time; a reason to hope for the best. As such, he is a gift worth sharing.
July 12, 2023
A clever witty YA fantasy novel. The main character Cole reads to me as younger than 17 — but what do I know?
Enjoyed all the in-jokes and wordplay. Sportballs!!
Overall, it’s a strange concoction: a high concept plot with thriller overtones, yet remarkably innocent and HEA.
Add this one to the list of books I should have read when I was thirteen. My retroactive teenage TBR is becoming quite the impressive stack.
Enjoyed all the in-jokes and wordplay. Sportballs!!
Overall, it’s a strange concoction: a high concept plot with thriller overtones, yet remarkably innocent and HEA.
Add this one to the list of books I should have read when I was thirteen. My retroactive teenage TBR is becoming quite the impressive stack.
April 9, 2020
Hey, this was really good...another win for YA.
Loving that free 30 day Scribd subscription!
Loving that free 30 day Scribd subscription!
December 9, 2018
This is a strong novel, combining queer themes with a paranormal element in an interesting and twisty way. Cole is a great narrator, whose personality and confidence grow naturally through the story.
Finding out he can teleport provides Cole with the main tension in the novel, but there are other sub-plots that add layers to this interesting text. I liked the inclusion of the deaf culture as another example of minorities, but felt that Cole's slight change of plans (maybe?) about his future career by the end came out of the blue. I would have liked that part of the story to have been given more consideration.
All of Cole's friends were depicted in depth, so that readers were able to get a great sense of each of them. Even though some stuff was not explained totally, (i.e. Grayson and Alec), we were given enough information to fill in the gaps for ourselves.
While we learn much about the teleporting, there is actually quite a bit more we could find out. I wonder if there is a sequel somewhere in the future.
This is a terrific example of an LGBTQIA novel for young people. Acceptance, finding your tribe, and the positive message of it will get better is all there.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes for advanced copy. Comes out on December 11.
Finding out he can teleport provides Cole with the main tension in the novel, but there are other sub-plots that add layers to this interesting text. I liked the inclusion of the deaf culture as another example of minorities, but felt that Cole's slight change of plans (maybe?) about his future career by the end came out of the blue. I would have liked that part of the story to have been given more consideration.
All of Cole's friends were depicted in depth, so that readers were able to get a great sense of each of them. Even though some stuff was not explained totally, (i.e. Grayson and Alec), we were given enough information to fill in the gaps for ourselves.
While we learn much about the teleporting, there is actually quite a bit more we could find out. I wonder if there is a sequel somewhere in the future.
This is a terrific example of an LGBTQIA novel for young people. Acceptance, finding your tribe, and the positive message of it will get better is all there.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes for advanced copy. Comes out on December 11.
October 7, 2019
Oh, I loved this. It's so awesome! It's delightful and engaging and it's so thoroughly and happily and authentically queer. I loved how the kid's queerness was absolutely *not* the problem in this book, as it so often is in YA. The problem is that he suddenly starts teleporting uncontrollably. This is a cool story and it's fun and upbeat and real-world diverse and wonderfully nerdy. The writing is so snappy and confident. I loved the Canadian-ness of it all. Cole's dad is deaf and I loved their relationship and how deafness was portrayed. There's a lot of queer people in this book and I love how normal and not very important the queerness it is. It's just reality and no bad stuff happens to anyone and how awesome is that? I wish it wasn't so rare to read YA books where nothing bad happens to the queer kids. I treasure those books. Own voices queer books are so important. I loved this and I look forward to reading more by this author.
January 17, 2021
4.25 stars from me. Got a real all-inclusive, cute as hell vibe from this one...in fact, the least well done part of the story for me was the teleporting aspect.
Cole was an absolutely wonderful young 17 year old, studying hard to possibly be an interpreter for deaf people as he'd grown up signing cause his dad was deaf...I loved his mum and dad. His best friend Alec was always there for him, and they came out to each other...Cole being gay and Alec being ace. Their Rainbow club at school was small but all-inclusive as I've already said, all the characters were diverse and some far more vocal than others [yes, Grayson I'm pointing >>> at you]. Malik is the other MC, and of course Cole has noticed him as he's hot, cute and sporty, but Cole tends to shy away from the sporty group as it also includes Austin who, while not exactly a bully, is someone Cole actively tries to avoid in view of something weird that happened in Cole's past. When Malik turns up at the Rainbow club one day and tries to support Cole [gobsmacked much??], things start to go off the rails.
As I said, the teleporting aspect was a little underdone for me. Nothing was really explained as far as the why's and wherefore's were concerned, and I'm really hoping that means there'll be a book 2 please dear Author. Also...is this school really too good to be believed?? I was under the impression from other YA stories I've read that bullying is pretty much the norm for gay kids?? Happy to be proved wrong of course...
Cole was an absolutely wonderful young 17 year old, studying hard to possibly be an interpreter for deaf people as he'd grown up signing cause his dad was deaf...I loved his mum and dad. His best friend Alec was always there for him, and they came out to each other...Cole being gay and Alec being ace. Their Rainbow club at school was small but all-inclusive as I've already said, all the characters were diverse and some far more vocal than others [yes, Grayson I'm pointing >>> at you]. Malik is the other MC, and of course Cole has noticed him as he's hot, cute and sporty, but Cole tends to shy away from the sporty group as it also includes Austin who, while not exactly a bully, is someone Cole actively tries to avoid in view of something weird that happened in Cole's past. When Malik turns up at the Rainbow club one day and tries to support Cole [gobsmacked much??], things start to go off the rails.
As I said, the teleporting aspect was a little underdone for me. Nothing was really explained as far as the why's and wherefore's were concerned, and I'm really hoping that means there'll be a book 2 please dear Author. Also...is this school really too good to be believed?? I was under the impression from other YA stories I've read that bullying is pretty much the norm for gay kids?? Happy to be proved wrong of course...
December 2, 2018
First off, this book lives and breathes on its characters. So many freaking amazing characters. With ALLLLLLLLL the LGBT+ rep it's too stunning (or just stunning enough, you tell me). Our protagonist Cole is gay, and his best friends make up the school's Rainbow Club. Okay 1) can they be my friends because they're really cool (and realistic teens wow) and 2) let me just list the rep for ya since we have: bisexual, asexual, pansexual and lesbian teens living breathing and talking. All over the place, I know, it's crazy madness. (I even might have not listed some so you can be surprised by EVEN MORE REP.)
As a sub-paragraph to that, Burgoine doesn't just "include" a bisexual teen (ex). Each character is first and foremost a person with their own likes and dislikes and then also btw bisexual. But he also allows the characters to question their LGBT+ knowledge which I loved. Not only did it allow me as a reader to learn more, it also showed that you can be LGBT+ and not know every in and out of the community. It's okay! The point is: keep learning. Be okay with continually learning.
As someone who is not part of the LGBT+ community, this aspect of the book resonated with me because of my high school experience. I had close friends who identified as LGBT+ and sometimes I would swerve around topics because I thought they knew everything and me even asking would make me look so dumb and ignorant. This book just cemented the fact that no one can know everything AND ... avoiding even asking? Missed opportunity for everyone to learn. Also I totally know there are so many Nats out there ready to welcome me in. << You would get the reference if you *read the book*
Anyyywayy, if I didn't go on about that long enough. Cole has nerdiness and quirks down pat. I was chuckling at his awkwardness throughout the book. I clicked with so many of his passions too: bullet-journaling, lists, love for board games. He also takes his sudden ability for teleporting in such stride. I mean, one day you find out you can teleport. For Cole, that means the next day you just casually start practicing on the DL. I *loved* it, because let's be real, most teens would secretly build up their skills before telling anyone. Then evil people are after him and the way he handles it all is just true badass mixed with, well, true Cole-dorkness. I loved it.
This review is getting long and I don't think I gushed enough. There is so much more love. Cole wants to be an interpreter (of ASL) like his father. The Deaf culture rep was sooo amazing, I didn't expect it to be there and lived for that moment. I wish there was more explanation on how his father interprets (I only knew of Hearing people being interpreters before).
Cole and Malik were such a great relationship. As far as I'm concerned, the next great contemporary ship. Mole. Calik. (The name might need work.) I found myself smiling like a true dork while reading about them on "not dates." #BULLET+SPORTSBALL4EVA
My biggest (non)complaint is that there is not already an official sequel in the works. The world-building/description could have used a bit more work though, which is why in official ratings I knock off half a point. Sometimes I couldn't place where I was (in the Rainbow Club room? outside by the tree?) until much later, so Cole was just kind of floating in space, talking. But anyway, y'all know how rarely I gush so ... this book. Is really good
As a sub-paragraph to that, Burgoine doesn't just "include" a bisexual teen (ex). Each character is first and foremost a person with their own likes and dislikes and then also btw bisexual. But he also allows the characters to question their LGBT+ knowledge which I loved. Not only did it allow me as a reader to learn more, it also showed that you can be LGBT+ and not know every in and out of the community. It's okay! The point is: keep learning. Be okay with continually learning.
As someone who is not part of the LGBT+ community, this aspect of the book resonated with me because of my high school experience. I had close friends who identified as LGBT+ and sometimes I would swerve around topics because I thought they knew everything and me even asking would make me look so dumb and ignorant. This book just cemented the fact that no one can know everything AND ... avoiding even asking? Missed opportunity for everyone to learn. Also I totally know there are so many Nats out there ready to welcome me in. << You would get the reference if you *read the book*
Anyyywayy, if I didn't go on about that long enough. Cole has nerdiness and quirks down pat. I was chuckling at his awkwardness throughout the book. I clicked with so many of his passions too: bullet-journaling, lists, love for board games. He also takes his sudden ability for teleporting in such stride. I mean, one day you find out you can teleport. For Cole, that means the next day you just casually start practicing on the DL. I *loved* it, because let's be real, most teens would secretly build up their skills before telling anyone. Then evil people are after him and the way he handles it all is just true badass mixed with, well, true Cole-dorkness. I loved it.
This review is getting long and I don't think I gushed enough. There is so much more love. Cole wants to be an interpreter (of ASL) like his father. The Deaf culture rep was sooo amazing, I didn't expect it to be there and lived for that moment. I wish there was more explanation on how his father interprets (I only knew of Hearing people being interpreters before).
Cole and Malik were such a great relationship. As far as I'm concerned, the next great contemporary ship. Mole. Calik. (The name might need work.) I found myself smiling like a true dork while reading about them on "not dates." #BULLET+SPORTSBALL4EVA
My biggest (non)complaint is that there is not already an official sequel in the works. The world-building/description could have used a bit more work though, which is why in official ratings I knock off half a point. Sometimes I couldn't place where I was (in the Rainbow Club room? outside by the tree?) until much later, so Cole was just kind of floating in space, talking. But anyway, y'all know how rarely I gush so ... this book. Is really good
July 6, 2019
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this! Great representation (including ace and pan rep!!) and loved the story, I just wish the ideas were more fleshed out.
I really enjoyed this! Great representation (including ace and pan rep!!) and loved the story, I just wish the ideas were more fleshed out.
May 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this. Cole is facing his last few weeks of high school when he realises he has the ability to teleport. It just happened! One minute he was opening a door at school and the next minute he was at a museum on the edge of town.
And so his adventures begin.
Cole has to survive the last few weeks of school while discovering more about his new powers. He is going to cope with this by making lists and methodically working his way through things but this new and scary abilty is going to upset his well ordered world especially when it seems that there are people spying on him.
Anyway he might be able to survive this with the help of the people around him and his long term friends and especially the dreamy Malik. Cole has to discover all about himself. He is already seen as the weird gay nerd and he doesn't want to give any more fuel to those kids who like to ridicule him.
This was a really great adventure. Cole manages to be both courageous and vulnerable, especially as he tries to cope with his attraction to Malik and the fact that he needs to control his teleporting and discover why it seems as if he is umder surveillance. The story is written by one of my favourite authors so I knew it was going to be good even though I normally don't like to read YA stories.
This one is gripping and it is fun although there is a delicious frisson of darkness and the unknown that runs through the story. I kept wondering if Cole would be discovered and why he was being followed. The normal teen angst comes into the story as Cole deals with with love and attraction, the future and family relationships.
I really liked the way the story was inclusive with diverse characters, but not at all preachy in the way this is done. We just get a well rounded group of young people each looking forward to the next stage of their lives, however Cole's next stage is rather complicated.
I enjoyed reading this and I will definitely read any YA that is written by this author.
Copy provided by Bold Stroke Books via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
And so his adventures begin.
Cole has to survive the last few weeks of school while discovering more about his new powers. He is going to cope with this by making lists and methodically working his way through things but this new and scary abilty is going to upset his well ordered world especially when it seems that there are people spying on him.
Anyway he might be able to survive this with the help of the people around him and his long term friends and especially the dreamy Malik. Cole has to discover all about himself. He is already seen as the weird gay nerd and he doesn't want to give any more fuel to those kids who like to ridicule him.
This was a really great adventure. Cole manages to be both courageous and vulnerable, especially as he tries to cope with his attraction to Malik and the fact that he needs to control his teleporting and discover why it seems as if he is umder surveillance. The story is written by one of my favourite authors so I knew it was going to be good even though I normally don't like to read YA stories.
This one is gripping and it is fun although there is a delicious frisson of darkness and the unknown that runs through the story. I kept wondering if Cole would be discovered and why he was being followed. The normal teen angst comes into the story as Cole deals with with love and attraction, the future and family relationships.
I really liked the way the story was inclusive with diverse characters, but not at all preachy in the way this is done. We just get a well rounded group of young people each looking forward to the next stage of their lives, however Cole's next stage is rather complicated.
I enjoyed reading this and I will definitely read any YA that is written by this author.
Copy provided by Bold Stroke Books via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 3, 2018
3.5 stars
Cole's plan for keeping his head down and not get noticed during his last week of HS is thrown for a loop when he starts being able to teleport from one doorway to another.
This story is brimming with wonderful LGBQTIA representation and Cole is a sweet, nerdy, geeky, planner boy that everyone can relate to in his awkwardness. His friends and family are supportive and interesting in their own right. As a coming of age novel it’s quite good and touches on several issues such as career paths after HS, crushes, coming out, changing friendships.
If you’re reading it for the cool teleportation skills that Cole suddenly acquires, then the book is less successful. It’s not the focus and isn’t even really addressed fully until about the 70% mark. Once it was the action really picks up and it's a fun take on things but by then the book is over.
This was a fun book – and anyone looking for AMAZING LGBQTIA (gay, bi, pan, transsexual, asexual, lesbian) and disability (Cole's father is deaf & Cole is studying to be an professional ASL interpreter) rep should put this at the top of their list. I thought it was also an excellent book showing examples of being a good ally. But I wished the sci-fi/contemporary parts were balanced better on the whole.
I would love for this to become a series because it leaves things at an awesome place that had me very curious and I would pick up the next in a heartbeat.
Cole's plan for keeping his head down and not get noticed during his last week of HS is thrown for a loop when he starts being able to teleport from one doorway to another.
This story is brimming with wonderful LGBQTIA representation and Cole is a sweet, nerdy, geeky, planner boy that everyone can relate to in his awkwardness. His friends and family are supportive and interesting in their own right. As a coming of age novel it’s quite good and touches on several issues such as career paths after HS, crushes, coming out, changing friendships.
If you’re reading it for the cool teleportation skills that Cole suddenly acquires, then the book is less successful. It’s not the focus and isn’t even really addressed fully until about the 70% mark. Once it was the action really picks up and it's a fun take on things but by then the book is over.
This was a fun book – and anyone looking for AMAZING LGBQTIA (gay, bi, pan, transsexual, asexual, lesbian) and disability (Cole's father is deaf & Cole is studying to be an professional ASL interpreter) rep should put this at the top of their list. I thought it was also an excellent book showing examples of being a good ally. But I wished the sci-fi/contemporary parts were balanced better on the whole.
I would love for this to become a series because it leaves things at an awesome place that had me very curious and I would pick up the next in a heartbeat.
August 10, 2020
Rated 3.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Inclusive/intersectional, funny, with refreshingly wholesome family/friend dynamics.
Cons: The paranormal aspect is a bit underdeveloped. Not all the lead's friends get the same screen time.
Will appeal to: Those who are in for a queer romance/paranormal/action combo.
Karen @ For What It's Worth warned me this was more of a contemporary than a sci-fi (or, I'd rather say, paranormal) book, but I was intrigued, so I gave it a chance. It turns out I feel like she feels about this novel, but I don't regret reading it in the slightest - so please take my rating with a grain of salt, because there are so many things EPFTF does right, even if they aren't the ones I was looking for.
THE COLOURS OF LOVE
EPFTF is a funny and fresh adventure in teleporting, but to me, its strength lies in the sexual diversity and in the familial/friendly relationships. Cole (our lead) is gay, his love interest is bi (as one of his female friends is), and the whole Rainbow Club he's part of is brimming with representation, from ace members (or ex-members, but still friends with Cole...best friends actually...) to both pan and non-binary ones. Also, Cole's love interest is not only bi, but also Black, and Cole's father is deaf. Exit Plans isn't a diversity textbook though: all the kids manage to feel like real teenagers, not necessarily perfect, coming in different degrees of woke, thinking of...well...the things teens are wont to think about 😂 - but having much more than those on their minds, and always sticking up for each other. Also, the parent rep in this book is AWESOME. Though Cole keeps his newfound teleporting ability from his mum and dad (which is understandable...to a point), he's got a healthy relationship with them, and he's even thinking of following in his father's footsteps as an ASL interpreter. Plus, his parents are in love with each other, and always there for their son - an almost unheard-of thing in YA. [...]
Whole review here.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Inclusive/intersectional, funny, with refreshingly wholesome family/friend dynamics.
Cons: The paranormal aspect is a bit underdeveloped. Not all the lead's friends get the same screen time.
Will appeal to: Those who are in for a queer romance/paranormal/action combo.
Karen @ For What It's Worth warned me this was more of a contemporary than a sci-fi (or, I'd rather say, paranormal) book, but I was intrigued, so I gave it a chance. It turns out I feel like she feels about this novel, but I don't regret reading it in the slightest - so please take my rating with a grain of salt, because there are so many things EPFTF does right, even if they aren't the ones I was looking for.
THE COLOURS OF LOVE
EPFTF is a funny and fresh adventure in teleporting, but to me, its strength lies in the sexual diversity and in the familial/friendly relationships. Cole (our lead) is gay, his love interest is bi (as one of his female friends is), and the whole Rainbow Club he's part of is brimming with representation, from ace members (or ex-members, but still friends with Cole...best friends actually...) to both pan and non-binary ones. Also, Cole's love interest is not only bi, but also Black, and Cole's father is deaf. Exit Plans isn't a diversity textbook though: all the kids manage to feel like real teenagers, not necessarily perfect, coming in different degrees of woke, thinking of...well...the things teens are wont to think about 😂 - but having much more than those on their minds, and always sticking up for each other. Also, the parent rep in this book is AWESOME. Though Cole keeps his newfound teleporting ability from his mum and dad (which is understandable...to a point), he's got a healthy relationship with them, and he's even thinking of following in his father's footsteps as an ASL interpreter. Plus, his parents are in love with each other, and always there for their son - an almost unheard-of thing in YA. [...]
Whole review here.
July 13, 2019
Amazingly cute
July 13, 2019
Cole, a driven, organized, list maker, one day accidentally teleports into a secret society plot that could endanger the lives he cares most deeply about. What a great idea! I had never read a gay themed YA book with the sort of what if Nightcrawler from the X-Men were gay vibe, and I am so glad this is out there. It’s fun, exciting, fresh, and well written.
And as an aside, edited fantastically by my editor, Jerry Wheeler.
The cover is one of the best of the year!
There are so many great moments about supportive friendships, struggling to make it through high school, coming out, college decisions, changing friendships, and career choices. And sign language interpreters. That was such a refreshing topic that taught me more than anything in the book, and there was some teaching going on.
First, the ASL info and practice engaged me. Cole and his dad practicing how to be a sign language interpreter was so touching and cool. I had no idea how they restructured sentences in signing and as a geek, I went to the internet and started reading up. I want a novel about a grown up Cole and what he can get into with these two powers. It speaks highly of world building when the reader imagines other scenarios and future plots.
The not great but still good was the Rainbow Club drama and inclusivity agenda that came on a tad strong. Meter your response to this comment, because my mentioning this is very minor and I did use the word ‘tad’ didn’t I?There was maybe more time spent on those relationships which didn’t really play into the main plot. It was still wonderful to read about and they were all really great characters. Malik’s storyline got me in the feels. Alec and Grayson and their growth was well done.
What I wanted was to see a teenager who could all of a sudden pop anywhere he ever wanted, start making lists and checking off boxes of actually going everywhere. I’d go right to pyramids and Paris, islands and bank vaults! He seemed more focused on exams. I think a real teen would have poofed here and there until their nose bled like Eleven from Stranger Things over using powers.
What I want? Another book. I want to see Cole face off with the group. See where he and Malik end up. See interpreting job hijinks. Maybe we will get a sequel?
And as an aside, edited fantastically by my editor, Jerry Wheeler.
The cover is one of the best of the year!
There are so many great moments about supportive friendships, struggling to make it through high school, coming out, college decisions, changing friendships, and career choices. And sign language interpreters. That was such a refreshing topic that taught me more than anything in the book, and there was some teaching going on.
First, the ASL info and practice engaged me. Cole and his dad practicing how to be a sign language interpreter was so touching and cool. I had no idea how they restructured sentences in signing and as a geek, I went to the internet and started reading up. I want a novel about a grown up Cole and what he can get into with these two powers. It speaks highly of world building when the reader imagines other scenarios and future plots.
The not great but still good was the Rainbow Club drama and inclusivity agenda that came on a tad strong. Meter your response to this comment, because my mentioning this is very minor and I did use the word ‘tad’ didn’t I?There was maybe more time spent on those relationships which didn’t really play into the main plot. It was still wonderful to read about and they were all really great characters. Malik’s storyline got me in the feels. Alec and Grayson and their growth was well done.
What I wanted was to see a teenager who could all of a sudden pop anywhere he ever wanted, start making lists and checking off boxes of actually going everywhere. I’d go right to pyramids and Paris, islands and bank vaults! He seemed more focused on exams. I think a real teen would have poofed here and there until their nose bled like Eleven from Stranger Things over using powers.
What I want? Another book. I want to see Cole face off with the group. See where he and Malik end up. See interpreting job hijinks. Maybe we will get a sequel?
January 23, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Burgoine does an excellent job crafting relatable, lovable, and believable YA characters and high school experiences. Cole is confident and self-assured in his goals, while also being reasonably insecure without coming across as neurotic as a Woody Allen character trapped in the body of a teenage boy; smart without being an annoyingly worldly sage that reads Kierkegaard for fun and quotes Aristotle to his friends; and an unapologetic nerd who isn’t a checklist of geek culture archetypes à la Big Bang Theory.
While the teleportation aspect and the ensuing hijinks and complications are entertaining and integral to the story, so is Cole’s relationships with his parents, his groups of friends, and the Rainbow Club they formed for queer kids at their school.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Burgoine does an excellent job crafting relatable, lovable, and believable YA characters and high school experiences. Cole is confident and self-assured in his goals, while also being reasonably insecure without coming across as neurotic as a Woody Allen character trapped in the body of a teenage boy; smart without being an annoyingly worldly sage that reads Kierkegaard for fun and quotes Aristotle to his friends; and an unapologetic nerd who isn’t a checklist of geek culture archetypes à la Big Bang Theory.
While the teleportation aspect and the ensuing hijinks and complications are entertaining and integral to the story, so is Cole’s relationships with his parents, his groups of friends, and the Rainbow Club they formed for queer kids at their school.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
December 5, 2018
Warnings: discussion of homophobia, bullying, torture, kidnapping
Things I loved about this book:
◙ Superpower fantasy in which a boy finds out he can teleport through doors
◙ Reminded me a bit of the movie Jumper
◙ Super awkward jumps and Cole's practice having a realistic curve
◙ Cute romance with a coming out arc for the love interest
◙ Diverse set of secondary characters
◙ Awesome parents who are supportive; but there is also acknowledgement of how curfew affects his story
◙ Throws in a bit of a coming-of-age arc as well.
Things the book could have done better:
◙ The whole organization structure of the jumpers wasn't really clear, nor was his 'loudness' explained.
◙ The tension between Alec and Grayson wasn't really explained, considering it forms a subplot, and then was suddenly resolved.
◙ The ending felt like it resolved too easily? Or at least, rushed?
◙ How did nobody see people suddenly appearing/disappearing through doorways and archways?
Is it diverse? It has a gay protagonist, with a bisexual MOC love interest. Among secondary characters, there is deaf/hard of hearing, bisexual, asexual, non-binary, gay and lesbian rep.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Bold Strokes Books, via Netgalley.
Things I loved about this book:
◙ Superpower fantasy in which a boy finds out he can teleport through doors
◙ Reminded me a bit of the movie Jumper
◙ Super awkward jumps and Cole's practice having a realistic curve
◙ Cute romance with a coming out arc for the love interest
◙ Diverse set of secondary characters
◙ Awesome parents who are supportive; but there is also acknowledgement of how curfew affects his story
◙ Throws in a bit of a coming-of-age arc as well.
Things the book could have done better:
◙ The whole organization structure of the jumpers wasn't really clear, nor was his 'loudness' explained.
◙ The tension between Alec and Grayson wasn't really explained, considering it forms a subplot, and then was suddenly resolved.
◙ The ending felt like it resolved too easily? Or at least, rushed?
◙ How did nobody see people suddenly appearing/disappearing through doorways and archways?
Is it diverse? It has a gay protagonist, with a bisexual MOC love interest. Among secondary characters, there is deaf/hard of hearing, bisexual, asexual, non-binary, gay and lesbian rep.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Bold Strokes Books, via Netgalley.
December 28, 2018
The Story
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks follows a 17-year-old gay high school boy named Cole who, after pushing open the front door to his high school, suddenly finds himself many miles away at the museum that he was thinking about. When he’s finally able to gather his thoughts, he can come to no other conclusion other than that he somehow had just teleported from his high school to the museum. His suspicion is confirmed when it happens again though this time he’s placed in a much more precarious situation.
From there, we follow a string of one awkward situation after another as Cole unwillingly “pops in” all over the place, even ending up outside of a glass shower door in which a boy from his school is showering. Cole pretty quickly figures out that any time he touches or walks through a door, he risks “poofing” to somewhere else.
Cole then notices that creepy people are staring at him whenever he teleports and it doesn’t take him long to figure out that they people may not have his best interest in mind. Eventually, he learns that these people plan to put a stop to his teleporting — by any means necessary.
What I Liked
This novel was so much fun that I ended up reading it in its entirety in just one sitting. This story gripped me to such an extent that I could not put it down. It was original and unique, and I couldn’t wait to see where the author was going to take us next. I loved the premise of Cole’s teleporting, especially once we discover the reason behind it.
I also really loved Cole’s character. He was sweet, bumbling, goofy and overall a likable and relatable guy who won me over right from the start. His bullet journaling and nerdy obsessive planning endeared him even more so to me. I enjoyed seeing his reaction as he discovered his new powers and figured out how to manage them on his own.
Additionally, I loved the representation in this novel in which our main character is gay, and his friends fall somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum: bisexual, pansexual, asexual and transgender. Additionally, Cole’s father is deaf, so it was also nice seeing the inclusion of the deaf community as well. I thought the author did an excellent job of representing the diverse characters in this story.
I also enjoyed how rich, well-developed and irresistible the secondary characters were. They were engaging, fully realized and super-relatable and I found myself ruminating over them well after I finished the novel.
Lastly, I thought the romance was perfect. I liked how it unfolded slowly and naturally and wasn’t at all rushed. The buildup was sweet and playful, and their relationship developed exactly as it should have.
What I Didn’t Like
Though we find out the reason that Cole has demonstrated his sudden talent for teleporting, I wish the author would have gone into a little more detail about it. I would have liked to know why Cole possessed this talent, its purpose and what is ultimately expected of Cole and others like him. I’m hoping that the reason this wasn’t explained is that the author plans on exploring these topics further in future books.
There were also so many themes running through this story, and I wished that the author had explored them more fully; so in this way, the book definitely could have been longer. I would have enjoyed a little more backstory, especially in regards to the past history of the secondary characters and the other teleporters.
Verdict
I loved this quirky and fun story! In Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks, the author has demonstrated a clear talent for writing a unique and compelling LGBTQ+ story and has proven that he can go beyond usual boundaries to create something truly unique and stunning. This is an offbeat, wonderfully weird, immersive book with an adorable cast of characters. The intrigue and excitement grow steadily throughout the novel resulting in a story that is difficult to put down.
By the end of the book, I was head over heels in love with the two main characters, and I really hope the author continues this story in future books.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks follows a 17-year-old gay high school boy named Cole who, after pushing open the front door to his high school, suddenly finds himself many miles away at the museum that he was thinking about. When he’s finally able to gather his thoughts, he can come to no other conclusion other than that he somehow had just teleported from his high school to the museum. His suspicion is confirmed when it happens again though this time he’s placed in a much more precarious situation.
From there, we follow a string of one awkward situation after another as Cole unwillingly “pops in” all over the place, even ending up outside of a glass shower door in which a boy from his school is showering. Cole pretty quickly figures out that any time he touches or walks through a door, he risks “poofing” to somewhere else.
Cole then notices that creepy people are staring at him whenever he teleports and it doesn’t take him long to figure out that they people may not have his best interest in mind. Eventually, he learns that these people plan to put a stop to his teleporting — by any means necessary.
What I Liked
This novel was so much fun that I ended up reading it in its entirety in just one sitting. This story gripped me to such an extent that I could not put it down. It was original and unique, and I couldn’t wait to see where the author was going to take us next. I loved the premise of Cole’s teleporting, especially once we discover the reason behind it.
I also really loved Cole’s character. He was sweet, bumbling, goofy and overall a likable and relatable guy who won me over right from the start. His bullet journaling and nerdy obsessive planning endeared him even more so to me. I enjoyed seeing his reaction as he discovered his new powers and figured out how to manage them on his own.
Additionally, I loved the representation in this novel in which our main character is gay, and his friends fall somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum: bisexual, pansexual, asexual and transgender. Additionally, Cole’s father is deaf, so it was also nice seeing the inclusion of the deaf community as well. I thought the author did an excellent job of representing the diverse characters in this story.
I also enjoyed how rich, well-developed and irresistible the secondary characters were. They were engaging, fully realized and super-relatable and I found myself ruminating over them well after I finished the novel.
Lastly, I thought the romance was perfect. I liked how it unfolded slowly and naturally and wasn’t at all rushed. The buildup was sweet and playful, and their relationship developed exactly as it should have.
What I Didn’t Like
Though we find out the reason that Cole has demonstrated his sudden talent for teleporting, I wish the author would have gone into a little more detail about it. I would have liked to know why Cole possessed this talent, its purpose and what is ultimately expected of Cole and others like him. I’m hoping that the reason this wasn’t explained is that the author plans on exploring these topics further in future books.
There were also so many themes running through this story, and I wished that the author had explored them more fully; so in this way, the book definitely could have been longer. I would have enjoyed a little more backstory, especially in regards to the past history of the secondary characters and the other teleporters.
Verdict
I loved this quirky and fun story! In Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks, the author has demonstrated a clear talent for writing a unique and compelling LGBTQ+ story and has proven that he can go beyond usual boundaries to create something truly unique and stunning. This is an offbeat, wonderfully weird, immersive book with an adorable cast of characters. The intrigue and excitement grow steadily throughout the novel resulting in a story that is difficult to put down.
By the end of the book, I was head over heels in love with the two main characters, and I really hope the author continues this story in future books.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2018
I was going to take my time with this ARC, since I had 13 days before it's released. Why rush through it? Ha-ha. Best-laid plans, right?
I started reading, stopped halfway through, watching the confetti of that plan flutter down before sleep, and finished it today. Fantastic.
It wasn't perfect for me (I quibble with the trouble Cole has over his first abduction), but that's easy to ignore in light of the terrific cast of characters and the increasingly troubling events Cole faces. And the ending is perfection. I wish I'd had books like this when I was a teen!
I started reading, stopped halfway through, watching the confetti of that plan flutter down before sleep, and finished it today. Fantastic.
It wasn't perfect for me (I quibble with the trouble Cole has over his first abduction), but that's easy to ignore in light of the terrific cast of characters and the increasingly troubling events Cole faces. And the ending is perfection. I wish I'd had books like this when I was a teen!
March 25, 2019
I adored this book to pieces! I love Burgoine's writing so much, and how he manages to draw me in and *grab* me within the first couple of pages.
The premise had me hooked immediately, but the wonderful cast of characters kept me turning the pages long after my bedtime. I loved the casual queer rep, the MC and his fantastic brain and his lists made my days so much.
The romantic subplot was cute and sweet, the mystery and action not overbearing, but engaging and the solution was *awesome*. I'm kinda wishing for a sequel, simply because I'd love to spend more time with these characters and on this universe. Definitely recommended.
The premise had me hooked immediately, but the wonderful cast of characters kept me turning the pages long after my bedtime. I loved the casual queer rep, the MC and his fantastic brain and his lists made my days so much.
The romantic subplot was cute and sweet, the mystery and action not overbearing, but engaging and the solution was *awesome*. I'm kinda wishing for a sequel, simply because I'd love to spend more time with these characters and on this universe. Definitely recommended.
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