This novel is a Lone Star 2023 novel. If you liked _Thanks a Lot Universe_, you'll like this novel. It builds to a beautiful story; when you finish, you'll think it's one of the best books you've read lately.

Jeremy says little, but he thinks a lot about his life. He knows that he prefers boys for future dating. He doesn't know what his parents will think, and he can't ask/tell them because they communicate poorly. In fact, his parents decide to divorce. His mother embraces the freedom, yet she never forgets to include Jeremy. She teaches him to be responsible; his ability to take care of himself comes from her. His dad has always been the fun one, not known for "adulting" well even though he's a successful professor. For two weeks Jeremy and his dad will live on the coast of Oregon in one of his uncle Becker's rent houses while Jeremy's mom moves to her new home in her new town to start her new job. His mom thrives. Jeremy's dad struggles. How can he tell his parents when they are experiencing life changing events as well?

Jeremy anticipates a quiet two weeks as he gets to decide which town he will live in when school starts. He looks forward to looking through the fashion magazines that he loves, but he hides this fascination because it helps him hide who he is. He's watching the water and the birds when he sees a boy running by. His eyes follow him. Good--no one saw him looking at a boy. He's so scared of being discovered that he assumes he'll be outed as gay if he merely looks at a boy. After going to check out the town, he meets the running boy, Evan. Evan is friendly and outgoing. He gives Jeremy his number even though cell coverage is very iffy on the beach. Their texting seems to defy the cell phone waves, for Jeremy can never contact his mom, but he gets every text it seems from Evan. They start hanging out. His time with Evan becomes a time of growth. Evan teaches him to run, but their main passions are the birds. They have nicknames for all of the birds that create a secret language for just them. Jeremy finds himself needing Evan, for Evan helps him enjoy life. He finds himself talking, being friendly, and making a friend.

Meanwhile, Jeremy's dad isn't faring so well. Jeremy never lets Evan around his dad because he fears what his dad will think. [As an adult (me talking), this feeling seems weird. Wouldn't he merely think that his son has found a friend to hang out with for two weeks?] Jeremy fears having a friend who is a boy will make him look gay. His dad and his uncle sit around teasing him about girls and they drink a lot. Jeremy doesn't realize how much until he discovers the empty bottles. Jeremy's dad struggles with being a responsible parent, making the "rules of the house" confusing for Jeremy. Jeremy finds himself hearing his mother's voice and taking care of chores in the house to help his dad, but his dad's moods shift constantly. He's a different man As Jeremy is a quiet kid, he doesn't say anything. His escape is always with Evan.

Of course, everything has to come together for a climax. You'll see the train wreck coming the entire novel, but you also discover that people have more within them than you assume. You meet Evan's grandmother, Jeremy's dad's girlfriend, the gem store's owner, and Jeremy's uncle, Becker. Becker shows Jeremy that he's more than he appears. I really loved the adult characters. I loved the honesty of the father's character--his character shows that adults struggle and, unfortunately, it can hurt the kids. Can both grow/forgive? The end is beautifully revealed and it's true to life, especially about summer friendships. Because of the current political climate, I feel that I have to say this statement. There are no inappropriate scenes. I hate the words "inappropriate" when used by some people. The book has been reviewed by professionals and is for upper elementary to about 8th grade. After reading the novel, I agree. Our main characters are 12 and 13 year old boys. They are innocent boys--there's nothing dirty or wrong about them. There's nothing inappropriate about them. No one kisses in this novel--they are too young and innocent. One does kiss the other on the forehead once. My only criticism is that the mother isn't mentioned at the end. Considering her role, it would bring her off-stage character completion--as it should be for the family unit that started the novel. Yes, you need to read this beautiful novel. ( )