Nick BurdRecensioni

The last summer before Dade goes to college is a time when everything changes. And that's not a bad thing - he wouldn't mind a change from his closeted friend with benefits and hostile, homophobic peers and a way to get away from his parents' crumbling marriage. When he meets Alex Kincaid, he finds that he can and should be willing to expect more for himself.

Nick Burd presents us with an incredibly well-written tale about Dade and the people in his life. This coming-of-age story is one that seems to capture what it means to grow up, to go from being a teenager to being an adult. There's no instant moment that it happens, but when it does, we change as people and we change how we see the world. And Dade is no exception.

Content warning: mentions of suicide

This was an easy, fairly lightweight book to read. It covers some familiar territory, the coming of age of a gay teenager in his last year of high school. It was somewhat ordinary, with a plot twist at the end that was not completely predictable. There were moments that did not seem to work, yet these were not sufficient to derail the narrative. I'm not sure that any of the characters were all that interesting, much less convincing, but the story held my interest and for that I have to give it credit.½

Teen fiction. Decent coming-of-age story that would probably fall through the cracks if not for the fact that the main character is gay. Likeable, believable characters.

[review written 2011]

This is my second time attempting to read The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd, but only my first time finishing it, so I’m counting this as a “new book”. It was a very good novel. I found myself laughing out loud sometimes, which got awkward in class, and Dade was a very cute main character, but not entirely likable. He got drunk far too many times in my opinion. I loved his and Alex’s and Pablo’s relationship (not Pablo himself; Pablo, in Dade’s words, was a dick).

What I didn’t like much about The Vast Fields of Ordinary was that the girl, Jenny Moore’s subplot didn’t seem to add to the story and could have done without, and that the conclusion seemed a little foregone. It was also kind of strange that the Hamiltons had a pool in their backyard, but hey, I guess people do have pools in their backyard. All in all, quite an enjoyable book.

Dade Hamilton is finishing high school. He's gay, in the closet, has a crush on a football player who uses him, and doesn't know what to do. But then he meets Lucy and Alex. Lucy is the outgoing, wild child, lesbian who has come to spend the summer with her aunt - Dade's neighbor. Alex is a cute gay boy who works at a cheap taco restaurant and sells pot on the side, but he has a sweet and sentimental soul.
As Dade's last summer at home progresses, he discovers the value of real friendships, the difficulties his parents face, trying to cope with each other, him, and themselves, the trauma of the football player, who was living much deeper in the closet than Dade ever was, and the necessity of being himself.
(There is an odd sub-plot about a local child who goes missing. For the author Nick Burd, this was clearly an important part of the book. I'm assuming it had a deeper metaphorical meaning that was lost on me. While that story runs through the entire book, there are probably no more than 15 pages total devoted to it.)
The target audience is probably teens. The biggest drawback to me was that there is a great deal of underage drinking and pot use throughout the novel. I found it excessive, and none of the characters learn anything about the dangers of binge drinking, alcoholism, or alcohol poisoning. At the end of the book, we can assume they all still have these same bad habits.
Gay romance is a major theme of the book, but actual sex is only mentioned a few times, and it is brief and non-graphic.
The story has a good flow, and Burd is a great story-teller. I cared about the characters.
The last 20 pages or so pack a strong wallop.

A little too much drug use and underage drinking for my taste. ?�Not all teens are like this! ?áReaders, don't think you have to start using to be cool!

Other than that, well done. ?áEveryone felt real to me. ?áDade is just starting to see beyond himself, to get a clue about how life works... even as his parents refuse to face the fact that they still have no clue. ?áHis friends (and enemies) fill roles, but are not just cardboard icons. ?áThere's a lot to think/ talk about. ?áReaders taking philosophy 101 will recognize existential & solipsistic musings. ?á The background story about Jenny is super-symbolic. ?áDade is also not quite as adorable as all the other gay boys I've met in YA books, which is big relief, for which the author deserves kudos.

I remember in high school seeing people who seemed like they had it all together... have a perfect life.... ?áBut it's not true. ?áEveryone's got that thing in them that keeps them awake."

(Maybe not the best way the thought has ever been expressed, but it's one that all teens I've ever known need to be reminded of, often. ?áActually, most adults could use a reminder of it, too.)

"School pride confuses me."

(Note, unlike a bunch of other books in which a character expresses loathing or contempt for those ppl who profess school pride, this character simply says it confuses him. ?áThe reader is prompted to think about the concept for him or herself, not to just take the author's word for it that school pride is scornable.)"½

This story is about a boy named Dade who is ready to finish high school and begin college. He is a closeted gay teenager who is dealing with many issues. His “boyfriend” is one of the most popular guys in school. Dade is not ready to admit his relationship so he insists that he has a girlfriend. Dade is also dealing with the emotional distance of both of his parents. Dade meets a new friend named Alex who opens him up to new ideas and breathes life into the life that Dade is desperately trying to leave behind. This newfound love has many consequences and sets in motion a tragic chain of events.

This book shows the importance of staying true to who you really are. This book describes situations that thousands of teenagers deal with every single day. The main character deals with hiding his sexuality, and being harassed for it. These are important, real issues that need to be addressed and this book is a good way to introduce them.

Realistic Fiction Chapter Book
Reading Level: 4.5

I cannot figure out how this book is managing a 3.92 average rating. I really can't.

If it were possible to reach in and pull out every character from this book, I would do it. And then I would slap them. And then I would ship them off to Dr. Phil, or maybe force them to attend a life enrichment boot camp, a life skills program, self-improvement through wilderness therapy, strap them inside a spaceship headed for the biggest black hole—anything! This is the saddest, most frustratingly idiotic batch of dislikable characters I have encountered since Twilight.

I am not exaggerating. In fact, I’m very serious. At this moment, I’d rather suffocate myself reading the entire Twilight series than go near this book a second time. In a sad way, the ridiculousness that is Twilight can provide trivial amusement; The Vast Fields of Ordinary cannot.

Dade wants a boyfriend, but Dade already has a boyfriend (kind of). So what is the problem? His kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend, Pablo, is in a public relationship with Judy. Pablo, who’s a stereotypical jock with stereotypical jerkwad jock friends, also has issues admitting he likes other men. So what does Pablo do? Sees Dade in secret (even though it’s not quite a secret-secret) yet enforces an anti-gay attitude.

Whatever. Dade needs to ditch Pablo, but Dade is so desperate for an intimate relationship that he beckons to Pablo’s every "let’s fornicate!" call.

In Dade’s defense, I can understand (only slightly, however) why he sticks with Pablo. He’s not openly gay, and Pablo is the only one in town who one-hundred percent, without a doubt, knows Dade’s sexual orientation. In secret, Pablo provides one-fourth of Dade's relationship needy-ness. (Even though Pablo is a jerk.) But still.

Dade sits with and attends parties hosted by Pablo & Homophobic Co. You know, I hate victim blaming. It’s wrong, but this kid is beyond moronic. He puts himself in uncomfortable situations where it’s painfully obvious that his bullies are going to use them as bullying opportunities. The guy is clueless.

Example: here is a conversation I summarized from memory (because I was so eager to remove The Vast Fields of Ordinary from my presence that I chucked it inside the nearest library drop-box ASAP):

Pablo: I can’t hang out tonight, because I’m going to a party with Judy and the others.

Dade (lusting): I may be there, too.

Pablo: Were you even invited?

Dade: Well, I saw a flyer at school and assumed everyone is invited. So yeah, I was invited.

Oh, that was painful. Dade is the one obviously gay kid in the entire school that everyone loves to degrade, so no. I don’t call that an invitation. It’s like witnessing someone make a catastrophic social faux pas that even I feel embarrassed for the person. I feel the impending doom knowing that Dade will never defend himself. To make the matter worse, Dade sits with these people at lunch. Please, someone tell me why he does this, because I have difficulty understanding. I don't condone bullying, but it is in Dade's best interest to spend less time trying to socialize with this group. I'm a ferocious energy ball of frustration: why can't Dade see my point?!

Dade continues to place himself in situations he really shouldn’t until—ooh!—a mysterious handsome drug dealer appears! Promising, really—but wait! It gets better.

Mysterious Handsome Drug Dealer (a.k.a. Alex) is also gay. And attractive. And wears shirts that show off chest hair (eww). And! He is interested in having a (public!) relationship with our protagonist.

What are the chances that narrow-minded suburban Cederville (apologies if I incorrectly remember the town’s name) is going to have an openly gay drug dealer who is a striking, kind young man? I’m talking about a town whose gay men count hits a whopping high of ten middle-aged dudes. Furthermore, something tells me that the likelihood of finding a caring, well-mannered, drug-dealing boyfriend is rarer than spotting a strong, independent Bella Swan.

Now that Dade has Alex to preoccupy smooch and sexy times, Pablo incessantly pops up like a miserable, fraught wounded rabbit. Only... you don’t exactly want to comfort that wounded rabbit in fear of contracting rabies. Pablo is not a nice wounded rabbit. Pablo evolves into a creepy, suicidal stalker, sending text messages like, “I SEE YOU LEAVING WITH HIM,” and, “I SEE YOU.” Then this happens:

"I heard the rattle of his belt coming undone followed by the sound of his zipper. I turned around. His pants were partially down his thighs and his dick was hanging out.

'Dude.' His voice came out quiet and mangled, like an injured animal flopping painfully out of its hiding spot, and the massiveness of how sad it is to want someone suddenly fell on my head like an anvil in some comically violent cartoon.

'Oh my God.' I turned and hurried out of the dairy cooler. [...] Twice I checked over my shoulder to see if Pablo was following me, but he wasn't."

Dade doesn’t do anything! But it doesn’t matter if you have a crazy, forlorn, and confused ex non-boyfriend who sends harassing text messages and whips out his downstairs manliness. I mean, what’s concerning about that? It's harmless. Nothing bad can result from that behavior. (Sorry, involuntary eye-rolling has occured.)

I kept expecting the author to let Pablo sort out his sexual confusion and feelings about Dade. Perhaps Pablo and Dade could agree to talk and come to an understanding like LEVEL-HEADED people, but nothing of the sort happens. I expected Dade to discover inner-confidence and stand up for himself, to feel more comfortable about admitting he’s gay, but that doesn’t happen either.

Instead, Pablo kills himself because that’s what bisexually confused teens do and Dade can’t even properly tell his non-love interest Fessica, "I know you like me, but I can’t like you because... a)"I am not romantically interested" and/or b)"I'm gay and therefore incapable of loving you." Dade, like the oblivious idiot he is, has his BFF Lucy point out why his new drug-stud boyfriend may be distant. (Mayhaps it is because you are heading off to college and Alex is not, Dade. Hmm?) Dade fails at everything. He can’t even pick out an outfit for himself.

And what, if I may, is so swoon-worthy about Alex Kincaid? He’s a twenty-something year old who sells marijuana and works at a place called Taco Taco for a living. Oh! Well, I guess he has this aesthetically appealing body, so the idea that Alex is probably not the best person to hang around isn’t a problem. Once Dade gets it on with Alex, whoa-ho do sparks fly and problems dissolve! He’s Dade’s romantic hero.

No, seriously. He is. Alex and Lucy have to step in each time Dade gets picked on. Dade: grow a back-bone.

All of this—this Pablo nonsense and Alex fascination—makes up the entire plot. There are marital problems going on in the background between Dade’s parent, but I think I’ve covered the oh-my-god-I’m-gay-and-incapable-of-handling-my-problems aspect. Dade has no goals in life. He doesn’t come across as moderately concerned or interested in college. Alex aside, the only things Dade does eem to care about are whining to the maximum degree and writing meh-poetry ("Looking up at an ordinary sky / It could fall on me and somehow be / The day I didn't die").

This story is about spending your last summer at home, that gap between high school graduation and heading off for college. That's satisfactory, I suppose, but where's the adventure? A climax? Not even the book's conflicts are resolved. It would be a lot more interesting if

a)An actual plot existed
b)The plot was interesting and did not drone on for 309 pages
c)Dade learned how to not act like idiot and discover fortitude
d)Issues were resolved

But none of that lives inside this book, and the characters are too shallowly explored for me to even try and care about their woes. On to the next...

I cannot figure out how this book is managing a 3.92 average rating. I really can't.

If it were possible to reach in and pull out every character from this book, I would do it. And then I would slap them. And then I would ship them off to Dr. Phil, or maybe force them to attend a life enrichment boot camp, a life skills program, self-improvement through wilderness therapy, strap them inside a spaceship headed for the biggest black hole—anything! This is the saddest, most frustratingly idiotic batch of dislikable characters I have encountered since Twilight.

I am not exaggerating. In fact, I’m very serious. At this moment, I’d rather suffocate myself reading the entire Twilight series than go near this book a second time. In a sad way, the ridiculousness that is Twilight can provide trivial amusement; The Vast Fields of Ordinary cannot.

Dade wants a boyfriend, but Dade already has a boyfriend (kind of). So what is the problem? His kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend, Pablo, is in a public relationship with Judy. Pablo, who’s a stereotypical jock with stereotypical jerkwad jock friends, also has issues admitting he likes other men. So what does Pablo do? Sees Dade in secret (even though it’s not quite a secret-secret) yet enforces an anti-gay attitude.

Whatever. Dade needs to ditch Pablo, but Dade is so desperate for an intimate relationship that he beckons to Pablo’s every "let’s fornicate!" call.

In Dade’s defense, I can understand (only slightly, however) why he sticks with Pablo. He’s not openly gay, and Pablo is the only one in town who one-hundred percent, without a doubt, knows Dade’s sexual orientation. In secret, Pablo provides one-fourth of Dade's relationship needy-ness. (Even though Pablo is a jerk.) But still.

Dade sits with and attends parties hosted by Pablo & Homophobic Co. You know, I hate victim blaming. It’s wrong, but this kid is beyond moronic. He puts himself in uncomfortable situations where it’s painfully obvious that his bullies are going to use them as bullying opportunities. The guy is clueless.

Example: here is a conversation I summarized from memory (because I was so eager to remove The Vast Fields of Ordinary from my presence that I chucked it inside the nearest library drop-box ASAP):

Pablo: I can’t hang out tonight, because I’m going to a party with Judy and the others.

Dade (lusting): I may be there, too.

Pablo: Were you even invited?

Dade: Well, I saw a flyer at school and assumed everyone is invited. So yeah, I was invited.

Oh, that was painful. Dade is the one obviously gay kid in the entire school that everyone loves to degrade, so no. I don’t call that an invitation. It’s like witnessing someone make a catastrophic social faux pas that even I feel embarrassed for the person. I feel the impending doom knowing that Dade will never defend himself. To make the matter worse, Dade sits with these people at lunch. Please, someone tell me why he does this, because I have difficulty understanding. I don't condone bullying, but it is in Dade's best interest to spend less time trying to socialize with this group. I'm a ferocious energy ball of frustration: why can't Dade see my point?!

Dade continues to place himself in situations he really shouldn’t until—ooh!—a mysterious handsome drug dealer appears! Promising, really—but wait! It gets better.

Mysterious Handsome Drug Dealer (a.k.a. Alex) is also gay. And attractive. And wears shirts that show off chest hair (eww). And! He is interested in having a (public!) relationship with our protagonist.

What are the chances that narrow-minded suburban Cederville (apologies if I incorrectly remember the town’s name) is going to have an openly gay drug dealer who is a striking, kind young man? I’m talking about a town whose gay men count hits a whopping high of ten middle-aged dudes. Furthermore, something tells me that the likelihood of finding a caring, well-mannered, drug-dealing boyfriend is rarer than spotting a strong, independent Bella Swan.

Now that Dade has Alex to preoccupy smooch and sexy times, Pablo incessantly pops up like a miserable, fraught wounded rabbit. Only... you don’t exactly want to comfort that wounded rabbit in fear of contracting rabies. Pablo is not a nice wounded rabbit. Pablo evolves into a creepy, suicidal stalker, sending text messages like, “I SEE YOU LEAVING WITH HIM,” and, “I SEE YOU.” Then this happens:

"I heard the rattle of his belt coming undone followed by the sound of his zipper. I turned around. His pants were partially down his thighs and his dick was hanging out.

'Dude.' His voice came out quiet and mangled, like an injured animal flopping painfully out of its hiding spot, and the massiveness of how sad it is to want someone suddenly fell on my head like an anvil in some comically violent cartoon.

'Oh my God.' I turned and hurried out of the dairy cooler. [...] Twice I checked over my shoulder to see if Pablo was following me, but he wasn't."

Dade doesn’t do anything! But it doesn’t matter if you have a crazy, forlorn, and confused ex non-boyfriend who sends harassing text messages and whips out his downstairs manliness. I mean, what’s concerning about that? It's harmless. Nothing bad can result from that behavior. (Sorry, involuntary eye-rolling has occured.)

I kept expecting the author to let Pablo sort out his sexual confusion and feelings about Dade. Perhaps Pablo and Dade could agree to talk and come to an understanding like LEVEL-HEADED people, but nothing of the sort happens. I expected Dade to discover inner-confidence and stand up for himself, to feel more comfortable about admitting he’s gay, but that doesn’t happen either.

Instead, Pablo kills himself because that’s what bisexually confused teens do and Dade can’t even properly tell his non-love interest Fessica, "I know you like me, but I can’t like you because... a)"I am not romantically interested" and/or b)"I'm gay and therefore incapable of loving you." Dade, like the oblivious idiot he is, has his BFF Lucy point out why his new drug-stud boyfriend may be distant. (Mayhaps it is because you are heading off to college and Alex is not, Dade. Hmm?) Dade fails at everything. He can’t even pick out an outfit for himself.

And what, if I may, is so swoon-worthy about Alex Kincaid? He’s a twenty-something year old who sells marijuana and works at a place called Taco Taco for a living. Oh! Well, I guess he has this aesthetically appealing body, so the idea that Alex is probably not the best person to hang around isn’t a problem. Once Dade gets it on with Alex, whoa-ho do sparks fly and problems dissolve! He’s Dade’s romantic hero.

No, seriously. He is. Alex and Lucy have to step in each time Dade gets picked on. Dade: grow a back-bone.

All of this—this Pablo nonsense and Alex fascination—makes up the entire plot. There are marital problems going on in the background between Dade’s parent, but I think I’ve covered the oh-my-god-I’m-gay-and-incapable-of-handling-my-problems aspect. Dade has no goals in life. He doesn’t come across as moderately concerned or interested in college. Alex aside, the only things Dade does eem to care about are whining to the maximum degree and writing meh-poetry ("Looking up at an ordinary sky / It could fall on me and somehow be / The day I didn't die").

This story is about spending your last summer at home, that gap between high school graduation and heading off for college. That's satisfactory, I suppose, but where's the adventure? A climax? Not even the book's conflicts are resolved. It would be a lot more interesting if

a)An actual plot existed
b)The plot was interesting and did not drone on for 309 pages
c)Dade learned how to not act like idiot and discover fortitude
d)Issues were resolved

But none of that lives inside this book, and the characters are too shallowly explored for me to even try and care about their woes. On to the next...

A sweet but also painful coming of age story about a young gay kid in Iowa.

Dade is in that awkward space between high school and college. His kinda-relationship with Pablo is just about over, his parents' kinda-relationship with each other is just about over, and Dade is recognizing that he wants more than a kinda-relationship with anyone. Enter Lucy, a neighbor's niece who was kicked out of her own house for being a lesbian, and she and Dade quickly become close friends. Enter also Alex, whom Dade meets briefly at a party and immediately crushes on. With Lucy's encouragement, Dade finally cuts ties with Pablo and starts dating Alex, and understanding what love is.

Dade's story is a little predictable in the way of any romance--getting over the ex and not taking them back, finding a new love--but is made a little newer because the exes and new loves in question are all male. Not that this should be a Big Huge Deal, but so much of gay teen romance (writing, I mean) is fraught with the issues of coming out and homophobia. Those issues are represented here, but they're so far from the main story that they're barely issues at all. This really is, primarily, a guy-romance.

(That said I never fully connected with any of the characters, but I liked the book all the same!)

This book explores the "coming out" period of a high school boy named Dade. It was recommended to me by a patron who identifies himself as gay so I would pass this along to any teen who may need some encouragement. Readalikes include: Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsburg, Thinking Straight by Robin Reardon.

It is Dade Hamilton's last summer at home. He's ready to leave everything behind: the small town where he grew up, his parent's disintegrating marriage, and everyone who reminds him of same, including the boyfriend who can't be gay but can't leave Dade alone either. Wouldn't you know that this is the moment Dade makes some of his first real friends ever, including falling in love?

Burd has written a very readable, realistic coming of age story that anyone who has ever agonized over what to do about a relationship (that one both wants to keep but needs to leave) can relate to. His characters may be recognizable but they are well-developed and readers will enjoy getting to know them (Dade, Lucy, Alex) while aching for others.

Others have commented on the sub-plot with the missing girl. Either I don't get what Burd was hoping to accomplish with her or he doesn't succeed with it; but it is a small enough part of the book that it didn't interfere with my overall enjoyment of the book. I particularly like that the sexual orientation of some of the characters is not the point of the book - it just so happens that some of the characters are not hetero.½

I have a low tolerance for angst without reason, and The Vast Fields of Ordinary hit that button repeatedly. Dade's crappy job, his parents divorcing, his borderline emotionally and physically abusive, secretive gay relationship and his apathy about life did not speak to me. There were so many things Dade could have done -- don't sit with the homophobic jocks when they accuse you of being gay, don't be an asshole and continue to talk to your sort-of boyfriend, tell the girl who has a crush on you that you don't like her that way instead of just running away like she's got cooties -- that it makes his angst about his life feel manufactured. I couldn't relate to him at all.

A lyrical story of a young man's first love... a young man who happens to be gay. Beautifully written and realized, the story transcends sexual orientation and captures the beauty and urgency of young romance. In addition to the homosexual theme, there is plenty of adult content: drug use, sexual activity (not graphic) and destructive behaviors.

Dade is gay and has told the world: that is, the lamp in his bedroom, the picture on his wall, the pencils in his pencil box... he just hasn't told anyone real... yet. It is Dade's last summer before college. He feels trapped in suburbia with caring but self-absorbed parents, dealing with a dead-end job and mind-numbing routine. He has a lover, Pablo, who is equally closeted. Things change, however, when Dade meets the mysterious Alex Kincaid. Dade falls in love but soon discovers that even love can't conquer all. Hard-hitting and real.

I picked this book up off the Young Adult shelf at my local library. I hadn't heard of it previously, but when I read the description and realized it was a story about a gay teenager coming of age, I couldn't resist picking it up. Boy, am I glad that I did! The book is narrated by Dade, a gay teenager living in a small midwestern town. Dade is a fully realized character, not just a caricature of a teenage gay boy. While there are the usual struggles of coming out and dealing with first love, the book is about far more... Dade's parents are splitting up and he longs for something more than the empty life he has in his little town. Burd has a way with language and some of the descriptions are just plain beautiful. He manages to capture the moodiness and longing of being a teenager without making the character annoying or trite. I highly recommend this one. Four and a half stars.½

I checked out Vast Fields of Ordinary from the library when it won the (first ever) Stonewall Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. I got about halfway through when I realized that this is a book I just had to own, so I returned it to the library and bought my own copy. It's just about everything I've been looking for in a contemporary YA fiction novel about a queer teen and I couldn't bear to not have a copy to mark-up, loan out, and make a home for on my bookcase.

This book is not all about the gayness, and I love it for that.*

The summer after senior year and before college is a summer of huge changes for a lot of people. For Dade, it means the end of an unequal and often emotionally abusive relationship. It's also the summer of finally having a best friend (Lucy!), drunken parties, extreme haircuts, and a hot new boyfriend who ::gasp:: holds his hand in public. He also becomes obsessed with a local girl who has gone missing and watches his parents' marriage continue to crumble. In short, this is an almost typical teen romance novel with a few Important Issues thrown in. But Dade's sexuality is not one of them.

Dade's crush and following romance with Alex is so sweet. It's not perfect, Alex is a drug dealer after all, but they make it work. The fact that Dade has someone to gush about this new relationship with in Lucy doesn't hurt either. He starts to fall in lurv in a way he never could with his secret ex, Pablo. He introduces Alex to his parents, fails to see the disasterous consequences of having the name "Dade" and becoming involved with someone who's last name is "Kincaid," and generally plans out the rest of their happy lives together. And those plans may or may not work out.

Just like any other YA romance. :)

*Looking through the LGBTQ books I've reviewed, there are only one or two where the main character is queer and where one of the main conflicts of the story is not the character's sexuality. They're still great books, but there needs to be books where some of that has already been done and the character is just out living life. This book includes Dade coming out, but that's not nearly as important as his healthy relationship with Alex.

Book source: I bought it at the always wonderful Giovanni's Room in Philadelphia

This was terrible, and yet I couldn't put it down.

Dade can only think of getting out of his small town and escaping to college. He really has no one in his corner other than Pablo who's periodically abusive to him. I think Pablo cares for Dade, but that scares him at the same time. By the way, that in no way justifies his abuse, but might explain some of it.

Then Dade meets Lucy and Alex. Lucy is his sounding board and helps Dade to come to grips with who he is. Dade falls in love with Alex and he shows him what love really feels like. A love free of abuse, where you are valued and not hidden away. Dade's mother abuses pills, his father is pulling away and losing himself in an affair, while Dade has a drinking and drug use problem.

Like life, there was joy, passion, wonder, sadness, grief and cruelty. I believe being who you truly are holds deep happiness for most people and for some it's too terrifying. I'm a strong believer in the LGBT adolescents being represented in literature. This is a great read. While the ending does have a certain amount of tragedy, there is hope and hapiness for Dade. The cover is pretty cool really. Due to sexaul content, excessive drinking, and some druge use, I would say 17 and up.

Dade's last summer at home - after high school and before college - are a time of real transition. He moves from trying to stay invisible, accepting his peers evaluation of him, to becoming his own person. As the story moved forward I dreaded how it was going to come out - a mark of how real Dade's character was to me. A pretty good read, even if the whole high-school-gay-kid schtick is getting a bit tired.½

Dade Hamilton is spending his last summer before college at a job he hates and with a 'boyfriend' who won't publicly acknowledge their relationship...because his popular girlfriend might find out....

Along comes Alex Kincaid...free spirited and challenges all of Dade's 'safe' suburban choices. It's a book about love and truth and tragedy. I liked it.

A well written story about growing up and getting ready to leave home. Dade has to work out how to tell those he's grown up with that he's gay, as well as deal with his parents failing marriage. Through friendship and the feelings of first true love Dade works through all the things the last summer at home bring. A great book for teens that are looking for a story about coming out, friendship, or that last summer before leaving home.

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Dade is marking time during that awkward summer between high school and college. Things at home are not the greatest so he welcomes the chance to get out. Unfortunately, his crappy job at Food World is about the closest he comes to escaping.

For as long as he can remember, he has been quietly repeating the words, "I am gay." He knows it is true but can't bring himself to tell his parents. Maybe when he is away at school in Michigan, he can break the news to them, but certainly not while he is still right here in Cedarville. They have enough problems of their own.

Over a year ago he did open up to Pablo. They have shared many intimate moments during their time together, but Pablo still insists in public that he has a girlfriend - which leaves Dade feeling used and alone.

This summer may have brought one bit of luck - Alex. From the moment Dade met him and saw his gorgeous smile, he has been wanting to spend time with him and find out what they might have in common. Alex isn't easy, though. He doesn't run with the same crowd as Dade, and hooking up is proving harder than he expected.

Dade is filled with confusion about his sexuality, uncertainty about his readiness for college, and a general inability to form lasting relationships. He bounces back and forth in odd friendships with Pablo, Lucy - a neighbors' niece, Alex, and twins named Jessica and Fessica. All the while he worries - about his parents, his future, and the mysterious disappearance of a local nine-year-old. Can he manage to handle all this and keep himself together until he can head off to school?

THE VAST FIELDS OF ORDINARY offers the perfect example of a teen-angst drama. First-time author Nick Burd captures the crazy mix of emotions and the desire to gain some sort of control that most teens face at one time or another as they struggle toward adulthood. His writing style makes for a smooth and satisfying read.

It is Dade Hamilton's last summer at home. He's ready to leave everything behind: the small town where he grew up, his parent's disintegrating marriage, and everyone who reminds him of same, including the boyfriend who can't be gay but can't leave Dade alone either. Wouldn't you know that this is the moment Dade makes some of his first real friends ever, including falling in love?

Burd has written a very readable, realistic coming of age story that anyone who has ever agonized over what to do about a relationship (that one both wants to keep but needs to leave) can relate to. His characters may be recognizable but they are well-developed and readers will enjoy getting to know them (Dade, Lucy, Alex) while aching for others.

Others have commented on the sub-plot with the missing girl. Either I don't get what Burd was hoping to accomplish with her or he doesn't succeed with it; but it is a small enough part of the book that it didn't interfere with my overall enjoyment of the book. I particularly like that the sexual orientation of some of the characters is not the point of the book - it just so happens that some of the characters are not hetero.½