Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Special thanks to Scholastic Canada for sending a copy for review.
Summary:
The first thing I noticed about C.J. Gorman was his plexiglass bra.
So begins Destination Unknown. It’s 1987 in New York City, and Micah is at a dance club, trying to pretend he’s more out and outgoing than he really is. C.J. isn’t just out–he’s completely out there, and Micah can’t help but be both attracted to and afraid of someone who travels so loudly and proudly through the night.
A connection occurs. Is it friendship? Romance? Is C.J. the one with all the answers… or does Micah bring more to the relationship that it first seems? As their lives become more and more entangled in the AIDS epidemic that’s laying waste to their community, and the AIDS activism that will ultimately bring a strong voice to their demands, whatever Micah and C.J. have between them will be tested, strained, pushed, and pulled–but it will also be a lifeline in a time of death, a bond that will determine the course of their futures.
In Destination Unknown, Bill Konigsberg returns to a time he knew well as a teenager to tell a story of identity, connection, community, and survival (Goodreads).
Thoughts:
Destination Unknown depicts life as a gay man in the 80s during the AIDS epidemic. While this story touches on heavy themes such as AIDS and young guys involved with older men, it sheds light on the challenges and fear faced by the gay community during this time. Readers will witness the people affected by this disease, both directly and indirectly, and the continuous misconceptions that divide society about these topics.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I found the second half of the story more powerful. Here, we gain insight on the opposing side of this epidemic as a result of inadequate education and resources necessary to combat AIDS. The overall themes of this novel exemplify that this disease is not black and white and no one is affected the same. Following characters with AIDS, we witness the pain and loneliness individuals face like the agonizingly slow death this disease causes. Regardless of the reason, this heartbreaking perspective is crucial to not only empathize with others but to also understand the root of many misconceptions.
Micah’s character will also resonate with individuals who are part of the LGBTQ2S+ community as he illustrates the challenges of coming out to one’s parents: the bubbling fear of how the other person will react, fear of not being accepted, and so much more. This acts as common ground between the author and readers and allows this story to comfort people. In addition, this novel is also filled with laugh out loud moments between the two main characters, Micah and CJ. These moments help alleviate the weight on these serious issues and serve as a reminder to search for the glimpses of hope during difficult times.
This story is eye opening, but I had challenges reading it. For one, after the initial world building, there was a lot of fluff in the beginning and middle of the plot. We would be going back and forth between the two main characters, but no developments were made which was frustrating to read. My main complaint is that it has a “happily ever after” ending. While it makes sense for some YA novels to end on a positive note, this isn’t always the reality of this disease, especially during the 80’s. AIDS has killed lots of people and is still affecting people today despite modern medicine. Thus, by ending the story with such a clean hook, it fogs up some of the messages the author tried to convey.
Heartbreaking, yet hopeful, Destination Unknown illustrates the varying perspectives surrounding AIDS which enables us to comprehend the extent of this disease and empathize with those who have been affected by it. By recognizing that AIDS affects people in all shapes and forms, we can begin to undo some of the harmful stereotypes associated with the disease. After all, how can we continue to move forward if we ignore the challenges cemented in the past?
Reviewed by Shreya S.