Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada
Publisher: Soho Teen
Special thanks to Soho Teen for sending a copy for review.
Summary:
Stonebridge High’s resident bad boy, Wesley “Big Mac” Mackenzie, is failing senior year—thanks to his unchecked anger, rowdy friends, and a tendency to ditch his homework for skateboarding and a secret photography obsession. So when his mom drags him to a production of The Nutcracker, Wes isn’t interested at all . . . until he sees Tristan Monroe. Mr. Nutcracker himself.
Wes knows he shouldn’t like Tristan; after all, he’s a ballet dancer, and Wes is as closeted as they come. But when they start spending time together, Wes can’t seem to get Tristan out of his head. Driven by a new sense of purpose, Wes begins to think that—despite every authority figure telling him otherwise—maybe he can change for the better and graduate on time.
As a falling out with his friends becomes inevitable, Wes realizes that being himself means taking a stand—and blowing up the bad-boy reputation he never wanted in the first place (Goodreads).
Thoughts:
The unique plot of Skater Boy brings two people who could not be more different together. I loved reading about self-discovery and coming of age from the main character Wes’ point of view. The book also addresses generational trauma as we see Wes and his friends, Bud and Tony, struggle to not follow in their father’s footsteps of alcoholism and abuse. My only complaint is that I originally picked up this book because it mentioned a dancer. It would have been nice to have it be a more significant part of the story or see Wes hiding a part of him that likes dance.
Everyone has to take part in the journey to self-discovery in Skater Boy. I enjoyed the plot because readers can see the different perspectives of people who are misunderstood. Wes portrayed himself as a bad boy by stealing from other kids and hanging out with his gang of friends who would also partake in questionable acts. In reality, Wes shielded his entire life behind a fake identity of being a “bad boy” to hide his true self. For a long time, Wes hid himself because he didn’t think anyone could understand him. He put on a strong outer appearance so no one would mess with him, and he didn’t want people to know that he was gay and not as tough as he portrayed. Apart from being misunderstood, Wes also misjudged others out of fear. He thought his troublemaker friends would make fun of his sexuality and would react in the worst way possible. He was also afraid to tell his mom about his sexuality because his walls began wavering when he met Tristan, an openly gay dancer who was everything that Wes wasn’t.
Wes and Tristan’s romance is a delightful journey of two individuals overcoming their differences and finding solace in each other. Their relationship, portrayed with a perfect balance of mischief and sweetness, is a testament to the power of acceptance. The satisfying ending, with Tristan and Wes happily together, leaves readers with a warm feeling and a desire to read more LGBTQ+ romances like this.
Reviewed by Natalie H.