Gr 8 Up-This debut novel introduces readers to gay teen Richard "Tretch" Farm, his straight best friend (and major crush), Matt, and their caring circle of family and friends in contemporary small-town U.S.A. Readers experience Tretch's turbulent emotions as well as the warmth of his close-knit extended family in this first-person narrative. Over the course of one eventful winter break, he goes from bullied, closeted, and secretive about his love of dance to out, proud, reconciled with his former tormentor, and rocking out on the dance floor. The ending's rushed resolution to several plot threads is hard to believe, yet it is preceded by many slow-moving scenes that detail Tretch's moment-by-moment longing for the unattainableand frankly somewhat boringMatt. VERDICT While not a necessary purchase, this is a friendly read for teens who enjoyed the sweetness in David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy (Knopf, 2005) or the small-town experience in Emily M. Danforth's The Miseducation of Cameron Post (HarperCollins, 2013). Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library

Lana likes Tretch, who likes Matt, who has a crush on Amy 's sort of a love quadrilateral. Everyone assumes it is Matt who is gay. After all, he has two dads. Matt, however, is straight, much to Tretch's chagrin. The two have been best friends for years, though Tretch wants more. But, Tretch hasn't come out to anyone, let alone his best friend. A chance encounter in a coffee shop leaves him with an understanding of the staying power of love and the realization that, even after someone is gone, the love he or she planted is left behind. The small-town setting reinforces the intimacy of Tretch's strong friendships and family relationships, even as it makes it more challenging to come out. Debut novelist Walton brings readers a successful story filled with complex relationships, one that is ultimately about love of family and friends, as well as the courage to accept that love.