A debut YA novel offers a tale of reaching out, conflict, and acceptance.Wyatt Yarrow is caught between a rock and a hard place. He's a closeted gay teenager, surrounded by deep-rooted homophobia in the small town of Lincolnville, Oregon. Not only that, he's also a devoted history nerd who even makes videos about his favorite subjects. In other words, Wyatt's bully, Jonathon Rails, has plenty of ammunition. None of that is news, but when Wyatt's best (and only) friend, Mackenzie Miller, starts romantically pursuing him, he reaches a whole new level of isolation. Retreating into history books, Wyatt still finds some respite in his favorite subject: President Abraham Lincoln. What's more, Wyatt's research leads him to a shocking discovery: Lincoln was in love with another man. Armed with this information, Wyatt hopes that it can bring about some newfound acceptance for gay people and maybe drum up customers for the family business, a bed-and-breakfast themed after Lincoln's life that's struggling to stay afloat. Wyatt posts his evidence online, thinking that he's about to see change for the better. But what he gets instead is an out-of-control controversy, threatening to cost him everything as it grows and spreads way beyond Lincolnville's borders. Far from having his problems solved, Wyatt finds himself lost and confused, struggling to provide more proof and discovering who he is when pushed against the wall. The novel's premise is a real hook, lending Wind's complex story a sense of gravitas beyond the personal narrative. Add to that the thorough research behind Wyatt's discovery (and the end notes that go along with it), and readers have something with real potential to influence and educate on top of entertaining. If there's any fault to be found, it's a lack of subtlety. Parts of the narrative and some of the characters' actions feel exaggerated or dated, ranging from large public gestures and dramatically timed changes of heart to the level of blatant intolerance on display, with the gym teacher casually using homophobic slurs, for instance. The threats and pressures heaped on Wyatt and his family also register as somewhat divorced from more contemporary breeds of harassment and bullying. But throughout all of this, Wyatt's need to feel connected and accepted is palpable and genuine, which makes up for the inconsistencies.A tapestry of the gay teenage experience—frayed edges repaired with earnest love and care.

In a smart coming-of-age story, 15-year-old Wyatt is a closeted teen living in the conservative, Abraham Lincoln-obsessed community of Lincolnville, Ore. Wyatt is pretty certain that Lincolnville isn-t ready to embrace him if he comes out, so he operates under a facade, even-due to a misunderstanding-dating his best friend, Mackenzie. More than ever, Wyatt is feeling guilty, confused, and painfully aware of how much he wants gay role models. But while researching a school report on Lincoln, he discovers correspondence between Lincoln and his best friend, Joshua Speed. Compelling evidence suggests to Wyatt that the president and Speed were in love. When Wyatt excitedly publishes his revelation online (-I mean, if Abe was gay, and great, it shouldn-t be a big deal, right?-), it leads to an epic uproar and an unleashing of homophobia directed at Wyatt. But it also leads Wyatt to find courage and the possibility of romance. Wind integrates a timely discussion about challenging long-held myths about history. Though the third-person narration creates a degree of distance between Wind-s protagonist and the reader, Wyatt-s experiences are nevertheless profound and honest. Ages 12-up. (BookLife)

Gr 8 Up-Wyatt is bullied every day in his small Oregon town of Lincolnville. He repeatedly denies being gay even though he knows he is. He is terrified at school and in his conservative community. In a 180-degree move, Wyatt chooses to blog about his discovery that Abraham Lincoln wrote love letters to and slept in the same bed with a man, Joshua Fry Speed, for years before marrying Mary Todd. Part of Wyatt's naive logic is that if Lincoln were gay, the world will be more accepting of Wyatt and other gay people. The local and nationally syndicated hateful homophobic response to the blog threatens his family's business, a Lincoln-slept-here B&B, but it also earns Wyatt attention and support from the civil rights and LGBTQ communities. In particular, a black, social mediasavvy teen named Martin and his mom, a legal advocate, jump into the fray. Coolheaded Martin becomes Wyatt's love interest. The judgmental small-town vibe is captured well, but also feels somewhat campy. Though some plot twists stretch credulity, the book successfully presents the evidence of Lincoln's loving relationship with Speed. VERDICT A unique and winning coming-out story for most YA collections. Elaine Fultz, Madison Jr. Sr. High School, Middletown, OH