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| Publisher's Hardcover ©2023 | -- |
| Paperback ©2024 | -- |
Suicide. Fiction.
Psychiatric hospitals. Fiction.
Homosexuality. Fiction.
Best friends. Fiction.
Friendship. Fiction.
Suicide. Fiction.
Psychiatric hospitals. Fiction.
Homosexuality. Fiction.
Best friends. Fiction.
Friendship. Fiction.
Starred Review Fifteen years after the publication of his novel Suicide Notes, Ford has written an excellent sequel that finds 15-year-old protagonist Jeff newly released from his 45-day stay in a psychiatric ward for attempting suicide. While in the ward, he came out as gay and had sex for the first time. Now Jeff's psychiatrist has suggested he start attending a queer support group, where he meets 15-year-old Chrys. Though they're attracted to each other, a potential relationship seems doomed as Chrys insists that Jeff tell his parents, and Jeff, knowing his strong-willed mother will not approve of his dating, refuses. But then his younger sister and her best friend insist on setting him up on a blind date with a boy who turns out to be Goldie, who is also in the support group and has three dads. Though it has its occasional didactic moments, there is much to love in this plot-rich novel. Depictions of polyamory are still few and far between in YA, and happily, Ford handles his material deftly and populates the book with fully realized, empathic characters. For readers who have been around since the beginning as well as those new to Jeff's story, this is a splendid sequel that dramatically answers the question: What happened to Jeff?
Kirkus ReviewsBack home after a stint in the psychiatric ward, Jeff is ready to embrace being an openly gay high school student in this sequel to Suicide Notes (2008).Jeff's outlook on life and confidence in his identity transformed during his 45 days in the hospital after attempting suicide. But returning to school means facing his best friend, Allie, and the boy he kissed-who is also Allie's boyfriend. Further complicating matters, fellow patient Rankin, whom Jeff had sex with during his hospital stay, is now his classmate. At a support group for LGBTQ+ teenagers, Jeff makes new friends, including Goldie, a gay boy with three dads in a triad, and Chrys, a queer Filipino person who uses they/them pronouns. Jeff navigates new crushes and relationships as he adjusts to regular life and gears up for being in the school musical. In the author's note, Ford expresses how much has changed since Suicide Notes was published; while this story takes place immediately after the events of the first book, the setting is contemporary, allowing for an optimistic story as Jeff is mostly met with acceptance and discovers queer community. The queer joy throughout is the highlight, although slow pacing, particularly at the beginning, and a lack of rich character development make the book somewhat bland. Most primary characters, including Jeff, are cued white.Fans of the first book may be satisfied, but it likely won't stand out to new readers. (mental health resources) (Fiction. 14-18)
Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)
Kirkus Reviews
This much-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed fan-favorite novel Suicide Notes is a funny, touching look at what happens when you give up trying to be someone people want you to be and become exactly who you are.
Jeff spent forty-five days in the psych ward of a hospital after a suicide attempt. Now that he’s home and has accepted that he’s gay, he’s ready to reenter his life feeling stronger and more comfortable being his true self than ever before.
But it’s hard to come back to an old life when you have a new perspective on it. Returning to school is complicated, and his mother’s anxiety isn’t helping. Jeff will also have to figure out how to reconnect with his best friend, Allie, whose boyfriend he kissed before he went to the hospital. To make things even more complicated, a fellow patient from the ward suddenly appears at school, which brings up all kinds of mixed emotions for Jeff.
Luckily, he’s got new friends from a local community center for queer youths to help him through it all. And some may turn out to be more than just friends…
***
"Generous, wry, and big-hearted. A touching and riotous journey through the legacies of pain and the wonders of connection."—Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author
"Michael Thomas Ford put me through it with this stunning sequel. A touching, funny, and thoughtful exploration of how we move on from our toughest choices and embrace what makes us unique, even if we're imperfect."—Jason June, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Blue
“In Every Star That Falls, Ford examines with heart and compassion not just what it is to be queer, but the ways in which queerness changes relationships and frees us.”—LC Rosen, author of Jack of Hearts and Camp
“Every Star That Falls is an extraordinarily fun and wild ride that will make you laugh and cry on numerous occasions. There is no way to tell what happens next but each chapter comes with a wonderful surprise that keeps you hooked into the moment. The book brings you a lot of things—complex characters, intricate relationships and a beautiful message for the new generation. It’s the kind of story that genuinely reflects the growing complexity of life for young people.”—Vincent Tirado, author of the Pura Belpré Award–winning Burn Down, Rise Up
"A sweet, loving, joyful celebration of queer identity! Queer joy is real, and we deserve happy endings, too!"—Bill Konigsberg, award-winning author of The Bridge and Destination Unknown
“Packed with charming characters and witty narration, Every Star That Falls is a moving story about boldly—and proudly—becoming your true self. We've waited fifteen long years for this sequel, and it was so worth the wait!“—Phil Stamper, national bestselling author of The Gravity of Us and Golden Boys
"Brimming with humor and refreshing boldness, Every Star That Falls is a modern yet timeless exploration of what it means to exist authentically in the world. These characters will grab you by the heart and remain with you long after the last page is turned."—Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country