New Yorker Carson Smith and his mother are spending the summer in Montana, caring for Carson’s estranged and dying father. Quirky Carson felt like an outsider in New York, but quiet Montana feels downright lonely—until he meets Aisha Stinson. Aisha is beautiful, funny and homeless, kicked out by her religious father when she told him she’s gay. Carson and Aisha quickly become best friends when he invites her to live with him and his dysfunctional parents. Carson’s father is still reeling from his own father’s abandonment, so Carson and Aisha embark on a journey to locate Carson’s grandfather, in hopes that solving the mystery will heal years of pain. But their adventure proves to be more emotionally difficult—and hilarious—than they thought possible.
Award-winning author Bill Konigsberg explores heavy themes of sexuality, religion and prejudice with humor and honesty. As heartwrenching as it is heartwarming, Carson and Aisha’s journey isn’t so much about finding Carson’s grandfather as it is about finding peace within themselves and forgiving the mistakes of others.
Kimberly Giarratano is the author of Grunge Gods and Graveyards, a young adult paranormal mystery.
This article was originally published in the June 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.
