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sharshey's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I went into this a little blind - it was recommended to me as a thriller with queer main characters - and I think I kinda took that and ran with it. I did NOT expect the confronting murder-y conversion camp story that I got, even after the content warning at the start (which, let’s be honest, really undersold just how upsetting the first part of this book was).
That being said, once I got into it, I actually enjoyed it a fair bit. The characters were great and it definitely did what it said on the tin with the spookier aspects of the whole ordeal. I did find that at times the story, particularly the timelines, felt a bit jilted, and I think it would have worked a lot better if it had taken place over the week-long period they talked about so much at the start. There were some gaps in character motivations as well, especially with the Reverend, and I would have loved to see that fleshed out a bit more as I think it could have created a really great conflict that was kind of attempted in places but not fully pulled off. There were also a couple of moments in the end that should have been really emotional, but the writing fell flat here which did take away from the grandness of the end of it all.
Overall, I think the concept for this book was great, and it was a quick enough one to read that I absolutely don’t regret it, but it read more like something that was still a couple of rounds of editing away from a final product. 3.5 rounded down to 3!
That being said, once I got into it, I actually enjoyed it a fair bit. The characters were great and it definitely did what it said on the tin with the spookier aspects of the whole ordeal. I did find that at times the story, particularly the timelines, felt a bit jilted, and I think it would have worked a lot better if it had taken place over the week-long period they talked about so much at the start. There were some gaps in character motivations as well, especially with the Reverend, and I would have loved to see that fleshed out a bit more as I think it could have created a really great conflict that was kind of attempted in places but not fully pulled off. There were also a couple of moments in the end that should have been really emotional, but the writing fell flat here which did take away from the grandness of the end of it all.
Overall, I think the concept for this book was great, and it was a quick enough one to read that I absolutely don’t regret it, but it read more like something that was still a couple of rounds of editing away from a final product. 3.5 rounded down to 3!
dhishfish's review against another edition
4.0
Ok jeez this book was so terrifying and just intense at the same time.
The book is about a boy named Connor who gets sent to a conversion therapy camp... and that's not the worst of it.
The book was so well written. I was just in shock at what happens in conversion therapy and all the other twists and turn in the book.
It was quite a thrilling book and unlike anything I've read before but it was some incredible writing.
The book is about a boy named Connor who gets sent to a conversion therapy camp... and that's not the worst of it.
The book was so well written. I was just in shock at what happens in conversion therapy and all the other twists and turn in the book.
It was quite a thrilling book and unlike anything I've read before but it was some incredible writing.
jdk_andes's review against another edition
3.0
This is a dark, violent, and disturbing book inspired by (and often sensationalizing) real life horrors. It is a book with a clear, and important message, but also a book which builds entertainment from tragedy. I sense that for many people, this story will inspire them into action, or to reconsider their stances. And I genuinely hope that this book finds its way to its intended audience. At the same time I am very much aware that I was not the intended audience.
The actual quality of the writing here is very good. The characters are especially compelling, and there is a central mystery which has plenty of twists and turns. Unfortunately, the second half of the book feels somewhat less "realistic" than the first, as so many over-the-top and disturbing things happen so quickly. This has the perhaps unintended consequence of making the villains (who are based on an actual kind of person) feel cartoonish and unrealistic. Yet I was still engaged in seeing the story through to the end, and I felt the message stayed consistent and clear.
The actual quality of the writing here is very good. The characters are especially compelling, and there is a central mystery which has plenty of twists and turns. Unfortunately, the second half of the book feels somewhat less "realistic" than the first, as so many over-the-top and disturbing things happen so quickly. This has the perhaps unintended consequence of making the villains (who are based on an actual kind of person) feel cartoonish and unrealistic. Yet I was still engaged in seeing the story through to the end, and I felt the message stayed consistent and clear.
bethany6788's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Holy cannoli this book was a WILD ride. I had no idea what it was about but I’m firmly on my Adam Sass train so I had to get my hands on it. Borrowed from the library and stayed up til 4AM finishing cause why not??
This book is about Connor, who recently came out to his mom after his boyfriend encouraged him to. One night, he’s kidnapped (with his mom’s permission) and taken to Costa Rica where he’s in a conversion camp with other teens of various ages.
When I tell you I had no idea what way the story was gonna turn!!! Finding out things as Connor went along (my suspicions about the reverend were mostly on point!), and seeing how he grew up overnight was amazing. The love and care these kids showed each other after less than 24 hours was incredible and I was practically chewing my nails during the final 25% of the book. Also I’d LOVE a sequel where they reunite and take down Miss Manners!!
This book was so well written and it’s so different from any YA I’ve ever read. Adam Sass is fantastic at building a world within a novel that contains queer trauma (he says this in his acknowledgements) but also so many moments of queer joy were underlying there. Really glad I read this one!
This book is about Connor, who recently came out to his mom after his boyfriend encouraged him to. One night, he’s kidnapped (with his mom’s permission) and taken to Costa Rica where he’s in a conversion camp with other teens of various ages.
When I tell you I had no idea what way the story was gonna turn!!! Finding out things as Connor went along (my suspicions about the reverend were mostly on point!), and seeing how he grew up overnight was amazing. The love and care these kids showed each other after less than 24 hours was incredible and I was practically chewing my nails during the final 25% of the book. Also I’d LOVE a sequel where they reunite and take down Miss Manners!!
This book was so well written and it’s so different from any YA I’ve ever read. Adam Sass is fantastic at building a world within a novel that contains queer trauma (he says this in his acknowledgements) but also so many moments of queer joy were underlying there. Really glad I read this one!
alexandramtrawick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
fourthleafluck's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rennyrocket's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Biphobia, Child abuse, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Hate crime
readsomemorekatie's review against another edition
2.0
I felt this book had a ton of potential to be really awesome from the synopsis. I listened to the audiobook on my commute to and from work for several days and I really feel like probably half of my problem with this book was the narration so maybe this isn’t the most fair review.
I really thought the story itself was interesting but would have been so much better with a longer timeline. The fact that this whole story is supposed to have taken place within ONE DAY of Connor getting to the island REALLY, really did not sit well with me. There was definitely enough action and plot to have stretched his stay over several months which would have made all of the relationships much more believable.
*spoilers*
The instalove was WAY over the top in this. I completely get that stressful situations can form fast bonds but the relationships in this were just too much. I’m not even talking just about the romantic relationship, even the friendships just seemed way too fast. I mean, Connor is pretty much self claimed to be a self preservationist but throws out an opportunity to save himself for his ‘friends’ he’s just met not even one day prior?! That just doesn’t go with the character.
The timing of the plot and the narration of the audiobook were my two huge problems with this story that had so much potential. The cadence in which the story was read in the audiobook was just odd and jarring a lot of the time. I just kept thinking ‘who reads like this?!’. Also, a lot of the voices of the characters the narrator used were just not great. Marcos was supposed to be this big buff hottie from Texas but he just came off sounding like Lenny from Of Mice and Men. Molly, who was supposed to be a badass just sounded nasally and annoying a lot of the time and the voices for the younger kids made them all sound like they were closer to six than thirteen. I kept questioning the whole time if this was a book I should actually read vs. listen to but there still would be the timeline issue of the story.
I think I’m just disappointed in the lost potential for this book most of all. I’ll be very interested to see how this author grows from the experience of writing this and will probably still read future books because the talent for storytelling is there, I just needs some refinement.
I really thought the story itself was interesting but would have been so much better with a longer timeline. The fact that this whole story is supposed to have taken place within ONE DAY of Connor getting to the island REALLY, really did not sit well with me. There was definitely enough action and plot to have stretched his stay over several months which would have made all of the relationships much more believable.
*spoilers*
The instalove was WAY over the top in this. I completely get that stressful situations can form fast bonds but the relationships in this were just too much. I’m not even talking just about the romantic relationship, even the friendships just seemed way too fast. I mean, Connor is pretty much self claimed to be a self preservationist but throws out an opportunity to save himself for his ‘friends’ he’s just met not even one day prior?! That just doesn’t go with the character.
The timing of the plot and the narration of the audiobook were my two huge problems with this story that had so much potential. The cadence in which the story was read in the audiobook was just odd and jarring a lot of the time. I just kept thinking ‘who reads like this?!’. Also, a lot of the voices of the characters the narrator used were just not great. Marcos was supposed to be this big buff hottie from Texas but he just came off sounding like Lenny from Of Mice and Men. Molly, who was supposed to be a badass just sounded nasally and annoying a lot of the time and the voices for the younger kids made them all sound like they were closer to six than thirteen. I kept questioning the whole time if this was a book I should actually read vs. listen to but there still would be the timeline issue of the story.
I think I’m just disappointed in the lost potential for this book most of all. I’ll be very interested to see how this author grows from the experience of writing this and will probably still read future books because the talent for storytelling is there, I just needs some refinement.
georgia_jaycee's review against another edition
5.0
emotional, thrilling, queer, just incredible. the writing style was so interesting, took a while to get into but once your in it works so well. im obsessed
breezrose's review against another edition
4.0
Surrender Your Sons tells a multi generational story of coming out and the consequences, with the primary focus of course being on the teenage main character and the kids he meets in a remote conversion camp. The narrative also touches on both the inherited pride and trauma that persists within the queer community. This book is a heavy read as it covers conversion therapy, physical abuse and emotional abuse, so it would definitely need content warnings for young readers. It is a heartfelt exploration of life after coming out when the consequences of that are dire in a small, religious, conservative community. The adult characters embody the various ways one can internalize shame and perpetuate harmful ideas about gender and sexuality. The characters are endearing, resilient and believable. The ordeal the teens go through is quite extreme, and while the ideal endings for all of their storylines are a tad unrealistic, it's still satisfying. While overall it is a heavy read and maybe not for everyone, it tells a familiar story in a unique way.