Reviews

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass

akgeekgrrl's review against another edition

A good and important book, especially for YA readers. I prefer less internal, tortuous, monologuing and more characterization and plot movement. Kinda been there, seen that, through many friends’ experiences in our youth and it’s not a place I care to revisit.

damien666's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? No

2.5

This book was alright. It felt written for middle schoolers but with too dark and mature themes. The characters were enjoyable and interesting. There were a couple of plot holes or just weird decisions,

like mistaking a woman's voice for a man's

but overall the story did a good job in building suspense and laying down crumbs. 

bettielovesbooks's review against another edition

5.0

How I enjoyed this book, I haven’t read any thrillers in a while as I have been more in the mood for happier books as everything going on, but Adam is such a delight on Twitter I decided to give it a go and let me tell you it really grabbed me: it has mystery, romance, soft boys, strong girls, villainous villains, but above all it has so much heart. I really loved Connor, so funny, so brave, yes, so mouthy and so full of love and hope it completely broke my heart. Everyone else is so well written too, which couldn’t have been easy as there are a lot of characters.
My favorite book of the year.

macaroni45's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

spacebee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

_p0ssum_'s review against another edition

• 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

3.25

I expected a few things from this book, some were achieved some were not but its still an alright book.

ghostreadin's review against another edition

dark funny sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

heyitsmeg777's review against another edition

NOTE: Thanks to Tbrandbeyond tours for the opportunity to participate in this book tour!


I have been really grateful for the chance to participate in these tours and spread the word about these new and upcoming books! Today's tour is really a moving tale that brought awareness to the harsh reality of the gay conversion camps, of becoming proud of your sexuality, and in finding people to accept you for who you are.


So, here we go.


Short Summary: A newly out gay teen gets sent to a conversion therapy boot camp where the true fight to survive begins.


Long Summary:Connor Major’s summer break is turning into a nightmare.



His SAT scores bombed, the old man he delivers meals to died, and when he came out to his religious zealot mother, she had him kidnapped and shipped off to a secluded island. His final destination: Nightlight Ministries, a conversion therapy camp that will be his new home until he “changes.”



But Connor’s troubles are only beginning. At Nightlight, everyone has something to hide from the campers to the “converted” staff and cagey camp director, and it quickly becomes clear that no one is safe. Connor plans to escape and bring the other kidnapped teens with him. But first, he’s exposing the camp’s horrible truths for what they are—and taking this place down.


I was absolutely hooked since the beginning--it's the sort of book best read in the evening to late night vibes with the twists, the turns and the heartwrenching reality we still live in today with homophobia and conversion therapy camps (which I thought no longer existed) and especially now in our times with politicians who want to decide what we do with our lives, with our bodies, and with who we choose to love, this book is one worth reading. Connor's story was all sorts of relatable from music tastes (Hey Carly Rae Jepsen and Ariana Grande

jessicarose's review against another edition

3.0

2.5 stars

bookspinesandroses's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0