Boomerang

This is a wonderful story about a boy who thinks he knows who he is until he figures out he may not know as much as he thought. At 12, Michael runs away from a dysfunctional home to a life he thought was near perfect. Everyone believed he had been kidnapped or killed, but at age 18 he returns to claim an inheritance from his grandparents. He is forced to confront the people of his past and the people of his current life, including his mother, the people who took him in, Trip–his close friend with whom he has an intense relationship–and the girl who has now captured his attention. The characters are intense, flawed, real, and unforgettable, and the writer does a great job of capturing who they are and what they struggle with. This is a beautifully written story, and the author does a great job of developing the story and the characters. This is a great book for readers 14 and older who like to read coming-of-age stories and books with complex characters who draw you in. This story is intense, thought-provoking in so many ways, and it does a great job of uncovering the complexities of people’s lives.