All the Colors of Love

March 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Antonin is dismayed to find a new roommate when he returns to boarding school-one who's ready to let his fists fly even before saying hello. Harry doubts this new school will be any better than the last ones, although his supervillain father's punishments, delivered by his brutal henchmen, are nothing to look forward to if he stays at home. After their bad start, the teens become friends, and Antonin invites Harry home for Christmas break. At this point, the book turns from problem novel to sci-fi thriller. Antonin's family includes his mother, a former child prostitute and heroin addict, and aunts Magnolia and Cid, who are lovers. Cid, an android, is a scientist working on a virus that will allow people to live forever. Harry's wealthy, megalomaniac father, allows him to go with Antonin, but there's a catch: the boy has to steal the virus or see Antonin killed. Meanwhile, the pair falls in love despite their differences, and with the help of Antonin's family, they concoct a scheme to get rid of Harry's Old Man. The action picks up in the latter half of the novel, and the plot, while far-fetched, is often engaging and humorous. There is one fairly explicit but tender sex scene, and the language makes it suitable for older readers who have graduated from Perry Moore's Hero (Hyperion, 2007). For reluctant readers, fans of the superhero genre, and teens looking for books with LGBQT characters.-Nancy Silverrod, San Francisco Public Library

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