Anything Could Happen

March 16, 2015
Tretch Farm’s best friend Matt may have two dads—far from common in small-town Warmouth—but Tretch has a secret: he’s gay and in love with Matt. Debut author Walton offers a mostly upbeat alternative to accounts of tormented teens in the closet: 15-year-old Tretch is teased a bit at school (largely due to his close friendship with Matt), but he never doubts his family’s love. In fact, his biggest worry about coming out to them is that they’ll be so supportive that they’ll become socially isolated themselves. The Farm family’s warmth feels genuine, and when Tretch debuts
his long-practiced routines at a school dance, his classmates are impressed, not to mention grateful that he’s gotten everyone dancing. The book may be
optimistic, but it’s not unrealistic; Tretch’s life isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. As he says, he’s not toughing things out hoping they “get better”—they’re already pretty good right now. It’s a fine message even if Walton undermines it slightly by tying up a loose end or two a bit neatly. Ages 12–up. Agent: Peter Knapp, Park Literary Group.

March 1, 2015
Falling in love with your best friend can't turn out all right, can it?Fifteen-year-old "Tretch" Farm goes by his nickname since he's the third generation of Richards in the family. He realizes one Sunday in church that he's in love with his best friend, Matt Gooby, who just happens to have two dads but who also happens to be straight. Matt's a great friend, standing up for Tretch whenever necessary, especially against Tretch's dad's business partner's son. Tretch's mother's still leery of the Goobys even though they are legally married, so Tretch can't talk about the depth of his affection for Matt with his parents. He deals by being a good friend and helping Matt land the girl of his dreams. Tretch leads his mother to believe he's dating a girl (who actually does have a crush on him), but he comes out to his supportive older brother, Joe. If only it were all as easy as that. Tretch, the narrator in Walton's debut, successfully navigates the landmines of his life while learning about the secrets that adults keep. The whole is a wee bit melodramatic and perhaps a bit too rosy as well. However, LGBT teens can use more "a bit too rosy," and the message that "it gets better, but it's good now" is nicely communicated without being maudlin or preachy. Realistic and at times touching, a nice addition to the literature. (Fiction. 12-16)

May 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-This debut novel introduces readers to gay teen Richard "Tretch" Farm, his straight best friend (and major crush), Matt, and their caring circle of family and friends in contemporary small-town U.S.A. Readers experience Tretch's turbulent emotions as well as the warmth of his close-knit extended family in this first-person narrative. Over the course of one eventful winter break, he goes from bullied, closeted, and secretive about his love of dance to out, proud, reconciled with his former tormentor, and rocking out on the dance floor. The ending's rushed resolution to several plot threads is hard to believe, yet it is preceded by many slow-moving scenes that detail Tretch's moment-by-moment longing for the unattainable-and frankly somewhat boring-Matt. VERDICT While not a necessary purchase, this is a friendly read for teens who enjoyed the sweetness in David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy (Knopf, 2005) or the small-town experience in Emily M. Danforth's The Miseducation of Cameron Post (HarperCollins, 2013).-Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 8-11 Lana likes Tretch, who likes Matt, who has a crush on Amyit's sort of a love quadrilateral. Everyone assumes it is Matt who is gay. After all, he has two dads. Matt, however, is straight, much to Tretch's chagrin. The two have been best friends for years, though Tretch wants more. But, Tretch hasn't come out to anyone, let alone his best friend. A chance encounter in a coffee shop leaves him with an understanding of the staying power of love and the realization that, even after someone is gone, the love he or she planted is left behind. The small-town setting reinforces the intimacy of Tretch's strong friendships and family relationships, even as it makes it more challenging to come out. Debut novelist Walton brings readers a successful story filled with complex relationships, one that is ultimately about love of family and friends, as well as the courage to accept that love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)