Reading Metrics
Description
After his parents' divorce, Jeremy spends time with his dad and finds himself intrigued by a boy. What starts out as friendship blooms into something neither boy is expecting. Text contains gender bias and alcohol abuse.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a story that mixes the quiet beauty of the coast with the messy feelings of a kid trying to figure out where he belongs, this one's for you. Jeremy's summer with his dad gets complicated when he meets a new friend who sees the world in a way that makes him question everything he thought he knew about family and identity. The book doesn't shy away from the hard stuff there's a divorced dad dealing with drinking and some outdated ideas about gender roles but it also shows how two kids can find a way to talk about it through the language of seabirds, which gives the narrative a poetic edge. Kids who like realistic, emotionally rich stories, especially those who enjoy books like The One and Only Ivan or Fish in a Tree, will likely connect with the characters and the setting. Parents might want to know that the story includes honest discussions of divorce, alcohol use, and moments that can be both funny and sad, making it a good conversation starter about tough topics.