Gabe Dillon's life changes when he gazes across his new school's commons and spies handsome Kerem Uzun, and he wants to know more. Kerem is senior class president and is very well-liked. He comes from a family of doctors, is of Turkish heritage, and he is Muslim. At first, Gabe doesn't understand the ritual he sees Kerem performing. But as the boys bond, Gabe is eager to learn about Islam. He's falling in love with a boy who may or may not be gay, a boy whose religion may condemn Gabe's open homosexuality. Complicating the budding relationship is Timur, Kerem's cousin, who has grown up alongside Kerem after a family tragedy left Timur homeless. But as Kerem grows into his identity and learns how it fits into his devout practice of faith, Timur becomes more rigid and fundamental. And he isn't the only one opposed to the friendship between Kerem and Gabe. Can they forge a lasting relationship amid so many challenges?

 

 

This book has been graded for interest at 14-18 years.

There are 200 pages in this book.

It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.

This book was published in 2018 by Dreamspinner Press .