My thoughts: I give it ♥♥♥. The story is great. That being said, I almost gave it a 2 star rating. Most of it is narrative, which is my least favorite method of storytelling and it was full of angst, second guessing and denial of feelings. Oh, and The Kid is smarter that all of the adults. However, I loved the sacrifice and seemingly permanent acceptance and love all the characters displayed for each other.
It took me three different times to get through it because the long stretches of narrative with significant inner dialog seemed to slow the story down so much that I gave up on it time after time. However…I did like the story and I’m glad I finished it. Would I recommend it? If you have 11 hours to kill and like that method of storytelling, then yes. If you are an impatient reader like me, probably not.
Author’s Blurb:
Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living—with a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that. Until Otter comes home.
Otter is Bear’s best friend’s older brother, and as they’ve done for their whole lives, Bear and Otter crash and collide in ways neither expect. This time, though, there’s nowhere to run from the depth of emotion between them. Bear still believes his place is as the Kid’s guardian, but he can’t help thinking there could be something more for him in the world… something or someone.
My Brain Vacation 