stevia333k's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars because while i would like to give it 5, because i am over dramatic, it would seem inappropriate to say tragedy is amazing (like the good reads caption said under 5 stars). i just finished reading 151 days after this and so i might be a little spoiley but this book was not a pick me up, but i now know that it was needed in order to tell the story. it's just kind of depressing, if you buy this book buy the next one too (151 days) if available!
valerie_lostmylifetobooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks for this book, Mr Goode! It really learned me some valuable lessons about love. And though the subject isn't always about sparkling happiness, it still made me laugh (which earned me some strange looks on the bus). I read it out this morning and walked around the whole day with a big smile on my face, looking like that guy from the mask...
And my friend asked me why I looked so happy (on a monday!) and I said it was because of this great, touching book I just read and she was like: 'Oh.' I'll tell her about it tomorrow, she wasn't really awake.
But anyway, can't wait for the next one! I've already written the date in my agenda!
And my friend asked me why I looked so happy (on a monday!) and I said it was because of this great, touching book I just read and she was like: 'Oh.' I'll tell her about it tomorrow, she wasn't really awake.
But anyway, can't wait for the next one! I've already written the date in my agenda!
liza5326's review against another edition
5.0
I can't even..... I am just speechless and heartsick. I am a major angst-junkie, but there are some books that just take my breath away. This is one of them. I am trying to keep my composure, because I finished reading it in the car with my mom and daughter, but the second I get home, I am closing my door and having myself a good cry. Then I am going to read something fluffy.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
5.0
I've been a fan of the Foster High young adult series since the first one released. All through these books, the issues of coming out, of bullying, of parents who fail their kids in various ways, have been part of the fabric of this growing love story between two high-school seniors.
Now Kyle and Brad face new challenges, as an out gay couple in a high school and a town that are definitely not gay-friendly. In this book, that atmosphere of oppressive disapproval becomes darker and more threatening. The guys gain new support, and come up against new challenges. One of the hardest lessons to learn may be that good intentions are not enough, that even heroes can have feet of clay, and that you can't save everyone.
Kyle is perhaps not totally believable as a high-school senior, even a brilliant one. His insights and his ability to find the right comeback are mature for any teen. And yet he is totally a sympathetic character, and in this book you can feel the depth to which he is expressing the author's pain, our pain, at the inability of human beings to treat each other with empathy and compassion. These are words we need to hear, insights we wish we could share. In between the moments of clarity of words and purpose, he is a high-school boy, in love with another boy, and figuring out how to make that work.
The writing is smooth, emotional and engaging. The author pulled me into the story. And when he was done, I immediately started the next one.
Now Kyle and Brad face new challenges, as an out gay couple in a high school and a town that are definitely not gay-friendly. In this book, that atmosphere of oppressive disapproval becomes darker and more threatening. The guys gain new support, and come up against new challenges. One of the hardest lessons to learn may be that good intentions are not enough, that even heroes can have feet of clay, and that you can't save everyone.
Kyle is perhaps not totally believable as a high-school senior, even a brilliant one. His insights and his ability to find the right comeback are mature for any teen. And yet he is totally a sympathetic character, and in this book you can feel the depth to which he is expressing the author's pain, our pain, at the inability of human beings to treat each other with empathy and compassion. These are words we need to hear, insights we wish we could share. In between the moments of clarity of words and purpose, he is a high-school boy, in love with another boy, and figuring out how to make that work.
The writing is smooth, emotional and engaging. The author pulled me into the story. And when he was done, I immediately started the next one.
riverreads's review against another edition
5.0
End of Innocence or "How John Goode destroyed me in one book"
When I started this book I knew something bad was going to happen because hell, look at the cover and title of the book! So I was nervous and for the first time in my life I didn't try to predict what was goin to happen, I just got swept by the story and I loved it.
End of innocence shows what happens in a little town where there's a lot of ignorance, ignorance leads to fear and fear leads to hate.
Brad and Kyle are dealing with the aftermath of their coming out, the school is against them, a lot of the kids in school are against them and sadly there's bad times in this story but there's a few people that have their backs, family and friends that are not perfect but are there for them.
Brad's friend, Kelli (the reason why Brad and Kyle came out) tries to make amends and this unfolds in a series of events that end in such a terrible way.
I read this book on christmas eve and I was eating tamales and reading and when the bad thing happened I was shocked, sad and I wanted it to be a dream. I actually tweeted John because I was so shocked, I wanted everything to be perfect but that's the thing about life, things are not perfect and bullying, homophobia, depression, suicide and so many other things are real and happen everyday. So I cried and kept reading and gosh, I am so happy with this story, these characters and the amazing words of John.
This book was so real and I know I'm making it sound like such a downer, It's not, Kyle is such a great character and his relationship with Brad is so beautiful and strong. I focused on what personally marked me but it's a great story, so necessary. I wish I could share it with everyone so they could understand how "harmless" words and actions can affect an individual.
Thank you John Goode for this story.
When I started this book I knew something bad was going to happen because hell, look at the cover and title of the book! So I was nervous and for the first time in my life I didn't try to predict what was goin to happen, I just got swept by the story and I loved it.
End of innocence shows what happens in a little town where there's a lot of ignorance, ignorance leads to fear and fear leads to hate.
Brad and Kyle are dealing with the aftermath of their coming out, the school is against them, a lot of the kids in school are against them and sadly there's bad times in this story but there's a few people that have their backs, family and friends that are not perfect but are there for them.
Brad's friend, Kelli (the reason why Brad and Kyle came out) tries to make amends and this unfolds in a series of events that end in such a terrible way.
I read this book on christmas eve and I was eating tamales and reading and when the bad thing happened I was shocked, sad and I wanted it to be a dream. I actually tweeted John because I was so shocked, I wanted everything to be perfect but that's the thing about life, things are not perfect and bullying, homophobia, depression, suicide and so many other things are real and happen everyday. So I cried and kept reading and gosh, I am so happy with this story, these characters and the amazing words of John.
This book was so real and I know I'm making it sound like such a downer, It's not, Kyle is such a great character and his relationship with Brad is so beautiful and strong. I focused on what personally marked me but it's a great story, so necessary. I wish I could share it with everyone so they could understand how "harmless" words and actions can affect an individual.
Thank you John Goode for this story.
tepidgirlsummer's review against another edition
3.0
Kyle is so overdramatic and uses pretty much every situation he’s in as an opportunity to pontificate and/or start fights. It’s exhausting.
I knew where this one was going pretty early on in the game (kind of like an episode of Degrassi) but I like the drama (also kind of like an episode of Degrassi).
I knew where this one was going pretty early on in the game (kind of like an episode of Degrassi) but I like the drama (also kind of like an episode of Degrassi).
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