Release by Patrick Ness - NO

Ness, Patrick  Release, 287 pgs.  Walker Books, 2017.  $17.99  Content: Language: R (Swears: 20+ swears; 3+ “F”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG-13.  

Adam Thorn lives with his religious family and feels stifled by them, especially because he is gay.  Adam’s best friend, Angela, has always been the person he can talk about everything with, but it seems she is getting ready to move away.  Adam is harassed at work by his boss and is struggling with his feelings for a boy who is getting ready to move.  

I couldn’t finish this book.  I made it more than half way and wish I could scrub my mind clean of all of the sexually explicit content.  There is no way this book is for young adults.  The mature content includes multiple on page sex scenes/explanations (heterosexual and homosexual); sexual harassment boarding on sexual assault on a minor; constant crass sexual conversations with details about genitalia.  There is hardly a story line with the amount of sex talk.  If you could get over the amount of inappropriate sexual conversation, the character isn’t likable because of his inability to stand up for himself and his hatred towards his family that isn’t explained.  There is also a meth addict who murders a girl and her ghost story weaves throughout-her death is upsetting.  Ugh-I have loved Patrick Ness’s other books-this is so awful.  

NO  Reviewer, C. Peterson.