End of the Innocence (2nd Edition)

I devoured the first book of 'Tales from Foster High', so it should come as no surprise how excited I was to be reading book two, 'End of the Innocence'. Kyle and Brad are such incredible characters, especially for young adults, and the books are filled with fascinating secondary characters, also. John Goode knows how to write a story that hits all of my buttons, even though, on average, I'm not a fan of the young adult genre. But I couldn't wait to revisit my guys and see how they were doing after all of the trauma from being outed.

"But, overall, things have changed. I say changed and not 'changed for the better' because I am no fool. Fate is a total drama queen. The second you say things are better than they were, she'll come stumbling toward you on her six-inch heels, nasty-ass wig crooked and on sideways. You'll wonder exactly how she got all that makeup slathered onto her face. One nicotine-caked fake fingernail will point at you, and she will make sure things are anything but better from there on out. So, no thank you. Things are different but not better and, in fact, could get much, much worse, so fuck off, Fate." ~ Kyle

It was incredible to watch things change. Kyle starts to make some friends, including, believe it or not, Brad's ex-girlfriend, Jennifer, who turns out to be a good person. Kyle gets a part-time job helping out at a consignment clothing store and his boss, Robbie, is a giant Mo, which gives Kyle someone to really talk to. Robbie also has a way of showing Kyle that what he thought was so bad is really just a drop in the bucket of possibilities, and the realities of life. Robbie may think he knows everything, but Kyle has a lot to teach him, too. Brad feels like he's stumbled down the rabbit hole. His ex is becoming good friends with his boyfriend, and that makes Brad a little jealous. Some of his former friends are coming back around, which Brad isn't so sure about. And, in typical alpha male behavior, Brad has no clue sometimes why Kyle gets upset about certain things. I'll just leave it at, Brad is confused, a lot.

A great idea is spawned for The Party, as it's come to be known, that happens right before Winter break, and is where all the popular people are invited, should be crashed by those who are different. Meaning, not just Brad and Kyle as the gay couple, but Brad's geeky D&D guys, and their theater friends. A very well intentioned idea, which doesn't turn out so well. But before all of that, Brad pulls an incredibly romantic “Sixteen Candles-esque” type of a move and if I'd been Kyle, I would've been a pile of Jell-O. The Party turned out fine, with Kyle actually getting the different cliques to converse. I was shocked. Unfortunately, a private conversation that Kyle had with one of Brad's former friends gets recorded and put on Facebook with devastating results. It was bad enough being a teenager before cell phones and social media. Now? I wouldn't survive it.

It is, on one hand, thrilling to realize that all the drama of being a teenager is so far behind me I can't see it anymore. However, on the other hand, it's depressing to realize every single kid goes through exactly the same things no matter how much time has gone by. Although, I have to admit that the bullying and hatefulness from kids has increased exponentially, and really frightens me for the future of our society. I understood a lot of Kyle's insecurities and issues. When you've spent your whole life being invisible with no friends, some of the normal maturing that happens as we go through high school and have social interactions, ends up skipping you. Kyle did a lot of emotional growing up that last year of school, and, frankly, it was a joy to watch it begin.

I can't say I was surprised the direction this book took. I am sorry and it made me cry and grieve, particularly for Kyle, and the end of his innocence. As with the previous book, the writing in this book awed me. It's almost too beautiful in some areas and I, literally, had an ache in my chest while reading. But I tried to take the important lesson from this story, and that is love. Kyle and Brad have been through so much and they still held their heads up and chose love over hate. Hatred and anger only inspires more of the same, regardless of which side of the line you're standing on. There's too much of that in our world already. It's time to let it go. Thank you, John, for this stunning addition to the series. I'm sure I didn't possibly give it the justice it deserves.

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews