Alaska

Marco is a superhero, only he doesn't see it. He rescues those around him. He and his sisters are left in the care of their Gram and he has become the care provider for all of them at the age of twelve. Keeping them together as a family. His best friend, Scott, can see how he sacrifices for everyone and draws a picture of him as such. Scott needs a hero as his childhood is filled with an alcoholic mother and foster care. The story is told in five-year leaps at Christmas. We see Scott spiral out of control disappearing for years at a time. We also see Marco trying to hold it all together as his sisters age and his Gram passes away. Marco continues to be the superhero, especially for Scott as he struggles to be a man worthy of Marco. The ending is divine.
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Sometimes the promises you make to those you love are the most important thing in your world. Marco promises Scott that someday he's going to rescue him and they'll leave California and head off to Alaska and live happily ever after. Marco was twelve. Five years later, Scott appears on Christmas Eve and wants Marco to go away with him. Scott is eighteen now and out from under Child Protective Services and the endless foster homes. But Marco can't go with him. He takes care of his grams and his two younger sisters, something he's done most of his life. Marco goes to school and works thirty hours a week plus all the cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, helping with homework, and watching out for his sisters.
Five years later and Marco is twenty-two and living in Portland, Oregon now. Once again it's Christmas Eve and he's heading home from one of his jobs, of which he has three. Seeing a homeless man bundled up against the rain, Marco stops to give him his own soup dinner and is stunned to discover the homeless man is Scott. Marco takes him home, feeds him, gives him a place to shower, and washes his clothes, but they don't talk about what's happened in the last five years. Marco doesn't know why Scott lives on the streets and has a risky lifestyle. Marco only knows he'd still like to rescue him. Five years later and Marco is alone. His sisters have good lives and he still works hard. He has still never had the time to go to college or to have a boyfriend. Marco used to spend his Christmas alone wondering if Scott is alive or dead. And, now it's the current year, and Marco's two-year relationship has ended and he's thinking it's time to move on. Then his doorbell rings.
A really, really emotionally moving story of hope, joy, friendship, love, promises made and promises kept. In one form or another. This story definitely reminded me what the holidays are truly all about.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews