The Art of Breathing

The thing is people seem to think just because Tyson is smart that he is also socially caught up for his age. I hate what was done to him in this book and what he was forced to do in self preservation.

Let me start off and say, I read a lot. Like a book a day a lot. I'm not picky on genre or do I stay stuck on one author, but I am a snob when it comes to how the book is written. If a book doesn't catch my interest right away (first chapter) I'll skip to the end and then put it away. Or if it's full of errors and not edited, oy that will get me to skip to the end also. (tends to be an issue with e-books, sadly) Then I stumbled upon TJ Klune's \"Bear, Otter and the Kid\" and boy was I hooked! I've now finished \"The Art of Breathing\" and I'm wowed! Just like the other two in the series this book had me laughing so hard my husband thought I was losing my ever-loving mind. I laughed and I cried. I couldn't put it down till I finished, my kindle went everywhere with me. I am now for the first time addicted to an author's work.

Because my english is not good enough for a review, it is unfortunately inevitable to make this in german. But believe me, it's a very good review.
Dies ist Teil3 der Bär, Otter, Kid-Serie und jeder der während seiner 5 Jahren Englischunterricht halbwegs aufmerksam war, kann diesen Teil gut lesen. Was mich nicht abhalten wir ihn auch auf Deutsch zu kaufen.
Schon die ersten zwei Teile waren so wunderbar, das Badewannenbesuche für mich nie mehr so sein werden wie vorher. Aber Ty's Geschichte ist mindestens genau so gut, wenn nicht besser. Auf jeden Fall anders und trotzdem komplett übereinstimmend. Ich habe wirklich herzhaft gelacht und war zu Tränen gerührt.
Wenn das kein Lesevergnügen ist, dann weiß ich es auch nicht.

It seems almost impossible to me that I'm finally cracking open the third book in TJ Klune's intensely emotional and heartwarming series, 'Bear, Otter, and The Kid'. What's even more astounding to my mind is the opportunity now to get to know the Kid, Tyson, as an adult and to discover his personality all over again. I already know that this won't be an easy book to read, that it's going to be an impassioned story that will, most likely, cut me off at the knees more than once. That isn't going to stop me from reading it, however. If TJ could write it with all of the turmoil and upheaval which occurred in his and his beloved's life, then I can put on my big girl panties, read it, and cherish every single moment!
\"No. No. No.
All I need to do is breathe.
Just breathe.
In. Hold for three seconds.
I don't want to go to the bathtub today.
Out. Hold for three seconds.
There are no earthquakes. I do not shake.
In. Hold for three seconds.
I am not having a panic attack. I am above it.
Out. Hold for three seconds.
Everything is fine. Everything is fine.\"
It was so easy in the first two books to view Tyson as this confident, genius, young boy who was strong inside. Even though he got afraid and the earthquakes came and he and Bear would sit in the bathtub until they stopped, I always viewed that as normal because of his life up until then. It was easy to forget that Tyson always described himself as \"I'm just a little guy\", and it was only now, when reading Tyson's story, that I realized he wasn't always talking about physically. And that's who he is when Tyson comes home again after four years away, disillusioned, depressed, still suffering panic attacks, and trying to figure out what he needs from life and how to be strong enough to get it.
\"Some things, no matter how much we wish, no matter how much we hope, no matter how much we beg for them in our secret hearts, are not meant to be.
I am here to say good-bye.
Nothing more.\"
I suppose I really need to mention Dominic since he's the reason Tyson hasn't been home in four years. Tyson was nine and Dominic was fifteen when they first met after Bear, Otter, and the Kid moved into the Green Monstrosity. Tyson and Dom were inseparable and best friends who shared everything, although Dom waited until Tyson was thirteen before telling him why Dom didn't have any parents and lived in foster care. Tyson was almost sixteen when he realized he was gay and in love with his best friend. Leaving home to go to college, even though Bear and Otter were coming with him, was so painful for Tyson because he was leaving Dom, too. Tyson needed Dom…Dom was his. Three months after Tyson left for college, when he got a wedding announcement in the mail for Dom and this girl who was just supposed to be a phase, Tyson spiraled downhill and has not spoken to or seen Dom since that day.
Now Tyson is back in Seafare, with Bear and Otter, and Tyson's bigender, best friend, ex-boyfriend, and ex-girlfriend, Corey/Kori, and it's past time to own up to his mistakes in shutting Dom out and in being so selfish. Of course, Corey/Kori (whom I loved), had a lot to do with knocking some sense into Tyson's head. The road trip that Corey/Kori manipulated Dom into taking with him and Tyson to Tucson, where Corey/Kori happens to be from, was hysterical as some old favorites, namely Helena Handbasket, Paul, and Vince made an appearance and brought much humor into the setting. Tyson thought his family was weird until he had Saturday morning brunch with Helena, Kori, Paul, Vince, Darren, and Paul's two legged dog, Wheels. *snort*
\"And you can trust me when I say I'm going to fight like hell. Because no matter where you've been or how long it's taken you to come home, we've always been inevitable, and that will never change.\"
I'm reading over what I've written and I realize how inadequate it all sounds. It's impossible for me to even remotely express all of the emotions that I experienced while reading 'The Art of Breathing'. I cried for Tyson, I was proud of him, I laughed with Bear, Otter, Creed, Anna, and the Kid, and my heart bled for this beautiful young man who had to grow up way too soon, who never got to be a kid, who hid his fear behind an adult mask on a child's face, and I rejoiced when Dominic and Tyson both looked and really saw.
I have no more words for the impact this book has had on me. TJ, you're an incredible man, and if I knew nothing about you except what you've written in these three books, then I would know this: you know the true meaning of love and that's a rare gift, indeed.
\"I breathe for him. I breathe for me. I breathe for the years we've lost, and the future we might have, uncertain though it might be.
But most of all, I just breathe.\"

You don't need another review telling you what this book is
about. All you need to know is, BUY THIS BOOK. TJ continues writing as no other author I have read. It is not just a great story continued, it is more like you are
there with the characters and feel what they are feeling as they work through life's journey. Thank you TJ. Can't wait
for the next book, just sorry there will be only one more.