This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender
Published by Balzer + Bray on October 30th 2018
ISBN: 0062820222
Pages: 304
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In Seattle lives Nate Bird, a high school junior, whose best friend is now his former girlfriend, Flo, and whose crush from back when he was eleven, Oliver, has just moved back to town.  In this love story “Bird” finally realizes that people can’t always keep their hearts safe from the chance of being hurt.  Oliver may be Nate’s one true love or not but he must take the risk to put himself out there, as he does through his screenplay.

Relationships between characters of various genders and Oliver’s hearing impairment make this a good choice for LGBTQ and students with disabilities, as well as anyone who is in the mood for a strong love story.  It is also possible that readers will learn some sign language with the descriptions of the words and signs used between Oliver and Bird.  This book is recommended for grades 10-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland