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From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Desperately tired of being bullied and abused outsiders, gay teens Evan and Davis welcome the opportunity to join a new group organized by a charismatic stranger named Sable. Calle. the Chasers, the group promises an opportunity for fraternity but to Evan's dismay quickly turns into a vigilante pack determined to enact revenge against local gay-bashers. Meanwhile Evan, a gifted artist, meets Erik, an older boy of like mind, and the two begin a relationship that Evan for reasons that remain confusingly overintellectualized keeps secret from his family and best friend, Davis. Things get further complicated when the Chasers evolves into something far more sinister and Davis' implausible evolution into a true believer comprises his lifelong friendship with Evan. Some readers may find Farrey's first novel at times pretentious especially regarding its treatment of art and its characters overly noble, but its treatment of AIDS is extremely well handled and welcome at a time when AIDS fiction has become almost nonexistent.--Cart, Michae. Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal
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Gr 9 Up-Evan and Davis are best friends. Growing up gay in Wisconsin has made them outcasts and victims of violent bullying. Evan has found comfort with a loving boyfriend, but Davis is still looking for his niche when he discovers the Chasers, a support group for gay youth lead by the mysterious Sable. When Evan learns that Sable hopes to bring his newly created clan to a "bugchasing" party to intentionally contract HIV, he knows he must get Davis out. Descriptions of Evan's art provide a structure for the protagonist's memories and fill readers in on his backstory, allowing them to understand his growth. Farrey paces his story beautifully, covering many contemporary issues for teens about coming out, friendship, relationships, and following a dangerous crowd simply for a sense of belonging. Though the author handles these difficult concerns well, the gravity of all of these elements can be overwhelming. With a much more serious tone than John Green and David Levithan's Will Grayson, Will Grayson (Dutton, 2010), this well-developed novel is great for readers interested in an approachable story about teen homosexuality.-Devin Burritt, Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor, ME (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.