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YA Review: Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley

Title: Deposing Nathan
AuthorZack Smedley
Year Published: 2019

Genre: YA fiction (LGBTQ)
Pages: 400
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Location (my 2020 Google Reading map): USA (WV)

FTC Disclosure: I bought this book with my own money

Summary (from the inside flap of the book): For sixteen years, Nate was the perfect son―the product of a no-nonsense upbringing and deep spiritual faith. Then he met Cam, who pushed him to break rules, dream, and accept himself. Conflicted, Nate began to push back. With each push, the boys became more entangled in each others' worlds...but they also spiraled closer to their breaking points. And now all of it has fallen apart after a fistfight-turned-near-fatal-incident―one that's left Nate with a stab wound and Cam in jail.

Now Nate is being ordered to give a statement, under oath, that will send his best friend to prison. The problem is, the real story of what happened between them isn't as simple as anyone thinks. With all eyes on him, Nate must make his confessions about what led up to that night with Cam...and in doing so, risk tearing both of their lives apart.

Review: This book has so many layers; it's about friendship; love; family; trust; and truth.

Nathan doesn't have much of a social circle so when Cam arrives at the start of their junior year and says he wants to be friends, Nathan lets him into his world. Cam is eccentric, fun, gets Nathan to take risks and open up. Cam also brings up feelings that Nathan isn't so sure about. His religion tells him these thoughts are wrong and that's tough for him to handle.

I liked the telling of their story via deposition. It allows for check-ins in the here and now, breathers in the tensions of the past. And the reader needs this. We need to hear the reaction of the lawyers and Nathan's family during the deposition to know what others knew and how they react to the story that is unfolding.

Yes, this book fits into the LGBTQ genre, but it is so much more than that. I can't say much more because it would give away bits that need to be revealed as you read them. Suffice it to say, this is a good and important book.

Challenges for which this counts: 
For the Pop Sugar challenge, this book is written by author in his 20s (this is an "advanced" category).

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