“Like a missive from the soul.” – Kirkus Reviews
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THE BOYS OF THE BEAST
Three cousins. Four days. One car. This smart and fearless road-trip novel is perfect for fans of David Levithan, Benjamin Alire Saenz, or Meg Medina.
THE ROUTE. Seventeen hundred miles from Portland, Oregon, to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
THE BEAST. Grandma Lupe’s 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.
THE BOYS. Three strangers who also happen to be cousins:
Matt. Evangelical Christian. Earnest. Film nerd. Carrying a dream to make movies–despite the future his father has planned for him.
Ethan. Jewish. Gay. Sci-fi nerd. Carrying a phone that contains his entire relationship with Levi–unless they finally get to meet IRL on this trip.
Oscar. Stoner. Smartass. Too cool to be a nerd. Carrying a letter that haunts him–no matter how hard he tries to escape it.
THE END …just might be a new beginning.
REVIEWS
“[A] sure-footed debut… As the cousins go from mutual wariness to becoming a close-knit trio of co-conspirators and confidantes, their discussions, punctuated with fart jokes and f-bombs, are thoughtful explorations of identity; mental health issues, including self-harm; romance; and acceptance.”
– Publishers Weekly
“Starting off as mere character sketches, the three Latinx cousins (Matt has a White father) soon develop into fully endearing heroes thanks to Zepeda’s deft, potent writing. Alternating short chapters from each teen’s perspective packs nuance and depth in this quick read splashed with melodrama and humor…Like a missive from the soul. ”
– Kirkus Reviews
“Boys of the Beast zips easily along, just like the 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe that carries its three cousins to their satisfying destination.”
– Foreword Reviews
“[A] refreshing, smoothly written debut.”
– Booklist
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Teacher’s Guide for Boys of the Beast, provided by Lee & Low, the largest multicultural children’s book publisher in the United States.