I felt my college emo phase really peaking through for a hot second while reading this. Everyone goes through one, right? I didn’t go full grunge, but I was always on the pop side of the genre anyway, which makes sense for me, I guess.

Skater Boy spoke to that kid still learning who he was all those years ago. I went through a time in my life not knowing how my family would react to me coming out. I would have rather ran and hide than have to tell people that I was/am queer. It’s an awful experience that should have been eradicated long before it began. So I definitely felt for the MC, Wes, in that sense.

I wasn’t sure if I liked him in the beginning. I haven’t read many books that are written through the high school bully’s eyes. And that’s basically what he is. Albeit, he is reforming himself so that he can be better for the guy he likes, but at the start, he’s still that one kid in school everyone turns the other way when they see. But as the story moved along, I started understanding and appreciating his journey a lot more.

I think this is a cathartic book to read if you’ve ever been bullied for being different in school. It’s a look at what’s really going on in the mind of someone else. While every story may be different, it definitely shows that everyone, even people who treat us like crap, can be going through something at the same time as we are. Does it give them a right to do what they do? Absolutely not! But I know life can be life-ing!