Devastatingly sad. You can pretty much tell where this one is headed right from the start. It's beautifully written, though. Vivid characters. This wasn't billed as a young adult book, but it does read like one. There is quite a bit of intense language, so if you're put off by that, this isn't for you. ( )

Brewster is a painful, coming-of-age story about three teens caught in the tumultuous times of the late 60s. I also graduated from high school in 1969, so I can relate to this era of music, drug use, the horror of the Vietnam war, and Woodstock. Set in a small town in New York, Jon Mosher, a potential track star, takes us through his vulnerable years of high school where passion and hormones rage. Jon lives with parents that were emotionally flat-lined by the death of his brother when Jon was four. Still, he manages to become the adult in the room at home and for his best friend, Ray Cappicciano. The latter secretly lives with the horrifying reality of physical abuse while displaying a vulnerability that completely broke my heart. Mark Slouka's writing is witty, to-the-point, and refreshing. I loved this book and will look for more by this author. ( )

Well written and moving story of four young adults struggling to find their way in late 1960s America. ( )

This is a beautifully written book. Every sentence flowed effortlessly into the next and the character development was superb. Simply a fantastic read. Loved it. ( )

A spare and melancholy reflection of the lives of two high school friends during the 1960s. ( )