Carson and his mom live in New York City, but they have returned to Billings, Montana for the summer. Carson’s dad, an alcoholic who chose alcohol over his family, is dying. Carson’s mom feels an obligation to help care for him, and she wants Carson to have a relationship with his estranged dad.
Aisha is the most beautiful girl Carson has ever seen. Soon after meeting Carson, she confides in him that her father, a pastor, kicked her out of the house when he discovered she was a lesbian. Aisha has been living in a secluded area of the zoo. Carson invites Aisha back to his dad’s house so that she has a safe place to stay.

When Carson comes across some letters that hint that his grandfather, who left many years ago, may still be alive, Carson wants to find him. Soon Carson and Aisha head out on a road trip to find Carson’s grandfather. Along the way they discuss religion and if there even is a God. The two of them tackle the reality of being “walking wounded” and attempt to help each other through the pain and challenges they have both been facing. What Carson discovers will change the lives of all those he loves.
The conversations about religion echo many conversations that I have had with others about religion. Is there a God? Why are Christians so awful to others? What is the purpose of religion? The conversations and experiences that Carson and Aisha have on their road trip add to their questions. There might also be some answers. Their ideas and thoughts about religion do change. This is an excellent book about pain, healing, God, identity, friendship, and family.

Listen to an interview with the author. https://azpbs.org/books/2015/07/the-porcupine-of-truth-by-bill-konigsberg/ ( )

This was an awesome book. It was a great coming of age tale with some twists. It addresses things teens face broken families, sexuality, and adults that feel that kids don't need to know certain things and what that feels like. It is an adventure that is believable and interesting to see the characters grow to understand how others choices affected people in their family and in turn them. ( )

Received ARC.
Review Metapsychology Online ( )

Carson has never really known his father; he's never been more than a phone call each birthday. But when he's suddenly dying, Carson's mother decides they'll spend the summer with his father to take care of him. Carson supposes it'd be a bit easier to deal with if he didn't live in a rural town in Montana of all places – like being a alcoholic deadbeat dad wasn't enough. But as much as he wishes he could stop caring about the guy, he is still his dad. What other choice does he have but to go help him on the brink of his death?

On his first day in town, he meets the gorgeous and witty Aisha. They instantly bond over the lack of animals at the local zoo and it doesn't take long before it feels like they've been friends forever. Especially when Carson finds out Aisha lives in her car ever since her father threw her out of the house for being lesbian. Without a second though, he invites her to move into the basement in his father's house with him.

It turns out to be the best choice he's made, not just because he acquires a best friend who has a roof over her head, but as they clean out the basement together... they find his grandparents' divorce papers. The thing is, they are signed more than a year after his grandfather presumably walked out on his dad and grandmother. Even if his father doesn't want to hear it, Carson realises that the only decent thing is to try and find his grandfather if he's still out there somewhere. For his father.

I've read Openly Straight by Bill Konisberg before and it completely blew my away, so naturally, I had to read this one as well. And it certainly did not disappoint, even if it isn't able to compete with Openly Straight by a long shot. What really made this book was Aisha. She's great and funny and brave like few others. But it was hard not to care for all of the characters; they all came with something special that made me want to keep them all safe.

Because it's definitely a story about broken people, it's a book about being abandoned but it's also a story about love and family. And a powerful one of that. Especially as we discover the truth about Carson's grandfather and his disappearance. As someone who is gay, it really hit me hard. I can't imagine what it's like to have to leave your child behind to be able to be yourself. And how all of those men, and women, died in shame even though they shouldn't have had to. It also makes me so happy and relieved to see our society today; while we're definitely not even near an ideal world for lgbt folks, I just read the cutest article about how my favourite Broadway power couple met and how they fell in love. Even their up coming marriage is discussed and how the proposal went down. It makes me crave the ability to bring all lgbt people from the past into today to let them have this. A normal fucking life. A life where a man can date another man but still be in his son's life.
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