The letters written about what happened when they saw each other was a little unbelievable, but added depth when written from a first person perspective/account. It made you imagine, through their emotions and observations, what took place and how it effected them, how it helped them to grow and develop and fall in love. There were a lot of dark moments in this novel. Many instances of homophobia and bullying, specifically towards Jo. As well, there is abuse within Kurl's home. So, both boys try to compartmentalize the horrific torture they endure day in and day out. It is not until they begin to disclose what is happening that they realize they deserve better. I really enjoyed how the letters linked with the poetry of Walt Whitman. Both boys quote his works regularly and he plays a large role in the development of their relationship. Secrecy also becomes a big issue, secrets held by parents, by Kurl, by Jo; all of these secrets create divides, anger, pain, rage, and sadness. Once the secrets are exposed, all those impacted can begin to heal. Kurl and Jo share quite a lot in common, which links them at the beginning. Both have lost a parent, both feel like outsiders hoping to escape to something else. Both rely heavily on their siblings for emotional support, even while their siblings are failing them. Where Kurl hardly sees his brother's, Jo and his sister are together continuously. While Kurl needs to rebuild the bond with his brothers, Jo needs to create space between the destructive force of his sister and himself. I recommend this beautiful love story, told only through letters. Trigger Warnings: abuse, bullying, homophobia, self harm, drug use, alcohol use, death of a parent, mentions of war, PTSD.
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