The book Fans of the Impossible Life is simply stunning. The author, Kate Scelsa, has created a story that speaks to anyone who has ever felt alone, betrayed, or misunderstood. The plot follows the life and experiences of Jeremy, a loner and misfit who longs for friends that he can go through the ups and downs of high school with. Dealing with the drama of being raised by two dads and maybe being gay himself, Jeremy secludes himself from the rest of the world, finding solace in the art books that he reads at lunch everyday. But things begin to change for him when his favorite teacher, David, asks him to start an art club in hopes that Jeremy will meet the friends that he longs for. From wild high school parties to confusing love triangles, Fans of the Impossible Life is a novel that cannot be overlooked.
At first, I was reluctant to pick up this specific title because it seemed to be another cliché coming-of-age tale, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The book introduces three teens who are trying to survive high school and also trying to discover who they truly are. Even though the book seems to be formalistic at first glance, the depth of each character is incredibly interesting, and Kate Scelsa will have readers of all ages cheering and crying with her characters as they discover themselves and experience love and loss.
Unlike many teen books that are being published today, this novel is brutally honest and tugs at the reader’s heart; everything is not rainbows and sunshine in this story. I felt like the author was completely honest with her readers and weaved a story that had heart and also provided readers the perspective of what it is like to feel alone or to be gay, maybe even both. Even though this novel feels pretty intense and gritty at some points, the author makes sure to add bits of humor to keep readers laughing, despite the sadness and heartbreak that fills the pages.
This book is sure to be a new favorite of many teens because it provides various perspectives and many relatable situations that nearly any teen can connect to. From facing depression to having to deal with the bullying and rejection of coming out, Fans of the Impossible Life presents plenty of relevant and discussion-worthy topics for teen audiences. Because of these reasons, Fans of the Impossible Life is one of my new favorite books of 2015.
Similarly to The Perks of Being a Wallflower and More Happy Than Not, this novel brings to life everyday teen struggles and motivates you to accept yourself, live life to its fullest, and to embark on adventures. Even though this novel does not fully encapsulate every teenager’s experience in high school, it provides a wide variety of subject matter, which is why this novel is so appealing and interesting. From start to finish, I was enthralled with the lives of Jeremy and his two new friends, Sebby and Mira, and also with the love triangle that forms between the three protagonists. These three perspectives made the reading experience much more enjoyable, and it ultimately led to the reader having deep connections to all three narrators.
Overall, Fans of the Impossible Life was shocking, heartwarming, and tragic. This emotional and impactful novel is genius and will be a prized addition to any teen’s book collection. The book was so incredible that I would recommend it to anyone who wants to embark on a journey of love, loss, and friendship. Kate Scelsa weaves plenty of messages throughout the story, but the most important idea that can be learned from this novel is that friendship is the only thing that keeps us from going completely insane and that life at times is truly impossible.
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