cover image Beau, Lee, the Bomb & Me

Beau, Lee, the Bomb & Me

Mary McKinley. Kensington/KTeen, $9.95 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-1-61773-255-3

When a life of being violently bullied becomes unbearable, 16-year-old friends Rusty, Leonie, and Beau load up in Rusty's parents' minivan and leave Seattle for San Francisco, where Beau's gay uncle lives. They are happy to leave "Baboon High" in the dust%E2%80%94it's where Rusty was taunted for being overweight, Leonie was slut-shamed by classmates and caught up in a manipulative affair with her English teacher, and Beau was beat up by homophobic bullies. Snarky and bookish, Rusty narrates their quest for solace and acceptance as they travel through small West Coast towns and rescue a stray dog (aka "The Bomb"). McKinley's TV writing and sketch comedy background show in her smart dialogue, and her debut reads like a love letter to the geography of the Northwest. She quickly develops these three outsider characters, exploring how friendships can be forged through common suffering and the role that complacency plays in perpetuating bullying. McKinley puts forth positive messages about being true to oneself and avoiding judging others, though the heavy-handed delivery overwhelms the story at times. Ages 13%E2%80%93up. Agent: Helen Breitwieser, Cornerstone Literary. (Oct.)