Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Language: Profanity is used frequently throughout the book. The “f” word is used at least 20 times. All other swear words are used many times as well. Exclamations of Deity are used several times. Crude and belittling words such as, crap, pissed, moron, butt, gay (meaning lame) were used.

Violence: A story is referenced about two children kicking each other when they were younger with one of them bleeding as a result.

Sexual Content: This story is written from a teenage boy’s perspective along with his thoughts. There are many references to sexual thoughts and actions – too many to mention them all. Nick is interested in Eden and notices things like the pattern on her bra under her white shirt. Her skirt is short and he notices the color of her underwear does not match her bra. His friend says, “Dude, she practically invited you to her bed.” He considers the softness around her hips and breasts. He looks down her shirt. Stevie gives Nick a handful of condoms from the nurse’s office at school. A woman is not wearing a bra and is described as having “swinging breasts”. Nick and Eden are frequently in each others bedrooms, alone with the door closed. Nick has been with other girls before in bedrooms and bathrooms. There is lots of kissing. Nick says of Eden, “I’ve gotten my hands down her pants at least seventeen times.” He can’t remember how many times he has touched her breasts. Nick and Eden lay on each others beds together. Nick says, “Her fingers come to rest on my crotch, moving lightly along my fly.” Nick and Eden undress each other. Nick worries about the expiration date on the condom wrapper as he is almost “inside” Eden. He continues to have sex anyway. Nick and Eden discuss their experience. A comment is made, “Adolescent sex got your father into…trouble.”

Adult Themes: A couple of characters smoke cigarettes. Teenagers get drunk up on rooftops. References are made to smoking pot, porn, and sneaking out. Nick has a hangover. Mention of unwed mother, pregnancy, and adoption along with adoption registry. Eden’s parents decide to divorce. Eden says, “Are kids even allowed to get upset when our parents get divorced nowadays?” Stevie’s parents always travel without him and leave him with Nick’s family frequently, including during holidays. Because of a family secret Nick has to face some changes in his family’s dynamics.

Synopsis

Nick has two years left in high school and has a great life with great parents. All he needs now is for Eden, his longtime crush, to be his girlfriend. Things are going well until Nick’s world begins to change because of a family secret. He must learn to deal with how he views his parents as well as himself.

I can’t say that I loved this book because I had a hard time with even liking Nick. I suppose his response to the family secret would be typical for his age and circumstances, but I especially didn’t like the way he treated Eden. He was selfish, and she was so giving. Nick’s father was very likeable, and I admired his dedication to his family. He also accepted responsibility for his mistakes. I was concerned about the lack of overall supervision of the teenagers in the story. It’s eye-opening to think that Nick is sexually active and doesn’t even have a driver’s license yet! The language and sexual content was a bit much. I would have to recommend this for 18+.