Trailer trash gay

Work's Title: Trailer Trash
Penned By: Marie Sexton
Published By: Riptide Publishing
Publication Date: March 21, 2016
Categories: Contemporary, Young Adult (YA)
Total Pages: 340
Critiqued By: Natalie
Intensity Gauge:2 flames out of 5
Overall Score:4.5 stars out of 5
Synopsis:

The year 1986 arrives, and what was anticipated to be Nate Bradford's most splendid summer period takes an unfortunate turn as his parents unexpectedly dissolve their marriage. Consequently, rather than commencing his final year of high school in his native city, Austin, Texas, he finds himself residing alongside his father in Warren, Wyoming, a locale boasting a mere two thousand eight hundred thirty-three residents (a figure Nate suspects might be an overstatement). The town lacks a swimming pool, a tennis team, or even a shopping mall—with not even a trace of MTV programming available. Indeed, the whole educational institution boasts a smaller student body than his previous graduating cohort in his former residence; consequently, in a community where the foremost adolescent diversions are illicit substances and promiscuous activities, Nate simply struggles to assimilate.

Subsequently, Nate encounters Cody Lawrence. Cody is deeply impoverished, hailing from a fractured household, and unquestionably resides in the less reputable part of town. Nate's father, for his part, deems Cody a detrimental influence. Conversely, his peers label him a societal discard. Yet Nate perceives Cody as a virtuous youngster who has simply been dealt an unfortunate set of circumstances. Indeed, he is commencing to believe that his emotions for Cody transcend mere camaraderie.

Acknowledging his potential homosexuality presents a significant challenge in itself; however, amidst pervasive small-town biases and the burgeoning AIDS crisis capturing public attention, a community such as Warren, Wyoming, offers an inhospitable environment for two young men to cultivate a romantic relationship.

The synopsis for this particular volume surfaced several months prior within my subscription to the Riptide Publishing Newsletter, and I recognized its indispensable nature, leading me to solicit an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. In essence, it encompassed every element I sought within a narrative: a provincial setting during the nineteen eighties, a protagonist grappling with their hidden identity, and a pervasive thematic focus—namely, the AIDS epidemic.

Primarily, my expectation was for the AIDS crisis to assume a more central role within the narrative; this expectation explains my assigning it a rating of four and a half stars rather than a perfect five, though, fortunately, I decided to round the score upward.

Cody, a young man native to this small town, encounters Nate as the latter loiters near the neighborhood fueling station, drawing on a cigarette. Nate has recently arrived in Warren, Wyoming. He proceeds inside the gas station and endeavors to purchase a carton of tobacco products. Predictably, given his minor status, the attendant rejects his plea. Nate, with some hesitation, departs the establishment, whereupon he finds Cody propped against the outdoor refrigeration unit; he solicits a borrowed cigarette, thus initiating our narrative. The pivotal theme of the narrative revolves around Nate's efforts to ascertain the true nature of his sentiments toward Cody. A considerable portion of their time is subsequently shared by the two young men, and burgeoning emotions begin to take root. Several factors contribute to the emergence of conflict; however, I shall refrain from enumerating each one exhaustively. For where would the enjoyment lie in such a complete disclosure?

This volume marks my sophomore encounter with Marie Sexton's literary works, and I must concede that her prose style is genuinely captivating. Her craft compellingly draws reader engagement with the personages depicted. My empathy was deeply stirred for Cody, given his ostracization due to his sexual orientation even well before Nate's initial arrival in their community. The inclusion of the supporting character, Logan, was particularly pleasing. He proved instrumental in guiding Cody through a period of considerable adversity. Once more, this offered a fluid literary experience, seasoned with a perfectly balanced measure of emotional turmoil. I genuinely found myself grinning broadly, much like the Cheshire Cat, upon reaching the conclusion. Unquestionably, it stands as a captivating romantic tale that warrants inclusion in one's queue of unread literature.

A word of caution is warranted, as this volume incorporates instances of substance abuse and graphic acts of aggression.

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