A summer of firsts and lasts tests the bonds of friendship and family.Fifteen-year-old Mateo's summer in suburban New Jersey is filled with tension. His father pushes him relentlessly in baseball, sidelining his other passions like manga and indie rock. The one bright spot is Stick, the boy from the troubled family down the street. As Mateo and Stick's feelings for each other deepen, they navigate family expectations, peer pressure, and their own fears. But when tragedy strikes Stick's family, their relationship is tested like never before.
Can Mateo and Stick find a way to stay together, or will the weight of their circumstances tear them apart? This coming-of-age story explores themes of identity, loss, and acceptance, perfect for young adults seeking arealistic and emotional LGBTQ+ romance. Like a mantra, Mateo repeats the words from one of the bands songs whenever he gets hurt or afraid:I WILL BE OKAY. But will it be enough?
"The author explores the weight of coming out to one’s family and oneself with gentle thoughtfulness... It’s all a little messy, uplifting in parts, yet committed to a triumphant finale... Fumbling toward graceful sweetness." —Kirkus Reviews
Bill Elenbarkstarted writing stories in the empty pages of engineering class notebooks in massive lecture halls at Rutgers University. He got his MA in Writing at Rowan University where his love for YA stories flourished. He travels all across the country for his day job as an engineer and has lived all over the state of New Jersey. When he’s home he spends much of his time commuting to coffee shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn to write. He currently resides with his boyfriend in Hoboken.
I Will Be Okay adds to the small, but growing set of voices speaking to LGBTQ teens coming to terms with the social and emotional costs of coming out--to friends, to family, to themselves. Add in issues of racism andlĂI
![I Will Be Okay [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/4/8/6/2_4358089.jpg "I Will Be Okay [Paperback]")