Timmy's Review of End of Innocence by John Goode

Please read my review of book one in this series, Tales from Foster High. 

This book had me in tears through most of it. God, why?!? Why does life have to be so hard? This is not me being overly dramatic. This is real! That is the part that hurts so much when I read these books. They are so real it hurts a part deep inside me. I reread this book knowing what was coming and hoping, beyond all hope, that the words would somehow be magically different. Alas, this did not happen. I am a person who hates spoilers, so I am very careful to write reviews without them. I feel so strongly about this book that it is important to add a spoiler. Why? Because if I recommend this to teens, and someone is having a hard time with their sexuality or coming out, I do not want them to think I condone suicide. I don’t. I think the important part of this story is to look beyond the boy that didn’t make it and see what his loss has done to those still living. Also, to think long and hard about every action you take. Is payback really worth a life? Does whatever that kid did to you mean he doesn’t deserve to live? Please think about what your actions can cause, and remember meeting hate with hate doesn’t mean payback. It means nothing more than hate.

I would have liked to hear more about Kyle’s mom in this story. Did she stay sober? How is Kyle and his mom’s relationship progressing?

I hope that when people read this they see that just a little support from the school, a parent, or a friend, can save lives. I give this book 4 Marbles and many of my tears.~Timmy

End of Innocence is available 

in eBook at Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink Press and Amazon,

in paperback from Amazon,

and in Nook & paperback from Barnes & Noble

To Wish for Impossible Things 

(a lost tale from The Tales from Foster High) 

Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink Press

Dear God 

(a lost chapter from The End of Innocence)

Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink Press

About End of Innocence

Kyle Stilleno is no longer the invisible boy, and he doesn’t quite know how he feels about it. On one hand, he now has a great boyfriend, Brad Greymark, and a handful of new friends, and even a new job. On the other hand, no one screamed obscenities at him in public when he was invisible.

No one expected him to become a poster boy for gay rights, either—at least not until Kyle stepped out of the closet and into the limelight. But there are only a few months of high school left, and Kyle doubts he can make a difference.

With Christmas break drawing closer, Kyle and Brad are changing their lives to include each other. While the trials are far from over, they have their relationship to lean on. Others are not so lucky. One of their classmates needs their help—but Kyle and Brad’s relationship may be too new to survive the strain.

Find John Goode on Goodreads, his Goodreads blog, 

on Facebook, on Twitter @FosterHigh, and on Tumblr