As far as you'll take me

Title:

Author:

Summary:

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he's excited to start his new life--where he's no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents' disapproval. From the outside, Marty's life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he's made new friends, he's getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he's even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can't keep up the facade. He hasn't spoken to his parents since he arrived, he's tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn't even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home? -- Amazon.

Audience:

Ages 13+. Bloomsbury YA.

Grades 10-12. Bloomsbury YA.

Physical Description:

314 pages ; 22 cm

Genre:

Bildungsromans.

Subject Term:

Musicians -- Fiction.

Gays -- Fiction.

Dating (Social customs) -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

London (England) -- Fiction.

Publisher:

Bloomsbury,

Publication Date:

2021

ISBN:

9781547600175

Publication Information:

New York : Bloomsbury, 2021.

Call Number:

YA STAMPER

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003562801	Young Adult	STAMPER	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"A beautiful tribute to every queer kid who's ever had to leave their home in order to find one." - Leah Johnson, bestselling author of You Should See Me in a Crown

The author of The Gravity of Us crafts another heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding the people who become your home--perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli.

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he's excited to start his new life--where he's no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents' disapproval.

From the outside, Marty's life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he's made new friends, he's getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he's even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can't keep up the facade. He hasn't spoken to his parents since he arrived, he's tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn't even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home?

Acclaim for The Gravity of Us
An IndieNext List Pick
An Amazon Best Book

Author Notes

Phil Stamper is the bestselling author of The Gravity of Us and As Far as You'll Take Me . He grew up in a rural village near Dayton, Ohio. He has a BA in music and an MA in publishing with creative writing. And, unsurprisingly, a lot of student debt. He works for a major book publisher in New York City and lives in New York with his husband and their dog.
www.philstamper.com
@stampepk

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 9 Up--Seventeen-year-old Marty has plenty to be feel concerned about. When he came out as gay to his parents, they were not supportive; his Kentucky church refuses to accept him; he is in a dysfunctional relationship with his best friend, Megan; and he has an anxiety disorder to boot. Lying to his parents about a supposed acceptance into a musical program in the UK, Marty finds the courage to fly to London, planning to find a job and never return. In London he is broke and unemployed but also meets a welcoming group of friends for the first time and becomes involved with a charismatic yet unreliable teen. Marty's summer proves to be full of self-discovery and honest reflection. Michael Crouch voices the character-driven book in the first person, adeptly expressing Marty's angst along with his love for music. Thanks to Crouch's insightful narration, listeners experience Marty's overwhelming anxiety right along with him. Marty's friends are from all over Europe, and Crouch does a credible job with all the required accents. VERDICT Listeners interested in the wide complexity of LGBTQIA+ experiences or mental health issues will want this one.--Julie Paladino

Publisher's Weekly Review

Seventeen-year-old Marty Pierce is a rule follower who googles everything in advance to avoid surprises. He's also "pretty good at lying"--first to keep his sexuality a secret from his religious, homophobic parents, and now to craft an elaborate escape plan from his "suffocating" life in Kentucky. His folks think he's headed to a summer music program in London, but he's actually planning to use the three months to secure a professional oboe gig. A chronic worrier, Marty has a lot to cope with in London, even without constant fear that his lies will be found out: he's busking to make ends meet, stressing about his body image, and navigating relationships, including a diverse new friend group, his domineering best friend back home, and a possible first boyfriend. Stamper (The Gravity of Us) alternates the plot with sections of the diary that Marty kept on an earlier, mishap-filled trip. Stamper piles problems on Marty both in London and at home, but the book's real strength is Marty's complexity: even when his anxiety flares up, he finds ways to maintain his mental health and cope with the things that threaten his dreams. Ages 13--up. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (Feb.)