The Music of What Happens

Jordan and his mother try to run their food truck because they are in debt, but when his mother's mental-health issues take her out of the equation, a chance encounter with Max, a boy he has come across in school, turns them into co-workers. They are both gay, and still, the way they grow closer never feels like a plot necessity. Nor do their inner demons. LGBTQ fiction is among my preferred literature, so I read a lot of it, and I don't think I have come across a better young adult novel in that realm lately. I particularly enjoy how both Jordan and Max are pretty well-defined, but that does not keep them from straying from what seems to be their respective lane. Sometimes their behavior overlaps, and it is not always logical - as it wouldn't be in real life, either. Both are mostly surrounded by a mother - Max's is highly capable, Jordan's barely so - and two best friends each - Max has two baseball buddies, Jordan two girls he refers to as his wives - and though they do not get as much character depth as the two boys, they still add enough. I really like that Max's friends are not uncomfortable with him at all, allowing for lovely straight male representation. This novel also deals with every-day racism, mental-health issues and the fact that sexual assault can also happen to physically strong people. And despite these topics, Bill Konigsberg manages to weave humor through this spectacular novel. I can't wait to read more from him!