ONE SUMMER IN VANCOUVER

A 17-year-old impulsively sets out on an adventure of self-discovery.

Tom doesn’t know if he’s gay, but he’s questioning his sexuality, and that’s enough for him to leave Mississauga, Ontario, and fly to Vancouver without telling anyone, including his parents. After all, it’s 1990, and the Gay Games are taking place there. Tom is sure he can stay with his Uncle Fred. Soon after arriving, Tom meets Dwayne, who takes him to his uncle’s house—and, having developed a quick crush on Tom, gives him his number. Dwayne’s volunteering at the games, and Uncle Fred tells Tom that if he wants to stay with him, he has to help out there as well. So, the boys, who both seem to be White, end up spending more time together. Populated with too many side characters to easily track, the book continues the countdown to the international sporting event with religious fanatics protesting and the boys’ feelings developing rapidly. Unfortunately, the many characters’ individual personalities fail to shine through, making the shifting points of view confusing; even protagonist Tom lacks charm and interesting traits. The book attempts to evoke nostalgia through period details, but the stiff dialogue does little to engage readers' interest.

An interesting premise that doesn’t deliver.