Shaun David Hutchinson

Dark story about a depressed/grieving gay teenager (who may or may not be getting abducted by aliens) who must decide if he should press a button that will prevent the destruction of earth.

Family drama, a budding romance, a rekindled friendship, and a toxic relationship are all informing his ultimate decision.

At times funny, often sad, sometimes disturbing. Still trying to wrap my brain around all of it. I can’t say that I enjoyed it but it certainly gave me a lot to think about.

Note: got this years ago in a book riot box and didn’t read it until it popped up as a recommended read from my ALA yearly planner.… (more)

Noa wakes up in space. Literally. He's in a spacesuit tethered to a ship, floating among the stars. And he has no idea how he got there. Another teen, DJ, is inside, giving him what directions he can through the comms, considering that he also just woke up aboard a spaceship. Jenny, a third teen, is also on board the ship with no memory of how she got there. Together the three of them must stop the ship for malfunctioning and try to make their way home to Earth, or at least figure out who put them aboard the ship in the first place. The answer will be stranger than any of them could have imagined.

This is a wacky and, yes, complicated adventure, and I did not predict the twists toward the end of the book. The romance between Noa and DJ is very sweet, but I didn't feel that Jenny got very much character development, but remained a bit clichéd for the entirety of the book. I liked the way the author explored various scenarios; the Groundhog Day pastiche was my favorite. If you enjoy YA science fiction, this is worth picking up.… (more)