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The Diary of Dakota Hammell

by Kody Boye (Goodreads Author)

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 28 ratings · 11 reviews

Dakota Hammell was an ordinary teenager until he ran away from home at the age of sixteen, but after being brutally beaten, raped and left for dead, there seems to be little hope in his life—that is, until a man claiming to be a psychologist walks into the alleyway he’s lying near-dead in and offers him a second chance at life. John tells Dakota he can stay with him as lon...more

Kindle Edition, 102 pages

Published (first published February 20th 2011)

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Apr 07, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa by: michelenjeff-reviews.blogspot.com

Shelves: glbt, drama

At the age of eleven, Dakota Hammell’s life was entirely upended by the death of his mother and the subsequent downward spiral of his father into alcoholism. For Dakota, physical abuse at his father’s hands became a familiar occurrence.

At the age of sixteen, Dakota Hammell’s life was upended again when leaving home and his father’s violent attacks meant escaping from one hell and being thrown into another. For a teenage boy, living on the streets means turning tricks, doing what he has to do to...more At the age of eleven, Dakota Hammell’s life was entirely upended by the death of his mother and the subsequent downward spiral of his father into alcoholism. For Dakota, physical abuse at his father’s hands became a familiar occurrence.

At the age of sixteen, Dakota Hammell’s life was upended again when leaving home and his father’s violent attacks meant escaping from one hell and being thrown into another. For a teenage boy, living on the streets means turning tricks, doing what he has to do to make it from one day to the next. Standing on street corners to earn fast cash and sleeping in alleyways effectively steals his security and innocence.

At the age of nineteen, Dakota Hammell’s life takes yet another turn as he flees a year long relationship with a virtual stranger, returning to the streets and preparing to make money the only way he knows how. Dakota is looking in the shadows of the streets for a place to sleep when he’s brutally violated, beaten, and left for dead.

For a young man whose life has given him every reason to become cynical and mistrusting, to find suspect anyone who offers kindness without expecting something in return, a stranger who finds and rescues Dakota is a savior, delivering redemption and a chance at happiness, not for his own personal gain, but for Dakota’s. John takes Dakota into his home, helping him to heal physically and, more importantly, emotionally, offering him the gift of kindness and compassion.

At John’s urging, Dakota begins to journal his experiences. Through the chronicling of his life, the young man undergoes a series of epiphanies that allows him to purge himself of some of the pain he’s endured in his limited years, and ultimately helps him to move forward with the hope of changing the tide of his future.

Written in a stream-of-consciousness narrative, The Diary of Dakota Hammell is a poignant, candid, and affecting journey of renewal and hope, told by a young man for whom words are a powerful source of affirmation and healing.

In a short fifty-nine days of diary entries, the reader is allowed a glimpse into Dakota’s most intimate thoughts and feelings, witnessing the return of belief in himself and in the promise of happiness and love with a man who, for that one short year, gave Dakota a home and a life from which he walked away, but to which he hopes to return.

Kody Boye has written a touching story of the power of the human spirit, the gift of compassion, and the promise of recovery from the past, one that embodies the concept of strength emerging from adversity.
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2 likes · like · see review

Apr 26, 2013 Serith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt

This short story was what I was hoping it would be; a glimpse into the mind of a troubled young man on the journey of self-discovery. Though the ending was not quite what I expected, it was still fulfilling (view spoiler)...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Kenneth Kaye rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are literally hundreds of stories and novels exploring the struggles of gay youth. They range from the teen YA style to the more hardcore discussions of street life. The problem with those that I've read is that they do not capture the "real" essence of gay kids. The "street life" stories in particular seem to always focus on the embattled struggles of teen prostitutes, drugs, and other sordid details. They don't seem to capture the innocent descent and not-quite rise from the ashes truth....more

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Apr 19, 2011 Jaidis Shaw rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Diary of Dakota Hammell by Kody Boye introduces readers to the intimately personal journal entries of teen runaway Dakota Hammell. After running away from home, Dakota is forced to do whatever it takes to survive, even if that means selling himself to make some extra cash. After a tragic event that left Dakota raped and beaten, the friendly John takes Dakota under his wing. John is a psychologist and tells Dakota that he can stay in the spare room at his house but he must earn his keep by wr...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 02, 2011 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Kody Boye is offering 5 lucky people the chance to win a copy of his eBook The Diary of Dakota Hammell. All you have to do is leave a comment on the review site and you're automatically entered for a chance to win. Deadline is 4/6/11.

At the age of eleven, Dakota Hammell’s life was entirely upended by the death of his mother and the subsequent downward spiral of his father into alcoholism. For Dakota, physical abuse at his father’s hands became a familiar occurrence.

At the age of sixteen, Dakota...more Kody Boye is offering 5 lucky people the chance to win a copy of his eBook The Diary of Dakota Hammell. All you have to do is leave a comment on the review site and you're automatically entered for a chance to win. Deadline is 4/6/11.

At the age of eleven, Dakota Hammell’s life was entirely upended by the death of his mother and the subsequent downward spiral of his father into alcoholism. For Dakota, physical abuse at his father’s hands became a familiar occurrence.

At the age of sixteen, Dakota Hammell’s life was upended again when leaving home and his father’s violent attacks meant escaping from one hell and being thrown into another. For a teenage boy, living on the streets means turning tricks, doing what he has to do to make it from one day to the next. Standing on street corners to earn fast cash and sleeping in alleyways effectively steals his security and innocence.

At the age of nineteen, Dakota Hammell’s life takes yet another turn as he flees a year long relationship with a virtual stranger, returning to the streets and preparing to make money the only way he knows how. Dakota is looking in the shadows of the streets for a place to sleep when he’s brutally violated, beaten, and left for dead.

For a young man whose life has given him every reason to become cynical and mistrusting, to find suspect anyone who offers kindness without expecting something in return, a stranger who finds and rescues Dakota is a savior, delivering redemption and a chance at happiness, not for his own personal gain, but for Dakota’s. John takes Dakota into his home, helping him to heal physically and, more importantly, emotionally, offering him the gift of kindness and compassion.

At John’s urging, Dakota begins to journal his experiences. Through the chronicling of his life, the young man undergoes a series of epiphanies that allows him to purge himself of some of the pain he’s endured in his limited years, and ultimately helps him to move forward with the hope of changing the tide of his future.

Written in a stream-of-consciousness narrative, The Diary of Dakota Hammell is a poignant, candid, and affecting journey of renewal and hope, told by a young man for whom words are a powerful source of affirmation and healing.

In a short fifty-nine days of diary entries, the reader is allowed a glimpse into Dakota’s most intimate thoughts and feelings, witnessing the return of belief in himself and in the promise of happiness and love with a man who, for that one short year, gave Dakota a home and a life from which he walked away, but to which he hopes to return.

Kody Boye has written a touching story of the power of the human spirit, the gift of compassion, and the promise of recovery from the past, one that embodies the concept of strength emerging from adversity. (less)

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Apr 18, 2011 Jason Huffman-black rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-list, ebook, m-m

I want to make an important point before I go further with this review. Kody Boye is a name to watch. This author is talented! This project is an amazing concept which I feel could be honed to something far greater than it is at this moment.

I took a few hours after I finished reading this book before sitting down to review it. This is a subject which hits close to home and so I have strong opinions about. I wanted to be sure that I didn't simply judge the work on how I would have handled the st...more I want to make an important point before I go further with this review. Kody Boye is a name to watch. This author is talented! This project is an amazing concept which I feel could be honed to something far greater than it is at this moment.

I took a few hours after I finished reading this book before sitting down to review it. This is a subject which hits close to home and so I have strong opinions about. I wanted to be sure that I didn't simply judge the work on how I would have handled the story and I feel that I am not.

~possible spoilers~
Besides a few plot holes and a continuity issue, I had some conflict with how innocent and trusting the MC was. Now, he said he didn't trust anyone but his actions, not just with John, proved otherwise. Being on the street for a short time, myself, I know that it doesn't take long to learn that those who offer the most kindness are usually the ones you need to fear the most. Trust, like allowing a wallet with a good deal of money in it to sit out where people could take it. A homeless person also learns how to be invisible, to mesh with the environment and not stand out. But he stood out in the neighborhood he walked through just before he was raped.

Also, having your self-worth minimized to a sexual object as Dakota's was on the street as a prostitute, leaves a boy with a need to offer sex, but also a need to be wanted sexually. I feel this would have shown up in his time with John. His worshipfulness of John would have translated to sex love and he would have felt a need to offer John the one commodity he had in exchange for the help.

I feel that the psychological damage of a gang rape was marginalized by making it sound as if just being able to recount the event would somehow put the event behind him. I know that this diary is merely Dakota's feelings and perhaps he only thought he was fixed, but it appeared that bad dreams and all the other problems faded also.

I do like how Dakota left at the end. It stays true to his character. A person who has dealt with past problems by running (from his home, from Josh) will continue to do so. It's his coping mechanism. It made the story happier to have Dakota keep the phone. I was glad that he did.
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7 likes · like · see review

May 29, 2013 Britney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay so not only is the cover amazing, the book is actually really good too! A free read on amazon, an actually believable ending, pretty good writing style, I do not see anything wrong with this book.

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Dec 27, 2012 Micæl Chadwick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Such a tremendous, heatbreaking and authentic story. I've walked in Dakota's shoes and this captures it in perfect eloquence. A definite must read and an author to remember. Brilliant

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Apr 17, 2011 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Touching story, made me cry which is hard to do. WTG Kody!

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May 13, 2011 Sheri White rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great story told in diary form. Review to come.

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Jul 26, 2012 Penny Wilder rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: free-book-promo, novellas, fiction, young-adult

Very compelling. I would love to know what happened to Dakota after this!

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Jun 13, 2013 Truncador rated it 1 of 5 stars

Jun 10, 2013 Raenae marked it as to-read

Jun 02, 2013 A marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-my-kindle, purchased-tbr

May 22, 2013 Cacauli rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 10, 2013 Bibliophilia marked it as to-read

May 09, 2013 Ahud marked it as to-read

Shelves: contemporary, documents, goodreads, romance, short-stories, stand-alone, mm

May 02, 2013 Satin added it

Shelves: on-my-kindle-fire

Apr 30, 2013 Emmett J is currently reading it

Apr 22, 2013 Kynthos-the-Archer marked it as to-read

Shelves: in-library, contemporary, dubcon_noncon, gay_mm, rape, gangbang_gang-rape

Apr 17, 2013 Elizabeth is currently reading it

Apr 15, 2013 Kayla Eklund marked it as to-read

Shelves: free-kindle

Apr 02, 2013 Mel marked it as to-read

Shelves: p-amazon, tbr

Mar 30, 2013 Jai marked it as to-read

Mar 29, 2013 Jane (PS) marked it as to-read

Shelves: kindle, mm

Mar 29, 2013 Ashley marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-my-kindle

Mar 28, 2013 Sally halliday marked it as to-read

Mar 24, 2013 Ella Bella marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Mar 24, 2013 Becca added it

Mar 17, 2013 Jd Guinn rated it 3 of 5 stars

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About Kody Boye

Kody Boye was born and raised in Southeastern Idaho. Since his initial publication in the Yellow Mama Webzine in 2007, he has gone on to sell nearly three-dozen stories to various markets. He is the author of the short story collection Amorous Things, the novella The Diary of Dakota Hammell, the zombie novel Sunrise and the dark fantasy novel Blood. His fiction has been described as ‘Surreal, beau...more

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