When Ahmed's parents send him to a residential treatment center known as Serenity Ridge, it's with one goal: to "fix" their son, at any cost. But e...
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Feb 08, 2011
Ahmed wrote one simple sentence in his journal. He knew his snoopy parents might read it. He did it anyway. Ahmed wrote, “I think I might be queer,” and with that thought his life changed. When his stepmother reads this, Ahmed fears for his life, worried that his family will kill him. Instead, they send him to Serenity Ridge, a “treatment” facility to turn gay teens straight. After a year at Serenity Ridge, Ahmed is on his way home, but he knows it won’t be long before he’s sent back. He does wh
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Jan 09, 2012
Meg
rated it: 
3.5 stars. Gripping story of a gay teenager who has been forced to undergo reparative therapy in an abusive residential 'treatment' program, and escapes to a secret safe house in San Francisco for gay and trans youth. I admit that when I first started reading, I thought "This must be set in some kind of dystopia where it's legal to do all this terrible stuff in residential 'treatment' programs, and bounty hunters are allowed to hunt down young people to return them to their abusive homes."
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Jun 02, 2011
Rose
rated it: 
This was a very interesting book that explores the world of underground safe houses which harbor teens who've escaped from residential treatments centers & bootcamps to "cure" them of homosexuality. It's pretty dark & raw & more than a little disturbing. The abuse these poor kids go through made me cringe & the injustice of having their freedom taken away angered me, but a very powerful emotion throughout the book is sadness & loneliness. That these kids know no love or acceptance at
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Apr 27, 2011
Katy
rated it:
This book is fantastic! I especially appreciate the interview and information included at the end about safe houses for LGBT teens, which I didn't even know existed. I suppose I knew about them in theory but not in the "Underground Railroad" way which they exist today. I felt Ben/Ahmed was an exceptionally well developed character, realistic and believable in his voice and actions throughout the novel. I loved the secondary characters as well, each one unique and none of them perfec
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Mar 09, 2011
Tessa
rated it:
I read a review of this on a YA blog, and then looked it up to see if we'd ordered it yet. It was already in! And in my library. But cataloged for the adult section. So of course I had to read it to figure out why.
After reading it, I'm still not sure. I think it would have a lot of appeal for teens who watch drama-filled reality tv where people are forced to live with each other, read "street lit", for fans of Ellen Hopkins, fans of Push, and for GLBTQ teens & allies, and More...
After reading it, I'm still not sure. I think it would have a lot of appeal for teens who watch drama-filled reality tv where people are forced to live with each other, read "street lit", for fans of Ellen Hopkins, fans of Push, and for GLBTQ teens & allies, and More...
Feb 09, 2011
Jessica
rated it: 
I can already tell you right now that this review is going to be a jumble of thoughts. I finished reading Hidden just a few moments ago and I'm not even sure how to explain what is going on in my head right now. It's a blur of emotions really. Hatred. Disgust. Pure and utter sympathy. Understanding. This is one of those books that I can't even classify as a tough read. No, it's more like a necessary read that tears your heart out, gives you tons of new information you never knew you needed to kn
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Oct 29, 2011
Kaje
rated it:
3.5* This was a really hard book to rate. It is based on an investigative article the author, who is a journalist, did for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. It is very gritty and tough, and there is physical, sexual and emotional abuse in here, both on and off page. It follows kids who are runaways from various unbearable situations including, in the narrator Ahmed's case, a treatment center trying to turn gay kids straight with "aversive conditioning" aka torture. These kids band toge
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Feb 13, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
Ahmed has just escaped from a militaristic boot camp where the function of its operation is to reform homosexual youth. He was sent there by his father, who upon discovering he was gay, became intent upon curing him. Ahmed fakes a tooth ache, and his father and stepmom come to take him to a dentist. When they stop at a rest area, Ahmed makes a run for it. He has a hundred dollar bill stuffed in his tennis shoe which he’d received from his real mother as a birthday gift. He uses this to buy a bus
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May 15, 2011
Duane
rated it:
A very gritty YA novel based on a fictional tale of Ahmed, a gay 15 year old who is escaping from a gay treatment center. The main character is very complex which can make reading the book complicated, but he is also very real in his emotional state. The book is overflowing with unique and complex characters which at times can get confusing but does overall add to the story. There is tons of vulgar language in the book so be warned. Some of the writing style can be extremely confusing to underst
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Mar 21, 2011
Holly
rated it:
This was incredible...and very disturbing since it's based on several kids' real lives. hidden is about a boy that is put into a type of "rehab" by his parents, so he won't be gay anymore. Once he escapes, he lives "underground" in San Francisco and meets many other kids in the same situation. I don't think the author intended for this to be a "teen" book, but it ultimately is. (I can think of quite a few adults that SHOULD read this, but would probably go on deaf
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Apr 02, 2011
Donald
rated it: 
I gave this to page 89 and then threw in the towel. The main character is not likable and neither is anyone else in the book. I kept hoping for some redeeming value, but it was not forthcoming. Ahmed, the product of an American mother and an Arab father, is a runaway gay teen. His mother left years ago and now his father and his stepmother are battling him over his being gay. After a stint in a hospital that converts homosexuals, he escapes and begins an adventure. Where it ends, I don't care.
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Apr 13, 2011
Chris
rated it:
This was a difficult read. It's depressing, weird,startling, intense, and disturbing. Waiting for the book banners to go after this one. Ahmed escapes from a camp that is supposed to make him straight but his hiding place seems to be just as bad as his former hell. He's exposed to some really bizarre housemates who are promiscuous, drug users, HIV positive,and are transvestites. All the while the bounty hunters are going to come and get him and nobody can leave the house. The book is best when
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Feb 12, 2011
Keyona
rated it:
One Word: Powerful. This novel takes the reader to places they may not be ready to go. It is definitely not for the faint of heart...or cry babies like me. The characters, not just Ahmed/Ben but the secondary characters that are runaway GLBT teens are one of a kind. They are in your face, fighting for the spotlight type of characters. They refuse to be judged and they demand respect. I don't like them all but I can't help but care deeply about what happens to each of them. They each come with th
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Jan 22, 2011
Lindsay
rated it:
WARNINGS: There is some vulgar language.
Hidden is about Ahmed aka Ben whose parents sent him away so doctors could rid him of being gay. Serenity Ridge is just awful and we learn just how awful as Ben reflects on it as he escapes.
The characters in this book were very, very unique and diverse too. There’s J.D. who’s sexy yet possibly scared of commitment. Kidd who isn’t always the nicest person. Hammer who is also sexy but Ben just doesn’t know about him. Peanuts who is a More...
Hidden is about Ahmed aka Ben whose parents sent him away so doctors could rid him of being gay. Serenity Ridge is just awful and we learn just how awful as Ben reflects on it as he escapes.
The characters in this book were very, very unique and diverse too. There’s J.D. who’s sexy yet possibly scared of commitment. Kidd who isn’t always the nicest person. Hammer who is also sexy but Ben just doesn’t know about him. Peanuts who is a More...
Feb 14, 2011
OMG this book is SO annoying, I can't EVEN. FINISH. IT. <Sigh>
The author's writing how he thinks a kid (boi) prolly speaks, aiight, but IDK what teens he's been talking to, because it's really forced and
over
the
top
For reals.
G-D, the writing is soooooooooooo Hyperactive and Quirky it's hard to care about the characters or their (GRIM) sitch. Instead I keep thinking, WTF am I wasting my time when I could be reading something that ha
The author's writing how he thinks a kid (boi) prolly speaks, aiight, but IDK what teens he's been talking to, because it's really forced and
over
the
top
For reals.
G-D, the writing is soooooooooooo Hyperactive and Quirky it's hard to care about the characters or their (GRIM) sitch. Instead I keep thinking, WTF am I wasting my time when I could be reading something that ha
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Feb 03, 2011
J.
rated it:
A really great novel, though sometimes the action scenes get muddled. I like the author's willingness to include so many different kinds of teens, and Ahmed is certainly the first non-white gay teen I've encountered in a novel since Moore's "Hero." Jam-packed with extras, too; there's an author interview and a book group guide. I just wish that the action scenes were a bit less jumbled, narratively. Recommended.
Dec 05, 2011
Don
rated it:
I found this story captivating and it held my interest to the end. It's ending was ambiguous and left you wondering what happens to the Ahmed. That the story and characters are based on real life events is very disturbing. People presume young gays and trans have it easy these days and that isn't always the case.
Jan 05, 2012
Colleen
rated it:
Interesting story, but difficult to read at times. It didn't flow well and I found myself rereading sections so that I could understand.
Jun 15, 2011
JoyfulK
rated it:
Intricate characterization and a plot full of suspense. Due to the fact that it addresses traumatic subject matter (a teen escaping from an abusive residential camp and living with other runaways in a "safe house"), don't read it right before bedtime.
Jun 28, 2011
Karen
rated it:
Disturbing to say the least but an excellent book. I was blown away by the behavior of some people in this world. Looking at how kids are put into situations makes me grateful for my life and my safety, as others do not have it as easy as we do.
Jan 20, 2012
Lisa
rated it:
I think it was an important story to tell, but I found the stream of consciousness writing style to be a bit distracting. Slow in places and with an abrupt ending, I was left wanting more out of it in general.
Feb 20, 2012
Volya
rated it:
Interesting ideas, bad execution in my opinion. I had issues with the writing style and POV, so was not able to actually get into this at all.
Jan 11, 2012
Kara
rated it: 
I had a hard time following this book, especially who was speaking what dialogue. It felt unfinished. And, while probably not the author's fault, the epub version I read was full of typos.
Feb 22, 2012
Feb 22, 2012
Feb 21, 2012
