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The Minus-One Club
From the Coretta Scott King and Printz Honor-winning author of How It Went Down, Light It Up, and Revolution In Our Time comes a moving contemporary YA novel about the bonds between a group of teens whose lives have been upended by tragedy.
Fifteen-year-old Kermit Sanders knows grief and its all-encompassing shadows. After losing his beloved older sister in a tragic car accident, nothing quite punctures through the feelings of loss. Everywhere Kermit goes, he is reminded of her.
But then Kermit finds a mysterious invitation in his locker, signed anonymously with "-1." He has no idea what he's in for, but he shows up to find out. Dubbed the "Minus-One Club," a group of his schoolmates has banded together as a form of moral support. The members have just one thing in common—they have all suffered the tragic loss of someone they loved.
The usual dividing lines between high school classes and cliques don’t apply inside the Minus-One Club, and Kermit’s secret crush, the handsome and happy-go-lucky Matt (and only out gay student at school), is also a part of the group. Slowly, Matt's positive headstrong approach to life helps relieve Kermit of his constant despair.
But as Kermit grows closer to Matt, the light of his new life begins to show the cracks beneath the surface. When Matt puts himself in danger by avoiding his feelings, Kermit must find the strength to not only lift himself back up but to help the rest of the group from falling apart.
Praise for The Minus-One Club
★ "Magoon thoughtfully includes themes relating to depression, suicide, identity and religious expression as she compassionately builds Kermit's complicated, sensitive inner life and depicts the various ways people might respond to the loss of a loved one." –Shelf Awareness, starred review
"This evocative exploration of grief, sexual identity, and personal spirituality will be a boon to any teen grappling with these issues." –Horn Book
Fifteen-year-old Kermit Sanders knows grief and its all-encompassing shadows. After losing his beloved older sister in a tragic car accident, nothing quite punctures through the feelings of loss. Everywhere Kermit goes, he is reminded of her.
But then Kermit finds a mysterious invitation in his locker, signed anonymously with "-1." He has no idea what he's in for, but he shows up to find out. Dubbed the "Minus-One Club," a group of his schoolmates has banded together as a form of moral support. The members have just one thing in common—they have all suffered the tragic loss of someone they loved.
The usual dividing lines between high school classes and cliques don’t apply inside the Minus-One Club, and Kermit’s secret crush, the handsome and happy-go-lucky Matt (and only out gay student at school), is also a part of the group. Slowly, Matt's positive headstrong approach to life helps relieve Kermit of his constant despair.
But as Kermit grows closer to Matt, the light of his new life begins to show the cracks beneath the surface. When Matt puts himself in danger by avoiding his feelings, Kermit must find the strength to not only lift himself back up but to help the rest of the group from falling apart.
Praise for The Minus-One Club
★ "Magoon thoughtfully includes themes relating to depression, suicide, identity and religious expression as she compassionately builds Kermit's complicated, sensitive inner life and depicts the various ways people might respond to the loss of a loved one." –Shelf Awareness, starred review
"This evocative exploration of grief, sexual identity, and personal spirituality will be a boon to any teen grappling with these issues." –Horn Book
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2023
11 people are currently reading
2903 people want to read
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September 25, 2022
How do you deal with grief, pain, sadness?
How do you feel whole again after a loss?
How do you come out in a religious family when your dead sister was the only one knowing your secret?
Alternating between now, then, and dreams, The Minus-One Club tells Kermit’s story, a fifteen-year-old closeted boy who loses his sister in a car accident. At school, he gets invited to the minus-one club, a secret club whose members are teens who have also lost a family member.
The short chapters and the blunt, direct, and simple writing fit this story really well. Kekla Magoon shows us how people react differently to a loss. Some people scream and cry, some people get indifferent, some people get angry, and some people bottle everything up inside. I loved the second half of the story the most; Kermit and Matt so clearly grieving in different ways. I wanted to hug these boys so much, especially Matt, on the outside, the easy-going, likable boy, and so lost on the inside. My chest tightened when he started to talk, when all the hurt came to the surface, and especially towards the end, goosebumps crawled over my body, and lumps formed in my throat.
Even though this book is very easy to read, it’s definitely not an easy one. Please, check out the trigger warnings! I’m so happy I found this story on NetGalley, though, and hope it will get all the attention it deserves!
I received an ARC from Macmillan Children’s Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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How do you feel whole again after a loss?
How do you come out in a religious family when your dead sister was the only one knowing your secret?
Alternating between now, then, and dreams, The Minus-One Club tells Kermit’s story, a fifteen-year-old closeted boy who loses his sister in a car accident. At school, he gets invited to the minus-one club, a secret club whose members are teens who have also lost a family member.
The short chapters and the blunt, direct, and simple writing fit this story really well. Kekla Magoon shows us how people react differently to a loss. Some people scream and cry, some people get indifferent, some people get angry, and some people bottle everything up inside. I loved the second half of the story the most; Kermit and Matt so clearly grieving in different ways. I wanted to hug these boys so much, especially Matt, on the outside, the easy-going, likable boy, and so lost on the inside. My chest tightened when he started to talk, when all the hurt came to the surface, and especially towards the end, goosebumps crawled over my body, and lumps formed in my throat.
Even though this book is very easy to read, it’s definitely not an easy one. Please, check out the trigger warnings! I’m so happy I found this story on NetGalley, though, and hope it will get all the attention it deserves!
I received an ARC from Macmillan Children’s Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram
February 21, 2023
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The Minus-One Club is a sad, sometimes funny, ultimately bittersweet coming-of-age exploring grief, love, identity, as well as depression, addiction, and faith. The short chapters, some not even a page long, the simple yet punchy prose, and the focus on mental health, make The Minus-One Club the kind of read that is hound to appeal to fans of Benjamin Alire Sáenz and K. Ancrum. The Minus-One Club is the kind of ya book that I would have absolutely loved 10 years ago, but now, I can only ‘just’ like. There were these moments of tenderness that did get to me, and I found the author’s portrayal of grief, acceptance, and sexuality to be realistic, so much so that readers looking for books where everything works out, in the end, should approach The Minus-One Club this with caution.
Our narrator, 15-year-old Kermit Sanders, is bereft. His older sister, died in a car accident, and Kermit’s life will never be the same. His very religious parents seek solace in God and in their local church, but Kermit doesn’t know what to believe anymore. When he returns to school he feels at remove from everything, miles away from the ‘petty’ concerns of other high school students. His best friend, alongside most of the school, doesn’t know how to deal with Kermit’s loss, so they either proffer unwanted platitudes or avoid him altogether. Kermit can’t stop thinking or dreaming of his sister, often hearing her voice in his head. And then he finds in his locker a mysterious invitation that leads him to the “Minus-One Club”. The club is made up of five other students, all of whom have ‘lost’ someone. They meet up after school, to play cards together or other games. They offer a weird type of moral support as they are never to discuss their losses. The club is in fact a place where they want to be free of other people’s sorrys, or have to talk about their feelings. Here they can just be. Despite belonging to different ‘social’ groups, and not being able to talk about ‘stuff’, their bond is an unspoken one.
Kermit finds himself growing particularly close to one club member, Matt, a seemingly happy-go-lucky guy who happens to be their school’s only ‘out’ gay student. The more time they spend together, the stronger Kermit’s feelings for Matt become so that soon enough his crush develops into something harder to ignore. But spending time with Matt and the club sees Kermit drift away from his parents. Not only do they impose stultifying rules on Kermit but they expect, demand even, that he continue to attend church and take part in church-related activities. As Kermit realizes that Matt may feel the same as he does for him, he struggles to reconcile his sexuality with his faith. Not only is his church particularly homophobic but his parents are too. As Kermit tries to unlearn those beliefs that have made him view his desires and himself as sinful, and wrong, he is forced to decide whether he can continue ‘pretending’ to be someone that he is not.
Kermit and Matt’s relationship however is further jeopardized by Matt’s own troubles. Despite his carefree attitude, Matt is not doing well at all, and as his drinking worsens it falls Kermit, and all of the club really, have to confront the dangers of keeping silent about their grief and their pain.
In addition to exploring the realities of grief and depression, Kekla Magoon touches on peer pressure, both when it comes to drinking and having sex, and bullying. Some of the characters act in ways that are, to put it mildly, problematic, but rather than condemning them, we are made to understand what and how they may have come to behave in such a way. I appreciated the empathy Magoon shows her characters and the sensitivity she demonstrates in treating such complex issues. My heart went out to Kermit, Matt (flawed as he is), and the rest of the club. I liked that the ending is hopeful yet realistic, in that some things remain (for the time) unresolved. I also appreciated that the story not only shows how grief expresses itself differently in different people (some like matt develop a self-destructive streak, others find thesmelves questioning theri faith, some cry, others don't, etc.) but the repercussions of having emotionally abusive and/or neglectful parents. Kermit's parents fail or refuse to, recognise his grief as 'genuine' (because he hasn't cried), or allow him to be himself. They even try to stop him from spending time with Matt, even when that's what makes him happy and pressure him to go to church even when he expresses the desire not to. Superficially Matt's father may seem great, given that doesn't care whether Matt goes to parties or who he brings back home with him. But, after certain events later in the story, Kermit comes to realize just how hurtful it can be to know that your parent doesn't really think of you. Another strength of The Minus-One Club was that Magoon doesn't gloss over Kermit's internalised homophobia nor is his faith depicted simplistically as Magoon takes time to explore the whys & hows of his fraught relationship to his religion and his parents.
While I could have done without the 3-page farting/dream sequence (maybe that’s just me) I did find those sillier moments between Kermit and Matt or between Kermit and his sister, to add much-needed levity to the story. The chapter titles also provided a source of humor.
Anyway, if you are looking for a ya read that will pull at your heartstrings, look no further. I know I said earlier on that I didn't love this, I just liked it, but now that I have thought back to it, I can honestly say that I am fond of this book. Kermit, Matt, and the rest of the club got to me. They have these very wholesome moments that felt so very precious. Also, I think this book delivers several important lessons in a way that felt authentic and poignant (as opposed to contrived and 'preachy').
And while not everything is resolved by the end, those final pages were rewarding and full of heart. Ultimately, the book shows the importance of being honest, about your feelings, ugly or sad as they may be, of being there for your friends, even when they try to tell you nothing is the matter and everything is a-okay, and that sometimes, you can't just 'get on with things' or push through it, and you have to allow yourself time, to feel, and maybe even, one day, heal.
“It will hurt. It already hurts. Everything fucking hurts, and still we are bigger than our tragedy. We are not deviant, we are exultant. We are on top of the world. We are bigger than our tragedies.”
The Minus-One Club is a sad, sometimes funny, ultimately bittersweet coming-of-age exploring grief, love, identity, as well as depression, addiction, and faith. The short chapters, some not even a page long, the simple yet punchy prose, and the focus on mental health, make The Minus-One Club the kind of read that is hound to appeal to fans of Benjamin Alire Sáenz and K. Ancrum. The Minus-One Club is the kind of ya book that I would have absolutely loved 10 years ago, but now, I can only ‘just’ like. There were these moments of tenderness that did get to me, and I found the author’s portrayal of grief, acceptance, and sexuality to be realistic, so much so that readers looking for books where everything works out, in the end, should approach The Minus-One Club this with caution.
“It didn’t feel like anything to me,” he says. “I don’t feel anything anymore.”
Our narrator, 15-year-old Kermit Sanders, is bereft. His older sister, died in a car accident, and Kermit’s life will never be the same. His very religious parents seek solace in God and in their local church, but Kermit doesn’t know what to believe anymore. When he returns to school he feels at remove from everything, miles away from the ‘petty’ concerns of other high school students. His best friend, alongside most of the school, doesn’t know how to deal with Kermit’s loss, so they either proffer unwanted platitudes or avoid him altogether. Kermit can’t stop thinking or dreaming of his sister, often hearing her voice in his head. And then he finds in his locker a mysterious invitation that leads him to the “Minus-One Club”. The club is made up of five other students, all of whom have ‘lost’ someone. They meet up after school, to play cards together or other games. They offer a weird type of moral support as they are never to discuss their losses. The club is in fact a place where they want to be free of other people’s sorrys, or have to talk about their feelings. Here they can just be. Despite belonging to different ‘social’ groups, and not being able to talk about ‘stuff’, their bond is an unspoken one.
Kermit finds himself growing particularly close to one club member, Matt, a seemingly happy-go-lucky guy who happens to be their school’s only ‘out’ gay student. The more time they spend together, the stronger Kermit’s feelings for Matt become so that soon enough his crush develops into something harder to ignore. But spending time with Matt and the club sees Kermit drift away from his parents. Not only do they impose stultifying rules on Kermit but they expect, demand even, that he continue to attend church and take part in church-related activities. As Kermit realizes that Matt may feel the same as he does for him, he struggles to reconcile his sexuality with his faith. Not only is his church particularly homophobic but his parents are too. As Kermit tries to unlearn those beliefs that have made him view his desires and himself as sinful, and wrong, he is forced to decide whether he can continue ‘pretending’ to be someone that he is not.
Kermit and Matt’s relationship however is further jeopardized by Matt’s own troubles. Despite his carefree attitude, Matt is not doing well at all, and as his drinking worsens it falls Kermit, and all of the club really, have to confront the dangers of keeping silent about their grief and their pain.
In addition to exploring the realities of grief and depression, Kekla Magoon touches on peer pressure, both when it comes to drinking and having sex, and bullying. Some of the characters act in ways that are, to put it mildly, problematic, but rather than condemning them, we are made to understand what and how they may have come to behave in such a way. I appreciated the empathy Magoon shows her characters and the sensitivity she demonstrates in treating such complex issues. My heart went out to Kermit, Matt (flawed as he is), and the rest of the club. I liked that the ending is hopeful yet realistic, in that some things remain (for the time) unresolved. I also appreciated that the story not only shows how grief expresses itself differently in different people (some like matt develop a self-destructive streak, others find thesmelves questioning theri faith, some cry, others don't, etc.) but the repercussions of having emotionally abusive and/or neglectful parents. Kermit's parents fail or refuse to, recognise his grief as 'genuine' (because he hasn't cried), or allow him to be himself. They even try to stop him from spending time with Matt, even when that's what makes him happy and pressure him to go to church even when he expresses the desire not to. Superficially Matt's father may seem great, given that doesn't care whether Matt goes to parties or who he brings back home with him. But, after certain events later in the story, Kermit comes to realize just how hurtful it can be to know that your parent doesn't really think of you. Another strength of The Minus-One Club was that Magoon doesn't gloss over Kermit's internalised homophobia nor is his faith depicted simplistically as Magoon takes time to explore the whys & hows of his fraught relationship to his religion and his parents.
While I could have done without the 3-page farting/dream sequence (maybe that’s just me) I did find those sillier moments between Kermit and Matt or between Kermit and his sister, to add much-needed levity to the story. The chapter titles also provided a source of humor.
Anyway, if you are looking for a ya read that will pull at your heartstrings, look no further. I know I said earlier on that I didn't love this, I just liked it, but now that I have thought back to it, I can honestly say that I am fond of this book. Kermit, Matt, and the rest of the club got to me. They have these very wholesome moments that felt so very precious. Also, I think this book delivers several important lessons in a way that felt authentic and poignant (as opposed to contrived and 'preachy').
And while not everything is resolved by the end, those final pages were rewarding and full of heart. Ultimately, the book shows the importance of being honest, about your feelings, ugly or sad as they may be, of being there for your friends, even when they try to tell you nothing is the matter and everything is a-okay, and that sometimes, you can't just 'get on with things' or push through it, and you have to allow yourself time, to feel, and maybe even, one day, heal.
March 10, 2023
Very much enjoyed this book. I'd rate it closer to 4.5 stars. Super readable and relatable. Perhaps one or two false, or false-ish notes, but nothing too outrageous. I was definitely engaged from the first page(s), and would recommend this book to a wide variety of readers. Some things DON'T get resolved, neatly or otherwise, which I especially liked, appreciated, and found believable.
September 2, 2022
Thanks Netgalley and Henry Hold & Company for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This book has a lot of feels. Kermit's sister just died and on his return to school he receives an invite to meeting at school. Turns out he's been invited to join a club, a club no one should have to join. All the members have lost a loved one. The rules are simple they meet in secret and never talk about IT. Matt is also a member of the clued and Kermit has had feelings for him for a while, but Kermit isn't out and not sure how is conservative parents would handle it. The two grow close inside and outside the club. But will the rules of the club be enough to help them get through? I enjoyed this tail of grief and the different ways that people deal with that. We are not all the same and grief hits us all differently. I like that this book showed that and that it dealt with some difficult things surrounding how people grief. I also like that the characters grew and the club changed as the experienced these things. I like how the ending kind of felt like it was coming full circle! Highly recommend checking this one out!
August 8, 2023
CW: sibling loss, grief, mention of car accidents and drunk driving, rape culture, homophobia, bullying, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, religious trauma, depression, hospitalization
One thing about me is that I love reading books that hurt me. As a queer former Christian whose brother died when they were young, this is the type of book I wish I had when I was a young adult. The descriptions of grief, especially while still living with your parents and going to school with kids who do not understand what it's like to lose a sibling, were incredibly accurate and made me feel somewhat comforted in my experiences. Grief feels so lonely, especially when you lose a sibling, and this book made me feel much less alone and I wish I had it in those times when I felt most lonely.
I also appreciated that the book gave hope without being unrealistic. He found a group of friends to support and love him, but they're teenagers and sometimes they don't know how to support each other. He's queer and found people who accept him, but his parents didn't have a sudden, miraculous change of heart. Everything isn't perfect and I think that type of messy ending is representative of life.
Maybe I liked this book so much because of how much I related or how much my younger self needed representation like this, but I cannot overstate how much this book meant to me.
One thing about me is that I love reading books that hurt me. As a queer former Christian whose brother died when they were young, this is the type of book I wish I had when I was a young adult. The descriptions of grief, especially while still living with your parents and going to school with kids who do not understand what it's like to lose a sibling, were incredibly accurate and made me feel somewhat comforted in my experiences. Grief feels so lonely, especially when you lose a sibling, and this book made me feel much less alone and I wish I had it in those times when I felt most lonely.
I also appreciated that the book gave hope without being unrealistic. He found a group of friends to support and love him, but they're teenagers and sometimes they don't know how to support each other. He's queer and found people who accept him, but his parents didn't have a sudden, miraculous change of heart. Everything isn't perfect and I think that type of messy ending is representative of life.
Maybe I liked this book so much because of how much I related or how much my younger self needed representation like this, but I cannot overstate how much this book meant to me.
March 15, 2023
This book wasn't your average happy go lucky contemporary YA romance. It is tough, gritty and deals with some really difficult subjects. In my opinion it does everything extremely well and I'm so happy that I read it.
Covering subjects such as loss, grief, addiction, homophobic bullying and mental health struggles, this book really doesn't shy away from how hard life can be for young people, especially those growing up gay in an environment that's not exactly welcoming. One of the things I loved the most was how no character was perfect and flawless. They were difficult, flawed and believable. They reacted to tough scenarios in ways that I could really identify with and I appreciated it.
I was given access to the audio by the publisher via Netgalley. The audio production was excellent and the narrator superb. My one small gripe is that the chapters were often incredibly short and I got confused about what was the story, what was the chapter title and where we were in time. But I suppose that's the (slight) downfall of an audio book.
All in all it's an excellent book for YA and adult readers alike and I would highly recommend.
Covering subjects such as loss, grief, addiction, homophobic bullying and mental health struggles, this book really doesn't shy away from how hard life can be for young people, especially those growing up gay in an environment that's not exactly welcoming. One of the things I loved the most was how no character was perfect and flawless. They were difficult, flawed and believable. They reacted to tough scenarios in ways that I could really identify with and I appreciated it.
I was given access to the audio by the publisher via Netgalley. The audio production was excellent and the narrator superb. My one small gripe is that the chapters were often incredibly short and I got confused about what was the story, what was the chapter title and where we were in time. But I suppose that's the (slight) downfall of an audio book.
All in all it's an excellent book for YA and adult readers alike and I would highly recommend.
March 3, 2023
5 / 5 ⭐️‘s
"The Minus-One Club" by Kekla Magoon
I must say that this was an incredibly moving and thought-provoking read. The story follows a group of middle school students, all of whom have lost someone close to them, as they navigate grief and come together to form a club for others in the same situation.
One of the things that struck me most about this book was how authentic and honest the portrayal of grief was. Magoon doesn't shy away from the difficult emotions and moments that come with losing someone, but she also shows the characters finding moments of joy and connection amidst their pain. I found myself really rooting for these kids as they worked through their grief and began to find a sense of community with each other.
Another aspect of the book that I appreciated was the diversity of the characters. They come from different backgrounds and have different experiences with grief. Magoon does a great job of exploring the ways that race and culture can impact how we experience loss and grief, without ever feeling heavy-handed or preachy.
I would highly recommend this one!
This ARC was provided by @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
"The Minus-One Club" by Kekla Magoon
I must say that this was an incredibly moving and thought-provoking read. The story follows a group of middle school students, all of whom have lost someone close to them, as they navigate grief and come together to form a club for others in the same situation.
One of the things that struck me most about this book was how authentic and honest the portrayal of grief was. Magoon doesn't shy away from the difficult emotions and moments that come with losing someone, but she also shows the characters finding moments of joy and connection amidst their pain. I found myself really rooting for these kids as they worked through their grief and began to find a sense of community with each other.
Another aspect of the book that I appreciated was the diversity of the characters. They come from different backgrounds and have different experiences with grief. Magoon does a great job of exploring the ways that race and culture can impact how we experience loss and grief, without ever feeling heavy-handed or preachy.
I would highly recommend this one!
This ARC was provided by @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2024
Heartfelt and moving; this teen novel about a boy losing his sister and coming to terms with his sexuality is emotional and inspiring. After the loss of his older sister, Kermit is angry and lost. His parents are shaken and nothing is the same. At school he finds a mysterious note in his locker telling him to meet in the art room after school. When he gets there he meets other teens who have lost someone dear. A sister, a mother, a grandfather, and so on. They take him under his wing - they don't ever talk about IT, but they are there for each other through the tears and through it all. In the club, Kermit starts to get close to Matt, the only openly gay kid in school. The two start to fall for each other and work through their demons. Very moving!
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March 13, 2023I really wanted to like this book but it felt so choppy to me. I can't separate whether or not my annoyance is with the book itself or with the narrator's pitch and tone and volume throughout. I hate it when narrators change the volume of their voice as they're narrating like going from a whisper to a regular sounding voice etc. It's really frustrating as a listener because I feel like I need to change my volume constantly but then I'm more concerned about whether or not I can hear it then what I'm actually hearing. I also just wasn't a huge fan of the narrator in general. He was fine for the main character but all of his voices for the secondary characters were just very exaggerated and over the top. The plot of this book felt like nothing happened. Well I understand the importance of having queer representation where religion is involved and there are a lot of intricacies that go along with that, this felt like a story that was just internalized homophobia 101.
December 2, 2023
Powerful story that makes you consider all the intricacies of teenagers’ lives especially those with personal battles with grief, religion, sexual identity/orientation and more. If you find yourself lacking empathy towards these types of individuals, read this!
June 1, 2023
False Advertising
*2.5
LEQ (Long Essay Question)
Suggested writing time: 40 minutes
Directions: Answer Question 2 or Question 3 or Question 4.
2. Evaluate the extent of Becci's outrage when this book has nothing to do with what it was advertised add.
3. Evaluate the extent that a gay (mlm) book changes when written by a female author.
4. Evaluate the extent of Becci's boredom now that she has nothing to read for the next 7 hours.
I will be responding to all questions because I didn't read the directions.
2. Want to know what really makes me outraged? When I pick up a book, thinking it's going to be a nice, well written novel about found family and grief. What I was not expecting was a depressed, horny, gay boy who spends the whole book complaining about being Christian. Look, if this book had been advertised as that, it would have been better. My expectations would've been a lot different. But this whole book was about this supposed "Minus One Club", which might have been present for about 20 pages. When the book is literally titled that, you'd think it would have had at least some impact on the story. But the club was basically forgotten until the climax and resolution, which means the whole rest of the book was just our dear friend Kermit The Frog. And oh my god, he was SO annoying to me. I didn't even realize how bad it was until I sat down and started writing this, and I now realize how much he annoyed me. He kept saying how he was some perfect Christian boy, yet never actually did anything to help sell that point. This whole thing was him struggling with his fate,
Also, this book was barely about grief. It was more about him being Christian and gay. It didn't even mention race! Which, sure, fine, but when the author is award winning for her books about race, you kind of have expectations. And oh my god, religion wasn't even brought up in the summary thingie on the side of the book (I have no idea what it's called), yet EVERY CHAPTER was him moaning about how he was going to hell. My goodness.
3. This might've added to the already gaping problem with this book - it's written by a woman. I'm assuming she's straight, but even so, she doesn't have the experiences of an mlm. I'm always dubious of these books after I was forever traumatized by Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Only Mostly Devastated, which led me to picking this up. Also, I figured this book wasn't actually totally focused on a romance, because I READ THE BLURB (I remembered what it's called!) AND IT SAID IT WAS ABOUT HIS DEAD SISTER. BUT IT WAS NOT. It went on and on about how much he hated himself and how much being Christian was suppressing him and all this jazz, which might have been fine, except for two little details. One, it's written by a woman, and that automatically makes it a little weird. Two, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT GRIEF. And this so called "Minus One Club", which was rarely brought up. Whatever. It's not like I'm bitter.
4. I just added that in for giggles because on the APUSH exam, but my answer is it is making me very bored.
So overall, I wasn't a fan of this book. If you just handed this to me without having seen the author or the blurb, I might've enjoyed it more.
*2.5
LEQ (Long Essay Question)
Suggested writing time: 40 minutes
Directions: Answer Question 2 or Question 3 or Question 4.
2. Evaluate the extent of Becci's outrage when this book has nothing to do with what it was advertised add.
3. Evaluate the extent that a gay (mlm) book changes when written by a female author.
4. Evaluate the extent of Becci's boredom now that she has nothing to read for the next 7 hours.
I will be responding to all questions because I didn't read the directions.
2. Want to know what really makes me outraged? When I pick up a book, thinking it's going to be a nice, well written novel about found family and grief. What I was not expecting was a depressed, horny, gay boy who spends the whole book complaining about being Christian. Look, if this book had been advertised as that, it would have been better. My expectations would've been a lot different. But this whole book was about this supposed "Minus One Club", which might have been present for about 20 pages. When the book is literally titled that, you'd think it would have had at least some impact on the story. But the club was basically forgotten until the climax and resolution, which means the whole rest of the book was just our dear friend Kermit The Frog. And oh my god, he was SO annoying to me. I didn't even realize how bad it was until I sat down and started writing this, and I now realize how much he annoyed me. He kept saying how he was some perfect Christian boy, yet never actually did anything to help sell that point. This whole thing was him struggling with his fate,
Also, this book was barely about grief. It was more about him being Christian and gay. It didn't even mention race! Which, sure, fine, but when the author is award winning for her books about race, you kind of have expectations. And oh my god, religion wasn't even brought up in the summary thingie on the side of the book (I have no idea what it's called), yet EVERY CHAPTER was him moaning about how he was going to hell. My goodness.
3. This might've added to the already gaping problem with this book - it's written by a woman. I'm assuming she's straight, but even so, she doesn't have the experiences of an mlm. I'm always dubious of these books after I was forever traumatized by Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Only Mostly Devastated, which led me to picking this up. Also, I figured this book wasn't actually totally focused on a romance, because I READ THE BLURB (I remembered what it's called!) AND IT SAID IT WAS ABOUT HIS DEAD SISTER. BUT IT WAS NOT. It went on and on about how much he hated himself and how much being Christian was suppressing him and all this jazz, which might have been fine, except for two little details. One, it's written by a woman, and that automatically makes it a little weird. Two, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT GRIEF. And this so called "Minus One Club", which was rarely brought up. Whatever. It's not like I'm bitter.
4. I just added that in for giggles because on the APUSH exam, but my answer is it is making me very bored.
So overall, I wasn't a fan of this book. If you just handed this to me without having seen the author or the blurb, I might've enjoyed it more.
July 11, 2024
Still unsure what to rate this, even after sitting with it for a week?!? I’m giving it in 4 stars in Goodreads(StoryGraph’s just going without a rating) and calling it a day. Interpret that as being anywhere from 3.5 to 4.0 stars.
As heartbreaking and impactful as this could sometimes be, it wasn’t until later on in the story that I was able to not only settle into it but start to actually connect with the story. The beginning was paced very weirdly, both in the introduction of the Minus-One Club as a whole, and also Kermit and Matt’s relationship? There wasn’t much buildup to the one romance in this book, and it sometimes got weird because of Kermit being closeted while Matt was hitting on him?? (also the fighting game scene was just very strange.)
Kermit’s sister, Sheila, ended up being my favorite character. Which is a terrible statement to hear considering she literally died before the story started LOL but! I don’t mean that as an insult. She might’ve only appeared in flashbacks and dreams, but her sibling dynamic with Kermit was realistic, and I liked the way she obviously cared about and looked out for him in her life. There were some very sweet scenes about that, and it brought genuine weight to the grief that makes up the entire plot.
I also liked the range of friendship dynamics shown! There were very clear differences in how Kermit interacted with different groups(depending on closeness, yk), and what parts of himself he’d show, which is a kind of distinction I don’t get to read about very often. Although this could also be seen a bit within some of the other friendships/duos within the club, I wished there was more time to expand on everyone’s characterizations, especially because there were so many different forms of grief explored (+different coping mechanisms) and this had to be a character-driven novel.
I docked an undetermined number of points for a couple reasons, though: 1) the fart dream sequence. why. It was 2 pages too long. 2) Kermit’s internal conflict regarding his faith got repetitive, probably in part because, for someone who thinks he “seems like a perfect Christian boy”, he doesn’t really…do much to give that image? Outside of his house? Maybe I’m being overcritical.
As heartbreaking and impactful as this could sometimes be, it wasn’t until later on in the story that I was able to not only settle into it but start to actually connect with the story. The beginning was paced very weirdly, both in the introduction of the Minus-One Club as a whole, and also Kermit and Matt’s relationship? There wasn’t much buildup to the one romance in this book, and it sometimes got weird because of Kermit being closeted while Matt was hitting on him?? (also the fighting game scene was just very strange.)
Kermit’s sister, Sheila, ended up being my favorite character. Which is a terrible statement to hear considering she literally died before the story started LOL but! I don’t mean that as an insult. She might’ve only appeared in flashbacks and dreams, but her sibling dynamic with Kermit was realistic, and I liked the way she obviously cared about and looked out for him in her life. There were some very sweet scenes about that, and it brought genuine weight to the grief that makes up the entire plot.
I also liked the range of friendship dynamics shown! There were very clear differences in how Kermit interacted with different groups(depending on closeness, yk), and what parts of himself he’d show, which is a kind of distinction I don’t get to read about very often. Although this could also be seen a bit within some of the other friendships/duos within the club, I wished there was more time to expand on everyone’s characterizations, especially because there were so many different forms of grief explored (+different coping mechanisms) and this had to be a character-driven novel.
I docked an undetermined number of points for a couple reasons, though: 1) the fart dream sequence. why. It was 2 pages too long. 2) Kermit’s internal conflict regarding his faith got repetitive, probably in part because, for someone who thinks he “seems like a perfect Christian boy”, he doesn’t really…do much to give that image? Outside of his house? Maybe I’m being overcritical.
October 19, 2023
Grief, depression, suicidal thoughts, death of a loved one, feeling alone…this book runs the gamut. The message being YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There are people out there who get it, get what you are going through, who will be there for you in your darkest time. That it’s ok to ask for help. My only “complaint” was the time hop. What was done to help Matt? Does Kermit ever really talk to his parents? I would have liked to learn more about the others in the group. Thank you to the author for writing this book and for all the resources provided at the end of the book.
March 11, 2023
Great story that discussed all kinds of themes…grief, sexuality, love, & fear. I highly recommend the audio version of this book! Really brought the story to life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 8, 2024
I actually really did like this book, it’s not my #1 choice but I like how the author at the end of the book put the rules for the club.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2024
Gay and black? Prepare to cry a little
March 13, 2024
Art and pain, pain and art
August 1, 2023
“It will hurt. It already hurts. Everything fucking hurts, and still we are bigger than our tragedy. We are not deviant, we are exultant. We are on top of the world. We are bigger than our tragedies”
This was a deep, sorrowful, and ultimately redemptive exploration of not only grief, but what it means to foster relationships, both familial and romantic, when the shroud of loss surrounds everything. I originally picked this book up because I saw it a most anticipated reads of 2o23 list, and only later realized I recognized the author from the anthology Black Enough I read a couple years back.
This book, I think like some other books that tackle the same themes, does all of them relatively well. So many things are discussed- mostly grief, but also alcoholism, abuse, bullying, religious shame, identity, sexuality- and more. The author manages them all deftly, giving each their due consideration. All of the characters in this book handle their grief differently, I would say our main character most subtly of all. It was a great reminder, especially in YA, that not everyone's mourning looks the same, on the inside or out.
The story is told mostly in the present, though some chapters take us into Kermit's dreams, where he sees and talks to his sister, and others actually take us to the past, mostly for us to see the fun and easy relationship they had with each other, a sharp contrast to the sadness of the present. I think these chapters were a great addition, and in fact necessary to the readers fully understanding the main character's grief, and also more deeply sympathizing with him because we got to see their relationship for ourselves. These chapters, expectedly and probably chiched-ly end with but cliche is cliche for a reason, and I think it was the perfect way to give closure to the reader.
On that topic, I think this book gave us the perfect amount of closure. Some things may be left too open ended for some readers, and that's understandable, but to me, it mimicked real life. The grief after six months is still fresh and many things are still up in the air by the end of the novel. And while these specific things are unresolved, there are some things within the theme that get wrapped up, like for example, .
The way Kermit's sexuality was handled was interesting to me as well. Church, religious shame, and parental pressure were all factors in his decision on whether to come out, and ultimately, he decided by the end of the novel not to tell his parents at all. Their reaction to Matt's sexuality is enough for him to know that they wouldn't be accepting and would potentially become violent if his own sexuality was revealed. It was a tough pill to swallow for both him and the reader, but it's ultimately, crushingly realistic for his environment, and just because he isn't totally out and proud by the end of the novel doesn't mean he hasn't grown internally, or that his character arc is incomplete.
He is out to his closest friends, Alex and the Minus-One Club, but he doesn't need to be out to everyone, especially for the fact that he's protecting himself against the violence that Matt faced. It is a sign of how much the culture has rapidly shifted in the last decade or so that he feels like an outsider for the fact that his parents wouldn't openly accept him, but I found this part of the story to be devastatingly real as well. The scenes in the past where his sister acknowledged and loved him were so tender, and all the more sad to know he will never have that support from her again. I will say that both the two gay main characters had loved ones who passed away knowing their sexuality, and I would have liked to see variety, maybe with Matt's mom never knowing the truth because never getting the chance to tell her could have been its own kind of pain, but having that experience together definitely united them.
I do have mostly positive things to say about this book, but one of my biggest uneasinesses was with the relationship at the heart of it, between Kermit and Matt. This was by no means meant to be a romance book, so maybe the intentions were a little different, but I just always felt something wrong and off kilter about this relationship. This, I think in part, was intentional, because you are supposed to see the warning signs before Kermit does, but other times there were things that just felt off to me that had nothing to do with Matt's mental health. Like when I also felt like for most of the beginning stages it was really Matt pushing the relationship instead of Kermit, being really forward with advances, and it felt to me kind of icky with the power dynamics of Matt being out and Kermit still being closeted.
I also felt as though the whole "gimmick" of the book, if you will, should have been more centered in the narrative. The book starts out well with Kermit entering this mysterious club and writes down his loved one's death, but after that the mystique is quickly stripped away, and they basically just hang out sometimes. I'm not saying it needed to be this whole big mystery, but there was basically nothing to be developed with the individual members of the club. Kermit literally reads what happened to all their loved ones in the first chapter so there's no revealing it throughout the story.
I'm not saying that's necessary, but it would have been something to make the club more involved in the actual plot. The members should have been more central characters with their own narrative arcs to make the club feel like something special, rather than something secondary to the romance between Matt and Kermit. His access to the club is mostly through Matt, but it would have been more fruitful to see Kermit foster relationships with the other members outside of Matt. Their whole thing is that they can distract themselves with people who understand, which prevented their meetings from having any real emotional weight in the story, and they only reverse course when something traumatic happens at the very end. It was also giving Breakfast Club vibes with all the members coming from different cliques and stuff, but it didn't go all in on those vibes either.
Lastly, I felt that the audiobook wasn't really the right move for this. The narration was at sometimes poignant and always full of emotions, but at other times he did things that took me out of the story. His voices for other characters, especially Matt, were a bit strangled and strange, and at some point his voice would be a whisper, so I turned the sound up, and then it would be too loud. This is nothing against the narrator, Dion Graham, and I would be willing to seek out other works narrated by him, but this one wasn't right for me. I also feel the audiobook format didn't fit with the short, powerful chapter structure Magoon set up. When you cannot physically see the pages, the effect is diminished and rather than being emotional, it makes it annoying to start over again so many times.
Overall, this book did many things that I really appreciated. To have so many hard hitting themes and handle them all so well is not an easy feat, but I really do feel as though the author pulls it off here. On the other hand, some things like the club itself and the relationship could have been more fleshed out, but I suppose not every book can be perfect. I was scrolling on Kekla Magoon's website to look for this book and oddly it isn't there? This came out more that six months ago so I think that's a little odd, but regardless, I saw a different book that she wrote, The Long Way Down, that sounds really interesting to me so I may pick that up soon.
This was a deep, sorrowful, and ultimately redemptive exploration of not only grief, but what it means to foster relationships, both familial and romantic, when the shroud of loss surrounds everything. I originally picked this book up because I saw it a most anticipated reads of 2o23 list, and only later realized I recognized the author from the anthology Black Enough I read a couple years back.
This book, I think like some other books that tackle the same themes, does all of them relatively well. So many things are discussed- mostly grief, but also alcoholism, abuse, bullying, religious shame, identity, sexuality- and more. The author manages them all deftly, giving each their due consideration. All of the characters in this book handle their grief differently, I would say our main character most subtly of all. It was a great reminder, especially in YA, that not everyone's mourning looks the same, on the inside or out.
The story is told mostly in the present, though some chapters take us into Kermit's dreams, where he sees and talks to his sister, and others actually take us to the past, mostly for us to see the fun and easy relationship they had with each other, a sharp contrast to the sadness of the present. I think these chapters were a great addition, and in fact necessary to the readers fully understanding the main character's grief, and also more deeply sympathizing with him because we got to see their relationship for ourselves. These chapters, expectedly and probably chiched-ly end with but cliche is cliche for a reason, and I think it was the perfect way to give closure to the reader.
On that topic, I think this book gave us the perfect amount of closure. Some things may be left too open ended for some readers, and that's understandable, but to me, it mimicked real life. The grief after six months is still fresh and many things are still up in the air by the end of the novel. And while these specific things are unresolved, there are some things within the theme that get wrapped up, like for example, .
The way Kermit's sexuality was handled was interesting to me as well. Church, religious shame, and parental pressure were all factors in his decision on whether to come out, and ultimately, he decided by the end of the novel not to tell his parents at all. Their reaction to Matt's sexuality is enough for him to know that they wouldn't be accepting and would potentially become violent if his own sexuality was revealed. It was a tough pill to swallow for both him and the reader, but it's ultimately, crushingly realistic for his environment, and just because he isn't totally out and proud by the end of the novel doesn't mean he hasn't grown internally, or that his character arc is incomplete.
He is out to his closest friends, Alex and the Minus-One Club, but he doesn't need to be out to everyone, especially for the fact that he's protecting himself against the violence that Matt faced. It is a sign of how much the culture has rapidly shifted in the last decade or so that he feels like an outsider for the fact that his parents wouldn't openly accept him, but I found this part of the story to be devastatingly real as well. The scenes in the past where his sister acknowledged and loved him were so tender, and all the more sad to know he will never have that support from her again. I will say that both the two gay main characters had loved ones who passed away knowing their sexuality, and I would have liked to see variety, maybe with Matt's mom never knowing the truth because never getting the chance to tell her could have been its own kind of pain, but having that experience together definitely united them.
I do have mostly positive things to say about this book, but one of my biggest uneasinesses was with the relationship at the heart of it, between Kermit and Matt. This was by no means meant to be a romance book, so maybe the intentions were a little different, but I just always felt something wrong and off kilter about this relationship. This, I think in part, was intentional, because you are supposed to see the warning signs before Kermit does, but other times there were things that just felt off to me that had nothing to do with Matt's mental health. Like when I also felt like for most of the beginning stages it was really Matt pushing the relationship instead of Kermit, being really forward with advances, and it felt to me kind of icky with the power dynamics of Matt being out and Kermit still being closeted.
I also felt as though the whole "gimmick" of the book, if you will, should have been more centered in the narrative. The book starts out well with Kermit entering this mysterious club and writes down his loved one's death, but after that the mystique is quickly stripped away, and they basically just hang out sometimes. I'm not saying it needed to be this whole big mystery, but there was basically nothing to be developed with the individual members of the club. Kermit literally reads what happened to all their loved ones in the first chapter so there's no revealing it throughout the story.
I'm not saying that's necessary, but it would have been something to make the club more involved in the actual plot. The members should have been more central characters with their own narrative arcs to make the club feel like something special, rather than something secondary to the romance between Matt and Kermit. His access to the club is mostly through Matt, but it would have been more fruitful to see Kermit foster relationships with the other members outside of Matt. Their whole thing is that they can distract themselves with people who understand, which prevented their meetings from having any real emotional weight in the story, and they only reverse course when something traumatic happens at the very end. It was also giving Breakfast Club vibes with all the members coming from different cliques and stuff, but it didn't go all in on those vibes either.
Lastly, I felt that the audiobook wasn't really the right move for this. The narration was at sometimes poignant and always full of emotions, but at other times he did things that took me out of the story. His voices for other characters, especially Matt, were a bit strangled and strange, and at some point his voice would be a whisper, so I turned the sound up, and then it would be too loud. This is nothing against the narrator, Dion Graham, and I would be willing to seek out other works narrated by him, but this one wasn't right for me. I also feel the audiobook format didn't fit with the short, powerful chapter structure Magoon set up. When you cannot physically see the pages, the effect is diminished and rather than being emotional, it makes it annoying to start over again so many times.
Overall, this book did many things that I really appreciated. To have so many hard hitting themes and handle them all so well is not an easy feat, but I really do feel as though the author pulls it off here. On the other hand, some things like the club itself and the relationship could have been more fleshed out, but I suppose not every book can be perfect. I was scrolling on Kekla Magoon's website to look for this book and oddly it isn't there? This came out more that six months ago so I think that's a little odd, but regardless, I saw a different book that she wrote, The Long Way Down, that sounds really interesting to me so I may pick that up soon.
November 29, 2022
I can already see comps of a gay Fault in our Stars, but I think that undersells this excellent YA novel. Kermit, it's a family name, is dealing with losing his sister, contemplating his sexuality & talking to his parents about it, and his relationship with god and his church. That is a PLATEFUL of stuff to deal with and this book does not softball the content. Magoon also does not let the book fall into cliche tropes either. Yes, there is the mom who dies of cancer and a distracted father; a sister killed by a drunk driver; a teen who feels guilty for surviving an accident; a closeted religious gay teen; and the sole out gay teen in a conservative town....as many tropes as her name character's issues - none of the plot points go exactly as you might expect. This will not be that the uplifting comforting read that some might way, but it is the read that many teens need. They might need it because they like Kermit have parents they love and who love them, but whom they cannot be honest with about who they are and thier sexuality or faith or identity. Others might also need to read it to realize that this is still the reality for many teens. There are no easy solutions for mental health problems or addiction and some parents are not just not perfect, but not there. It doesn't mean that things cannot get better and that you cannot find allies. Not a happily ever after, but it still ends with hope for the future.
May 23, 2023
TW: car accident/drunk driving, religion, underage drinking, alcoholism/alcohol abuse, attempted/mention of suicide, bullying/homophobia (?), and potential sexual harassment (the bully mentioned sticking his finger up Matt’s butt)
“grief, depression, suicide or suicide ideation, alcohol abuse, and mental health. In addition to broader explorations of identity, attraction, sexuality, faith and acceptance.” (taken from the book/author)
While his family tries to adjust to the sudden, tragic loss of his sister, The Minus-One Club, a secret support group at his school helps Kermit as they can, even if their “don’t talk about it” rule causes more harm than good. But while participating in the group’s activities Kerm gets closer to Matt, the only openly gay kid at their school, all while Kerm struggles with keeping his sexuality away from his family as well as with ways to tell them he’s gay.
This book holds no punches. It reveals an ugly yet realistic side to being a part of LGBTQ+ community. While sweet queer romances are a joy to read, they only show one side to the struggle. This is not your run of the mill LGBTQ book. To the reader, this book does not have a happy ending, but for Kerm, it’s about as happy as it could be. I think this book would be perfect for anyone who questions the validity of their sexual identity for not being out. As well as those who may be in a similar position to Kerm and feel that they can’t reveal that part of themselves to their family.
“grief, depression, suicide or suicide ideation, alcohol abuse, and mental health. In addition to broader explorations of identity, attraction, sexuality, faith and acceptance.” (taken from the book/author)
While his family tries to adjust to the sudden, tragic loss of his sister, The Minus-One Club, a secret support group at his school helps Kermit as they can, even if their “don’t talk about it” rule causes more harm than good. But while participating in the group’s activities Kerm gets closer to Matt, the only openly gay kid at their school, all while Kerm struggles with keeping his sexuality away from his family as well as with ways to tell them he’s gay.
This book holds no punches. It reveals an ugly yet realistic side to being a part of LGBTQ+ community. While sweet queer romances are a joy to read, they only show one side to the struggle. This is not your run of the mill LGBTQ book. To the reader, this book does not have a happy ending, but for Kerm, it’s about as happy as it could be. I think this book would be perfect for anyone who questions the validity of their sexual identity for not being out. As well as those who may be in a similar position to Kerm and feel that they can’t reveal that part of themselves to their family.
March 31, 2023
I think this book has a lot of strengths but it was slow and I do not think I would have finished it so quickly if I was reading a physical copy instead of the audiobook. Kermit (and the rest of the club) dealing with grief is something that you do not see explored super often in YA and that makes this a really valuable book for teens. His crisis with sorting through his sexuality and spirituality is also important. However, I just felt it was slower paced and could have been shorter while still hitting those impactful topics (and potentially hitting them harder because of it). The narrator of the audiobook was great but the voice is much deeper than what I would expect for Kermit so I had to work that through in my head when imagining the character as well (which is definitely a personal thing for me!). Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC!
March 31, 2023
Seems like he’s just with Matt because he’s the only other gay kid. Why would someone want to date him if he’s always drunk, bullying, peer pressuring Kermit to drink and have sex? Kinda glossed over how they’re still together.
December 13, 2023
Was just okay. Should’ve had trigger warnings listed at the beginning. TW for suicide attempt
December 16, 2022
After losing his older sister in a car accident, Kermit is no stranger to grief. It seems that everywhere he looks, there's a reminder of her. A reminder that she's no longer there to give him advice, to support him. When Kermit goes back to school, he finds a mysterious note in his locker inviting him to the Minus-One Club. A club where all of the members have lost someone. A club where everyone gets grief.
One member of the club is Matt, the only out gay kid at school and someone who Kermit might have a crush on. Spending time with Matt seems to be one of the only things that helps Kermit with his grief. But as Kermit spends more time with Matt, he realizes how much pain Matt is actually hiding. And Kermit has to find the strenght to help keep Matt from falling apart.
Thanks to Henry Holt & Co. for an advanced copy of this book to review! Kekla Magoon is such a force in YA and kids literature that I knew I had to read her new book. This book definitely packs a punch; it doesn't flinch away from the difficult sides of grief, of religion, and of mental illness. There may be a lot to unpack in this book, but it doesn't feel overwhelming like it sometimes can.
This book is sort of fomatted like a series of vingettes in a way, as the chapters are very, very short. We get both present day and flashbacks of when Kermit's sister was alive. Throughout, we get to see Kermit struggling with his sexuality, especially because his parents are very religious. Kermit isn't sure how to feel about his feelings for Matt, and as readers, we can see this confusion playing out on the page. It's honestly wonderfully done.
The sections with Matt and Kermit are some of the best but also some of the most heart-wrenching. You can see how much Matt is struggling, with a non-existent support structure at home. Kermit does his best to be there for him, but they're also both teenagers. There's only so much he can actually do.
I also loved the concept of the Minus-One Club, inducting members who experience loss so they can realize that they aren't alone. The group evolves by the end of the book (by necessity), and I wish more high schools were able to have groups like this because it's so important to see that you're not alone when you're going through something traumatic like that.
The only thing I would change about this book is to add a little more resolution at the end. With the major event that happens towards the end of the book, I think the characters needed a little more room to breath. But other than that, this is a powerful book that you should have on your January TBRs!
One member of the club is Matt, the only out gay kid at school and someone who Kermit might have a crush on. Spending time with Matt seems to be one of the only things that helps Kermit with his grief. But as Kermit spends more time with Matt, he realizes how much pain Matt is actually hiding. And Kermit has to find the strenght to help keep Matt from falling apart.
Thanks to Henry Holt & Co. for an advanced copy of this book to review! Kekla Magoon is such a force in YA and kids literature that I knew I had to read her new book. This book definitely packs a punch; it doesn't flinch away from the difficult sides of grief, of religion, and of mental illness. There may be a lot to unpack in this book, but it doesn't feel overwhelming like it sometimes can.
This book is sort of fomatted like a series of vingettes in a way, as the chapters are very, very short. We get both present day and flashbacks of when Kermit's sister was alive. Throughout, we get to see Kermit struggling with his sexuality, especially because his parents are very religious. Kermit isn't sure how to feel about his feelings for Matt, and as readers, we can see this confusion playing out on the page. It's honestly wonderfully done.
The sections with Matt and Kermit are some of the best but also some of the most heart-wrenching. You can see how much Matt is struggling, with a non-existent support structure at home. Kermit does his best to be there for him, but they're also both teenagers. There's only so much he can actually do.
I also loved the concept of the Minus-One Club, inducting members who experience loss so they can realize that they aren't alone. The group evolves by the end of the book (by necessity), and I wish more high schools were able to have groups like this because it's so important to see that you're not alone when you're going through something traumatic like that.
The only thing I would change about this book is to add a little more resolution at the end. With the major event that happens towards the end of the book, I think the characters needed a little more room to breath. But other than that, this is a powerful book that you should have on your January TBRs!
Read
March 9, 2023“I trace the line of a crack in the baseboard to avoid having to look (for the millionth time) at her penguin cartoon, her BEHOLD, MY MESS, sign, the taped-up fortune cookie messages she favored. Before, these decorative things were so familiar as to be invisible. Now, they glare at me like oncoming headlights.”
Fifteen-year-old Kermit Sanders is grieving his older sister, Sheila, who was killed by a drunk driver. On his first day back to school after the accident, he receives an anonymous invitation to meet in a storage room after school. When he shows up, he’s greeted by fellow classmates who call themselves the “Minus-One Club.” They have all experienced the loss of a loved one, and they band together to help each other through the never-ending feeling of grief. Kermit’s long-time crush, Matt, is also a member of the club. In the months following Sheila’s death, as Kermit becomes a member of the club and grows closer to Matt, Kermit begins to learn that even in the darkest of times, it is possible to experience moments of joy.
From topics of grief, sexuality, religious guilt, alcohol dependency, and suicidal ideation, The Minus-One Club tackles many components at once. The novel puts readers directly into Kermit’s head as he tries to cope with Sheila’s death while falling in love with a boy. Magoon portrays the relationship between Matt and Kermit in a really realistic way. It isn’t something magical that completely pulls Kermit out of grief. It’s a relationship between two teenage boys who are both experiencing loss while finding moments of solace with each other.
I lost my brother this past year, and I felt very seen by Kermit and the entire “Minus-One Club.” Each character in the novel is flawed, but they’re all doing the best they can. Magoon’s descriptions of what it feels like to lose a loved one are spot on. At many points during the novel, I cried. I would recommend this novel to anyone who has lost a loved one and wants to feel slightly less alone. Even if you don’t have a “Minus-One Club” in your own life, books as well-written and empathetic as this one can help, even if it’s just a little bit.
Fifteen-year-old Kermit Sanders is grieving his older sister, Sheila, who was killed by a drunk driver. On his first day back to school after the accident, he receives an anonymous invitation to meet in a storage room after school. When he shows up, he’s greeted by fellow classmates who call themselves the “Minus-One Club.” They have all experienced the loss of a loved one, and they band together to help each other through the never-ending feeling of grief. Kermit’s long-time crush, Matt, is also a member of the club. In the months following Sheila’s death, as Kermit becomes a member of the club and grows closer to Matt, Kermit begins to learn that even in the darkest of times, it is possible to experience moments of joy.
From topics of grief, sexuality, religious guilt, alcohol dependency, and suicidal ideation, The Minus-One Club tackles many components at once. The novel puts readers directly into Kermit’s head as he tries to cope with Sheila’s death while falling in love with a boy. Magoon portrays the relationship between Matt and Kermit in a really realistic way. It isn’t something magical that completely pulls Kermit out of grief. It’s a relationship between two teenage boys who are both experiencing loss while finding moments of solace with each other.
I lost my brother this past year, and I felt very seen by Kermit and the entire “Minus-One Club.” Each character in the novel is flawed, but they’re all doing the best they can. Magoon’s descriptions of what it feels like to lose a loved one are spot on. At many points during the novel, I cried. I would recommend this novel to anyone who has lost a loved one and wants to feel slightly less alone. Even if you don’t have a “Minus-One Club” in your own life, books as well-written and empathetic as this one can help, even if it’s just a little bit.
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May 4, 2023Thank you to a friend who gave me the heads up that this new Kekla Magoon book was released. Trust me, you don't want to miss it.
It all starts when Kermit Sanders finds a note in his locker telling him to come to the art room after school. He has no idea who it is from, but it says they know about his sister, and they can help him.
Kermit's sister died in an accident involving a drunk driver, and Kermit is just coming back to school since the funeral. He probably could use all the help he can get so he goes to the art room.
It turns out he has been invited to the Minus-One Club. Everyone in the club has lost someone - mother, sister, dad, grandpa, or sister like Kermit. The rules of the club are simple. 1. Tell no one else about us. 2. We never talk about IT. 3. Ever. 4. Ever.
An added benefit of the Minus-One Club for Kermit is the presence of Matt Rincorn. Matt is the only "out" gay guy in the high school. Kermit has come to terms with his own gayness but not the part about letting others know. Hopefully, he can watch and learn if he's a part of Matt's group.
Dealing with the loss of his sister means Kermit must also deal with his parents and their sudden over-protectiveness. They want him to resume attending church which had always been a huge part of who their family was, but losing Sheila hasn't exactly confirmed Kermit's faith in religion. He finds that spending time with Matt is much more satisfying. Their relationship grows both emotionally and physically. Now Kermit must worry about his parents finding out, and the closer he gets to Matt, the more he realizes Matt has problems Kermit may not be able to solve.
THE MINUS-ONE CLUB by Kekla Magoon is an emotion driven novel about loss and love. It's frank handling of the young gay experience will no doubt help readers struggling with their own sexuality and questions they may have. Kermit and Matt will let readers know they are not alone in dealing with life's struggles. Perfect for YA collections.
It all starts when Kermit Sanders finds a note in his locker telling him to come to the art room after school. He has no idea who it is from, but it says they know about his sister, and they can help him.
Kermit's sister died in an accident involving a drunk driver, and Kermit is just coming back to school since the funeral. He probably could use all the help he can get so he goes to the art room.
It turns out he has been invited to the Minus-One Club. Everyone in the club has lost someone - mother, sister, dad, grandpa, or sister like Kermit. The rules of the club are simple. 1. Tell no one else about us. 2. We never talk about IT. 3. Ever. 4. Ever.
An added benefit of the Minus-One Club for Kermit is the presence of Matt Rincorn. Matt is the only "out" gay guy in the high school. Kermit has come to terms with his own gayness but not the part about letting others know. Hopefully, he can watch and learn if he's a part of Matt's group.
Dealing with the loss of his sister means Kermit must also deal with his parents and their sudden over-protectiveness. They want him to resume attending church which had always been a huge part of who their family was, but losing Sheila hasn't exactly confirmed Kermit's faith in religion. He finds that spending time with Matt is much more satisfying. Their relationship grows both emotionally and physically. Now Kermit must worry about his parents finding out, and the closer he gets to Matt, the more he realizes Matt has problems Kermit may not be able to solve.
THE MINUS-ONE CLUB by Kekla Magoon is an emotion driven novel about loss and love. It's frank handling of the young gay experience will no doubt help readers struggling with their own sexuality and questions they may have. Kermit and Matt will let readers know they are not alone in dealing with life's struggles. Perfect for YA collections.
March 19, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, Recorded Books, Henry Holt and Co., Kekla Magoon, and Dion Graham (narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of The Minus-One Club in exchange for an honest review.
Brilliant narration in a book that explores identity, sexual orientation, romance, friendship, loyalty, mental health, depression, and addiction. The Minus-One Club is full of deep complex characters and explores how grief connects people to others in powerful ways. An amazing novel I listened to the audiobook of in a single sitting.
After the loss of his sister in a DUI accident, Kermit sees her and is reminded of her everywhere he looks. His grief knows no end. when he gets an invitation to a club via a note with only "-1" on it, he goes, finding it to be a support group for though who are experiencing grief. The Minus-One club does not discriminate in the ways of the high school status quo, and the biggest rule: don't talk about the Minus-One club (sound familiar?).
Kermit is gay, and as it happens, through the club he meets the only other gay student in the school: Matt. Together they form an intense bond, but Matt's addiction to alcohol constantly reminds Kermit of how his sister died and how alcohol can permanently alter--or end--someone's life.
This novel is wholesome and brilliant, touching on religion and LGBTQ acceptance. The road depression can lead a person down and what it takes to pull someone out, if only for a moment. Those times when thoughts of suicide may overtake us, and we ask for help in indirect, yet blaring ways. This novel shows many struggles teens today may face, and those teens would benefit from the connections and brilliance of this book. There is also an exorbitant amount of self-help and suicide prevention resources at the end of the book.
A must-read for a contemporary audience.
Brilliant narration in a book that explores identity, sexual orientation, romance, friendship, loyalty, mental health, depression, and addiction. The Minus-One Club is full of deep complex characters and explores how grief connects people to others in powerful ways. An amazing novel I listened to the audiobook of in a single sitting.
After the loss of his sister in a DUI accident, Kermit sees her and is reminded of her everywhere he looks. His grief knows no end. when he gets an invitation to a club via a note with only "-1" on it, he goes, finding it to be a support group for though who are experiencing grief. The Minus-One club does not discriminate in the ways of the high school status quo, and the biggest rule: don't talk about the Minus-One club (sound familiar?).
Kermit is gay, and as it happens, through the club he meets the only other gay student in the school: Matt. Together they form an intense bond, but Matt's addiction to alcohol constantly reminds Kermit of how his sister died and how alcohol can permanently alter--or end--someone's life.
This novel is wholesome and brilliant, touching on religion and LGBTQ acceptance. The road depression can lead a person down and what it takes to pull someone out, if only for a moment. Those times when thoughts of suicide may overtake us, and we ask for help in indirect, yet blaring ways. This novel shows many struggles teens today may face, and those teens would benefit from the connections and brilliance of this book. There is also an exorbitant amount of self-help and suicide prevention resources at the end of the book.
A must-read for a contemporary audience.
June 26, 2024
An absolutely humbling book that takes on the messy and varied grief process. Every loss is different, but when youth are taken too early it isn't often that of those that remain we focus on what it means for a sibling. Moreover, what happens when the sibling lost is the person that the other felt most at ease with?
The minus-One club deals with a young man dealing with being closeted in a small Midwestern state while also dealing with an already wavering religious faith. It addresses how a loss is felt when a person has been separated from a normal daily cycle for a while by simple matter of distance and how different it might be from someone ripped from the day to day directly. It is about family, friends, memories, and how people do or do not move on.
One line I thought was particular poignant was Kermit's insistence that he doesn't feel a draw to alcohol as something to numb the pain as he fears that if he found a solution he might become over dependent on it. It brings up the question on how we treat coping mechanisms that have a physical effect on us -drugs, alcohol, food, etc- but not so much the distraction techniques that are behavioral.
Along with this is the spotlighting of several different types of friendships. how do you navigate the casual social, such as Kermit's youth group? How do you interact with a best friend when there are others that can relate to a aspect that is so core to your functioning now when they can't? How to you help a new group of friends who share a common tie when you might not even know how to handle your own mind? When is it time to say goodbye to the methods and rules for yourself or your groups and view things from a different angle, change or make adjustments.
A really hard hitting novel with very intense subjects. Ending includes many support services contact information for all issues.
The minus-One club deals with a young man dealing with being closeted in a small Midwestern state while also dealing with an already wavering religious faith. It addresses how a loss is felt when a person has been separated from a normal daily cycle for a while by simple matter of distance and how different it might be from someone ripped from the day to day directly. It is about family, friends, memories, and how people do or do not move on.
One line I thought was particular poignant was Kermit's insistence that he doesn't feel a draw to alcohol as something to numb the pain as he fears that if he found a solution he might become over dependent on it. It brings up the question on how we treat coping mechanisms that have a physical effect on us -drugs, alcohol, food, etc- but not so much the distraction techniques that are behavioral.
Along with this is the spotlighting of several different types of friendships. how do you navigate the casual social, such as Kermit's youth group? How do you interact with a best friend when there are others that can relate to a aspect that is so core to your functioning now when they can't? How to you help a new group of friends who share a common tie when you might not even know how to handle your own mind? When is it time to say goodbye to the methods and rules for yourself or your groups and view things from a different angle, change or make adjustments.
A really hard hitting novel with very intense subjects. Ending includes many support services contact information for all issues.
January 5, 2025
This book was extraordinarily interesting for a multitude of reasons. As someone who has lost both their older brother and their father, I relate heavily to how grief is portrayed through Kermit's character--really through the cast as a whole. I see a lot of myself in Kermit as a black gay teen who also has religious trauma so that connection allows me to empathize with him on a much deeper level. As someone who's been out for many years, admittedly it was almost a bit jarring remembering what it felt like to have that same fear that Kermit holds when it came to unpacking his sexuality alongside his religion and how both were at constant odds with one another. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, almost fully got a tear out of me towards the end.
The main qualm I had with this book, however, largely is about Matt & Kermit's relationship, specifically in the context of not knowing how old Matt exactly is since its stated repeatedly that Kermit is only 15. There's a lot of clues that lead me to believe he's likely 17 or 18--what with the Minus-One club being made up almost exclusively of upperclassmen both seniors and juniors and being able to drive fully licensed without the presence of another adult, but his age in the book is never quite explicitly stated, just vaguely implied. As a college kid, the ambiguity of Matt's age (not entirely sure if that's intentional or not) is very striking in how I perceive him and what his world potentially looks like beyond just Kermit, but especially because of his dynamic with Kermit. There are a lot of scenes in the book where I can tell the age gap is actively influencing the way they interact with one another, especially since that tends to riff off of Matt being the out kid who seems to know everything, and Kermit the closeted who doesn't know anything.
The main qualm I had with this book, however, largely is about Matt & Kermit's relationship, specifically in the context of not knowing how old Matt exactly is since its stated repeatedly that Kermit is only 15. There's a lot of clues that lead me to believe he's likely 17 or 18--what with the Minus-One club being made up almost exclusively of upperclassmen both seniors and juniors and being able to drive fully licensed without the presence of another adult, but his age in the book is never quite explicitly stated, just vaguely implied. As a college kid, the ambiguity of Matt's age (not entirely sure if that's intentional or not) is very striking in how I perceive him and what his world potentially looks like beyond just Kermit, but especially because of his dynamic with Kermit. There are a lot of scenes in the book where I can tell the age gap is actively influencing the way they interact with one another, especially since that tends to riff off of Matt being the out kid who seems to know everything, and Kermit the closeted who doesn't know anything.
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October 25, 2023𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝑰 𝒅𝒖𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 "𝑰'𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔," 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑰'𝒎 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔.
I don't remember how I came across this book, but I remember reading the first page and falling deep into it. I was halfway into it in the wee hours of the morning when I decided to put it away. I love books that are easy to read, perfectly paced, have short chapters, and have very human characters. This was one of those books.
In Kekla Magoon’s THE MINUS-ONE CLUB, we meet Kermit Sanders who is currently going through the emotions after the loss of his sister from a drunk driving accident. When Kermit receives a note in his locker telling him to meet up in a secret location, he discovers a group of students from his school (Janna, Simon, Celia, Patrick, and a guy he’s had a crush on for years, Matthew) each dealing with their own personal loss and facing the aftermath of grief. They tell him that they know what he is going through, that they formed this club they call ��The Minus-One Club” as a sort of support group for when they need to get away from everything else.
The book was very poignant and sickening in how it adeptly captures the raw emotions that accompany the experience of losing someone, highlighting the confusion, sadness, and sense of emptiness that the characters feel. These emotions are further exacerbated by the fact that this is a story of young people still dealing with life and navigating the tempestuous waters of adolescence, all the while trying to make sense of such profound loss.
I don't remember how I came across this book, but I remember reading the first page and falling deep into it. I was halfway into it in the wee hours of the morning when I decided to put it away. I love books that are easy to read, perfectly paced, have short chapters, and have very human characters. This was one of those books.
In Kekla Magoon’s THE MINUS-ONE CLUB, we meet Kermit Sanders who is currently going through the emotions after the loss of his sister from a drunk driving accident. When Kermit receives a note in his locker telling him to meet up in a secret location, he discovers a group of students from his school (Janna, Simon, Celia, Patrick, and a guy he’s had a crush on for years, Matthew) each dealing with their own personal loss and facing the aftermath of grief. They tell him that they know what he is going through, that they formed this club they call ��The Minus-One Club” as a sort of support group for when they need to get away from everything else.
The book was very poignant and sickening in how it adeptly captures the raw emotions that accompany the experience of losing someone, highlighting the confusion, sadness, and sense of emptiness that the characters feel. These emotions are further exacerbated by the fact that this is a story of young people still dealing with life and navigating the tempestuous waters of adolescence, all the while trying to make sense of such profound loss.
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