Noah's Song

By: Jaclyn Osborn

Narrated by: Shea Taylor

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Noah Derwin knows what it's like to be different. Being a 17-year-old kid in high school with blue hair, piercings, a mostly all black wardrobe, and an obsession with zombies and video games, he doesn't exactly blend in. But he never wanted to. His two dads raised him to always stay true to himself.

Bastian Hunter prefers structure and predictability. Suffering from a rare disease, every day is a challenge for him, and he prepares for the future by excelling academically and denying who he really is. Everything changes when he meets Noah, the unpredictable variable in the equation he's built his life around, and feelings he's hid for so long begin to surface.

Being gay in high school isn't exactly rainbows and butterflies, and Noah has definitely faced his fair share of bullies. Moving to Port Haven, Oregon opens up new possibilities for him, and he starts falling for the quiet, brown-eyed boy from his English class. Too bad the attraction is one-sided...or is it?

©2017 Jaclyn Osborn (P)2017 Jaclyn Osborn

One of the best YA books. Loved it!

I had listened to Jaclyn’s ‘Dear Adam’ and read her amazing ‘Axios’ providing me with my first exposure to young men in love. But I would venture to say ‘Noah’s Song’ is my first young adult novel.
OMG!

Why haven’t I been more interested? If the other books out there are half as good as Jaclyn’s, then I really have been missing out. I’m sure there are YA books in the market that are sweet without any angst, but I’m not sure those books will hold the same appeal to me.

I love high-angst, high-stakes books and although this book is, at times, very intense, it is also a joyful celebration of a group of kids enjoying their senior year of high school.

At first glance, Bastian and Noah are polar opposites. Noah has blue hair, piercings, and sees school as more of an annoyance. His brother Jace is a popular jock who ignores his gay brother and acts like a jerk around their gay parents.

I know many gay and lesbian teenagers face serious parental disapproval when they dare to come out of the closet, but Noah doesn’t have that problem. He is profoundly grateful to Roger and Matt for taking such good care of him and accepting the fact he is gay. But even if he wasn’t gay, Noah would embrace the men he calls Pops and Dad.

Noah hasn’t always had an easy time, but having loving parents to support him through the rough times has made him a blessed young man and he admits it.

Bastian has the opposite of supportive parents. He strives to be perfect so as not to disappoint his mother and father. He hides his true self away, putting forward a brave face. His serious illness has separated him from those around him, except his friend Evan who is protective of him. When Noah, the new boy in town, shows interest in Bastian, he has to prove to Evan that he’s worthy of Bastian’s affection.

And, despite the rocky start, Noah and Bastian do come together, although because of Bastian’s home situation, they have to hide their relationship with Bastian’s parents. To Noah’s fathers, this is wrong. They have fought for equality and are proud of Noah for being true to who he is. To see him falling in love with a young man they approve of and think highly of, but who keeps Noah a secret, is distressing to them.

And it is love. Having endured a couple of relationships in high school where I believed I was in love and it just turned out I was needy, willing to take attention wherever I could get it – including from jerks – I was jaded about teenage love. When you’re that young, how can you possibly find the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with?

This book offers an answer – you change in a positive way because the person you love makes you want to be a better person. They love you as you are, but support your personal growth.

And they hold you – figuratively and literally – when physical or emotional problems threaten to bring you to your knees.

“You are my person.”

How many of us long to hear those words?

Noah and Bastian are new to relationships and to follow them through their journey was powerful and moving. I loved their physical interactions and the rawness of their emotions. The way they supported and encouraged each other was heart-warming. Their group of friends are a mosaic of typical teenagers who don’t fall into the anticipated stereotypes, which I thought was wonderfully refreshing.

I loved this book. Shea Taylor is the perfect narrator because he is talented enough to vividly portray a range from young men to old grandmothers. It was a flawless performance and I look forward to listening to more books narrated by him. As for Jaclyn, her books are also flawless. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this one, especially for young men and women – whether they are facing the challenge of coming out, or just for enjoyment. This book is educational without ever being over the top. Beautiful and touching.

Sweet YA story.

A beautiful YA story about how difficult it is being different, especially as teenagers, but making your own path and standing up for yourself all the same.
Noah and Bas are so cute together and have such an immediate connection, that navigating their last year of high school with them, dealing with friendships, families and even their own problems, was a really emotional journey.
Loved Shea Taylor's rendition (especially the evil laughs)!

Bassy Wassy

A beautiful emotional book showing that love can’t be hidden away..
These guys were at their best for each other for always ....
The wonderful words Jaclyn and your beautiful voice Shea - thank you both ♥️

Wonderful.... very heartwarming story

I have read quite a few Osborn books and so far she has not disappointed me. This was my first Shea Taylor listen and I can say I enjoyed his performance, but I had to speed him up a bit. It was fine though, because it matched up with what I figured was Noah's speed once he got going with his speed talking. Very tender romance of two teenage boys navigating school, social issues as well as personal challenges.

4 stars - this was a special, one time event for me. I won't listen again