Space

By: Luke Hartwell

Narrated by: Ian Stewart Riley

Length: 1 hr and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

When a young boy at a bowling alley has his cheeseburger delivered by a handsome future air force cadet, an infatuation develops so strong that three years later, when he learns the older boy's home town, he sets off on his bike to find him. The relationship that develops between the two boys is one of the most heartwarming and seductive in coming of age literature. Luke Hartwell, known for his honest portrayals of young adult sexuality and his compelling first-person narrators, has written a beautiful story with characters that listeners will want to befriend. This book deserves a wide audience.

©2018 Luke Hartwell (P)2019 Luke Hartwell

Short, Sweet, and So Realistic

This author captures what I remember about being young and confused and alone. The two protagonists are so true to life that I felt like I knew each as a friend.

The narrator does a great, unassuming job and bolsters the intensity of the story.

spoiler:

Cried like a baby for an hour after reading.

Heartbreakingly beautiful

Short but entrancing.
You get attached to the characters quickly and can't help getting sucked into their unique yet intimate relationship.
The ending is difficult to accept but it's almost poetic and your heart really breaks.
The narration was great especially that ending scene which was so emotional.

I cried.

Exquisite Heat Ache

This is a beautifully written story that begins and ends with a newspaper announcement.
It’s the story of Nathan and Harper’s friendship spanning five years and told from Nathan’s perspective. The boys meet briefly when Nathan is 9 and then 3 years later after Nathan discovers Harper’s identify and acceptance into a Military Academy. It’s the story of Nathan’s boyhood crush that quickly turns into first love and Harper’s struggle to keep the friendship platonic, to do the morally right thing and follow his dream of becoming an astronaut. I admired Nathan’s courage and determination as his character matured over the years. The longing he feels for Harper is palpable. Nathan will ultimately have to decide if having only what Harper can offer will be enough. The man the boys encounter while camping is like a warning message sent from the future on the traps we create for ourselves.
The narration is superb.
If this story had a soundtrack, the theme song would be Garth Brook’s “The Dance”.
I’ll be reflecting on this short little story for days..