Don't Call Me Ishmael

De: Julian Katz

Narrado por: Ronnie McCoy

In 2006, 14-year-old Kieran Northrup has just moved from Pacific Palisades, California, to the wealthy suburbs of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Immediately upon moving into their new home, Kieran's older brother and best friend, Justin, quickly begins growing distant from him as he is initiated into a group of popular jocks who terrorize Kieran. To make matters worse, a sudden and tragic accident changes Kieran's life forever, pushing him into an even deeper and lonely sadness.

To help Kieran cope with his grief and loss, his high school counselor enrolls him in a program that pairs him with an upperclassman to be his guide. The boy who is assigned to him, 16-year-old Izzy Murraro, is everything that Kieran has ever wanted in a friend, so much so that at first he doesn't believe it's possible he's found such a perfect companion. Izzy is loving, kind, happy-go-lucky, and impossibly beautiful. He takes Kieran under his wing and introduces him to a world of love, sex, alternative music, and angst throughout his freshman year of high school, and as the friendship between Kieran and Izzy grows, so does the undeniable love they have for each other that is tested through the trials and tribulations of being young and gay in 2000s American suburbia.

Warning: This book contains graphic depictions of sexuality, bullying, violence, drinking, smoking, and drug-use all involving teenagers. This book is not for children and may be considered disturbing to some listeners.

This book was previously published under a different title and author name that the original author wishes to keep anonymous.

©2021 Julian Katz (P)2024 Julian Katz

Heroic Stand for LGBTQ

This novel unveils a fascinating plot about how a high school freshman overcomes the hateful attitudes of upperclassmen in his new hometown. Even minor characters are memorable, especially the protagonist's journalism teacher, Mrs. Kinney.