I was fortunate enough to receive a Netgalley ARC of Leah Thomas’ Wild and Crooked, the story of two star-crossed friends in a small Kentucky town. Kalyn has just returned to Samsboro to help care for her ailing grandmother, but as she takes up residence in Spence Salvage, she is quickly reminded of her family’s less than illustrious past, particularly her father’s incarceration after confessing to murdering the town’s golden boy during their senior year of high school. After entering the local high school under a pseudonym and taking on a much sweeter alter ego than her normal rough-and-tumble self, she meets Gus, a boy obsessed with fashion who battles labels associated with his cerebral palsy as well as an overly-protective mother. Their friendship forms through shared secrets in the school’s abandoned kiln, but it’s not until much later that the largest secret of all is revealed: Gus’ father is the boy who died at the hands of Kalyn’s father all those years ago. As the two attempt to navigate the waters of friendship despite their families’ animosities, more is revealed about the decades-old case, casting doubts about what really happened the night of the murder.

There is so much to love in this novel that it’s hard to know where to start. While creating a compelling whodunnit atmosphere, Thomas takes exploration of identity to a whole new level, such as when Gus asks, “When do words like “evil” start sticking? If they stick, does that make them true? People have called me a thousand names. I call myself names. But I choose to believe that those names aren’t all I am.” The entire novel points towards the fact that others’ ideas—whether they pertain to sexual orientation, level of disability, or economic status—matter very little. Instead, as Gus notes, “I’m starting to understand that people who don’t care about us, who don’t make that effort, shouldn’t factor into who we are.” Through Phil’s friendship with Gus, as well as the disparity between Kalyn and her alter-ego, Rose, Thomas argues for the importance of making true connections with others and not allowing superficial labels to be definitive. Pair this thesis with Thomas’ prosaic word choice (along with some well-placed Shakespeare quotes) and you have a really compelling read.

With notes of John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down, Saenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and Oliver’s Broken Things, Wild and Crooked is a strong choice for school library purchase, especially where mysteries are in high demand.

I ENJOYED…

- Wild and Crooked is a very, very character-driven story. While reading the synopsis, I expected it to be a little more, somehow, focused on the mystery-part of the story, but it ended up being a minor part of the book. The characters really were at the heart of the story and the mystery was such a small part of it all. It’s more about lives than a who-has-done-it kind of story.
- Told from two, then three POV, we get to meet Kalyn, Gus and later, Phil. These three characters had very distinct voices in the story and were all very unique, in their way of seeing the world and reacting to it and, in the way they grew thorough the entire story, something that was absolutely wonderful to read.
- NO ROMANCE. You know me, I’m pretty much a contemporary fluff-ball and I adore my sweet, soft, swoony romances. YET, it sometimes feels nice to read a contemporary book without romance and it’s so, so very important to have more of these. I appeciated that with Wild and Crooked SO much.
- The developing friendship between Kalyn and Gus was so lovely to read, I loved how they grew closer to each other and stood for each other and this was so lovely and yay for friendship at the heart of a story like that.
- Deep down, Wild and Crooked is about reinventing yourself, defining yourself away from your family’s past mistakes and these were wonderfully explored in the story. Family secrets, complex family relationships and histories are at the heart of this story, with a side of mystery explored towards the later half of the book which was very interesting to read, too.

I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…

- I think that the first half of the book was a little slow – I was compelled to read on to know what would happen next and, knowing there was a little bit of mystery to be solved, I was curious about that enough to continue and I’m glad I did, because despite the slow start, I grew attached to the characters and story later on.

OVERALL

If you’re expecting this book to be a big, thrilling mystery…. well you might really be wrong. Wild and Crooked was more of a slower, part-of-complicated lives contemporary, with a beautiful blooming friendship and complicated family relationships and secrets and, if this sounds like your kind of thing, I’d definitely recommend it!

Leah Thomas’ latest novel Wild and Crooked is a story about family, friendship, and not letting mistakes from the past dictate your present and future. The story follows two small town teens, Gus Peake and Kalyn Spence. Gus has lived in Samsboro, Kentucky all his life and is known either as that “disabled kid” because of his cerebral palsy or as that kid whose dad was murdered. Kalyn Spence has just returned to Samsboro and is going to school under an assumed name because her father is the one in jail for murdering Gus’ dad and the Spence name is therefore infamous in Samsboro. Gus and Kalyn run into each other one day and a fast friendship ensues. The only problem is that Kalyn has no idea Gus’ dad is who her father is accused of murdering, and Gus has no idea that Kalyn is the daughter of his dad’s accused murderer. When they each finally learn the truth, it’s a tough pill to swallow and one that will test the bonds of their newfound friendship.

I adored both Gus and Kalyn, Gus because he’s just such a sweetheart. He just wants so badly to be defined by something other than his disability or by his family’s tragedy. Gus is immediately drawn to Kalyn, not because she’s the pretty new girl at school, but instead because when they meet, she immediately treats him like she would any other kid at school. For Gus, Kalyn is like a breath of fresh air because she sees the person behind the disability. Kalyn is drawn to Gus for similar reasons. She has basically reinvented herself and is acting like the perfect little southern belle every day at school. It’s draining after a while, and when Kalyn realizes Gus can basically see right through her act, he becomes a refuge for her where she can be herself. I really loved watching their friendship grow over the course of the book and was really rooting for them to be able to withstand whatever life threw at them.

Even though Wild and Crooked is over 400 pages long, I devoured it in just over a day and I attribute that to Leah Thomas’ masterful way of weaving together a moving story of friendship with the gripping story of what really happened between Gus and Kalyn’s fathers all those years ago. The anger and prejudice of the Samsboro town folk was palpable once they realized who Kalyn was, and even though she clearly had nothing to do with the murder, in their eyes, she’s guilty by association. I thought Thomas did a brilliant job of realistically capturing their mob-like mentality. Thomas also had me simultaneously cheering on this blossoming friendship and sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to find out the truth about the murder.

If you’re looking for a compelling story about friendship and overcoming the past, I highly recommend Wild and Crooked. 4 STARS

Wild and Crooked was a great book with so many elements I think the world needs to read right now. First off, the characters are great. The representation is near perfect--of persons with disabilities, of gender and sexual preferences, of genuine personality traits. At times things were a little rough to get through because the book is a mystery but is so character-driven. Also, absolutely NO resolution until the very end. But that's ok. The quality of the book is still, in my opinion, A+.

This book just got me. Representation, diversity, a healthy platonic relationship between a male and female, true crime, and dark humor. What else could you want!? This book may not be for everyone because there is a strong mystery/true crime theme in the book. However, Leah Thomas' writing is flawless and I just could not put this book down. Unpredictable, hilarious, emotional, and overall just a stunning read! 5 Stars across the board for me!

Things I liked about this book:
1. Characters with a lot of growth.
2. RPG!
3. Complicated family history.
4. Funny, dark humor quips in serious moments.

I thoroughly enjoyed following Kalyn, Gus, and Phil as they pieced together the issues surrounding the murder of Gus' father. Leah Thomas does a wonderful job of weaving different story lines, character flaws, and backstory into one narrative that has mystery and heart wrenching moments all rolled into one.

This is the first book authored by Leah Thomas that I've read and I'm very impressed. She not only creates characters who have strong voices, but are unique. They aren't "cookie cutter" individuals and are relatable due to their witty banter/inner dialogue. "Wild and Crooked" is highly recommended for true crime enthusiasts (and even those who aren't) who don't mind the comic relief scattered throughout the novel. There were several moments I found myself laughing out loud, which made me glad I was at home reading this book. This unlikely crew of teens are able to carry the heavy plot and wade through some pretty complex emotions/situations successfully. I never felt like the dialogue between characters was overly dramatic or predictable. Readers will be left feeling satisfied and wholesome, maybe even with a new perspective of how some situations aren't only black and white. Even though this is a stand alone novel, I would really enjoy and love spending more time with these characters. Working in a high school library I'm always looking for books to recommend to my students. "Wild and Crooked" will be added to my list of suggestions.

Did I just read a book with healthy sexual and disability representation and a completely platonic friendship between a female and male? Why yes, yes I think I might have.

Wild and Crooked follows two young people.  One is a young woman named Kayln, whose father is in prison for murdering a man when she was a baby.  The other is young man named Gus, whose father was the one that happened to have been murdered by Kalyn's father when he was just a baby.  Kayln has moved back to her hometown, which means the town that her father committed the crime at and starts back at highschool under a different identity.  She soon befriends Gus, not knowing he is the son of the man her father murdered and they become very close friends.  Obviously, once they find out who the other is, problems are had and need to be figured out and to put an even bigger wrench in things, it turns out that Kayln's father might be innocent so now they are also searching for what really happened the night both their father's life essentially ended.

We get a lot of amazing representation in this book.  Gus has Cerebral Palsy,  I do not have this disability so I cannot speak on the complete accuracy of it but I can talk as someone who is chronically ill and the feelings that he expresses and the role he takes because of how society acts towards him often.  I thought it was done authentically, sometimes brutally but completely sensitively.  I also loved that this was not the focus on Gus's story, it was a part of him - it was never ignored but it also didn't get turned into something for an able person to become a hero from.  Thank god.  Wild and Crooked also has very strong sexuality representation, while this book has ZERO romance, Gus is pansexual and Kayln is a lesbian.  It is talked about and discussed but again, it's not made a huge deal of - it's just who they are and they love and accept each other for it instantly.  It made my heart so very happy to see this beautiful, flawed, PLATONIC friendhsip between Gus and Kayln.

We also get a third character into the mix more and more as the story goes on and that is Phillip,  and he's an oddball.  He's incredible socially awkward and talks as though everything is a movie or a role-playing game - it's the only way he can relate.  No, he does not have Autism - it is noted in the book that he didn't quite make the cut but he did have a head injury as a child and that seems to have affected him.  I don't want to say too much about him, he's a very interesting character - love him or hate him, again he feels pretty real.

This contemporary story won't be for everyone.  I think we'll see a lot of people DNFing it actually.  This is completely character driven.  Yes, there is a murder mystery plot going on and at times it does get a bit tense and you will probably never guess it all until it all gets revealed near the end but it's not the heart of the book.  The heart of the book is these characters and their lives and their growth and relationships.  It also clocks in at over 400 pages, so if you aren't into character driven books - this isn't going to be for you.  I thought it was incredible,  I feel completely in love with these characters and the disability representation in particular just meant so much to me.  If you think this one sounds like something you might enjoy then be sure to check it out!

Another great book that today’s teens need. So well done! I look forward to getting it into the hands of my 7th graders.

I had the opportunity to read an advance e-copy of Wild and Crooked that I received free from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, through NetGalley. Here are my thoughts about it...all of which are my own opinions. :)

If you're looking for a diverse book, with LGBTQ or disability representation, add this one to your TBR. This story is about friendship, and discovery and doing the right thing when it's rough.

It's NOT about romance. Neither of the main characters are straight. Here's a quote from the book, "Okay, maybe I'm a little gay. But my parents are already gay! And you're gay!"
"You sayin' we're over our quota? Because I don't think that's ever stopped straight people." LOL! But the book isn't really about that. The boy, Gus, has cerebral palsy, and especially at first it seems like that's a big part of how he sees himself, and thus is a big part of the story, but not the main part of the story. It seems very realistically and respectfully portrayed.

It felt slow to me at the beginning, but most books do. In fact, a lot of the most raved about books (Six of Crows, and Raven Boys to name a few) felt to me nearly too slow for a large part of the story, for me to get through. I nearly DNFed them both. There's a bit of a mystery is the second half of the book that I wish had been more of a big deal as far as finding clues and solving it. But overall it was a good story - worth reading. I give it four stars.

(I also shared this review on my Instagram Story and saved to my highlights)

The story is set in small town Samsboro, Kentucky aka Shitsboro. Can one ever break free from the secrets of a long-ago crime? Meet Kalyn Spence suffering from the stigma of a father who committed a brutal murder when he was a teen. Still today, Samsboro’s citizens won’t get over the unforgettable crime. Now Kalyn enrolls there in school under a false name to avoid the anger that would rain down upon her family.
Meet Gue, the kid known as disabled with cerebral Palsy or the kid whose dad was murdered. Gus wants neither, rather he just wants to be himself. Gus is pansexual and Kalyn is lesbian, but that is not the focus of the story , just a fact.

These two unlikeliest meet and form a deep friendship. Then the truth as it always does is revealed and Kalyn and Gus are at the center of a national uproar.
Will these two be able to free themselves from their legacies and find their own path?

The first part of my he book was slow, but stick with it and you will be glad you persevered.
Thank you Netgally and Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books for the privilege to preview this YA novel prior to publication in June 2019.

In the small town of Samsboro, Kentucky, a high school golden boy named James Ellis was murdered by another high school student, Gary Spence. Seventeen years later, the son of the murdered boy and the daughter of the murderer meet and become friends.

Gus Peake and Kalyn Spence have both had rough childhoods. Gus's dad was murdered when he mother was only a few months pregnant. He was born with cerebral palsy, and his disability and his tragic backstory are all that anyone in his small town sees when they look at him. His mother is also extremely overprotective and treats him like a child. Kalyn has grown up half-wild, with a mother who's got some issues (I have to question the life choices of someone who seeks out a relationship with a convicted murderer), and she acts out a lot.

The two meet and become friends without knowing who the other is (Kalyn is attending school under a pseudonym and Gus has a different last name than his father). They're both misfits, and their growing bond is very sweet. It's completely platonic, as Kalyn is a lesbian (Gus is pansexual). That bond is tested when they learn each other's identities and when evidence surfaces that suggests that Gary Spence may not be guilty.

I'm fascinated by the aftermath of tragedy and how people deal with bad things years after the fact, and I'm drawn to books with this sort of story. It was interesting getting to see both sides of the aftermath of a murder, what it's like to be the son of a murder victim and what's it like to be the daughter of the murderer. It's also an insight into mob mentality: the townspeople of Samsboro don't take kindly to the suggestion that Gary Spence might be innocent, and there's a huge public outcry. Basically, everyone is awful to Kalyn in the name of supporting Gus, support he doesn't want or need. I had all the feels in the last third of the book as these two characters go through so much. It's also an interesting look at the power dynamics of "justice" when the victim is a rich golden boy and the alleged murderer is a poor kid.

My only complaint is that the solution of the mystery is a little disappointing, but this isn't really a mystery, and in the end, what really happened is only a small part of the bigger picture. This is really Gus and Kalyn's story.

Easily the best YA book I've read this year. The year isn't over yet, but I don't think this one gets knocked off the perch easily. Up there with Eleanor and Park, Aristotle and Dante, The Hate U Give, The Fault in Our Stars, and When You Reach Me. Thomas's books just keep getting better.

From what I could read (the file had many issues), Leah Thomas did a lovely job with this book. Her writing is strong and assertive, and I enjoyed how careful the word choice was. I'm looking forward to getting to read it in completion when it comes out.

I loved the concept of this book and the queer representation, but the writing style was both uninteresting and off-putting, so it wasn't an enjoyable read for me. I would probably still buy it for my library if the teens requested it, but I won't be prioritizing this one.

I definitely enjoyed this diverse YA book more than I thought I was going too. It took me a bit to get into it but after a couple of chapters I fell in love. Kalyn's character really had to grow on me and I eventually fell in love with her. I haven't read any other Leah Thomas but after this book I want more of her writing.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I highly enjoyed the mystery aspect of Gus and Leah’s story, as well as the storyline involving the past decisions and resulting consequences in Leah’s family. Some aspects of the book were less successful for me.

Thank you to Bloomsbury for the chance to review this title ahead of its release date.

WILD AND CROOKED, like the last book I read of Leah's WHEN LIGHT LEFT the US, was stunning. I went in thinking one thing and getting another. I love books like that. It's like reaching into a Halloween bucket of candy and coming out with the peanut butter cup prize.

This story follows three POV's, but mainly the focus is on two. Gus, who has cerebral palsy, and Kayln, who is the daughter of a murderer. The two kids strike up a nonconventional friendship which leads them down a path of self-discovery and solving the mystery of a decades-long murder cover-up.

The first half of the book seemed very much almost a love story but not. I caught on pretty quickly what was happening. There were tense moments where some secrets threatened to spill, and when they did, it was a like a bomb exploded. I was biting my lip as I was reading, on edge. The second half took a bit of a detour and focused more on the past and how to right the wrongs of their families and town.

I loved the characters. Every one of them. We have some serious queer reps, as well as mental and physical illnesses that you think would impede out heroes, but it only makes them stronger in the long run. Leah Thomas has a way with her characters that puts me in awe. Her talent is flawless. She weaves stories through complicated narratives with ease. She gives us a glimpse into the lives of flawed and fierce teens who lean on each for support.

The platonic queer friendships are something rare in YA books, so this book was refreshing. The murder mystery reminded me a lot of Making a Murderer and had me hooked from the first chapter.

I can't describe how much I love Leah Thomas and all of her [novels. If you haven't read WHEN LIGHT LEFT US or her earlier works, do so, and add this one to your WANT TO READ. You won't be disappointed.

Wow. Just….wow.

This book blew me away.

In reading YA novels, I always feel like the teens are never written as teens–their parents are never involved, and they seem to do everything on their own. For Kalyn and Gus, however, their moms (and dads) are very present figures in the book, and the two teens do all they do with their friends, such as Sarah and Phil. The power of friendship is something that I often see emphasized in middle-grade books, but this is a YA that gracefully shows that people are more powerful when they’re together.

These kiddos are well-characterized, multifaceted, funny, serious, and smart. Kalyn is more than meets the eye–I didn’t like her much in the first chapter, but I quickly grew to love her. Gus is lovable and his own person–he knows who he is and who he wants to be. This book involves multiple POVs (mostly just Kalyn and Gus, although their friend Phil is involved some), but each character has a unique voice, so it’s not confusing. So often is multi-POV done sloppily, but not here.

All the characters also have really good character arcs–they grow and change uniquely as the story goes on. I also really like the mystery part of the story–figuring out what really happened the night that Gus’s dad was murdered is something that takes the whole book.

This book also shows that nobody is perfect (or, for Good Place fans, pobody’s nerfect), and it has great adults–and lame adults. It has great teens–and lame teens. It also has good representation of disabilities and queer characters.

I couldn’t put Wild and Crooked down, and I will definitely have to check out the rest of Thomas’s books.

This was so different from what I expected it to be but in the best way possible. I don’t even want to mumble on about what the book is about, because you can clearly read that from the synopsis. Instead, I’m going to tell you what you don’t know just from reading the synopsis.

This book has some great representation. Both of our main characters are queer (Gus is pansexual and Kalyn is a lesbian) but that’s (thankfully) never the focus of the story. They just are and it’s not some big plot twist to shake up the reader. Kalyn is open about liking girls very early on and Gus is a little confused but coming to terms with it nonetheless. There are also some other queer characters but I’m not going to ruin it all for you. In addition to this, Gus has cerebral palsy. This is definitely a part of his story line, but it doesn’t make up who he is. At least, he’s learning that. The representation just felt very realistic.

The characters are all flawed but not because of the way they were written. They are imperfect because that is just the reality of human beings. While I felt like Kalyn’s role was a bit cliche, I still liked everyone. Since this story is told through different POVs, each person really added to the story and no one really felt underdeveloped to me. Each person existed as a part of the whole story, instead of as a supporting character that simply weaves in and out conveniently.

The book is very easy to follow along with, but in the beginning, I have to say that I was a little underwhelmed. Not much happens for the first quarter of the book, but once it finally got into the good stuff, I really enjoyed the read. I was not expecting there to be any type of mystery in this, because the synopsis clearly states that one kid’s father was murdered and that the other kid’s father was the one doing the murdering. Seems pretty clear cut… right? I figured that this was going to be a story about the two of them overcoming what happened between their parents, if at all possible. You get some of that for sure, but there’s a lot more to this story, too.

The pacing was done really well besides the beginning dragging for me a bit. I really enjoyed Leah Thomas’ writing style. I can seriously appreciate her ability to switch between three very different voices and still make it all flow together well. I also love that the relationship between Kalyn and Gus was completely platonic but still so important throughout the novel.

It’s hard to review a book when you enjoyed it, but overall, I thought it was great. It is not at all what you would expect it to be, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Leah Thomas wrote a story that is completely unpredictable and I think that that is something to be treasured. If you enjoy well written contemporaries with good representation and interesting plot twists, I’d definitely recommend this to you. It’s an easy, enjoyable read. Also…. that cover!!!