There are many slurs to be aware of in the text and the sexual content makes it more appropriate for older audiences. Representation matters, and many LGBTQ+ readers may see their own stories reflected in this novel.

This is a thriller with queer protagonists and villains, and as per the author’s note, it is “not about queer pain” despite all of the queer characters in the book suffering at the hands of others. Connor is desperate to save himself from the island and to uncover the truth of what the Reverend is hiding at Nightlight. At Nightlight, which is run by the overbearing black-bearded Reverend from his hometown, Connor discovers the camp, which is run more like a prison with a dark past, is not what it seems, and he meets other teens who have been suffering at the hands of the camp’s staff. Instead of the acceptance and support he was hoping for, Connor, who is white, finds himself kidnapped in the middle of the night and brought to a religious conversion camp on an island. Surrender Your Sons is his first novel.Gr 9 Up–Connor Major’s boyfriend convinced him to come out to his mom before he was ready, despite his fear of her reaction. When he’s not dropping hot takes on Twitter, Adam is a recurring co-host on the popular Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast Slayerfest98. (He’s sorry it distracted him from making your latte.) Though he was raised in an Illinois farm town, his desire for a creative career took him to Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and currently, North Carolina, where he lives with his husband and dachshunds. About the AuthorĪdam Sass began writing books in Sharpie on the backs of Starbucks pastry bags. But first, he’s exposing the camp’s horrible truths for what they are-and taking this place down. Connor plans to escape and bring the other kidnapped teens with him. At Nightlight, everyone has something to hide-from the campers to the “converted” staff and cagey camp director-and it quickly becomes clear that no one is safe. His final destination: Nightlight Ministries, a conversion therapy camp that will be his new home until he “changes.”īut Connor’s troubles are only beginning. His SAT scores bombed, the old man he delivers meals to died, and when he came out to his religious. His SAT scores bombed, the old man he delivers meals to died, and when he came out to his religious zealot mother, she had him kidnapped and shipped off to a secluded island. Connor Majors summer break is turning into a nightmare. A blend of Lost and Lord of the Flies … just with gay teenagers taking the horrors of the world head on.Ī 2020 Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth selectionĪ 2020 Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Books selectionĪ 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Bronze Winner, Young Adult FictionĬonnor Major’s summer break is turning into a nightmare. Surrender Your Sons is an LGBTQ+ YA mystery / thriller that expertly blends together humor, horror, and heart, in a wholly unique read like no other.

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass