A review by xangemtheelibrarian
The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"Some do what's right, some do what they're told. I've been doing what I'm told for far too long." - Jørgen

This book is one I've been wanting to read since it was published, and I kept putting it off in favor of other things. It interested me because the blurb hints at a potential poly relationship, and that is so rarely seen in YA literature. This is even better than that. 

This is a story of an entire generation reckoning with the harmful ideology of their hometown. Gunner and Erlend are gay. Asta is Ace. And the beautiful thing about this story is how they become family. The journey each of these three teens take to understand themselves and take charge of their own happiness is so touching. Then they find out it's NOT just the three of them against the world. They find almost as many allies as they do enemies in this town. 

I loved the piety vs. sin theme that colored the backdrop of this historical fiction. Christianity destroyed so much in Europe by creating a system where any Outsider was going to hell. This town condemned an entire family because they did not follow the church. 

Very slight spoilers ahead:

And the most perfect thing of all that this story does not end wrapped up nearly in a bow. Many of the characters here are disabled or end up with injuries that impact their daily routines. They don't magically heal. Other characters struggle with mental health issues. Those don't magically cure either. The religion doesn't automatically leave the town because a few teens decided they weren't going to submit to it.


It ended realistically, and it was perfect.
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