A gay adaptation of "Mean Girls," newcomer Caden Marshal moves to an Illinois suburb after being homeschooled in Barbados by his scientist parents. As he navigates public school, he falls in with " The Plastics," a popular clique, but soon realizes...
Before diving into the reading, I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude. Whether this book aligns with your interests or not, thank you for choosing to explore it.
Now, could you please share the time and date you began reading by replying to this? ♡
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Chapter One | First Day Of School
ON THE TYPICAL first day back to school for a 17-year-old, parents aren't usually holding onto their child's leg, pleading for another photo, or expressing their pride and mixed emotions as fervently as mine.
My family and I had just moved to America from Barbados, prompted by my father's job offer at a local zoo. Despite being here for only a week, everything felt notably different. In Barbados, we were surrounded by mountains, rolling hills, and coastlines, but here in Illinois, such landscapes are not as common. The weather, though still hot, sunny, and humid, reminded me of summer back at home. However, I quickly learned that this climate would change drastically once winter arrived. In Barbados, winter is practically nonexistent - the islands never experience cold temperatures or snow. Given that I only have clothes suitable for hot weather, the prospect of facing cold weather in just a couple of months is daunting, especially considering the fact that I would need to go out and spend money to get an entire set of winter clothes.
Riding in the car with my parents on the way to school, I felt a jumble of emotions-excitement and nerves-knowing that I wouldn't be homeschooled anymore. Growing up in Barbados, being homeschooled meant I missed out on opportunities to make friends, especially given the island's limited acceptance of LGBTQ individuals. The only friend I could recall was my next-door neighbor, Isaac, but unfortunately, he moved to another island, and I haven't seen him since.
When he left, I began to realize how socially isolated I was over the most trivial things. I faced ridicule for my sexuality and struggled to connect with others because of it back at home. Now, in a more accepting environment, my parents assured me that I would make friends and finally get to experience a genuine teenage life.
