First published 1998
Walter McCloud has always lived in shadows. His brother Daniel shines golden while Walter stumbles through dance classes, knowing his passion far exceeds his ability. His friends dazzle with beauty and talent while he remains perpetually on the sidelines. The summer Walter turns fifteen brings a cascade of revelations that will reshape everything he understands about himself and his place in the world. As 1972 unfolds at the family's lakeside retreat, Walter grapples with the painful gap between his dancing dreams and his actual skills. He experiences the sweet torture of first romantic feelings while watching Daniel's health deteriorate in ways that seem impossible for someone so young and vital. The summer becomes a crucible where Walter must confront not just his limitations but the fragility of everything he holds dear. Two decades later, Walter returns to fight for the lakeside property that holds all these memories. Only by facing the ghosts of that transformative summer can he find a path toward acceptance and hope.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Lakeside
Period: 1972, 1990s
Paperback · Random House
Content warnings: depression