Stick by Andrew Smith

Stick by Andrew Smith. Published by Feiwel & Friends, 2011.

Stick and his brother Bosten are best friends. They are trying to survive living with abusive parents and pretend their lives are normal. Stick is bullied because he is missing an ear and Bosten has always defended him. When they are told that school vacation is going to be spent with their aunt in California, they have mixed feelings. To their surprise, life is good there. Their aunt provides an abundance of food, clothing, a stable home, and unconditional love.

When they return home, Stick realizes that his brother must leave before their father discovers the truth about Bosten’s sexuality and to escape their father’s sexual abuse. But Stick can’t imagine a life without Bosten.

This is a powerful story about the love of two brothers and their will to not only survive but save each other.