IR VERDICT:
BORN THIS WAY, by Tammy Ferebee, is the explicit story of a lonely, confused, gay seventeen-year-old boy coming to terms with his sexuality amidst the backlash from his preacher-father and Southern congregation, but also about the aftermath of the teen’s relationship with a much older man. This brief novel is earnest and timely as it explores the angst and reality that accompanies intolerance, betrayal, and inappropriate Lolita behavior worthy of a To Catch A Predator episode. Ferebee is especially adept at conveying the despair the young man feels toward the end of the story, with a level of emotion that could compel readers to reach into the book and save this teenager themselves.