Christian Teen Fiction Review: SOMETHING I AM NOT

A while back, I promised to let you know whenever I discover a dazzling work of YA fiction. Lo and behold, I found one. This Christian teen fiction review features Something I Am Not, by Cher Gatto—a highly recommended read.

Published in 2019, this isn’t a brand-new novel. But in my constant perusing of Christian books for teens, this one came up repeatedly. So I broke down and bought a copy (my local library didn’t have it), and let me tell you: All good intentions of donating it to the library when I finished reading it have vanished. 

I am selfishly thrilled to keep this on my bookshelf. 

Full Review of Something I Am Not

A VENERABLE PROTAGONIST

At seventeen, Billy McQueen must juggle the normal teenager life—schoolwork, football practice, friends—with the not-so-conventional life of living and working at the bar his abusive, former boxing champion father runs. Try as he might, Billy can’t keep his two lives from finding each other, nor can he shake free of the tangle of illicit activities at home. Add in a younger brother he is determined to protect, and things get worse—way worse—before we’re even halfway through the story.

This book is gritty and powerful, diving deep into some mature themes.

Be forewarned, this is not a cutesy rom-com. This book is gritty and powerful, diving deep into some mature themes. Cher Gatto skillfully avoids unnecessary graphic violence and sexual elements so that I can still, in good conscience, recommend it to my teenage friends. But a story like this cannot be glossed over.

You’ll find, however, that Billy’s goodness provides an oasis from the tumult. He’s smart and tough and tender and by the end, you’ll wish you had a friend or brother (or boyfriend?) like him.

A SERIOUS, REAL-LIFE DILEMMA

I love that this book not only gives us a highly respectable male protagonist but also raises the awareness that girls aren’t the only victims of human trafficking—or that males are always the perpetrators of sex crimes. Globally, one in three of all trafficked children are boys, though the number could be higher because males are less likely to come forth for help.

Also incorrect is the misperception that boys are trafficked solely for slave labor.

Billy’s story will have you rethinking the males-as-bad-guys stereotype.

BRILLIANT TWISTS

Billy’s story will have you rethinking the males-as-bad-guys stereotype.

Okay, so for every reader who declares a book has a great twist, there’s another who says she spotted it a mile away. But honestly. Cher Gatto got me not once but twice with major twists I never saw coming. In fact, as soon as I finished reading, I flipped to the first page to start over with fresh eyes.

Brilliant. 

Even if the twists don’t surprise you as they did me, you still have vivid prose, well-developed secondary characters, and heartrending character connections to look forward to. And a bit of romance, in case you’re worried this book is all grit. 

GRITTY AND REAL

This story tackles questions we all struggle with at some point.

Where is God in the midst of horrific suffering and abuse? 

Why doesn’t he grant immediate deliverance in response to a desperate prayer? 

How can I reconcile the shame of who I am and what I’ve done with who I know I should be?

Honestly, this is the type of book that makes me question why the market works so hard to keep Christian YA fiction separate from mainstream YA fiction. I didn’t feel like I was reading a religious piece. This is the story of a boy trying to make sense of himself and his world, and it makes sense that he would bring God into the question.

Don’t we all do that? 

I bet we would if we ever had to walk a mile in Billy’s shoes.

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Happy reading!