Finding a Dream
January 13, 2011
23 Comments
/ 1,347 views
Title and Link: Finding a Dream
Author: SJ Frost
Publisher: MLR Press
Buy Link: Finding A Dream
Genre: LGBTQ Young Adult, M/M Contemporary
Length: Novella (79 pages / 23,000 words)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
A Guest Review by Cole
Review Summary: A beautiful and heartfelt story about a bullied teen, who finds hope and safety in his celebrity idol.
BLURB
Bullied and harassed at school for his sexuality, Dillon Davis can’t see his life getting any better, but he can see it getting worse. Depressed, wounded in spirit and body, he’s nearing a point of hopelessness, until he sees a picture of his favorite stage actor, Brandon Alexander, with his partner, Shunichi Miyamoto. After learning Shunichi runs a karate dojo, a spark of hope comes to Dillon of learning to defend himself, and most of all, meeting Brandon.
Brandon Alexander is filled with compassion for Dillon the moment he meets him. He knows all too well what it’s like to be scorned for being gay. He and Shunichi want nothing more than to help him, but when Dillon never returns to the dojo, they fear what’s happened to him.
REVIEW
Can a bullied teen find something to hold on to when he feels like he is drowining in hopelessness and despair? That is the subject of this novella, which deals with a very serious and very real subject — teen bullying. Whatever reason a kid is being bullied and even though some form of bullying has been around forever, bullying has become an epidemic in the United States (if not everywhere) with the advent of the internet and widespead social media. Dillon Davis is such a kid, lost in a school where he only has one friend, Angie, who is somewhat of an outcast herself, and being bullied by a popular kid whose taunts have now turned physically violent. His one bright light is his celebrity crush on Brandon Alexander, a Chicago stage actor whom he has gone to see several times in plays and musicals (and who, incidentally is brother to Jesse of the Conquest series). When he sees Brandon with another man on his arm, Brandon’s partner Shunichi Miyamoto, he is awestruck that his idol is gay as well and has such a beautiful partner. It seems like kismet that Shunichi runs a local dojo — not only can he learn karate in hopes of protecting himself, but he might just get a glimpse of Brandon. When he sets out to the dojo to find out of signing up for classes, Dillon meets Brandon and Shunichi and a beautiful friendship is born.
This story is told from two alternate viewpoints — Dillon and Brandon (with occasional POV from Shunichi). This allows us to look at the issue of bullying from the inside perspective of Dillon, who is being taunted, harrassed, and beaten on a daily basis, and from the outside perspective of Brandon, who after dealing with bullying from his father, finally found a way out and has pushed through life until he found the one thing that took all that pain away, his true love Shunichi. The friendship that forms between Dillon and Brandon is beautiful and allows us to get to know both characters better. These viewpoints are done in alternating chapters as we witness different parts of the story. The difference in prose between the chapters is done very well. When we are with Dillon the prose is written in the style of a 16 year old teen. It is somewhat whiny and self-recriminating, but that was a wonderful touch. I would sound like that too (and probably did) if I was going through what Dillon was, as well as it being the typical mindset of a sixteen year old. Conversely, the chapters from Brandon and Shun’s POV were much more mature and typical of M/M Contemporary prose.
However, the main problem that I had with this story tied in with these alternating viewpoints. What is the target audience? Before reading this story, I assumed that the target audience was towards gay youths. Yet, after reading it and also thinking of the audience of the publisher in general, I’m not so sure. The main reason for this is that during one of the chapters from the POV of Brandon there is a pretty descriptive sex scene. Maybe I am the perfect audience for this story? I am a 26 year old gay man who has dealt with bullying in the past (though, thankfully, not at the level that Dillon or Brandon had to deal with). The main problem with the target audience being for older readers is that the subject matter comes off here very preachy. This is a tough call, because normally, the preachy dialogue would really turn me off. But, I can understand it in this setting. For one, things sound preachy to a person who has already heard them, as I have. So I didn’t hold that against the story. Dillon needs to hear these things and if they come off as preachy, then what does it matter if the point gets across? Secondly, this is tough subject matter and maybe… maybe subconsciously, I really didn’t want to hear it. It is a difficult thing to put yourself in that place, or to even hear someone talk about it. That is probably why people ignore it. Because of those two things, when I finished the story and after I had been forced to look at myself in a new way, I realized that this story actually helped me to be a different, better person. If it takes preaching to me to do that, even if I don’t like it at the time, then is it really a problem?
I loved the characters here: Dillon is a lost teen but he never loses his compassion for others; Brandon and Shunichi both have a beautiful relationship that I would love to read in its own story; and I loved Dillon’s best friend Angie, who never failed to stand up for her friend and fight for him. I was happily surprised to see Jesse and Evan from the Conquest series here, even though I haven’t gotten around to reading those books yet. All in all, this is a beautiful story that though it deals with a difficult subject, it is ultimately redemptive and left me feeling warm and fuzzy 
I particularly enjoyed the principal, Mr. Travers getting his comeuppance.
I recommend this wholeheartedly, not only for the story, but for the donation to the Trevor Project. Its a nice interlude into your day, a pretty quick read, and utterly enjoyable.
The royalties made on this book are being donated to the Trevor Project. To make a donation to the Trevor Project, buy this book or go to their website here.
This is also a story about how life gets better for kids growing up gay. To visit It Gets Better, click here.
Author Information
Wave
Madonna196
Bogusia
Larissa
Sirius
Thank you for the wonderful review! *runs off to buy the book*
Hi Anja,
Its a sweet and heartwarming story. I hope you enjoy it too!
About Brandon and Brandon and Shunichi’s love story you’ll find in the other books of the series. It’s true that they are not central characters but for this reason I don’t think SJ Frost will write a separate story for those two.
Anyway, I think the Conquest series is beautifully written (it’s only my opinion)and from what I see in your review “Finding a Dream” is the same. I’ll buy it.
Thank you, Cole.
Hi Alina,
As long as Brandon and Shunichi get some page time its okay with me, I loved them. I’m looking forward to reading this series now and I hope you enjoy this addition to the books.
Thanks!
Cole
Despite maybe being “preachy” this sounds like a wonderful book. If someone hasn’t heard this before it probably wouldn’t sound preachy to them. If the audience is young adults maybe they need to hear what’s in the book – adults, probably even moreso.
Brandon and Shunichi’s story I believe is in the Conquest series which was reviewed on the site by Kassa.
Yeah, thats what I thought too. If it takes preachy to get the message across? Then its worth it
A lovely review, Cole. I bought and read this the day it came out because I loved the Conquest series and I support the Trevor Project. I agree the book may sound preachy at times, but I think many adults of my generation (yes, Cole, I really COULD be your mother!) don’t realize how pervasive bullying has become or how violent! The “kids will be kids” mindset. Enjoyed this read & if even 1 child somewhere benefits from it, it was well worth it!
Wow, Susie, I never really thought of that. I suppose you’re right though. The school system has changed so much, not only how its run, but also technologically (its even different from when I was in high school, and that was only 9 years ago).
Thanks for that, and now I need to get off my butt and buy the Conquest books. I keep saying I’m going to get them
Wonderful review, Cole! This sounds quite interesting.
Thanks Lily, Its pretty good, although very sweet, though in this case its warranted.
I’ll buy it just to support the Trevor Project but it sounds like a good read too (and inspirational).
As far as the target audience goes, maybe the story is directed at young adults that are of age. College kids can have similar issues to high schoolers.
Yes, thats true. Personally, I grew up in the Bible Belt and then got the hell away when I went to college, but I know that not everyone gets to go to a college that is more than half queer (no really!) and is a little bubble of gay-friendly serenity. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks Pender!
I’m a big supporter of the Trever Project. And I am a huge fan of the Conquest series, so I’m so happy that my money buying a book from one of my favorite series will be going to this very special charity. Although I can’t believe that this book is so short considering the other three are really long books (bummer! I can’t get enough of these guys!) Thanks for the review, Cole!
Hi Angelica! Yes, though I haven’t read the other books yet, I definitely wanted this story to last longer. I couldn’t get enough of Brandon and Shun, I loved them! I hope you enjoy this story as much as the others in the series
“It is a difficult thing to put yourself in that place, or to even hear someone talk about it”
I know exactly what you’re saying here Cole. Reading about characters’ struggles can be difficult for me as well when it’s something that I’ve lived through like bullying. But sometimes I actually learn something new about myself or perhaps even grow a little as a result. And that is pretty amazing to me.
Another well written review. I will be definitely look for Finding a Dream. Thanks Cole.
Hi TJ! I think you’ll like this book then. SJ Frost also does a really good job of showing the hopelessness that comes along with bullying when there is no one else to turn to. Sad, but evocative.
I hope you enjoy it
Hey Cole, thanks for the review and also being willing to add some of your personal experience and insight into the topic it covers. One of the things I love about reading is the doors it opens into understanding people who have experienced events and situations that I have not. I was teased quite a bit in school but I know it pales in comparison to what lots of kids are going through these days. I’ll definitely pick this one up and check out the Conquest series. Always happy to help out The Trevor Project too
Yeah, that’s kindof how it was for me as well. I think that it could have been a lot worse if I hadn’t been off the radar. I was pretty much a loner in high school and people left me alone. But I was lucky that I had some good things as well and that I had opportunities, and a lot of kids don’t. This book does a really good job of showing the hopelessness that comes with such a situation, when no one will listen to you or be on your side. I hope you enjoy it
I’m off to read the Conquests books as well. Thanks Dianne!
I bought this book for one main reason – proceeds are going to the Trevor project. The fact that it was part of the Conquest line so to speak and that it was good was gravy. After I read the Conquest series I was crushing on Jesse and Evan pretty hard so revisiting them is always a pleasure. Thanks for the rec…
Hi luci! You’ll love Finding a Dream then if only for the fact that Jesse and Evan are present for a bit and you get to revisit them for a while
The best part, though, is that Jesse gets to star in my favorite role (its at the end and you can’t miss it — I cheered aloud, lol).
Thanks!
I’m such a terrible lurker when I see reviews for my books, but for this one, I wanted to step from the shadows to express my appreciation to you, Cole. Thank you so much for the wonderful and thoughtful review, and especially for helping to bring attention to how my editor and I are donating our royalties from this story to The Trevor Project. I’m so glad you liked the story! I hope if you do pick up the Conquest series, you’ll like them, too. Oh, and since you enjoyed Brandon and Shun, I wanted to let you know I have a free read on my website showing them meeting for the first time. It’s called “No More Mirages”
And a huge thank you to everyone who has commented for your kind words and thoughts on this story and the Conquest series. I can’t even say how big of a smile you all have given me
Thank you!
And I can’t let you get away without a thank you, Wave, for having the review on your site. I appreciate it very much!
Thank You for writing such a wonderful and heartfelt story that really touched my heart. I see that many people are buying this who have never read your work before or never read the Conquest books, just because of the donation to the Trevor project and that makes me very happy. Thank you to you and Kris Jacen for doing that!
I just bought Conquest, No Fear, and Keys to Love and I can’t wait to get started on them! But first I’m going to check out “No More Mirages” because I really need a Brandon and Shun pick-me-up
Thanks again!
” I see that many people are buying this who have never read your work before or never read the Conquest books, just because of the donation to the Trevor project and that makes me very happy…”
I can’t even begin to describe how happy I’ve been by the support people have given this book and in wanting to give to The Trevor Project. It’s been more than I ever anticipated, and people have left me so touched and awed by their kindness. It’s really a joint effort in all of us giving to The Trevor Project together.
And thank you very much for picking up the other books in the series! I hope you’ll like them and “No More Mirages”