Surrender Your Sons - by Adam Sass (Hardcover)

About the Book

Connor Major's summer break is turning into a nightmare. When he comes out to his religious zealot mother, she has him kidnapped and shipped off to a conversion therapy camp that will be his new home until he "changes." Connor plans to escape, but first, he's exposing the camp's horrible truths for what they are--and taking the place down.

Book Synopsis

Surrender Your Sons is an LGBTQ+ YA mystery / thriller that expertly blends together humor, horror, and heart, in a wholly unique read like no other. A blend of Lost and Lord of the Flies ... just with gay teenagers taking the horrors of the world head on.

A 2020 Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth selection
A 2020 Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Books selection
A 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Bronze Winner, Young Adult Fiction

Connor Major's summer break is turning into a nightmare.

His SAT scores bombed, the old man he delivers meals to died, and when he came out to his religious zealot mother, she had him kidnapped and shipped off to a secluded island. His final destination: Nightlight Ministries, a conversion therapy camp that will be his new home until he "changes."

But Connor's troubles are only beginning. At Nightlight, everyone has something to hide--from the campers to the "converted" staff and cagey camp director--and it quickly becomes clear that no one is safe. Connor plans to escape and bring the other kidnapped teens with him. But first, he's exposing the camp's horrible truths for what they are--and taking this place down.

Review Quotes

"A must-have for high school collections that are looking to provide representation for all their students, especially those experiencing pain in their journey of coming out."--School Library Journal

"An impressive, dynamic, and riveting debut!"--Booklist, starred review

"Hard to read story, hard-to-stop-reading writing."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Messages about struggles with internalized homophobia and the world's treatment of those who are different ring true."--Publisher's Weekly