A stunning debut novel set in the late 1990s as an androgynous youth arrives in small-town Minnesota, searching for the mother who abandoned him as a child
On a clear morning in the summer of 1997, Shane Stephenson arrives in Holm, Minnesota, with only a few changes of clothes, an old Nintendo, and a few dollars to his name. Reeling from the death of his father, Shane wants to find the mother who abandoned him as an adolescent-hoping to reconnect, but also to better understand himself. Against the backdrop of Minnesota's rugged wilderness, and a town littered with shuttered shops, graffiti, and crumbling infrastructure, Holm feels wild and dangerous.
Holm's residents, too, are wary of outsiders, and Shane's long blonde hair and androgynous looks draw attention from a violent and bigoted contingent in town, including the unhinged Sven Svenson. He is drawn in by a group of sympathetic friends in their teens and early twenties, all similarly lost and frequent drug users: the reckless, charming J and his girlfriend Mary; Jenny, a brilliant and beautiful artist who dreams of escaping Holm; and the mysterious loner Russell, with whom Shane, against his better judgment, feels a strange attraction. As Sven's threats of violence escalate, Shane is forced to choose between his search for his mother, the first true friendships he's ever had, and a desire to leave both his past and present behind entirely.
At its core, Northern Lights is the story of a son searching for his mother, and for a connection with her, dealing with issues of abandonment and forgiveness. But it also addresses the complications, tensions, and dysfunction that can exist in those relationships, presenting an unforgettable world and experience often overlooked, with a new kind of hero to admire.
"The search for identity, both familial and sexual, is at the core of this outstanding debut…Strom renders their lives with sympathy but not sentimentality, and we come to care deeply for Shane and his friends as the novel moves toward its powerful conclusion."
"For readers who love coming-of-age stories."
"His depiction of young people in the fictional town of Holm, Minnesota, rings so true…The reader roots for Shane."
"Features captivating characters and a plot that could have been mundane in lesser hands, but which never falters in Strom's. And his prose packs punches in stark and arresting passages."
"Strom's insightful navigation of family trauma, sexual identity, and small-town despair blends with his chilling depictions of drug abuse. This bleak, unsentimental novel will resonate with readers who like gritty coming-of-age tales."
"Powerful…[Strom] has a sure hand as he addresses such timely issues as identity, sexism, prejudice, drug abuse, conformity, and community from a queer perspective."
"Strom paints a portrait of small-town life that is sure to make readers shiver…Shane is heartbreaking, and readers will have a hard time parting with him after the book is over. A powerful depiction of the currency of intolerance and addiction in one small town."
"Narrator Michael Crouch places listeners inside Strom's debut novel with subtle vocal inflections that reflect its rural Minnesota setting…Crouch portrays Shane with youthful, even-keeled tones that reflect his uncertainty and increasingly substance-altered days…This thoughtful production reveals consequences that are both tragic and hopeful."
"Deftly captures the knife-edge of addiction, the electricity of first love, and the insatiable search for belonging."
"The powerful bonds of at-risk youth are vividly portrayed and movingly rendered. I found myself rooting for this crew of troubled, resourceful kids."
"Written with a mesmerizing voice as crystalline and startling as the title suggests…[with] cool, sharp-eyed clarity and tender pathos."
"Sweet and sneaky, Northern Lights is a novel to savor,
