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WORK TITLE: THE GHOSTS WE KEEP
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WEBSITE: https://www.masondeaverwrites.com/
CITY: Charlotte
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COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
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School Library Journal vol. 65 no. 4 May, 2019. Jenni Frencham, “DEAVER, Mason. I Wish You All the Best.”.
School Library Journal vol. 67 no. 6 June, 2021. Giles, Elizabeth. , “DEAVER, Mason. The Ghosts We Keep.”. p. 64.
Publishers Weekly vol. 266 no. 11 Mar. 18, 2019, , “I Wish You All the Best.”.
Kirkus Reviews Mar. 15, 2019, , “Deaver, Mason: I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.”.
Booklist vol. 117 no. 17 May 1, 2021, Leary, Alaina. , “The Ghosts We Keep.”.
Kirkus Reviews Apr. 15, 2021, , “Deaver, Mason: THE GHOSTS WE KEEP.”. p. NA.
Biography: Born and raised in a small North Carolina town, Mason Deaver is an award-nominated, bestselling author and designer living in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Besides writing, they’re an active fan of horror movies and video games. As you can see from the photo above, they’re a big fan of plants as well.
You can find them online at various places,
Instagram - @mason_deaver
And their website - masondeaverwrites.com
Born and raised in a small North Carolina town, Mason Deaver is an award-winning, bestselling author and designer living in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Besides writing, they’re an active fan of horror movies and video games. As you can see from the photo, they’re a big fan of plants as well.
Mason is represented by Lauren Abramo of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
She can be reached at labramo(at)dystel.com
How do you say your last name?
Deaver is said like Dee-ver. It rhymes with 'beaver’ and ‘cleaver’
I need help coming out to my family/friends/partner, any advice?
Sorry, I’m not comfortable giving anyone advice on coming out. It’s a deeply personal and individual thing with many factors that I can’t account for, and at a point, your safety becomes more important than everything else.
The Trevor Project has wonderful resources for coming-out in a free and easy to download booklet that you can find here. Thank you for understanding!
I loved I Wish You All the Best and want more trans books, can you help?
Of course! For YA readers I highly recommend Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender, Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, When The Moon Was Ours and Blanca y Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore, An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, and The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons.
Non-fiction, we’ve got Sorted by Jackson Bird, All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, Sissy by Jacob Tobia, Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menonand Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty both by Janet Mock.
For middle-grade and younger readers I highly suggest George by Alex Gino, Felix YZ and Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker, and Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass.
And while these next books aren’t specifically trans narratives, I believe We Are Totally Normal by Naomi Kanakia and The Black Flamingo by Dead Atta are wonderful explorations of gender and sexuality that lots of trans readers can resonate with!
How do you write?
It’s different for every single book so far. What I can tell you is the same between all of them is tons and tons of messy drafts that I just keep going and going back to. There’s a lot of work I put into my books, even the ones that we don’t sell.
How'd you get your agent?
Just the way you'd expect, querying! When it comes to finding the right agent, my number one piece of advice to finding someone to represent you is to go to your bookshelf and find a book similar to yours.
Either in voice, tone, or genre, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that a majority of authors thank their agents in their acknowledgements, and that’s a good starting off point to find someone who represents the type of work you’re trying to publish. After that you write your query, and give the agent whatever they’re looking for in terms of your manuscript.
Can I send you my book to read?
While I appreciate the offer, I unfortunately can’t take the time to read the work that is sent to me, or provide meaningful feedback. If you are interested in having me blurb your work then it’s best to reach out to my agent, Lauren Abramo. She can be reached at labramo (at) dystel (dot) com.
Where can I order signed copies of your books?
While there is no space to order any signed copies of my books right now beyond preordering or attending an event, I hope to have more information about this soon, so please be patient.
Can I translate your works?
Translations and their rights are a tricky subject, but in cases where you wish to translate any of my work (whether it be an excerpt or the entire novel) I encourage you to reach out to my agent Lauren Abramo as she will be more equipped to answer your questions. She can be found at labramo (at) dystel (dot) com.
What are you writing now?
Lots of things right now! Lots of projects I can’t talk about, some that have been announced, some that haven’t! Right now my third book, The Feeling Of Falling In Love has a lot of my attention, plus some short stories!
What song does Nathan show Ben towards the end of I Wish You All the Best?
The Good Side by Troye Sivan (For a full Spotify playlist of songs that inspired the book, check it out here!)
Did you make a Yuri On Ice! reference in I Wish You All the Best?
Yep!
Will Another Name For the Devil have a print version?
Nope! Another Name For the Devil is an Audible exclusive, meaning they own the rights to it. If they ever decide to do a print version, I’ll be sure to tell y’all, but it’s highly unlikely.
Will your books be available in (insert country here)?
We’ve sold the rights to I Wish You All the Best in English (US & Canada), Spanish (Spain), Vietnamese, Dutch, and Polish. The English, Vietnamese, and Spanish editions are all available wherever books are sold! And the Dutch and Polish versions will be available in 2022. Other than that, the book is available as an import from the US, so check online in your country or talk to your local bookstores about ordering a copy!
The Dutch version of I’ll Be Home For Christmas will be available in 2022. There is a Spanish translation that you can download as a PDF here!
The Polish edition of The Ghosts We Keep will be available in 2022.
All other books, to my knowledge, have only sold rights in the US and Canada as well, so it’s the same solution. Contact your local bookstore or search on online to see if they’re available.
When is the I Wish You All the Best movie coming out?
Movies take a long time to write, produce, and edit. So it’s going to be awhile before anything really gets going on the process. Besides, I’m just the author of the source material, I don’t really have any input on when or how the adaptation is written or filmed or anything like that. Whenever there is more information y’all can be sure I’ll share it online.
Can I audition to play Ben/Nathan/Hannah/other characters?
So like I just said, I’m only the author of the source material. Casting decisions are made by casting directors who know just who to look for when it comes to making those decisions. I have zero input as to who is going to be cast, and I have no information about the casting process or who to speak to about auditioning. If there is ever an open casting call I’ll be sure to post about it on social media.
Will you ever write a book from Nathan’s POV?
The short answer is: no.
The longer answer is: Nathan is a bisexual Black boy, so if I wrote a book from his point-of-view, I’d be writing a book about a bisexual Black boy. Not only are there so many nuances and details that come from being Black and queer that I’d be unable to write or portray realistically, but there’s also an extreme shortage of queer Black stories out there, especially stories about queer Black boys.
So, no. There won’t be a Nathan POV story because I don’t want to take the space of a queer Black narrative away from an actual queer Black author. Fortunately I have several books that I adore that I can recommend to you.
Check out This Is Kind of An Epic Love Story & King and the Dragonflies both by Kacen Callender, How to Be Remy Cameron & The Summer of Everything both by Julian Winters, All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye, The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass, and The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
And be on the look out for Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles, which comes out September 21, 2021 and Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters, which comes out March 15, 2022!
Also please check out Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender as well which is a book about a transmasc Black teen.
Will there ever be a sequel to I Wish You All the Best?
Good news! I’ll Be Home For Christmas is a short story set in 2019 during Ben and Nathan’s first Christmas together. You can grab the short story for free here (however if you do decide to pay for it, all the proceeds are being donated to the Center for Transgender Equality!)
Can you recommend any books?
Oh boy, can I? Frankly I have way too many but bare with me for a second.
Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
Ace Of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez
Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June
Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore
We Are Totally Normal by Naomi Kanakia
The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert
Q&A With Mason Deaver, The Ghosts We Keep
June 1, 2021 by Alaina Lavoie
Q&A With Mason Deaver, The Ghosts We Keep
By Alaina Leary
Today we’re pleased to welcome Mason Deaver to the WNDB blog to discuss their young adult novel The Ghosts We Keep. Check out our cover reveal for The Ghosts We Keep!
Everything happens for a reason.
At least that’s what everyone keeps telling Liam Cooper after his older brother Ethan is killed suddenly in a hit-and-run.
Feeling more alone and isolated than ever, Liam has to not only learn to face the world without one of the people he loved the most, but also face the fading relationships of his two best friends in the process.
Soon, Liam finds themself spending time with Ethan’s best friend, Marcus, who might just be the only person that seems to know exactly what they’re going through-for better and for worse.
The Ghosts We Keep is an achingly honest portrayal of grief. But it is also about why we live. Why we have to keep moving on, and why we should.
the ghosts we keep by mason deaver
One thing I really loved about The Ghosts We Keep is that I could feel your firsthand experience with a close loss in the writing. Your portrayal of the complexity of Liam’s grief felt so genuine and raw. But writing about grief when you’ve experienced it can also dig up some intense emotions and even be triggering, so how did you take care of yourself during the writing and revising process?
The short answer is that I’m not even sure I did. I think I’m bad at taking that step away from myself. The long answer is that, early on in writing, I did have to back away, changing the character and story of Ethan precisely because I’m so close to what happened in this book and the events. Part of me desiring to write this book came from me wanting to commit to this portrayal of ugly, messy grief. Because that’s how it is in real life. Writing this book was almost like therapy, and to do that, I never wanted to lie to myself.
Now and then, before and after timelines are common with grief books because they offer us a chance to see firsthand what the character’s relationship was like with their person before they died. But as someone who lost both parents young, it also feels true to the experience of loss itself—there’s this feeling of “before” and “after” the death. How did you keep the timelines straight and decide which moments between Ethan and Liam to show the reader? Some of those moments are smaller, everyday things, like learning to shave; why did you choose to show how important those moments feel after a loss?
I wanted there to be a connection between the before and after, no matter how minuscule or obtuse it may seem, in my head, these scenes almost operate as partners, and they’re meant to be read together. They’re meant to be mundane because they are. Dealing with grief means that you operate in two worlds almost, literally the before and after. As for plotting, just lots and lots of planning and plotting.
I’ve always admired that you also place importance on boundaries on social media. If you’re burnt out on Twitter, you’re comfortable leaving the platform or taking a break. Why do you think that’s important for authors, to take care of themselves over prioritizing social media as a marketing tool?
If something makes you feel bad, then you don’t need to involve yourself in that thing if you can help it. There are certainly moments where I miss Twitter, but at the end of the day, my own health is more important. Twitter is a bad site, it’s awful, and I have no plans on ever going back. I’m masochistic, but not that masochistic.
You drew out the connection between two grieving people (Liam and Marcus) beautifully. How did you craft their characters and storylines in a way that would make sense for their individual grief journeys since everyone grieves so differently? Was this any different from the usual character mapping for you?
I think the thing for me is, that despite both of them handling grief in different ways, Liam and Marcus aren’t that different from each other. They’re both people who were extremely close to Ethan, who both understood him in ways that both the other and the people around them, didn’t. I don’t want to spoil anything, but their journey with each other was very purposeful, and could only possibly happen under these circumstances. It’s a relationship built on tragedy, and those have a ticking clock. Liam and Marcus went through many iterations while writing and drafting, and where it ends feels perfect and purposeful for each of them.
I wanted there to be a connection between the before and after, no matter how minuscule or obtuse it may seem, in my head, these scenes almost operate as partners, and they're meant to be read together. They're meant to be mundane because they are. Dealing with grief means that you operate in two worlds almost, literally the before and after.
Another thing I appreciated was how well this book explores the reality that your friends won’t always understand what you’re going through and may not get why your emotions are so complicated after a loss or why it seemingly takes “too long” to heal. How did you balance this with writing about the other ways in which Liam’s relationship with his best friends Joel and Vanessa has been growing apart for a while?
It was before and during the drafting of this book that I went through some friend breakups. There’s this harsh reality that I wanted to reflect that you can’t expect your friends to be your therapist. Of course, friends should be there for you, and as a friend, you should want to be there for your friends, but there’s a limit, a line where you can’t expect this much emotional labor from someone who isn’t a doctor, who didn’t agree to this. Even if your best friend is a therapist, expecting so much is unfair.
The thing that I wanted to convey with this dynamic, however, is that no one in this situation is a bad guy. Liam isn’t bad for dealing with PTSD and depression, and Liam and Vanessa aren’t bad for not being equipped or prepared to deal with that. Life is just like that sometimes. In my head, this was a relationship that would’ve fallen apart regardless, many friendships in high school do. I think I’m still friends with maybe two people I graduated with. The trauma just sped the process along.
Are there any fictional portrayals of grief (in books, movies, TV) that you’ve really connected to, and why?
Ari Aster’s Hereditary and Midsommar are two of my favorite portrayals of grief. It feels so palpable and processed so carefully. To me, those are dramas about grief and PTSD first, and they’re horror movies second. Honestly, I think that grief and trauma are such a staple of the horror genre, there were other films like The Conjuring or The Babadook that served as inspiration in a way.
While The Ghosts We Keep isn’t a horror novel by any stretch of the imagination, it was certainly influenced by the genre. On top of reading books that deal with grief and trauma, I think More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left Me, and They Both Die at the End all by Adam Silvera were all on my desk as I worked on this book.
Your next book, The Feeling of Falling in Love (summer ’22), is a YA romance. What can you tell us about it at this stage?
That it’s been a pain in the ass. I’ve been writing and rewriting this book ever since 2017. This was originally what I wanted to be my second book, but because of certain events topped off by my not feeling that The Feeling of Falling in Love was my natural next book and that it needed time to cook. Over the years, it’s turned into something that only vaguely compares to where it came from. The journey is still there, it’s always been Neil and Wyatt’s journey from hating each other to falling in love over the course of just a week. After waiting for some time, I’m finally in this place where I could write this book the way that it was meant to be written. I’ve written no fewer than 20 drafts of this book, and I finally have something that I’m pleased with.
Do you have any recommendations for published or forthcoming kidlit?
I wish I had more time for reading, oh gosh. I really enjoyed Pumpkin by Julie Murphy recently, that was such a sweet book. You don’t need me to tell you to read You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson, but make sure you have Rise to the Sun on your lists, I’m so ready to read that one. There are some amazing 2021 books out now or they’re about to come out soon, I’m just going to rapid-fire. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado, Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June, The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimmons, and Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore, all absolute favorites.
MARCH 6, 2020 BY MICHELE KIRICHANSKAYA
INTERVIEW: MASON DEAVER
A non-binary author with a love for baking and gardening, Mason Deaver (They/Them) is the best-selling author of their debut book, I Wish You All the Best. One of the first YA books featuring a non-binary protagonist written by a non-binary author, I Wish You All the Best tells the story of Ben De Backer who comes out their parents, and deals with the consequences of that decision, as well as falling in love for the first time. Geeks OUT recently had the pleasure of siting down with Mason Deaver to talk about their new book as well as their writing process.
How and when did you come to realize that you wanted to be a writer?
It’s a story that I think a lot of authors have. You know whenever you’re younger, you write a lot of books. You take drawings and stories that you type up and you staple them, and like that’s your book. But I really got serious about it after I read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. That was a book that sort of I guess kicked me into high gear about wanting to tell my own story and have something similar to that, that people could react to in the same way I reacted to Simon Vs. and Becky’s other books and other queer books that were out there.
How did I Wish You All the Best first come to conception? What were some of the original sparks?
Well, I guess you already answered that.
(Chuckles.) Well, there’s a few more things. Obviously Simon Vs., but then just wanting there to be more out there for trans teenagers. Like there was… I wouldn’t even say shortage, there were just no trans or non-binary books out there. The only one I would say I would even read at that time was If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo. So I saw this sort-of gap and I wanted to fill it because, you know, I can’t imagine what a book like this would have done for me when I was a teenager and confused. And so, there’s no way for me to go back in time and hand a book to myself, but if I can do that for someone who was like me, someone who struggling with things and trying to figure things out, then that is like what I wanted to do.
How would you describe your writing process?
For I Wish You All the Best, very chaotic, because I did not plan anything out. That first draft was a 120,000 words of just a hot mess I never want to see again. Thankfully I had people who helped me along the way. Friends, critique partners, and eventually my agent and editors who helped me trim it down and clean it up. And it’s very much different from the things that I had to write after. A lot of the time a book two is a contract obligation, so you have to plan things out so that you can actually sell it. And so book two, I had to plot from beginning to end, and it’s changed a lot, but the basics are still there. And then you know, I’ve had other ideas where I just want to see what happens, just plan this out. And of course I’m writing something else now, but it’s just out there in the wind and I don’t know what I’m doing, and it’s working for now. That might change. (Laughs.)
What has the journey been like since your debut as a YA author?
Oh, it’s been very interesting. A lot of things have changed. I’ve talked with friends who are in similar situations. You know, whenever you debut it’s almost like a wall has to go up, sort of in a way to protect yourself. There are mean people out there on the interest who want to send you random emails talking about how they want to kill you, and it’s not fun.
Oh my goodness (Laughs nervously.)
Yeah, that was a weird morning. But there’s a lot of good things too. Like it’s definitely not been a negative process, and I don’t want to make it seem that way. It’s seeing people online and on Instagram, posting pictures of my book, and reviews talking about how even if they are a cis person how much they still enjoyed it, and if they are trans or non-binary, like how much they saw themselves in the book, and that’s just been, I can’t describe it in any other way but magical. It’s very heartwarming and it makes me feel very good about like what I’ve been able to be
Yeah, you’re actually making a difference with your words.
Yeah, and that’s like what I wanted to do, and I feel accomplished in that now and it makes me feel very proud.
So what are some of the queer YA titles or some of the authors who inspired you?
So Becky Albertallli, who I already talked about her. Definitely Meredith Russo with her books, especially If I Was Your Girl. It was the first time that I saw a trans main character actually get her happy ending and what I felt that she deserved, and the book discussed and talked about her book, but it was never in a way that felt like it was…
Sensationalized.
Yeah, exactly. It felt like it was coming from a real place, a real author who has gone through these things. And then of course, you have authors like Adam Silvera, who discusses such heavy topics but in such a neat and concise and sometimes messy way that I just adore. If I had to pick three it’s definitely like Becky, Meredith, and Adam.
In the scope of LGBTQ+ literature, how do you think queer YA differentiates itself or distincts itself from other fiction?
I think that, and this is a question that I get a lot and I’m glad that I’m asked it because I’m always feel like we are at the height when it comes to queer YA. You know there’s still a lot of work to do. Queer authors of color and queer disabled authors still don’t seem to have a space and it completely sucks and we still need to fix that, but I also feel like we’ve made a lot of strides in including a lot of people, specially in queer YA. And so, you know, I think what really sets it apart is whenever you look at, say Adult fiction that’s queer, a lot of that has been on tragedy, and it does not end well. But I think in queer YA we’re finally at a place where, you know… of course a queer author deserves to tell a tragic quote, unquote tragic story.
Yeah, like Adam Silvera.
Yeah, like Adam has every right to do that because that is his life and he has lived it, and he has the space to do that. But then on the other side you have people who are telling happier stories, like Becky Albertalli, or I would even say Shaun David Hutchinson. You know, his books are not tragedies, they end happy.
They’re hopeful.
Yeah, that’s exactly it. That’s exactly the world.
They’re realistic, but hopeful.
Realistic, but hopeful, and I think there’s really never been a better time for that.
Yeah, I also say that with new shows like Queer Eye, exposing that queer joy is a revolution in itself.
Yeah.
Like people need to see that in order to let them know they can survive and thrive in our society.
Yeah, and it’s, you know, so much of, if you go back, older again quote, unquote queer YA which wasn’t really queer, is a lot of it based on tragedy.
Like Annie on My Mind was one of the first joyful ones, actually.
Yeah, and you have books that did have trans characters, but like they died. They were killed off, they were murdered, they died of something.
Luna by Julie Anne Peters was one of the exceptions.
Yup, and it’s just very refreshing that I feel like if you are a queer teenager there’s a lot to choose from nowadays.
There’s more variety.
Yeah. There’s definitely a lot of spaces that we need improvement, and, you know, keep striving for that improvement, but I don’t think we’ve ever been better.
Hypothetically, if any of the characters from I Wish You All the Best were to interact with characters from any other established fictional universe, what characters from which fiction universe would they be?
So this is another fun question that I don’t get very often, so I’m glad you actually asked it. But the popular thing, and I do not know exactly why, I have a hint of why, but not a hundred percent, but people seem to love the idea of Ben and Nathan being with Alex and Henry from Red, White, and Royal Blue. Which I, unfortunately, I do not think is plausible because one side of that is the Prince of England and the First Son of the United States, and my characters are just two teenagers in North Carolina.
Who knows, they might do a political campaign.
Yeah (laughs.) Nathan would work on the next one. I do, I am a firm believer that Nathan wakes Ben up at three O’clock in the morning, and while Ben is not happy about being up that early in the morning, they will sit there and they will support Nathan with the t-shirts and the snacks and the custom flags and everything.
Ok, last question. As a debut author what advice would you give to other writers who wish to write themselves?
That it’s going to be hard, and you are definitely going to have to reach into places that may not be comfortable. That you may not feel entirely ok with showing, and that’s ok. There are pieces of the book that I wrote that maybe going back I would not include, but I’m glad that I did, because the book is very honest and I think that that is the most important thing you can be whenever you’re writing a part of yourself into a novel is that you’re honest about the things that you’ve been through, the things that you experienced, the things that you thought, and the things that you know. I really think that honestly is the key. And again, it can be so difficult to be that vulnerable and present yourself in such a way, but in the end it’s worth it because the people you are trying to help that’s what they’re going to appreciate that most.
INTERVIEW WITH MASON DEAVER, AUTHOR OF I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST
NOVEMBER 23, 2018 YASH3LF LEAVE A COMMENT
Mason Deaver is a non-binary author who lives in Charlotte, NC, where the word ‘y’all’ is used in abundance. Typically, they’re writing incredibly queer stories, but when they decide to take a break, they love gardening and baking.
‘I Wish You All the Best’ is their debut novel.
Can you tell us a little about your writing process?
– So I’ve used a mix of both plotting and pantsing. For I Wish You All the Best that was totally written on the fly, for these next three projects I’ve been juggling, it’s all plotting. I’ve found that each project has still been different though, and that each requires their own sort of work. Another must of mine is having an album I associate with the project. Like how I Wish You All the Best is definitely Paramore’s After Laughter.
What sort of research do you do for your books?
– That’s another thing that varies from project to project! This is kind of a secret, but for an upcoming project I’ve had to research a lot of music terms, parts of a violin, sheet music, etc. In the past I’ve had to research things like release dates, the layout of certain parks, school dates, things like that. Writing really does make your Google search history a mixed bag.
Where did your inspiration for I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST come from?
– A lot of it came from my own experiences dealing with my gender and first loves. Thankfully I was never forced from my home, but in Ben I’ve instilled a lot of my feelings about my own gender, my anxiety, my depression. So a lot of it comes from real life.
Were any of your characters based off of people you know?
– There are a few! Some are more obvious than others. I won’t spoil anything but I think you’ll notice when you get to read the book!
What do you typically read while you’re writing? Do you avoid certain genres?
– Another mixed bag! So when I was writing and editing I Wish You All the Best I couldn’t read anything. That was about a solid eight months of just not reading a book. At all. Nowadays I find it a little easier to balance things out, but most of the time I find it difficult to read while working on something. It spikes my anxiety a little bit, and there’s a little voice in the back of my head telling me I’m taking the ideas or something.
What advice do you have for teens or those who are aspiring writers?
– Write your truth. Whether that be writing about your gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, disability, mental illness, your family life, putting a piece of yourself in your own writing can open up a door for making your story authentic. Of course, this doesn’t always work, and you should never be pressured to write about the things you aren’t ready to put out there in the world. But writing your own truth can be therapeutic in a way.
Young Adult literature is full of such talented authors! Who are some of your favorite writers, YA or otherwise?
– Oh my gosh, so many! Becky Albertalli of course. Rachel Lynn Solomon, Kheryn Callender, Adam Silvera, Alice Oseman, Angie Thomas, Kelly Loy Gilbert, Julian Winters, Maureen Goo, Adib Khorram, Sabina, Khan, Courtney Summers, Laura Silverman. There are SO many amazing authors we have writing so many amazing stories nowadays. There really are too many to name, but that’s a start!
Interview with 2019 Debut Mason Deaver!
APR 28, 2019
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In 2019 our goal is to work with as many debut authors as possible and spread the word about their debut novels. Follow us this year as we pick the mind of the 2019 debuts and chat with them. Also stay tuned for news of giveaways, Twitter chats and more!
Last year, we Tweeted about wanting to discover more debut authors and their books. We ended up finding Mason Deaver and their novel I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, and we have been interested in it ever since. We are so excited to have Mason on the blog today to answer some of our questions!
About Mason!
Mason Deaver
Mason Deaver is a non-binary author and librarian in a small town in North Carolina where the word ‘y’all’ is used in abundance. When they aren’t writing or working, they’re typically found in their kitchen baking something that’s bad for them, or out in their garden complaining the toad that likes to dig holes around their hydrangeas.
Keep up with Mason: Website / Twitter / Goodreads
Interview!
The Book Bratz: First of all, congratulations! How does it feel to be a debut author?
Mason: It’s a pretty scary thing. There are all these new things I’m learning about publishing and actually being a writer. Things I never really dreamed about having to do or know. Twitter has become a whole different animal since the book was announced. It’s been fun, but definitely a learning experience.
The Book Bratz: In your opinion, what is the best part of the writing process? What's the hardest?
Mason: This is interesting because I feel like a lot of this changes from book to book. While I only have one book coming out, I’ve worked on four different projects since I Wish You All the Best was finished. But I really think I can say without a doubt my favorite part is dialogue. I love writing snarky or nervous characters. Characters that want to be charismatic but fail hard, or interactions that hold so much more than either character may know. The hardest part is trickier because that really does differ from book to book. With I Wish You All the Best it was finding the right voice for the story, and then figuring out the best way to tell that. With other projects it’s been tone, sometimes it’s emotional age of the character, or whether the story is dark enough or light enough in the right places. I guess a good way to make a long story short is to say: balance. Finding the balance of a story is definitely the hardest part.
The Book Bratz: Now let's talk about I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. What made you want to write this story?
Mason: So, I started writing I Wish You All the Best and it was a very different story about two boys in college trying to start their lives. But that wasn’t really working for me, so I put it away and over the course of a few months started thinking more and more about it. Around that time, I’d come out (mostly just to myself) as non-binary. It was a tough journey, but once I’d sort of come to terms with what I was doing, I realized how easy my journey might’ve been if I had characters in YA to relate to. But there were little to no non-binary narratives in Young Adult, and even less actually written by non-binary authors. I wanted to fix that. I reworked the story, set it in high school, made Ben a non-binary teenager who struggles with coming out and finding a place they fit in the world.
The Book Bratz: Who was your favorite character to write? Who was the most difficult?
Mason: Nathan, without a doubt. He’s so nice and snarky and funny and just such a dweeb. Nathan is a lot of the heart of this book, he provides a foil to Ben, and he’s just so endearing and helpful that he’s almost a pain in the ass to Ben at first. Their dynamic is 100% my favorite thing ever. Ben might’ve been the hardest. A lot of Ben is me. They have a lot of my anxiety, my depression, and my gender. Because Ben was that outlet, and while writing them, I was right in the middle of figuring all that out. Ben is like a mouthpiece for that time in my life, which was super hard to figure out and put out there for people to read.
The Book Bratz: Were there any scenes, characters, or plot points in the original story that you took out after rounds of editing?
Mason: Oh yes. I’ve already told you the original plot, the college setting. But that was all before I was even agented or had critique partners reading it. There’s this student art gallery scene in the book that was a lot more elaborate and ‘big’ that I changed because it didn’t make sense. There was a fight scene for Nathan that we cut because it seemed unfair to Nathan to put him through that, and while I believe Nathan is a protective soul, I don’t think he’d actually do that. Really, it’s just small stuff after that. There was an art-sharing website where Ben was one of the most popular users. Mariam, Ben’s friend on the internet who is now a big internet personality was originally an in-person best friend. I should probably go back and find an old draft and reread it, but that sounds incredibly painful and I don’t know if I can do that to myself.
The Book Bratz: What do you hope that readers will take away from reading I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST?
Mason:That they aren’t alone. I know what it’s like to be struggling with things all by yourself, so I hope that readers (especially teen readers) know that they aren’t alone. They aren’t the only people dealing with these issues, and that it’s okay to seek out or find a support system. In fact, that’s probably one of the best things that you can do. Especially if it’s made up of similar people dealing with similar problems.
The Book Bratz: Do you plan on returning to the world of I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST in the future, or do you have other ideas in store? Can you tell us anything about them?
Mason: Oh boy. So, the short answer is no. Ben and Nathan’s story has been told, and I don’t feel the need to explore anything further there. That isn’t to say they won’t appear in another book *wink wink* but their story is done. I’m a big fan of the happily ever after and I don’t want to write another story to risk their relationship. Other books? I’ve got plenty of those in the works. Unfortunately I have a brain that won’t stop. And that sounds like a blessing at first but it’s the worst because I’m juggling too many stories and ideas that I just can’t work on yet. I can’t really talk about anything specific right now, but I’m working on a middle grade, and an actual book 2 is on the way. I’ve got other ideas rumbling around but I can’t give you any more details than that, I do have to keep some secrets.
About I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!
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Title: I Wish You All The Best
Author: Mason Deaver
Publisher: Push
Publication Date: May 14th, 2019
Summary: When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
Thank you so much to Mason for stopping by and answering our questions! We are super excited about I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST and can't wait for it to be out in the world on May 14th!
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
QSR: Author Interview with Mason Deaver
We have the happy privilege of being Mason's very first interview! How exciting is that?
Q. Tell us a little about your book and yourself!
A. Well, I’m a non-binary author who also enjoys a little baking and gardening here and there. I Wish You All the Best is the story of Ben De Backer, a non-binary teen that tries to come out to their parents, but it doesn’t go as expected. After they’re kicked out of their home they’re forced to reunite with their estranged sister and start a new life at a brand-new school.
Ben plans to keep their head down for the rest of their senior year, but that plans flies out the window when they meet Nathan Allan, a charismatic and charming fellow student. And what started as a tragedy might end up being a chance for Ben to be their true selves, and maybe even find love.
Q. What made you write the stories you did? What do they mean to you?
A. There are so many stories that inspired me. Simon vs. by Becky Albertalli, Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann, At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson, This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender, and so, so many others.
They each mean their own things to me individually, whether it was finally seeing a part of myself represented on the page or sharing the same types of anxieties and feelings the main characters do. I feel like it’s already rare to see someone like myself on the page, and while none of those stories feature non-binary characters, I still saw a piece of myself in those words.
Q. What are some of your favourite things to read in queer books?
A. There’s a genuine kind of love I see in queer books, specifically ones by queer authors. That might seem a little vague, but I feel like when a queer writer is writing a book where two queer teens are in love, the way they capture it just makes me so happy.
But seeing two people genuinely in love with one another just makes me so happy, I’m always a sucker for love stories.
Q. Did you go to summer camp as a kid? Got any good stories? Or, if that's a no, got any fun summer reading plans?
A. No summer camp stories, which I’m honestly a little thankful for. As for summer reading plans, I’m sticking to contemporary, there’s something so warm and fluffy about young-adult contemporary books and summer just feels like the right time for that.
Q. Tell us one of your favourite experiences with someone who’s read your book.
A. There’s only been a handful of people who’ve read I Wish You All the Best, but a common response is people telling me it made them cry. Which might be a weird thing to pick as a ‘favorite experience’ but hearing that my words got an emotional reaction out of people makes me feel like I did something right.
Q. What are some themes, tropes, or just things in general you would love to see in queer books in the future?
A. Honestly, so many tropes need to be in queer books. We need meet-cutes and insta-love and fake royalty and so many other tropes that queer readers and readers of color haven’t had the chance to see themselves in.
Q. What’s your favourite recent queer read? What queer book are you looking forward to?
A. This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender, I absolutely adored this story and was lucky enough to get an advanced copy. I don’t want to spoil much, but keep an eye on it this October. A few of the books very much anticipating are The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Al by Sabina Khani, The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper, A Place For Wolves by Kosoko Jackson, and Reverie by Ryan La Sala.
(Editing note: I have an e-arc of Epic Love Story, so also keep an eye out around here for a review of that. I hope I like it as much as Mason!)
Q. What’s something you always want to say in interviews but no one ever asks?
A. Well this is my first interview, so I’m actually not sure. Maybe what my favorite flower is. Which is a hydrangea, if you’re wondering.
Q. Favourite song to listen to in the summer?
A. Oh boy here we go. Is it okay if I pick more than one song? Basically anything by Carly Rae Jepsen. I’ve also really been into K-pop lately. Groups like Pentagon, Seventeen, SHINee, NCT 217, and Pristin. Also Paramore, any song by Paramore is my summer bop, but if I had to pick one it’d be ‘Hard Times.’
Q. Favourite food to cook over a campfire?
A. Smores! Definitely smores!
Mason Deaver is a non-binary author and librarian in a small town in North Carolina where the word ‘y’all’ is used in abundance.
When they aren’t writing or working, they’re typically found in their kitchen baking, or out in their garden complaining the toad that likes to dig holes around their hydrangeas. Find them on their website, on Goodreads (add I Wish You All the Best to your to-read shelf!), or on Twitter.
Thanks so much for the interview, Mason!!
Peace and popsicles,
Laina
Posted by Laina at 9:00 AM
AUTHORS IN CONVERSATION: AMBER SMITH AND MASON DEAVER
JUNE 18, 2019 DAHLIA ADLER LEAVE A COMMENT
Don’t you just love when authors buddy up to talk about their work? I certainly do! So I’m thrilled to have the authors of two new queer YAs chatting on the site today about their books, experiences, and character choices.
Amber Smith’s Something Like Gravity releases today, and you can find out more about it here. If you’re a follower of the blog, you’re already well familiar with Mason Deaver’s I Wish You All the Best, which was our May New Release Spotlight! Get to know both authors and books by reading on!
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AMBER: I’m so excited to have the chance to chat with you, Mason (and by the way, we are here together in person at one of our favorite local coffee shops right now, so caffeine is definitely fueling this conversation!)
417ThF0vLVL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_I first remember seeing tons of buzz about your debut, I Wish You All the Best last year, and I was so interested, especially because our books had some similarities (both are first love stories that feature a gender nonconforming protagonist). And when I looked you up, I couldn’t believe we both lived in Charlotte, North Carolina! So I promptly sent you a DM on Twitter to ask if we could meet up – I love connecting with other authors, and you were so gracious to meet me for coffee – we talked about lots of things that first time we met: books and writing, LGBTQ stuff, life in general, being in the South.
I moved to NC about ten years ago after having lived my whole life up North. But you’ve lived in NC your whole life… So I’m curious, what was your experience like growing up queer in the South?
MASON: Very weird, growing up there weren’t a lot of openly queer people at my schools, and those that were, were considered the ‘weird kids’ and so part of me always repressed that sort of thing. The South definitely has a reputation when it comes to queer people, especially queer teens, I think. What was it like for you? I know you grew up in New York, so that must’ve been a big departure from what you knew.
AMBER: Yes, it was a pretty big culture shock for me at first (not to mention the humidity down here!). It’s strange, even though I grew up in a more liberal environment in New York, I had a similar experience with there not being any queer people who were out at my high school (I am also, eh-hmm, a bit older than you, so I was in high school a lot longer ago than you were). But I still didn’t feel comfortable coming out to my family until years later as an adult. When I finally did come out to my mom, she was so supportive and accepting, but I remember her telling me that had I come out to her when I was a teenager (a decade or so earlier), she wasn’t sure she would’ve taken it so well. I think people’s perspectives can evolve and change with time.
What about you, Mason? What was your coming out experience like?
MASON: Whew boy, you know, speaking to the liberal environment for just a second. It’s been funny moving to a city in the South that is considered more ‘liberal’ and ‘open-minded’ but still being afraid to really be who I am. Which I think may just be the fear for any queer person no matter where they live or what environment they grew up in. But coming out is still a weird thing for me. I have friends who know, and people in my life who I’m comfortable telling, but it’s still very much a new thing. I’ve never officially come out to any of my family, and when it comes to introducing myself to strangers, I’m still in a place where I don’t tell them right away, like a defense mechanism of sort, which is feel is a very familiar feeling for loads of trans people.
AMBER: Oh yes, I totally get that! For so many years, I didn’t feel safe being out to anyone except a very close circle of friends, and while I will be forever grateful for their love and support, it made my world feel very small. I think you’re right, we still live in a time where so many queer people (especially when you live in the South, like you and I) have to be really mindful of our surroundings. I hate that I still have to check in on my own safety before holding my partner’s hand in public or simply saying “I love you” or calling her “honey” if I know people might overhear. But this is still a reality for so many of us.
Which makes me think of I Wish You All the Best – you chose to have your main character, Ben, not come out to their new classmates. What was it that influenced your decision to have Ben go back in the closet?
MASON: That was a very tough decision to make, because you want the best for your characters, right? And you don’t want them to have to go through anything harsh, but a character going back into the closet was something I’d never seen in any book before. But I’ve been there before, basically feeling like I have an arm or a leg out there, but still mostly firmly being in the closet or totally going back in around certain people or places. It all goes back to that defense mechanism thing, this way we have to protect ourselves. Which sucks because this is such a vital part of who we are, but for a lot of queer people, it comes down to either being ourselves, or surviving.
AMBER: Such a good point, Mason. I feel like “coming out” is often perceived as like this monumental before and after divide in a queer person’s life, but the reality is, we have to come out over and over again, when we meet new people, or making the decision to correct someone when they make a wrong assumption about our identities. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been asked about my husband or boyfriend, and sometimes it just doesn’t feel worth it (or wise) to correct them.
I had to make a similar decision with my main character, Chris, in Something Like Gravity, who is struggling with whether or not he will come out to his love interest, Maia. 41139667He wants to be honest and show his true self, but is also afraid of losing the relationship, or something even worse happening if he reveals himself. While I’m not transgender, I’ve had to weigh similar options over and over in my life. And you’re right, it does suck!
If you had to say what you think the most important step/things that we can all be doing to move the needle towards all queer people being safe and accepted, what would it be?
MASON: Oh, I feel that ‘constantly coming out’ thing. It’s never a one and done kind of thing. When you’re queer (visibly or otherwise) you’re constantly weighing in your head, picking your battles and deciding whether or not it’s worth it.
That’s something I loved about Something Like Gravity, was Chris’ decisions. Because it’s hard to trust people, even the people you think you can assume the best of, or even love. There are so many moments where Ben wants to come out to Nathan, but doesn’t. Because there are so many alarms going off in your head like do you really know this person? Will they really react the way you want?
As for moving the needle? I think we’re already doing so much. Publishing is at the height of queer inclusion, I think. Not to say there isn’t more work to do, there are still so many chances that haven’t been given to queer authors of color, or disabled queer authors (or any intersection of the three), but I also feel that we’re steadily moving towards the right place. It’s just taking us a long time to get there unfortunately.
AMBER: Yes, I couldn’t agree more! When I look at where things were when I was a teenager (some twenty years ago now!) there were practically zero queer books out there, and I mean, YA was barely a genre yet, so there has been so much progress. It is very encouraging to see so many new and diverse voices being embraced. There is truly nothing more powerful than sharing our stories and experiences.
And that’s one of the things I loved so much about I Wish You All the Best – that it isn’t just a coming out story, but it’s also a love story. Ben and Nathan’s relationship was so beautiful and felt so real; the way they each gradually opened up to one another and earned each other’s trust was so natural. Was the love story thread always such a prominent part of the book, or was it something that developed as you were writing?
MASON: Well Ben and Nathan have always been Ben and Nathan (or BeNathan, which was a happy accident). In my head they’ve always been destined to be there for one another, it’s always been Ben and Nathan for me. I think it’s so important that we showcase queer teens living and thriving. Getting their love interest, accomplishing their goals, getting the chance to live happy lives.
And for me, there’s no doubt that Ben and Nathan live a happy life together. They’re meant for each other, and I don’t like the idea of them ever being separated from one another. I see a lot of tweets about how it’s more realistic to show people breaking up, that high school relationships hardly last past graduation. And while I think those stories are definitely needed and wanted, with Ben and Nathan I want them to have a happily ever after. I think they deserve it.
What about you? What inspired this love thread through Something Like Gravity? Your other books have handled pretty heavy topics, so was it tough to find a balance between the two in this latest book?
AMBER: BeNathan – I love that (you totally need to start a hashtag!) I agree, I think it’s just as important to show both sides of experience as a queer person: the challenges and hardships, but also the joys and triumphs. I actually started writing Chris and Maia’s stories as two separate books at first. Chris’s story was primarily about his journey with coming out as trans (and a lot of the problems and heartache he was going through because of it). Maia’s story was all about her grief over her sister’s death and trying to rediscover who she was going to be.
I was working on their stories at the same time, but at a certain point they just became too bleak, and I thought about giving each of them a love interest as a way to lighten things up a bit…but then it hit me: Chris and Maia would be perfect for each other! And so, I started re-writing their stories as one book, and I’m so glad that I did. Writing SLG was good for my soul. I loved being able to show a more positive aspect of a queer life through a respectful, loving, romantic relationship.
So, on that note, what’s next for you? Do you plan to continue writing queer characters and storylines?
MASON: Definitely, I remember times even when I was in high school not having a lot of queer books to pick from. And even the ones that were there weren’t… we’ll say the best. I’ve got a second book in the works, and I’d love to venture into middle grade at some point with a few ideas. More queer stories all around, I really can’t imagine writing a book with a non-queer main character haha.
What about you? Any future plans you can talk about with us here or is everything hush hush?
AMBER: Ha, yes I know exactly what you mean! Now that I’m finally out in both my life and in my writing, I have no intention of going back into the closet! It’s still a little hush hush, but I can say that I plan on continuing queer representation in my books – I’m toying with some different genres and formats myself, including (fingers crossed) a middle grade novel, as well.
Okay, my last question for you is a fun one: Since we love getting together for coffee, what do you think Ben and Nathan’s favorite drinks on the menu here would be?
MASON: Oh I like this, unfortunately it won’t be some super fancy coffee drink, Ben would definitely go for a Limonade Classique (can you tell we’re in a French inspired café?) I guess there’s just something about the color yellow that calls to them, I don’t know.
As for Nathan, he’d be the most extra. Like more sugar that actual caffeine or coffee. So he’d pick a Salted Caramel Brownie Café Mocha. That kid’s dentist is going to have a field day. What about Chris and Maia? What are their drinks of choice?
AMBER: Ah yes, very good choices, Ben and Nathan! I think Chris (being a Northerner like me) would love the Café Fouetté – a fancy French iced espresso drink – he would need the caffeine to keep up with all of the overthinking and over planning and worrying he likes to do on the long drives he takes in his old clunker of a car. But Maia (who is a North Carolinian) is a bit more low-key than Chris, a little more laid back, so I think she’d go for something more subtle and sweet, like Lavender + Honey Soda.
Well, that’s it for our coffee talk – thank you Mason, and HUGE thanks to Dahlia Adler and LGBTQ Reads for having us!
Amber and Mason
Mason Deaver is a non-binary author and librarian in a small town in North Carolina where the word ‘y’all’ is used in abundance.
When they aren’t writing or working, they’re typically found in their kitchen baking something that’s bad for them, or out in their garden complaining about the toad that likes to dig holes around their hydrangeas.
***
Amber Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels The Way I Used to Be, The Last to Let Go, and Something Like Gravity. An advocate for increased awareness of gendered violence, as well as LGBTQ equality, she writes in the hope that her books can help to foster change and spark dialogue surrounding these issues. She grew up in Buffalo, New York, and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her partner and their ever-growing family of rescued dogs and cats. You can find her online at AmberSmithAuthor.com.
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DEAVER, Mason. I Wish You All the Best. 336p. Scholastic/PUSH. May 2019. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781338306125'.
Gr 8 Up--A nonbinary teen is forced out of their house and finds love while starting over. Ben didn't expect their parents to be thrilled when they came out as nonbinary, but neither did they expect to be immediately kicked out of their home. They move in with their older sister whom they have not seen in a decade, begin attending a new school for the last semester of senior year, and choose not to come out to their teachers or classmates. Ben's plan to keep a low profile backfires when they are befriended by Nathan, a fellow student who may like them as more than just a friend. Written by an author who is nonbinary, this book stands out among current young adult offerings for its depiction of a nonbinary protagonist. Ben's anxiety after being kicked out of their parents' house will resonate with readers who have suffered trauma, as will their struggle in both loving their parents while also not trusting them after their reaction. The measured pace and conversational style of this book work well with its focus on Ben and their healing and growth during their final semester of high school. The romance that develops between Ben and Nathan is sweet, and readers will be rooting for the couple to have their happily ever after. Give to fans of Bill Konigsberg's The Music of What Happens or Adib Khorram's Darius the Great Is Not Okay. VERDICT A first purchase for most libraries.--Jenni Frencham, Indiana University, Bloomington
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Frencham, Jenni. "DEAVER, Mason. I Wish You All the Best." School Library Journal, vol. 65, no. 4, May 2019, pp. 102+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A584328899/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=14bcfc38. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.
DEAVER, Mason. The Ghosts We Keep. 336p. Scholastic/PUSH. Jun. 2021. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781338593341.
Gr 7 Up-High school junior Liam Cooper's life is falling apart in the aftermath of his brother Ethan's death in a hit-and-run accident. At 18, star baseball player Ethan was the family's golden boy and nonbinary Liam feels like the leftover child. They feel equally redundant with their best friends, Vanessa and Joel, who have less time for them now that they're dating each other. Retreating into music production, Liam finds that their enduring pain and anger alienates friends and family. The only person who seems to understand is Ethan's best friend Marcus, but the more time they spend together, the more aware Liam becomes of how many secrets Ethan was keeping. Told in dual now/ then time lines, this novel offers an honest look at the messy, overwhelming experience of coping with sudden loss. However, the plot drags and Ethan's secret is obvious from the book's beginning. Liam is a realistically flawed protagonist who lashes out at others and makes some selfish decisions, but their path through grief is cathartic and well-realized. Other plotlines reach less resolution, and supporting characters don't get enough time on the page to feel like fully developed people. Liam and Marcus are coded as white, Vanessa is described as having brown skin, and Joel is Vietnamese American. VERDICT A meandering look at grief, recommended for large collections.--Elizabeth Giles, Kansas City P.L., MO
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Giles, Elizabeth. "DEAVER, Mason. The Ghosts We Keep." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 6, June 2021, p. 64. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A663599664/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=448c0145. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.
I Wish You All the Best
Mason Deaver. Push, $17.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-338-30612-5
In an emotionally complex story about finding acceptance and redefining family, 18-year-old Ben is rejected by their parents when they come out as nonbinary. They're taken in by their older sister, Hannah, who was also driven out by their conservative and judgmental parents 10 years earlier. Together they have to learn how to advance from estranged siblings to a true, caring family while Ben works to complete senior year at a new high school. And as Ben cultivates an art practice and receives the love and support of rediscovered family and of new friends, including handsome neighbor Nathan, they begin to come to terms with their trauma. Debut author Deaver portrays Ben's reaction to the difficult situation, including panic attacks and anxiety, with care and empathy, and readers will be filled with joy and hope as Ben begins to grow toward self-acceptance. Ben's voice shines through with courage and vulnerability as they learn, slowly, to feel valued and deserving of respect. A powerful illustration of the ways that compassion and love can overcome intolerance. Ages 14--up. Agent: Lauren Abramo, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (May)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 PWxyz, LLC
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"I Wish You All the Best." Publishers Weekly, vol. 266, no. 11, 18 Mar. 2019, pp. 86+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A580473650/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=18cc53a1. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.
Deaver, Mason I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST PUSH/Scholastic (Young Adult Fiction) $17.99 5, 14 ISBN: 978-1-338-30612-5
Deaver's debut delivers an honest coming-of-age and coming-out story about 18-year-old queer, nonbinary Ben De Backer.
The novel centers on conflicts within a North Carolina family that drive the narrative after Ben comes out to their parents and is kicked out of the house. Welcomed by their older sister, Hannah, who they haven't spoken to in more than a decade, and her husband, Thomas, they begin a new life, enter therapy, and begin to find peace as they finish their senior year. Ben finds comfort in art classes, which become a safe haven as the art teacher takes them under her wing. Ben's loneliness abates thanks to budding friendships, but when their connection with another student, Nathan, hints at something more, Ben struggles to find the confidence to risk sharing their truth again. Dealing with new friendships, family rejection, first love, anxiety, and personal growth, this novel is grounded in familiar YA terrain while exploring themes of gender identity. Deaver's treatment of Ben's nonbinary identity creates a realistic portrayal of their journey toward self-acceptance. Ben and their family are white, Nathan is brown-skinned (ethnicity unspecified), and a few secondary characters are ethnically diverse, including a nonbinary character who is a Muslim immigrant and hijabi.
Holds appeal for readers of all genders and sexualities through sympathetic characters and a hopeful narrative of empowerment. (Fiction. 14-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Deaver, Mason: I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A578090546/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=396fab07. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.
The Ghosts We Keep. By Mason Deaver. June 2021.336p. Scholastic/Push, $18.99 (9781338593341). Gr. 9-12.
After Liam's older brother, Ethan, was killed in a hit-and-run, they were left with so many questions. Why was Ethan depressed in the weeks before he died? Why did Ethan's best friend, Marcus, skip the funeral? Why parents so ready to go through Ethan's room, and why have their best friends Joel and Vanessa been even cagier since Ethan died? Deaver's (I Wish You All the Best, 2019) sophomore novel deftly captures the chasm that a sudden loss creates, while offering moving interactions between Liam and Ethan through flashbacks. Liam explores who they are becoming after Ethan's death, and they also find out more about who Ethan was before. This emotional, character-driven journey is about a nonbinary teenager grieving their first shattering loss and, moving forward, allowing that experience to be a guidepost for the relationships that are important to them. As Liam navigates friendship with Vanessa, Joel, and Marcus and rebuilds relationships with their parents, they heal from the trauma of Ethan's death, learning to carry his love and memory. An unflinchingly honest story that doesn't shy away from the complex emotions of grief but also offers a hopeful path forward for Liam and everyone else left behind in the wake of Ethan's death. Pair with Nita Tyndall's Who I Was with Her (2020).--Alaina Leary
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
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Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Leary, Alaina. "The Ghosts We Keep." Booklist, vol. 117, no. 17, 1 May 2021, pp. 45+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A662304618/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a81f624f. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.
Deaver, Mason THE GHOSTS WE KEEP PUSH/Scholastic (Teen None) $18.99 6, 1 ISBN: 978-1-338-59334-1
A nonbinary teen in North Carolina struggles with relationships and loss.
When Ethan dies in a hit-and-run, his younger sibling, Liam, is heartbroken. In addition to the normal stages of mourning, 16-year-old Liam has other things on their mind: a crush on their brother’s best friend, Marcus, an athletic White boy; feelings of exclusion after their best friends, brown-skinned Vanessa and Vietnamese Joel, disappear into a romantic relationship; and anxiety around a burgeoning music career. Liam is surprised to develop a friendship with Marcus, slowly realizing the secrets their brother had been keeping. Liam, who defaults to White, stumbles toward these realizations as they both seek and reject help from their friends, who regularly fail to provide support. It’s refreshing to encounter a story about a teen dealing with darker issues without transness or queerness being implicated; Joel is a trans guy, and Liam’s family is somewhat uncomprehending of the nuances but accepting of their gender. Unfortunately, although the novel opens a few months after Ethan’s death, very little of interest happens in the plot, and the supporting characters (despite their narrow portrayals, viewed as they are through Liam’s perspective) are far more sympathetic and fully realized than Liam is. Many scenes come across more as explanation than exploration.
For teens looking for a sad wallow. (Fiction. 13-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Deaver, Mason: THE GHOSTS WE KEEP." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A658194639/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f365d27e. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.