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About All the Truth I Can Stand

A gay teenager in 1990s Wyoming must contend with the violent loss of a loved one in this historical YA novel that draws from the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998.

Juniper, Wyoming, high school student Ash is still reeling from his mother’s death and ostracization by his friends when his father signs him up to join the crew for a college production of Oklahoma! Ash is slowly drawn out of his shell by student reporter Jenna and the star of the show, Shane, with whom a romance slowly blooms. Shane is talented, sensitive, and magnetic, but also deeply troubled. When Shane is found brutally beaten and unconscious, Jenna and Ash are shattered. And after Shane dies,  they watch his death become a rallying point for gay rights advocates, and they wonder what the full story is and if they truly knew Shane at all. 

All The Truth I Can Stand is a heartbreaking exploration of grief and legacy, and details the good and the bad that can come to pass when an imperfect person is made into a symbol.

Reviews

"A masterful blend of wholehearted fiction and absolutely essential American history." —Steve Sheinkin, New York Times bestselling author

"This rivetingly beautiful young adult novel grapples deeply with tragedy and the human desire to turn suffering into a symbol. Based loosely on a fictionalized version of Matthew Shepard's murder in 1990s Wyoming, and told through the eyes of a struggling closeted teen in town, this is a gorgeously sad coming of age story that is deeply thoughtful about mythmaking and reality."—Rachel Person, Northshire Bookstore

“Keen prose meditates on the nature of violence fueled by bigotry and its effects, making for a layered and provocative telling that will encourage readers to critically examine their own behaviors and perceptions." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Even though the prologue signals that tragedy lies ahead, the novel doesn’t feel predictable—instead, it carries an eerie sense of dread. Ash’s closeness to Shane carefully brings Shane’s story into vivid focus without conveying a feeling that Ash is speaking for him...A tender fictionalization that sheds light on human complexity." —Kirkus Reviews

"Stokes’s writing pulls no punches as he touches on the difficulties of grieving a real person when the media is determined to smooth away their sharper edges... the novel is very grounded in its historical moment; Stokes’s characters emphasize how connections build identity and the different ways people are vulnerable... (a) heartbreaking historical story about grief, legacy, and the complexities of being human. Recommended."—School Library Journal

Product Details
All the Truth I Can Stand By Mason Stokes
ISBN: 9781662680885
Published by Calkins Creek Nov 05, 2024
Age Range: 14 and up
Grades: 9 & Up