Meet Me Here

Thomas should be shipping off to boot camp in the morning, but after his older brother returned from war a "blank wall," Thomas wants to run away. While Thomas ruminates, he and friend Mallory pull an all-nighter revisiting childhood landmarks. Their nostalgia for their shared childhood becomes a tender counterpoint to their anxieties about growing up. A thoughtful, penetrating family drama.

In his second novel, Bliss (No Parking at the End Times, rev. 1/15) presents another thoughtful and penetrating family drama. On the night of his high school graduation, Thomas watches his rural North Carolina classmates celebrate while he faces a major decision. He should be shipping off to boot camp in the morning, but after witnessing his formerly indomitable older brother Jake return from war a "blank wall," Thomas wants to run away -- "no answers, no hesitation -- just gone." Then Thomas crosses paths with Mallory, an estranged childhood friend, and a ride home spirals into an all-nighter. While Thomas ruminates perceptively over his troubled family dynamic and the consequences of betraying his father's military legacy, he and Mallory dip into small-town dramas and revisit childhood landmarks; their nostalgia for their shared childhood becomes a tender counterpoint to their underlying anxieties about growing up. Opening up to Mallory helps Thomas sort out his feelings -- their friendship rekindles naturally and platonically as the night progresses -- but ultimately, Thomas must face up to Jake. Thomas's future remains uncertain as morning breaks, but through meaningful encounters with friends and family, Thomas gains a deeper understanding of sacrifice, the power of brotherhood and community, and just how fine the line between courage and fear can be. jessica tackett macdonald