For teens questioning their identity and struggling with big emotions during major life changes, this story offers a poignant journey of self-discovery and family.
A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful teen is struggling with uncharacteristic anger or confusion about their identity, especially during a time of major life change. The story follows Sal, a Mexican American high school senior raised by his adoptive gay father, as his once-stable world is upended by loss, grief, and questions about his own nature. This poignant novel explores deep themes of family, love, grief, and self-discovery. While it deals with mature topics like death and violence, it does so with immense gentleness and warmth, making it appropriate for older teens. It's a wonderful choice for normalizing the turbulent emotions of growing up and showcasing a powerful, loving, non-traditional family.
Several scenes of fistfights, some described with moderate detail and injury.
Substance ReferencesModerate
A parent's alcoholism is a recurring topic. Some underage drinking is mentioned.
LanguageMild
Some profanity is used, consistent with the high school setting.
Sensitive Topics
The book's approach to sensitive topics is direct, realistic, and deeply compassionate. Terminal illness (cancer) and the death of a parent figure are central to the plot and are handled with raw honesty. Grief is a primary emotional driver. Other topics include parental alcoholism, physical violence (fistfights), and brief mentions of homophobia. The perspective is secular and humanistic. The resolution is not about fixing the pain but learning to live with it, ending on a note of realistic hope grounded in the strength of found family.
Ideal Reader
An introspective, sensitive teen (15 to 18) who is grappling with big questions about identity, family, and purpose. It is perfect for a reader who feels overwhelmed by life changes or loss and needs a story that validates complex emotions like anger and sadness. It would also deeply resonate with teens in non-traditional families or those thinking about the nature of chosen family.
Parent Prep
No specific prep is needed; the book can be read cold. Its messages are supportive and life-affirming. However, parents should be aware of the frank and emotional depiction of a character's decline and death from cancer, which could be very difficult for a teen who has had a similar experience. Be ready for conversations about grief, violence as an outlet, and the different forms a family can take. A parent notices their typically calm teen is suddenly prone to angry outbursts or has become withdrawn and says things like, "I don't feel like myself anymore," or "Everything feels like it's falling apart." This book is a good fit when a teen is processing a significant loss or navigating the identity shifts of late adolescence.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) will likely connect to the friendship dynamics and the plot points of the fights and school life. They will appreciate the strong sense of loyalty among the friends. An older teen (16-18) will more fully grasp the book's philosophical depth, Sal's existential struggles, and the profound, quiet beauty of the father-son relationship. They will see it as a meditation on love, identity, and masculinity.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA novels that focus on romance or high-stakes drama, this book is distinguished by its quiet, meditative pace and its profound focus on platonic and familial love. The central relationship between a gay adoptive single father and his son is portrayed with a warmth and healthiness that is exceptionally rare and powerful. It's a character-driven novel where the 'logic' is emotional, not plot-based.
Read plot summary
Salvador (Sal) Silva, a quiet and introspective high school senior, has always been secure in his life with his adoptive gay father, Vicente, and their loving extended Mexican American family. This security shatters during his senior year when he finds himself uncharacteristically getting into fistfights. At the same time, his best friend Samantha's mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and he grows closer to his friend Fito, who comes from a neglectful home. Sal's journey through the year is marked by profound grief, questions about his biological parents, and the struggle to understand his own capacity for anger and love, all while his definition of family expands in unexpected ways.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Sal is known for being gentle, but he gets into several physical fights during his senior year. Why do you think he suddenly starts reacting with violence, and do you agree with his father's assessment that Sal is fighting for other people?
2
The story features many different kinds of families: Sal and Vicente, Sam and her mom, Fito and his grandmother, and eventually the larger family they all form together. How does the book define 'family,' and how does that challenge or confirm your own ideas?
3
Sal's great-grandmother, Mima, tells him, 'We are all mysteries. You. Me. Your father.' How does this idea play out in Sal's journey to understand himself and the people he loves?
4
Grief is a major theme. Compare and contrast how Sal, Sam, and Fito each deal with loss and difficult family situations. What do they learn from supporting each other through these hard times?
5
The title is 'The Inexplicable Logic of My Life.' By the end of the book, what do you think Sal discovers is the 'logic' that holds his life together, even when it feels chaotic and inexplicable?
