For young adults navigating self-discovery, first love, and family challenges during a pivotal summer. It's a poignant story of resilience, loss, and embracing one's true self.
A parent might reach for this book when their older teen feels stuck, isolated, or is navigating the complicated path of self-discovery, particularly around their identity. "The Vast Fields of Ordinary" follows Dade Hamilton during the summer before college as he deals with a secret boyfriend, his parents' impending divorce, and a dead-end job. When he meets Alex, he experiences real love for the first time, giving him the courage to come out. The story beautifully captures the emotional highs of first love and the devastating lows of sudden loss, exploring themes of resilience, identity, and grief. It is best suited for mature teens (14-18) due to its handling of death and complex relationships, offering a poignant and realistic story about the strength it takes to embrace one's future.
Deals heavily with grief, loss, parental divorce, and loneliness.
Romantic ContentModerate
Features kissing and intimacy; explores a secret and a healthy relationship.
Substance ReferencesMild
Includes some scenes of underage drinking at parties.
Racism & DiscriminationMild
Deals with homophobia, both internalized and from other characters.
Sensitive Topics
The book's approach to sensitive topics is direct and realistic. LGBTQ+ identity and coming out are central to the plot, treated as a personal journey of self-acceptance. The parents' divorce is a constant, stressful backdrop. The death of a major character is sudden, secular, and deals with the raw shock and aftermath of tragedy. The resolution is not a simple recovery but a portrait of resilience, ending on a hopeful note as Dade moves forward, forever changed but not broken.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a teen aged 15 to 18 who feels confined by their circumstances (small town, family issues) and is ready for an emotionally complex narrative. It will resonate strongly with LGBTQ+ teens grappling with their identity and the process of coming out, as well as any teen navigating first love, loss, and the transition to adulthood.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview the scenes surrounding the car accident and its immediate aftermath, as they are sudden and emotionally intense. The book contains some profanity, underage drinking at parties, and non-explicit discussions of teen sexuality. It would be beneficial to be prepared to discuss the contrast between Dade's healthy relationship with Alex and the manipulative, unhealthy one with Pablo. A parent might seek this book after hearing their teen express feelings of being stuck, misunderstood, or lonely, saying things like, "I can't wait to get out of here," or, "No one gets it." It is also an excellent choice for a parent looking for a story with meaningful queer representation that tackles universal challenges.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) might be more drawn to the romance plot and the love triangle drama. An older teen (16-18), especially one preparing for college, will likely connect more deeply with the themes of leaving home, the weight of grief, and the bittersweet feeling of forging a new identity after a life-altering summer.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many coming-of-age novels that treat coming out as the story's climax, this book uses it as a catalyst. Dade's self-acceptance is what gives him the foundation to navigate love, family crisis, and profound tragedy. Its power lies in its quiet, literary tone and its honest portrayal of how identity is interwoven with all the ordinary and extraordinary parts of life and loss.
Read plot summary
Dade Hamilton, a closeted high school graduate in a small Iowa town, is navigating a secret relationship with Pablo, who has a girlfriend and refuses to be seen with him publicly. As his parents' marriage dissolves, Dade feels trapped, pinning all his hopes on leaving for college. His world shifts when he meets and falls for Alex Kincaid, a relationship that gives him the confidence to come out to his friends and family. This incites a jealous, manipulative reaction from Pablo. Just as Dade finds true happiness, a sudden car accident kills Alex, plunging Dade into profound grief. The remainder of the novel follows Dade as he processes this loss and must find the strength to leave his past behind and start his new life.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Dade has two very different romantic relationships, one with Pablo and one with Alex. How did each relationship affect his view of himself and what he deserved?
2
Before meeting Alex, Dade saw college as his only escape. Why did he feel he had to leave his town to be his true self? Do you think that feeling changed by the end of the book?
3
When Dade starts to find happiness with Alex, Pablo becomes angry and possessive. Why do you think Pablo reacted this way? Was his behavior motivated by love, or something else, like control or shame?
4
After the tragedy, Dade has to find the strength to move forward. How did the things he learned over the summer, and the support from friends like his coworker Lucy, help him to cope and eventually leave for college?
