All the Truth I Can Stand

Starred review from September 9, 2024
Stokes reimagines the murder of Matthew Shepard in this speculative historical novel, an auspicious debut. In 1990s Wyoming, 17-year-old Ash is instantly infatuated with 19-year-old Shane, who Ash first sees playing Curly in a production of Oklahoma! Upon meeting at a cast party, sparks ignite, and Shane’s friend Jenna encourages their blossoming relationship. Though the boys start spending more time together, Shane remains cautious about romantic entanglements; Ash laments this and prods Shane into treating him less like a “little brother.” When he learns that Shane has a history of engaging in substance use, including methamphetamines, Ash’s father warns him to stay away from Shane. But as Shane begins exhibiting odd behaviors, Ash and Jenna grow increasingly concerned. Then Shane is assaulted and tied to a fence. His subsequent death is declared a hate crime, and as Ash and Jenna investigate, they learn some uncomfortable truths. 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. An author’s note concludes. Ages 14–up.