So Hard to Say

Reviews

“Insightful…Readers will find it easy to empathize with both protagonists as Frederick gradually comes to terms with being gay—and shares his secret with Xio…For the most part this is a well-crafted novel. The author maps out spot-on issues for this age group, from name-calling to self-questioning to worrying about what others think. These believable narrators face realistic and complicated problems—and demonstrate an inspiring model of acceptance.”

“Adventurous, multifaceted, funny, and unpredictably insightful, Sanchez’s novel drops melodramatic pretense and gels well-rounded characterizations with the universal excitement of first love.”

“This novel is a well-structured, beautifully rendered story of two wonderful young people. Readers will come to love them. Sanchez creates a nice story about genuine teens who do not let each other or themselves down.”

“In alternate chapters by Frederick and Xio, the novel’s plot unfolds easily and realistically, as both characters arrive at their revelations independently.”

“Most young adolescents routinely agonize over questions like ‘Who am I?’ and ‘What am I?’ Sometimes, as Sanchez dramatizes in this story of emotional exploration, the answers are difficult to discover…By alternating between Xio’s and Frederick’s first-person point of view, Sanchez does a good job of exploring both the evolution of their tangled emotions and the nature of friendship…Sanchez understands the inner lives of kids, and, in writing one of the few middle-grade novels on this aspect of sexual identity, he does a service for questioning youth.”

“Sanchez, whose first two titles were for YA, writes for a younger audience quite convincingly. Xio and Frederick alternate chapters to tell their story and their voices are distinct and believable. As with his previous efforts, the prose style is serviceable and coincidence helps tie things up neatly, but many young teens, gay and straight, will see themselves and their friends in these characters. “

“Sanchez effectively differentiates Xio’s bubbly, garrulous narration and Frederick’s tentative and uncertain voice, and the clear depictions help make the characters the driving force of this novel…The emotional core of the story remains solid and authentic. The inclusion of Xio’s viewpoint means that readers identifying with Frederick encounter a model of survivable reaction from a friend, and they also get to see the kind of confusion and disappointment self-misrepresentation can cause in those whose lives they touch. Subplots such as...the atmosphere of the multi-ethnic, Latino-rich California community add dimension to the narrative. A lot of kids question their identity before the traditional YA bracket, and this accessible read will give them reassurance and food for thought. Recommended.”

“In So Hard to Say [Alex Sanchez] expertly captures Frederick and Xio’s thoughts, emotions, and language and conveys them with such perfect pitch that you feel like you’re right there with these two young people as they talk to you about their innermost feelings and thoughts.”

“So Hard to Say is funny and clever and heartbreaking and, ultimately, healing.”

“Bravo to Alex Sanchez for this tightly crafted and heartfelt novel. Its readers will recognize in its sympathetic characters the boy who sits next to them in class, the girl who lives down the street, and, just possibly, themselves.”

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