Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year

by Vincent Traughber Meis

Genre: Young Adult Fiction / LGBTQ

ISBN: 978-1915905062

Print Length: 239 pages

A heartfelt coming-of-age story that honestly navigates conversations of race, love, sexuality, family, and friendship

The experiences we go through during our teenage years have a profound impact on the rest of our lives. From the changes in our bodies to the social contexts we navigate and the new situations we encounter, those few years can be challenging yet indelible.

Author Vincent Traughber Meis has brilliantly captured the joys, frustrations, passions, uncertainty, and awkwardness that come with this stage of life, resonating with readers through his sympathetic and honest writing.

The turning point in Colton’s life occurs when his parents pick him up from the police station. Colton, a half-Black teenager living in San Francisco, had never faced any major issues until now. He, along with his two best friends, Fer (a light-skinned Mexican kid) and Josh (a white, blonde-haired kid), was caught shoplifting at Target. Although it was Josh’s idea, Colton ended up taking the blame.

During a conversation with his two dads, August (known as Dad) and Ruben (known as Papi), where they had initially planned to discuss the possibility of Colton meeting his mother, Joy, whom he had never met before, Colton is surprised when Dad suggests a family vacation to Thailand.

Before he knows it, they embark on a trip across the world, where he meets Olivia, a dark-skinned British girl who is also on vacation with her family. Colton falls for her, and even after the two families separate and return home, they manage to stay in touch. Little do they know that their lives are about to undergo significant changes. As 2020 unfolds with a global pandemic and nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice, Colton experiences highs and lows, compounded by questions about his own racial heritage and conflicts within his family.

Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year skillfully navigates the delicate and frustrating aspects of adolescence with bold sensitivity. The story, narrated from Colton’s perspective, fearlessly tackles the challenges of transitioning into adulthood and self-discovery. Colton’s thoughts reflect the chaos of this transformative period as he confronts aspects of life he has never encountered before. The journey from innocence to understanding is no easy feat, and this book brilliantly captures the struggle.

Moreover, Vincent Traughber Meis constructs a realistic portrayal of family dynamics, void of any exaggerated or unrealistic depictions. As the son of two dads, Colton’s family may not fit society’s “norm,” but Meis beautifully depicts the love and care present in their interactions. While Colton may feel frustrated and angry with his parents at times (as any kid would), the trust that has been nurtured through their sympathetic approach to parenting is not only genuine but also worth noting and applying to our own lives.

Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of being a teenager, exacerbated by the additional challenges of 2020. It powerfully illustrates the strength of family love and support in overcoming life’s obstacles and finding one’s true self amidst it all. In short, this book is a must-read.