“It’s not easy,” she says, in that voice that mothers have, that mix of unwanted knowledge and small consolation. “Whatever you had—I don’t know exactly what it was, and that’s fine. But it must not be easy for you. You miss him, and that’s okay. But you have to figure that if it’s too hard to hang on, then maybe you should let go.”

American young adult fiction author and editor

David Levithan is an American young adult fiction author and editor. He is known for writing stories that center strong male gay characters, including Boy Meets Boy and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. His work has been recognized by the Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, with six of his books winning or reaching finalist status in that category. The recognition has made him the most celebrated author in that field.