I recently had the opportunity to connect with Adam about the novel, his writing practice, and his advice for Matthew’s Place readers who want to pursue writing:

This is a fast-paced book with a compelling protagonist that isn’t an easy read, but is a story we don’t often see represented, especially in YA literature. The teens start to formulate a plan to save themselves after the adults in their lives have betrayed and failed them. Once at the “camp,” Conor quickly begins to piece together what has happened in collaboration with other teens who have been sent away from their own families. Connor, along with other teens, are transported to a conversion therapy camp in Costa Rica.Īs far-fetched as this might sound to some readers, conversion therapy and “therapeutic” boarding schools and bootcamps are both in the United States and abroad (where they are often even less regulated) are a common practice for controlling teens. First she takes his phone - cutting him off from contact with his boyfriend - and then she has him kidnapped from his bed in the middle of the night. After his boyfriend convinces him coming out to his mother will be safe, Connor’s mom’s reaction is anything but accepting. But first, he's exposing the camp's horrible truths for what they are-and taking this place down.Adam Sass’ powerful new novel “Surrender Your Sons” centers the damaging practice of conversion therapy through the story of Conor, a gay teenager in Illinois. Connor plans to escape and bring the other kidnapped teens with him. At Nightlight, everyone has something to hide-from the campers to the 'converted' staff and cagey camp director-and it quickly becomes clear that no one is safe.

His final destination: Nightlight Ministries, a conversion therapy camp that will be his new home until he 'changes.'īut Connor's troubles are only beginning. His SAT scores bombed, the old man he delivers meals to died, and when he came out to his religious zealot mother, she had him kidnapped and shipped off to a secluded island. just with gay teenagers taking the horrors of the world head on.Ī 2020 Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth selectionĪ 2020 Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Books selectionĪ 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Bronze Winner, Young Adult FictionĬonnor Major's summer break is turning into a nightmare. Surrender Your Sons is an LGBTQ+ YA mystery / thriller that expertly blends together humor, horror, and heart, in a wholly unique read like no other.

Surrender your sons book