Becoming Kevin by Kyle West

Description

Becoming Kevin by Kyle West is an emotionally resonant coming-of-age novel exploring identity, masculinity, friendship, race, family expectations, and the difficult journey toward self-acceptance. Honest, compassionate, and deeply human, this paperback novel follows one young Black teen’s struggle to understand who he is in a world determined to define him before he can define himself.

Growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina, Kevin Harris constantly feels the pressure to fit into rigid expectations surrounding masculinity, behavior, and identity. As he navigates adolescence, family tensions, school life, friendships, and his emerging sexuality, Kevin finds himself caught between authenticity and the fear of rejection. Every relationship seems to come with unspoken rules about who he should be and how he should act.

But as new friendships begin to challenge Kevin’s understanding of himself and the world around him, he is forced to confront long-buried fears, desires, and truths he has struggled to acknowledge. Through moments of heartbreak, vulnerability, first love, and emotional growth, Kevin slowly begins to realize that becoming himself may require risking the approval of the people around him.

Raw, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded, Becoming Kevin examines the intersection of race, queerness, identity, and emotional resilience with sensitivity and realism. Kyle West crafts a compelling portrait of adolescence that will resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven stories about belonging, authenticity, and personal transformation.

Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 9798196587184