Hurt Patrol (Mary McKinley)

Release Date: March 31st 2015

Synopsis:

Give me your nerds, your freaks, your huddled outcasts yearning to breathe free. Stick them in Boy Scout uniforms and you’ll have the Hurt Patrol—a sorry bunch of teen rejects who will never make Eagle.

Welcome to the club

Beau has been scouting since first grade. Not because he loves it, but because his dad does. It’s the only thing they’ve ever bonded over, what with Beau’s dad being into sports, beer, and brawling. So when they move to yet another Midwest town, Beau expects the usual Boy Scout experience, filled with horribleness and insults. Instead he finds something else entirely. Kicked out of every other patrol, their little band of brothers is equal parts nuts and awesome. For the first time, people are watching Beau’s back instead of throwing things at it. Nice. Novel. And also necessary, when you’re dealing with parents splitting up, crushes, first love, and coming out.
The first—and only—rule of Hurt Patrol: We are never going to win—but if you’re outcast elsewhere, you’ll do just fine here.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I requested this book as soon as I read the word 'Scout' in the synopsis. I don't think I have ever read a book about Scouts, at least not one that sticks with you as much as this one does.
From the very first page I was completely invested and in love with the characters. They felt so real to me, especially Beau, the main character whose story we follow. He is incredibly flawed and perfect in the best way, one of the most amazing and honest characters I have ever read about. His personality is so sweet and just the idea of him breaks your heart, but, by the end, glues it back into one piece (almost). I loved seeing his growth and development that was surprisingly grand given the size of this story. All the other characters had their own quirks and Mary Mckinley did an amazing job with each one, making us love them and loathe them in equal mesure. Not to mention that his relationship with his parents was one of the most heartbreaking parts of the book, right next to the one with Pete and Jewels, his best friends at the time of the narrative. These parts broke my heart over and over and I didn't even mind.
The story was beautiful and funny and writen with just the right amout of wit and humour to hook you until the end. Like I mentioned, the Scouts plot line was a pretty main one and was astonishingly dealt with. Not only did I learn a lot about the Boy Scouts of America, but also created an emotional connection with everything attached to them. It oppened the doors for wonderful character growth and internal change and discovery. This relates to Beau's realization of his true sexuality and what comes after that, which makes of The Hurt Patrol one of the best coming out books of my reading experiences.
I really adored Mary Mckinley's storytelling style, so I will absolutely try to get my hands on her other books, particularly Rusty Summer and Beau, Lee, The Bomb, and Me, as I reckon there is still a lot to this little story to be told - and I need to know it.
A must read for YA contemporary fans and Scouts all over the world.