Northern Lights, Raymond Strom
Northern Lights, Raymond Strom
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
Club: $9.97

Northern Lights
A Novel

Author: Raymond Strom

Narrator: Michael Crouch

Unabridged: 7 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/12/2019

Synopsis

A stunning debut novel set in the late 1990s as an androgynous youth arrives in small-town Minnesota, searching for the mother who abandoned him as a childOn a clear morning in the summer of 1997, Shane Stephenson arrives in Holm, Minnesota, with only a few changes of clothes, an old Nintendo, and a few dollars to his name. Reeling from the death of his father, Shane wants to find the mother who abandoned him as an adolescent—hoping to reconnect, but also to better understand himself. Against the backdrop of Minnesota’s rugged wilderness, and a town littered with shuttered shops, graffiti, and crumbling infrastructure, Holm feels wild and dangerous. Holm’s residents, too, are wary of outsiders, and Shane’s long blonde hair and androgynous looks draw attention from a violent and bigoted contingent in town, including the unhinged Sven Svenson. He is drawn in by a group of sympathetic friends in their teens and early twenties, all similarly lost and frequent drug users: the reckless, charming J and his girlfriend Mary; Jenny, a brilliant and beautiful artist who dreams of escaping Holm; and the mysterious loner Russell, with whom Shane, against his better judgment, feels a strange attraction. As Sven’s threats of violence escalate, Shane is forced to choose between his search for his mother, the first true friendships he’s ever had, and a desire to leave both his past and present behind entirely.At its core, Northern Lights is the story of a son searching for his mother, and for a connection with her, dealing with issues of abandonment and forgiveness. But it also addresses the complications, tensions, and dysfunction that can exist in those relationships, presenting an unforgettable world and experience often overlooked, with a new kind of hero to admire.

About Raymond Strom

Raymond Strom is the author of the novel Northern Lights. He was born in Hibbing, Minnesota, and as a child moved from small town to small town in the Midwest. He received his MFA degree from the City College of New York, where he works as an academic adviser and studies romance languages. His writing has appeared in Fiction, Tweed’s, and the New York Times.

About Michael Crouch

Michael Crouch is an actor based in New York City. His audiobook narration has won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, and Best of the Year accolades from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. He can also be heard on national commercials, cartoons, video games, and the animé series Pokémon XY and Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bam cooks the books on February 25, 2019

*4-4.5 stars! Northern Lights is an astoundingly good book for a debut. I can't wait to read more from this author! Shane's uncle kicks him out right after his high school graduation. His uncle doesn't like Shane's pretty long blonde hair or the impression he has that Shane might be gay. With no othe......more

Goodreads review by Mirijam on April 21, 2022

The more you read the more you sink into the life of these characters and feel what they’re going through. Very well written.......more

Goodreads review by Heather on November 25, 2018

First, thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this book. Northern Lights follows Shane as he is looking for his mother, who abandoned him as a child. He heads to Holm, Minnesota because that was her last known address. Upon his arrival in the small town he learns she's moved and n......more

Goodreads review by Donna on April 21, 2019

I was invited to read and review this title by Simon and Schuster and Net Galley. It’s the story of Shane, an orphaned teen whose uncle kicks him goodbye [with my apologies to Shrek] directly following high school graduation. Shane sets off for the small town in Minnesota whence came his only letter......more

Goodreads review by Andrew on November 08, 2018

With the intent of searching for his mother, Shane finds himself caught in the motions of a small, conservative, drug-addled Minnesota town of Holm, the last known place she'd taken up residency. Shane's androgynous looks alone are enough to rattle the townsfolk, even without mention of his sexualit......more

Quotes

“The search for identity, both familial and sexual, is at the core of this outstanding debut…Strom renders their lives with sympathy but not sentimentality, and we come to care deeply for Shane and his friends as the novel moves toward its powerful conclusion.” Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author

“For readers who love coming-of-age stories.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“His depiction of young people in the fictional town of Holm, Minnesota, rings so true…The reader roots for Shane.” St. Paul Pioneer Express (Minnesota)

“Features captivating characters and a plot that could have been mundane in lesser hands, but which never falters in Strom’s. And his prose packs punches in stark and arresting passages.” Free-Lance Star

“Strom’s insightful navigation of family trauma, sexual identity, and small-town despair blends with his chilling depictions of drug abuse. This bleak, unsentimental novel will resonate with readers who like gritty coming-of-age tales.” Publishers Weekly

“Powerful…[Strom] has a sure hand as he addresses such timely issues as identity, sexism, prejudice, drug abuse, conformity, and community from a queer perspective.” Booklist

“Strom paints a portrait of small-town life that is sure to make readers shiver…Shane is heartbreaking, and readers will have a hard time parting with him after the book is over. A powerful depiction of the currency of intolerance and addiction in one small town.” Kirkus Reviews

“Narrator Michael Crouch places listeners inside Strom’s debut novel with subtle vocal inflections that reflect its rural Minnesota setting…Crouch portrays Shane with youthful, even-keeled tones that reflect his uncertainty and increasingly substance-altered days…This thoughtful production reveals consequences that are both tragic and hopeful.” AudioFile

“Deftly captures the knife-edge of addiction, the electricity of first love, and the insatiable search for belonging.” Jessie Chaffee, author of Florence in Ecstasy

“The powerful bonds of at-risk youth are vividly portrayed and movingly rendered. I found myself rooting for this crew of troubled, resourceful kids.” Emily Raboteau, American Book Award–winning author

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