The starboard sea, by Amber Dermont

This first novel is set at the seaside Bellingham Academy, the prep school of last resort – where those wealthy and privileged kids are sent when they flunk out or act out of more prestigious prep schools.  Jason Prosper’s best friend, roommate, and sailing companion, Cal, has committed suicide in their junior year at Kensington and Jason both misses him intensely and feels responsible for his death.  Sent to Bellingham by his father, he meets the similarly damaged girl, Aiden, and they begin a curious relationship which leads to further tragedy.  The sailing scenes are marvelous and obviously written from deep knowledge of sailing and competitive racing.  I’m sure the prep school dynamics will also ring true to those who have that background.  But it as a study of coming to terms with one’s sexuality that the book will succeed for most readers.   308 pp.