Overview

"Thrilling. Positively thrilling." —Kirkus Reviews

Nicolas “Nico” Hall is sixteen when he escapes from Dr. H’s religious gay reprogramming institute in California. On his own, he assumes one identity after another to avoid recapture as he flees south to Peru and then to Mexico.

Seven days older than Nico, Samuel “Sam” Jonas Solomon is a privileged Upper West Side only child who idolizes James Bond. When his heart is broken, he vows that, like Bond, he’s never going to trust in love again. Then he meets Nico, and his heart won’t listen to any logic.

Nico’s survived by living only for himself—until his love for Sam has him risking his freedom for others. Together, Nico and Sam set out to free the other teens trapped in Dr. H’s Institute, plunging readers into perils, drama, and a long‑shot chance at love.

To succeed, they’ll both have to be A Different Kind of Brave.

Reviews

“Be prepared to fall in love with Nico and Sam in Lee Wind’s fast-paced super fun romance adventure. Masterfully told through dual points of view, the story keeps you on the edge of your seat as the teen heroes discover themselves and each other.” —Alex Sanchez, author of Rainbow Boys and You Brought Me the Ocean

“Lee Wind is a longtime booster of gay YA, and boy, has he learned a lot. A Different Kind of Brave is bold, breezy and fun.” —Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club 

“A Different Kind of Brave is a thrilling adventure and romance that gripped me from the first page with a daring escape. Nico and Sam’s story is one of courage and self-discovery that Lee Wind has masterfully told while also paying tribute to James Bond. Readers are going to love this tale of rebellion, standing up for what’s right, the struggle for identity, and young love. I already need the next installment!” —Jeff Adams, author of the Codename: Winger series

“Wind has crafted a successful action-adventure story with a suitably suspenseful, white-knuckle denouement. Fans of the genre will be pleased.” —Booklist

“A Different Kind of Brave is a gem for young adults: not just a high-octane thriller but also a queer romance full of heart and sensuality” —Foreword Reviews

“…I just could not put this book down. Nico’s journey is so stellar and he is such a fascinating character that he more than carried the story for me overall and it makes this a book I can definitely recommend." - Joyfully Jay

Author Biography

Lee Wind is not currently a spy, but he did spend fourteen years undercover (what most people call “in the closet”). Today he writes the books that would have changed his life as a young Gay Jewish kid. He is the author of the nonfiction Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection No Way, They Were Gay? and the novel Publishers Weekly named a top five independently published young adult book of 2018, Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill. He also runs the popular blog I’m Here. I’m Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?—words his teenage self only dreamed of saying. Lee lives in Los Angeles with his husband of more than twenty-five years, and they have a grown daughter. Visit Lee online at leewind.org.