The dedication in Bill Konisgberg’s new novel, Destination Unknown, really hit home for me. Konigsberg writes: “To my friends who didn’t make it to the 21st century. I miss you.” I find this to be an incredibly poignant dedication in a novel that dives into the realties of navigating everyday life as a queer person—in particular, as a gay teen—during the AIDS epidemic, which Konigsberg himself lived through. I’ve never really had reason to flip back to a dedication while reading a book, but I did with this one.
Destination Unknown follows the life of high-school student Micah in New York City in 1987. Micah is introverted and self-conscious, and his life is turned upside down when he meets CJ, a boy who first appears with pink highlights in his hair and wearing a plexiglass bra. CJ seems to embody everything that Micah wishes he was as a closeted gay teenager and, despite their differences, they become fast friends.
With CJ, Micah learns about the rich community of queer people that exists and what his life could be like if he opened up. The trouble for Micah is that he lives in constant fear of entering into an intimate relationship for fear of contracting HIV.
I like how Konigsberg approached Micah’s fear and how the character slowly realizes that you can’t live your life in fear. Micah comes to trust the safety measures one can take to prevent the spread of HIV and he learns what people with AIDS go through, the government’s inaction, and how to make his voice heard.
Both Micah and CJ feel so real—they could easily be someone the reader knows. They come from such different backgrounds and have extremely different experiences with their own place within the queer community. I loved seeing Micah’s increasing involvement in the community and growth as a person, especially how it affected his coming-out journey.
This book changed my life. I read the last few chapters through a constant flow of tears and am so incredibly grateful to Konigsberg for sharing this book with the world.
Do yourself a favour and let this story into your life—you’ll be glad you did.