This felt like a single, fascinating chapter ripped from a larger, unfinished novel. I was immediately hooked and desperate to know what happens next! For such a short story, the character development in Julie Mannino's *Finley's Path* is impressive. What's truly unfortunate is how the feeling of being 'cut off,' of being treated as different, remains such a widespread experience for gay people, despite all the positive strides we've made. *Finley's Path* also makes you ponder why, even amidst a...

A Great Short Story

This was a fantastic introduction to Finley's journey in "Finley's Path." Right from the start, I was completely captivated by Finley, feeling his pain and struggles as if they were my own. Julie Mannino’s writing is superb, and I'm confident that the next installment will be just as compelling. For anyone looking for great short story book reviews, "Finley's Path" is a must-read!

A great short story!

This is a great short story giving you a little more detail regarding Giblets' background. If you haven't read *The Hunted* yet, then you probably should before reading *Finley's Path*. I look forward to seeing what comes next from Julie Mannino!

Fantastic life lessonsFinley's journey in *Finley's Path* is quite a story! I almost wish it were longer, but I'm thrilled to know there's a sequel coming. Follow Finley as he's thrown out of his village for being gay. It takes real courage to come out, but he doesn't realize the toughest parts of life are only just beginning. He fights so hard for a life free from prejudice. Personally, I think it's awful to be judged for who you are. Julie Mannino has written a really compelling book; highly r...

An absolutely amazing book. When 14-year-old Finley bravely comes out, he's beaten and disowned by the very people who should love and protect him. *Finley's Path* by Julie Mannino is a story of perseverance and incredible bravery, following a young man determined to live the life he dreams of and deserves – through honesty and sheer hard work. This is a powerful and impactful read, unflinchingly showing the struggles Finley faces as he strives to live the life he was born to live. If you're loo...

This book was absolutely worth reading; I loved it! It really captures the challenges teenagers face in real life, especially those who don't know what to expect. It's heartbreaking that Finley was exiled from his own village because they disapproved of his sexuality and youth. He also possesses valuable job skills, which makes his situation even more unfair. Finley definitely has a tough path ahead. It's well-written, and I'm already recommending "Finley's Path" by Julie Mannino to everyone I k...

I appreciate that *Finley's Path* portrays the tough realities some teens experience. Finley's family and community didn't accept his being gay, and he was forced to leave his village. From there, he has to survive on his own, and he meets a boy named Evan who ran away from home to escape his abusive father. Evan is cynical, and while Finley clings to the hope that his future can be bright and hold things like love, Evan thinks that's stupid. He doesn't hesitate to take advantage of people if it...

It's a pretty low blow when a family disowns a 14-year-old for being gay, but sadly, it happens more often than you'd think. That's why you can't help but feel that *Finley's Path* is an allegory for some very real-life struggles. Finley lives in a cold, messed-up world, but what's truly remarkable is his ability to see the moral issues at play as he fights just to survive. A very well-written story by Julie Mannino. Definitely worth a read if you're looking for compelling LGBTQ+ fiction or just...

Intriguing characters in a prequel short story.The story begins with Finley's realization about his sexual orientation and the understanding that he wouldn't be accepted in his village, Taving, because of it. But then his own parents reject him for who he is, and thanks to the Priest, his brother, and Aeron's actions, he's compelled to leave the village. He then meets Evan in another village, puts his carpentry skills to use, and encounters an old granny. How his life transforms after that point...

Julie Mannino's *Finley's Path* serves as a compelling introduction, almost a prologue, to what promises to be a much larger and deeply engaging novel centered around the main character, Finley. At just 14 years old, Finley is cruelly cast out from his village due to his sexual orientation, forcing him to survive on his own. Despite facing immense hardship, he stubbornly clings to his humanity, a quality that will be severely tested when he finds himself in the wrong crowd. The story unfolds in ...