Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Before St. Ignatius, there was Clarkstown North.

Before the secret kisses, rivalries, and friendships that would shape his future, Blair Cohen was just a quiet boy from Congers, New York—an outsider trying to survive the harsh world of high school.

At Clarkstown North, Blair filled his notebooks with poetry and sketches—private worlds where he could hide from the noise of crowded hallways and the cruelty of his classmates. But everything changed when Wally, the school’s golden-boy athlete, spread a lie that outed Blair before he was ready. What started as whispers turned into public humiliation, ending in Blair’s expulsion and a devastating fracture in his sense of belonging.

The Book of Blair tells the story of those crucial years before St. Ignatius, where one boy’s struggle against betrayal, shame, and isolation set the stage for the battles to come. It is a raw and emotional prequel about innocence lost, the weight of secrets, and the beginnings of a resilience that could not be broken.

Powerful, poignant, and deeply human, this installment in the Catholic School Boys in Trouble series reminds us that every legend has an origin story—and Blair’s began long before anyone knew his name.

Perfect for fans of LGBTQ+ coming-of-age stories, high school drama, and emotional journeys of self-discovery.

 

Book Review

Book Three of the ‘Catholic School Boys in Trouble’ series, ‘The Book of Blair’, is a transition point, an exercise of change of pace and style.

 

Readers should approach this portion as might an archeologist' of literature. While the first four  volumes of the series seem to have been published in close succession, it is reasonable to wonder why Blair's early life, predating his time at St. Ignatius, is placed third. Surely, this was the author's choice. And perhaps not totally uncommon if one is aware of the new theater-based movie – Merrily We Roll Along, the narrative of which presented with a reverse chronology, resulting in some critical wonderment.

 

Nonetheless, Book Three is transitional. It is well-structured and interesting and will be valuable to readers by adding weight to understanding Blair's character. With thorough character analyses and interactions, it provides more nourishment to Blair's past. But, odd how this portion is both free-standing, yet integral. Is it essential?

 

Blair was solitary – no parties, no dating, he didn't flirt or joke. Yet, against the odds, he became part of a constellation of public-school friends: Johnny, reckless, magnetic and allergic to authority; Donny, who was a constant source of energy and sarcasm; and Nadine – sharp-tongued, sharp-eyed, and endlessly composed. Then, beyond expectation, on the side there was Wally McKenna, beautiful to look at and a very popular athlete, who seemed created just to be followed. When Wally started to notice Blair, the ground under Blair shook.

 

In Book Three, author Butler offers lovely character studies, while word-painting a suburban town in New York State, but with the universal high school caveat that “if you were different, the school didn't necessarily hurt you. It just didn't catch you when you fell.”

 

Young Blair is beautifully parsed. His hometown is presented for its contribution to his character, as so are his compatriots. This book is the tale of transition, from loner, from sexually questioning, from one school to another. Life becomes unsettling – and Blair ceases to be invisible. Even Blair acknowledges that being himself was only something to survive.

 

Notice: Were this a stand-alone book, this reviewer might parse it senseless. But if you have consumed Books One and Two, it is highly recommended you directly enjoy the what and why offered in this volume, and experience the self-abasement, guilt, confusion, and exposure typical to many adolescents. Hopefully, readers should require no further inducement from me, Bob-O-Link.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novella, 140 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	23-August-2025
Price	$4.99 ebook, $10.99 paperback, $14.99 hardcover
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-School-Boys-Trouble-Blair-ebook/dp/B0FNLTBX56