We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(3) Base Camp
Autobiography of My Dead Brother dives deep into some dark and difficult emotions, so thankfully the writing itself describes all the emotional chaos very clearly, making sure readers don't feel as confused as poor Jesse, our leading man.
The biggest stumbling block for most readers will be some of the dialogue, especially amongst the younger characters, who have poetic—but sometimes confusing—ways of talking to each other. For example, when Rise tells Jesse, "I'm looking at you but I'm seeing me and feeling all warm, man. It's about the peace" (8.64), it may take readers a minute or two to understand that he's telling his friend how much he cares. Don't worry, though; these characters have such a way with words that it's totally worth the extra effort.