Clay's Way

Clay's Way is the debut novel of American writer Blair Mastbaum. Released in 2004 by Alyson Books, the novel, which won theLambda Literary Prize for debut fiction, follows 16-year-old gay skateboarder Sam and the object of his affection, conflicted surfer Clay around their island home of Oahu, Hawaii. Set in contemporary time, the novel has been praised for its realistic teenage vernacular and its honest portrayal of gay teens. John Rechy (City of Night) quoted the book as being a "gay Catcher in the Rye," Susanna Moore (In the Cut) called the book, "sexy, thrilling, terrifying, shrilling, milling, willing" and Thorn Hillsbery called the book, "Sick."