Overview

An anomaly in space has stopped in Earth’s path in a way not accounted for by astronomical physics. Is it aliens? With only six days before inevitable contact, newly married teen spies Nicolas “Nico” Hall and Samuel “Sam” Solomon are enlisted to investigate—each young man sworn to secrecy even from the other. 

Nico is in the field looking for answers and tracking a mysterious Person of Interest. Sam is working first contact scenarios on the thirteenth floor of a Manhattan building that doesn’t officially have a thirteenth floor. And they're both wondering if the rules of love change if it’s the end of the world. 

As humanity slips into the grip of alien invasion panic, Nico and Sam realize they're going to have to work together to save the world—and their marriage. 

Reviews

"Thrilling. Positively thrilling." —Kirkus Reviews

“Lee Wind is a longtime booster of gay YA, and boy, has he learned a lot. A Different Kind of Brave is bold, breezy and fun.” —Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club 

“A Different Kind of Brave is a thrilling adventure and romance that gripped me from the first page with a daring escape. Nico and Sam’s story is one of courage and self-discovery that Lee Wind has masterfully told while also paying tribute to James Bond. Readers are going to love this tale of rebellion, standing up for what’s right, the struggle for identity, and young love. I already need the next installment!” —Jeff Adams, author of the Codename: Winger series

“Be prepared to fall in love with Nico and Sam in Lee Wind’s fast-paced super fun romance adventure. Masterfully told through dual points of view, the story keeps you on the edge of your seat as the teen heroes discover themselves and each other.” —Alex Sanchez, author of Rainbow Boys and You Brought Me the Ocean

Author Biography

Lee Wind is not currently a spy. Mind you, he never was a spy. But he did spend fourteen years undercover (what most people call “in the closet”). So now he writes the books that would have changed his life as a Gay Jewish kid and teen. Lee is the award-winning author of nonfiction for ages eleven and up (No Way, They Were Gay? and The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie), picture books (including Like That Eleanor and Love of the Half-Eaten Peach), and YA novels (Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill and A Different Kind of Brave). To help go on the offense against book banning, Lee cocreated the national campaign We Are Stronger than Censorship, which buys and donates two books to offset every one book challenge. He also runs the popular blog I’m Here. I’m Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?—words his teenage self only dreamed of saying. Visit Lee online at leewind.org.

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A Different Kind of Brave ›

By Lee Wind

Trade Paper

Published Mar 2024

"Thrilling. Positively thrilling." —Kirkus Reviews

Nicolas “Nico” Hall is sixteen when he escapes from Dr. H’s religious gay reprogramming institute in California. On his own, he assumes one identity after another to avoid recapture as he flees south to Peru and then to Mexico.

Seven days older than Nico, Samuel “Sam” Jonas Solomon is a privileged Upper West Side only child who idolizes James Bond. When his heart is broken, he vows that, like Bond, he’s never going to trust in love again. Then he meets Nico, and his heart won’t listen to any logic.

Nico’s survived by living only for himself—until his love for Sam has him risking his freedom for others. Together, Nico and Sam set out to free the other teens trapped in Dr. H’s Institute, plunging readers into perils, drama, and a long‑shot chance at love.

To succeed, they’ll both have to be A Different Kind of Brave.

A Different Kind of Brave ›

By Lee Wind

PDF

Published Mar 2024

"Thrilling. Positively thrilling." —Kirkus Reviews

Nicolas “Nico” Hall is sixteen when he escapes from Dr. H’s religious gay reprogramming institute in California. On his own, he assumes one identity after another to avoid recapture as he flees south to Peru and then to Mexico.

Seven days older than Nico, Samuel “Sam” Jonas Solomon is a privileged Upper West Side only child who idolizes James Bond. When his heart is broken, he vows that, like Bond, he’s never going to trust in love again. Then he meets Nico, and his heart won’t listen to any logic.

Nico’s survived by living only for himself—until his love for Sam has him risking his freedom for others. Together, Nico and Sam set out to free the other teens trapped in Dr. H’s Institute, plunging readers into perils, drama, and a long‑shot chance at love.

To succeed, they’ll both have to be A Different Kind of Brave.

A Different Kind of Brave ›

By Lee Wind

EPUB

Published Mar 2024

"Thrilling. Positively thrilling." —Kirkus Reviews

Nicolas “Nico” Hall is sixteen when he escapes from Dr. H’s religious gay reprogramming institute in California. On his own, he assumes one identity after another to avoid recapture as he flees south to Peru and then to Mexico.

Seven days older than Nico, Samuel “Sam” Jonas Solomon is a privileged Upper West Side only child who idolizes James Bond. When his heart is broken, he vows that, like Bond, he’s never going to trust in love again. Then he meets Nico, and his heart won’t listen to any logic.

Nico’s survived by living only for himself—until his love for Sam has him risking his freedom for others. Together, Nico and Sam set out to free the other teens trapped in Dr. H’s Institute, plunging readers into perils, drama, and a long‑shot chance at love.

To succeed, they’ll both have to be A Different Kind of Brave.

A Different Kind of Enemy ›

By Lee Wind

PDF

Estimated Release Date May 2026

An anomaly in space has stopped in Earth’s path in a way not accounted for by astronomical physics. Is it aliens? With only six days before inevitable contact, newly married teen spies Nicolas “Nico” Hall and Samuel “Sam” Solomon are enlisted to investigate—each young man sworn to secrecy even from the other. 

Nico is in the field looking for answers and tracking a mysterious Person of Interest. Sam is working first contact scenarios on the thirteenth floor of a Manhattan building that doesn’t officially have a thirteenth floor. And they're both wondering if the rules of love change if it’s the end of the world. 

As humanity slips into the grip of alien invasion panic, Nico and Sam realize they're going to have to work together to save the world—and their marriage.