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allysonbogie's review against another edition
5.0
I tried out this book because it was on a list of books you might like if you like Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie. And it was fantastic!
hidingincorners's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't expect to cry, but I definitely did. Beautiful book.
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
Lewis Blake is now forever enshrined in my heart. This kid.
And if we're using fiction to understand and experience, this novel is worth every page. An unregrettable, important read.
And if we're using fiction to understand and experience, this novel is worth every page. An unregrettable, important read.
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
In If I Ever Get Out Of Here, main character Lewis Blake faces yet another lonely year as the only Native American kid in the all-white smart kids’ class at the local junior high school. As a rez kid in 1975 Buffalo, New York, Lewis knows that 7th grade will probably bring more of the same for him — sitting alone, talking to no one all day until he rides the school bus back to the Tuscarora reservation with the kids he grew up with. Much to his surprise, though, one of the new kids from the town military base doesn’t seem to care that they’re from different worlds, and the two boys soon strike up a friendship over their love of the Beatles and Paul McCartney.
But friendship only extends so far. George and his family welcome Lewis into their home and their lives, but Lewis just can’t quite bring himself to return the favor. Lewis lives with his mother and uncle on the reservation in a house that’s literally falling apart around them, and he’s sure that George would drop him in an instant if he ever got a real sense of just how poverty-stricken Lewis really is.
If I Ever Get Out Of Here is both a coming-of-age story and a portrait of Native American life. In it, the author vividly describes the challenges faced by the children of the reservation, who may attend the white schools but know that they’ll never really leave the rez. In this pre-PC world, outright racism is common in the local community, and when Lewis is targeted by a much-feared bully who’s known for his hatred of “Indians”, none of the adults are willing to intervene. It’s up to Lewis to take a stand, and his bravery leads to both triumph and betrayals as the repercussions are felt throughout the school and the town.
Above everything, If I Ever Get Out Of Here celebrates two universal forces for good: Sincere, unwavering friendship, and the power of rock and roll. George and Lewis are good kids with their heads on (mostly) straight, who understand the importance of family, and who’ve grown up in one form of isolation or another. They bond and connect with a sense of trust that moves beyond the barriers of race and economic class. What truly brings them together, however, is the music, and this book is saturated with the delight of discovering something new and true through the grooves of a vinyl album.
Written as a first-person narrative using straight-forward language, If I Ever Get Out Of Here lets us inside Lewis’s head and Lewis’s world, and both are fascinating places to be. As a visit back in time and to a world that most white Americans either can’t or don’t want to see, this book engages the reader’s heart and mind. Lewis is a terrific main character — not a perfect boy by any means, but an overall really good kid who is proud of his people but doesn’t want to be confined by old rules. If I Ever Get Out Of Here vividly captures the dichotomy experienced by the Native American youth who feel a deep sense of belonging within their communities on the reservation — but whose opportunities for better lives lie elsewhere.
I recommend this book for teens and adults alike. The people feel real, the dialogue and events capture the essence of the 1970s, and the music just makes it all come to life. Most of all, it’s a tribute to true friendship — the kind that’s loyal, steadfast, and lifelong — and the difference it can make in a lonely boy’s life.
Review copy courtesy of Scholastic via NetGalley. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My complete review is posted on the Bookshelf Fantasies blog.
But friendship only extends so far. George and his family welcome Lewis into their home and their lives, but Lewis just can’t quite bring himself to return the favor. Lewis lives with his mother and uncle on the reservation in a house that’s literally falling apart around them, and he’s sure that George would drop him in an instant if he ever got a real sense of just how poverty-stricken Lewis really is.
If I Ever Get Out Of Here is both a coming-of-age story and a portrait of Native American life. In it, the author vividly describes the challenges faced by the children of the reservation, who may attend the white schools but know that they’ll never really leave the rez. In this pre-PC world, outright racism is common in the local community, and when Lewis is targeted by a much-feared bully who’s known for his hatred of “Indians”, none of the adults are willing to intervene. It’s up to Lewis to take a stand, and his bravery leads to both triumph and betrayals as the repercussions are felt throughout the school and the town.
Above everything, If I Ever Get Out Of Here celebrates two universal forces for good: Sincere, unwavering friendship, and the power of rock and roll. George and Lewis are good kids with their heads on (mostly) straight, who understand the importance of family, and who’ve grown up in one form of isolation or another. They bond and connect with a sense of trust that moves beyond the barriers of race and economic class. What truly brings them together, however, is the music, and this book is saturated with the delight of discovering something new and true through the grooves of a vinyl album.
Written as a first-person narrative using straight-forward language, If I Ever Get Out Of Here lets us inside Lewis’s head and Lewis’s world, and both are fascinating places to be. As a visit back in time and to a world that most white Americans either can’t or don’t want to see, this book engages the reader’s heart and mind. Lewis is a terrific main character — not a perfect boy by any means, but an overall really good kid who is proud of his people but doesn’t want to be confined by old rules. If I Ever Get Out Of Here vividly captures the dichotomy experienced by the Native American youth who feel a deep sense of belonging within their communities on the reservation — but whose opportunities for better lives lie elsewhere.
I recommend this book for teens and adults alike. The people feel real, the dialogue and events capture the essence of the 1970s, and the music just makes it all come to life. Most of all, it’s a tribute to true friendship — the kind that’s loyal, steadfast, and lifelong — and the difference it can make in a lonely boy’s life.
Review copy courtesy of Scholastic via NetGalley. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My complete review is posted on the Bookshelf Fantasies blog.
bookbeard's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent young adult novel that explores identity, loss, the realities of poverty, and that connection that can be found among true friends. Gansworth writes about the Tuscarora Nation in a way that helps to encapsulate their experiences and complexities, to present them to an audience that is uninformed and understand the meaning behind it.
A great read, and one that will stick with me!
A great read, and one that will stick with me!
mikkelsonch's review against another edition
2.0
The only comparison that can be made to Sherman Alexie is that both authors wrote about contemporary Native Americans. Alexie is a much better writer. Gansworth was long winded with small unimportant details. He also switched from one thing to another in a very short amount of time that was annoying. It took me a long time to read partly because I wasn't that motivated to come back to it and partly because a new season of Walking Dead came out on Netflix and I had to binge watch it.
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
Good story for jr high readers. All about fitting in and finding friends.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
5.0
Lewis “Shoe” Blake struggles to fit in within two seemingly different worlds. He lives on the Tuscarora Indian reservation but attends school off of the reservation where he feels like he is invisible. In this not-so-historical text set in 1975, readers will consider themes of class, identity, friendship, and music.