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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This book was one hell of a ride and it wasn’t heavily focused on swimming, but I expected that. However, I didn’t expect how dark it was, and how relevant it still is to this day, which is the insane thing about it.
Just read two YA novels back to back this evening. Both books I read had back cover blurbs about kids trying to get the jackets that were worn by the kids who rule the school. I wasn't sure how different they would be. The first one was meh. This one--wow. The narrator's voice grabbed me from the get-go. T.J. may be wise beyond his years, but his wisdom is balanced by a more typical teenaged impulsivity and hotheadedness. All characters are distinctly developed, and the interwoven tragedies all hurt my heart. I think if you described the protagonists--multiple victims of abuse, a person of color in Eastern Washington, a one legged guy, fat guy, homeless guy, mute guy and brain damaged guy--you'd think the author was trying too hard. But he makes it work He makes the boringly healthy love interest work. He makes the side story of the little girl with the racist asshole dad work. He brings in domestic violence and freedom of speech. My taste in YA runs towards high fantasy and dystopia, but I will be looking for other works by Crutcher.
Not sure what's up with the white guy on the cover, now that I think of it. Oh well.
Not sure what's up with the white guy on the cover, now that I think of it. Oh well.