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book_concierge's review
3.0
Digital audiobook performed by Jim Meskimen
This is a humorous coming-of-age story with a bit of a mystery thrown in and featuring an unlikely hero. Will Halpin is deaf, overweight and struggling to make friends in his new school. He's left the safety of "deaf school" and chosen to mainstream at the local public high school, but the teachers can't (or won't) get the hang of always facing him so he can read lips. He is a skilled observer, however, and he jots his notes on his fellow students and teachers in a notebook. His one friend is the uber-dork Devon Smiley, and when the school's quarterback (and all-around jerk) "falls" down a mine shaft on a school field trip, they channel the Hardy Boys to investigate.
I’m glad to see a book that features a main character with a disability, who finds ways to deal effectively in a world that doesn’t always made accommodations for him. Will (and Devon) also have to deal with the usual drama of high school – bullies, the “in” crowd vs the nerds, teachers who don’t really care, unrequited love, and the universally hated showers after gym class.
It's a fast read, and I loved Will & Devon's humor.
Jim Meskimen does a fine job of narrating the audio version. He set a good pace and I was quickly caught up in the story line.
This is a humorous coming-of-age story with a bit of a mystery thrown in and featuring an unlikely hero. Will Halpin is deaf, overweight and struggling to make friends in his new school. He's left the safety of "deaf school" and chosen to mainstream at the local public high school, but the teachers can't (or won't) get the hang of always facing him so he can read lips. He is a skilled observer, however, and he jots his notes on his fellow students and teachers in a notebook. His one friend is the uber-dork Devon Smiley, and when the school's quarterback (and all-around jerk) "falls" down a mine shaft on a school field trip, they channel the Hardy Boys to investigate.
I’m glad to see a book that features a main character with a disability, who finds ways to deal effectively in a world that doesn’t always made accommodations for him. Will (and Devon) also have to deal with the usual drama of high school – bullies, the “in” crowd vs the nerds, teachers who don’t really care, unrequited love, and the universally hated showers after gym class.
It's a fast read, and I loved Will & Devon's humor.
Jim Meskimen does a fine job of narrating the audio version. He set a good pace and I was quickly caught up in the story line.
audreychamaine's review against another edition
4.0
Will Halpin has decided to switch schools, from an all deaf school to a regular public one. However, being new, deaf, and fat doesn't automatically make him a member of the popular crowd. After a trip to the local coal mine leads to the death of the school's BMOC, Will and his new friend, geek Devon, team up Hardy Boys style to try to crack the case. The result is a hilarious, sometimes dangerous adventure that proves to be far more interesting than anything that happened to Will at his old school.
I really enjoyed The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin. The main character shoots off tons of funny one-liners that only we are privy to, as well as hilarious marginalia written in his school notebook. The mystery part of the story isn't too big of a deal, and keeps you somewhat guessing, although I wasn't too concerned with the big reveal. Instead, it was fun to see the chemistry develop between Will and Devon, much to Will's initial chagrin at being matched with the nerdiest kid in his class. It was nice that we get see the world through the perspective of somebody who is deaf, since I haven't seen many books coming from that angle. The story and the way it was told reminded me a *little* bit of Louis Sachar's Holes, but just slightly, and in a good way.
I really enjoyed The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin. The main character shoots off tons of funny one-liners that only we are privy to, as well as hilarious marginalia written in his school notebook. The mystery part of the story isn't too big of a deal, and keeps you somewhat guessing, although I wasn't too concerned with the big reveal. Instead, it was fun to see the chemistry develop between Will and Devon, much to Will's initial chagrin at being matched with the nerdiest kid in his class. It was nice that we get see the world through the perspective of somebody who is deaf, since I haven't seen many books coming from that angle. The story and the way it was told reminded me a *little* bit of Louis Sachar's Holes, but just slightly, and in a good way.
lisaortiz1221's review against another edition
4.0
if you are looking for a really fun and quirky YA mystery with dorks abound, least of all a deaf narrator, then this is the book for you. i had a lot of good laughs over this one and it was a great, quick weekend read.
Will Halpin is definitely not your normal boy. first of all, he’s deaf, but he’s also very intelligent, can read lips with great accuracy and is stubborn enough to want to leave his specialized deaf school to go to the local public high school. this forces him into the unusual position of being an outcast from both communities and he takes it all in stride with his great sense of humor and quick wit. when the local high school celebrity jock is mysteriously killed during a school field trip, Will and his unlikely group of friends, his deaf ex-girlfriend Ebony and Devon, another social outcast who has a “dumb ponytail” and “smells faintly of cheese”, do everything they can to find out whodunnit.
The Smileywagon pulls up to Ebony’s house. She is standing out front waiting for us, basically bouncing on her toes with excitement. Devon looks at her and then me and then her. He mouths, “She’s black.” I palm my cheek and act schocked… Devon still seems a little flustered by her blackitude. (Wasn’t the fact that her name is Ebony some sort of clue, Frank?) He obviously panics as he tries to remember the signs he had learned for the occasion. Then he signs, “Good morning! I am very happy to have us with you.” Nice try, Dev.
the best part of this book for me, hands down, was the ability to witness high school life from the perspective of Will. with his snarky sense of humor and witty tongue, the reader can watch the drama, suspense and hilarity from the sidelines. from the “soud-discriminatory-bell” to the social order of the high school was constantly under Will and Devon’s scrutiny and their cynicism and sarcasm made for some hilarious narrative. through Will’s notebook doodling and text chat conversations, as well as some really great internal monologues, the pages turned one after another with ease.
the writing was simple, suitable for age 12 and up (or so), but the plot and story were deep enough to keep me entertained as an adult. it wasn’t the richest YA novel i’ve ever read, but it was definitely highly entertaining and worth the read. the mystery was a tad predictable, but everything else in between was refreshingly different and made up for it.
if you liked Nancy Drew and/or The Hardy Boys when you were a kid and are looking for something similar, but current, or you just like a light YA read from time to time, i’d definitely recommend The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin.
Will Halpin is definitely not your normal boy. first of all, he’s deaf, but he’s also very intelligent, can read lips with great accuracy and is stubborn enough to want to leave his specialized deaf school to go to the local public high school. this forces him into the unusual position of being an outcast from both communities and he takes it all in stride with his great sense of humor and quick wit. when the local high school celebrity jock is mysteriously killed during a school field trip, Will and his unlikely group of friends, his deaf ex-girlfriend Ebony and Devon, another social outcast who has a “dumb ponytail” and “smells faintly of cheese”, do everything they can to find out whodunnit.
The Smileywagon pulls up to Ebony’s house. She is standing out front waiting for us, basically bouncing on her toes with excitement. Devon looks at her and then me and then her. He mouths, “She’s black.” I palm my cheek and act schocked… Devon still seems a little flustered by her blackitude. (Wasn’t the fact that her name is Ebony some sort of clue, Frank?) He obviously panics as he tries to remember the signs he had learned for the occasion. Then he signs, “Good morning! I am very happy to have us with you.” Nice try, Dev.
the best part of this book for me, hands down, was the ability to witness high school life from the perspective of Will. with his snarky sense of humor and witty tongue, the reader can watch the drama, suspense and hilarity from the sidelines. from the “soud-discriminatory-bell” to the social order of the high school was constantly under Will and Devon’s scrutiny and their cynicism and sarcasm made for some hilarious narrative. through Will’s notebook doodling and text chat conversations, as well as some really great internal monologues, the pages turned one after another with ease.
the writing was simple, suitable for age 12 and up (or so), but the plot and story were deep enough to keep me entertained as an adult. it wasn’t the richest YA novel i’ve ever read, but it was definitely highly entertaining and worth the read. the mystery was a tad predictable, but everything else in between was refreshingly different and made up for it.
if you liked Nancy Drew and/or The Hardy Boys when you were a kid and are looking for something similar, but current, or you just like a light YA read from time to time, i’d definitely recommend The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin.
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
Super cute story. I laughed out loud in several parts. Can't explain it but it reminded me a little of Holes.
nssutton's review against another edition
3.0
I also read this for the Nerds Heart YA book tournament. I'm not going to lie -- I hated it at first. It was like getting splashed in the face after the hot hot heat of Dark Water. I loathe text speak in teen novels and there was a shit ton of it. I wasn't keen on the plot, or the subplot, or the plot that was really the plot when it turned out the party based on a deck of cards wasn't actually the plot.
But I am really fond of Will. The tournament is about discovering books that serve underrepresented populations. I've read my way around all kinds of blocks, but I've never had a first-person, humorous account of what it's like to be hearing impaired. He's hilarious and kind, smart and clever, full of anger but not angry more like just a regular teenager trying to figure his own way out. He has crushes, tries to be a big man whenever a cute girl pays him kindness, kicks himself when he doesn't say the right thing. It's not his fault the implausibility of the plot (and the steam of his counterpart book) held him back for making it to the next round of the tournament.
And I'd like to think he'd be okay with that.
But I am really fond of Will. The tournament is about discovering books that serve underrepresented populations. I've read my way around all kinds of blocks, but I've never had a first-person, humorous account of what it's like to be hearing impaired. He's hilarious and kind, smart and clever, full of anger but not angry more like just a regular teenager trying to figure his own way out. He has crushes, tries to be a big man whenever a cute girl pays him kindness, kicks himself when he doesn't say the right thing. It's not his fault the implausibility of the plot (and the steam of his counterpart book) held him back for making it to the next round of the tournament.
And I'd like to think he'd be okay with that.
bry_z_lee's review against another edition
Horrible book. Characters were described disgustingly.
kevinscorner's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Not because it was exceptionally good or anything like that. It's just that I have always enjoyed mysteries, even simple ones like the one in this book. I particularly love The Hardy Boys and completely understood all the references made in this book. I liked that the author made the protagonist deaf so that added to the story and made the book unique. One minor issue I had was that for a book set in high school with characters in their late teens, the writing was a bit too immature for me and the language and thoughts seemed like it would be more appropriately set in middle school. Overall, it was a fun, quick read.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Funny, ya mystery. Halpin is a deaf student that left his deaf school to be mainstreamed. He ends up entangled in a murder mystery and in true Hardy Boys fashion attempts to solve the crime. Lots of laughs.
dlberglund's review against another edition
3.0
This book was funny, but with a mystery that was much too serious for the tone that was set by the first part of the book. It would have been enough if our main character, Will, had to navigate a new school with a different culture and expectations, a somewhat tense relationship with his father (who can't really speak his language), and hiding a stray dog. Too much goes down, though--not just the mystery of the student's violent death, but several different examples of varieties of relationship abuse that are not fully dealt with. I also had some qualms about a hearing writer with no ties to the Deaf community to be writing a Deaf character. I was mollified a little by a Gallaudet professor who interviewed him and gave him the stamp of approval, but it still seems like he used deafness as a tool in his story. Does he shed some light for hearing readers? Yes, but he was still a little outside of his lane on this one.