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caitlin_26's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
missusb21's review against another edition
4.0
Wry - turns in on itself so clever too. Also sad. But hopeful. I think. I remain.
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
I bought Sprout quite a few years ago, but just never got around to reading. Having now read it, I so wish I had picked it up when I first bought it! Sprout is a brilliant, moving and witty story of one boy's less than perfect life.
At 12, after the death of his mother, Sprout's father up sticks and drags Sprout from his home and friends in New York all the way to a town the middle of nowhere, Kansas. Four years of being the new guy and suffering taunts because of it, when Ty starts at his school he couldn't be happier; someone else to take the flak. Little does Sprout know that Ty will come to mean more to him than reprieve from the bullying.
There is so much more to Sprout than what I said above, but quite a few things happen that summarising it all would be pretty difficult. Sprout is such a fantastic character; he has such a unique voice with his observations, his love of language, and his wit. His humour is such that it covers up the elements of his life that would ordinarily be quite heavy; his alcoholic father who behaves eccentrically and can't seem to get over his grief for his dead wife, Sprout's own grief, his issues over coming out about his sexuality, and his first sexual experiences. Sprout makes light of it all with his witty turns of phrase, and it doesn't even occur to you until later that, wow, Sprout has a difficult life.
Sprout is gay, and he doesn't have a problem with it. However, he doesn't want to come out at school. He feels if he did, he will be labelled. Without coming right out and saying it, Sprout doesn't want to be defined by his sexuality. As he says to his friend Ruthie:
Sprout's Dad knows he's gay, but doesn't want to know, doesn't want to talk about it, and treats his sexuality with something close to the saying "out of sight, out of mind" - if they don't talk about it, then he can pretend it's not true. Saying that, he does care in his own way. It's pretty telling when he leaves a condom and a note for Sprout in his room saying, '"I don’t want to know. But I don’t want you dead either."' (p135) It may not show it so well out of context, but in context, this was one of the sweetest things! His Dad is deeply troubled, but despite that, and despite not being pro-Sprout-being-gay, he doesn't disown him or shut him out, he still loves him and remembers to be a responsible father, wanting to keep his son safe. This simple action brought tears to my eyes because of what it meant.
Sprout is also the first book I have read for LGBTQ YA Month where the main character is gay that actually covers sex between same-sex couples, and I only realised it when Sprout started discussing his sexual experiences. I found it quite surprising, not because of the sex itself, but because it's the first book to even really mention it in any serious way. The Perks of Being a Wallflower made small mentions to cruising, but this is the first book that actually really talks about it. We never see Sprout having sex, and nor is it discussed gratuitously or graphically, but is talked about with pretty much the same attitude and tone as non-LGBTQ YA romances would discuss sex. What I mean by that is it doesn't come across as gay sex - homosexual sex is different from heterosexual sex, we know that, and there are small references to this, but on the whole, it's just teenagers first experiencing sex, Sprout's sexuality not really making a difference to the universal thoughts and feelings surrounding a teen's first time:
There's so much more in this book too. The wonderful relationship between Mrs. Millar and Sprout, the issues of sexual confusion and self-disgust that are also covered. I would have liked more about Sprout's friend Ruthie and the bully Ian Abernathy, they seem to have their own issues, and it would have been great if we got more of their stories. I was left a little confused by the ending, but overall, Sprout is such a beautiful story, at times heartbreaking, but with so much humour and insight. Its an amazing book, and I couldn't recommend it enough.
I bought Sprout quite a few years ago, but just never got around to reading. Having now read it, I so wish I had picked it up when I first bought it! Sprout is a brilliant, moving and witty story of one boy's less than perfect life.
At 12, after the death of his mother, Sprout's father up sticks and drags Sprout from his home and friends in New York all the way to a town the middle of nowhere, Kansas. Four years of being the new guy and suffering taunts because of it, when Ty starts at his school he couldn't be happier; someone else to take the flak. Little does Sprout know that Ty will come to mean more to him than reprieve from the bullying.
There is so much more to Sprout than what I said above, but quite a few things happen that summarising it all would be pretty difficult. Sprout is such a fantastic character; he has such a unique voice with his observations, his love of language, and his wit. His humour is such that it covers up the elements of his life that would ordinarily be quite heavy; his alcoholic father who behaves eccentrically and can't seem to get over his grief for his dead wife, Sprout's own grief, his issues over coming out about his sexuality, and his first sexual experiences. Sprout makes light of it all with his witty turns of phrase, and it doesn't even occur to you until later that, wow, Sprout has a difficult life.
Sprout is gay, and he doesn't have a problem with it. However, he doesn't want to come out at school. He feels if he did, he will be labelled. Without coming right out and saying it, Sprout doesn't want to be defined by his sexuality. As he says to his friend Ruthie:
'"I don't want to be that guy, okay? The gay guy. The token homosexual. The school fag. I don't want to try out for every stupid school musical, wear pink triangle pins, and start a letter-writing campaign to bring my boyfriend to prom. I just want to be me."' (p115)
Sprout's Dad knows he's gay, but doesn't want to know, doesn't want to talk about it, and treats his sexuality with something close to the saying "out of sight, out of mind" - if they don't talk about it, then he can pretend it's not true. Saying that, he does care in his own way. It's pretty telling when he leaves a condom and a note for Sprout in his room saying, '"I don’t want to know. But I don’t want you dead either."' (p135) It may not show it so well out of context, but in context, this was one of the sweetest things! His Dad is deeply troubled, but despite that, and despite not being pro-Sprout-being-gay, he doesn't disown him or shut him out, he still loves him and remembers to be a responsible father, wanting to keep his son safe. This simple action brought tears to my eyes because of what it meant.
Sprout is also the first book I have read for LGBTQ YA Month where the main character is gay that actually covers sex between same-sex couples, and I only realised it when Sprout started discussing his sexual experiences. I found it quite surprising, not because of the sex itself, but because it's the first book to even really mention it in any serious way. The Perks of Being a Wallflower made small mentions to cruising, but this is the first book that actually really talks about it. We never see Sprout having sex, and nor is it discussed gratuitously or graphically, but is talked about with pretty much the same attitude and tone as non-LGBTQ YA romances would discuss sex. What I mean by that is it doesn't come across as gay sex - homosexual sex is different from heterosexual sex, we know that, and there are small references to this, but on the whole, it's just teenagers first experiencing sex, Sprout's sexuality not really making a difference to the universal thoughts and feelings surrounding a teen's first time:
'"Because it's not just about flesh. Bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. There's an alchemy that happens during sex that causes 1 + 1 to add up to so much more than 2, even as those halves meld in an almost magical way to form a single unit that's more complete than either of them alone. I don't know, maybe it's just endorphins, but I've run an entire marathon and it didn't make me feel that good... And so anyway, yeah: sex. Awesome."' (p235-236)
There's so much more in this book too. The wonderful relationship between Mrs. Millar and Sprout, the issues of sexual confusion and self-disgust that are also covered. I would have liked more about Sprout's friend Ruthie and the bully Ian Abernathy, they seem to have their own issues, and it would have been great if we got more of their stories. I was left a little confused by the ending, but overall, Sprout is such a beautiful story, at times heartbreaking, but with so much humour and insight. Its an amazing book, and I couldn't recommend it enough.
iguana_mama's review against another edition
4.0
Cross posted at Shelf Inflicted and at Outlaw Reviews
Daniel Bradford (aka Sprout) is the new boy in school. He moved from Long Island to rural Kansas with his alcoholic father when he was twelve.
He dyes his hair green, has a way with words, makes new friends, and even finds a boyfriend.
This story was a little funny and a little sad. It dredged up some of my own painful memories of moving from the “Big City” to "the Country"). I can totally relate to Sprout's feelings about having to adapt to a whole new way of life in a small town, his inability to fit in, and difficulty making friends.
At first, I felt Sprout’s voice was too adult and his vocabulary a little too advanced. As the story progressed, and I became closer to the character, I found him more believable. Because of his circumstances, Sprout has had to grow up a little faster than his peers with more ideal home situations.
Sprout is a quirky and, at times, sarcastic character. I liked being a part of his thought process, learning about his friends, his family, his teachers, and seeing him mature.
This is a great story for young and old alike. Those who have a hard time “fitting in” will surely relate.
Daniel Bradford (aka Sprout) is the new boy in school. He moved from Long Island to rural Kansas with his alcoholic father when he was twelve.
He dyes his hair green, has a way with words, makes new friends, and even finds a boyfriend.
This story was a little funny and a little sad. It dredged up some of my own painful memories of moving from the “Big City” to "the Country"). I can totally relate to Sprout's feelings about having to adapt to a whole new way of life in a small town, his inability to fit in, and difficulty making friends.
At first, I felt Sprout’s voice was too adult and his vocabulary a little too advanced. As the story progressed, and I became closer to the character, I found him more believable. Because of his circumstances, Sprout has had to grow up a little faster than his peers with more ideal home situations.
Sprout is a quirky and, at times, sarcastic character. I liked being a part of his thought process, learning about his friends, his family, his teachers, and seeing him mature.
This is a great story for young and old alike. Those who have a hard time “fitting in” will surely relate.
elianamargalit's review against another edition
5.0
Can I give this book six out of five stars? Because it deserved it.
This whole book just felt very genuine and very personal. I felt myself becoming addicted to Sprout's story and his witty way of writing. I even had enough of a connection with this book that I forgave the few loose ends that weren't tied up at the end of the book.
On one hand, I would love a sequel to this book, but on the other hand, I worry that a sequel wouldn't continue Sprout's story in a way that I would find satisfactory, so maybe it's better if I just let myself imagine what happens next.
Absolutely everyone should read this book.
This whole book just felt very genuine and very personal. I felt myself becoming addicted to Sprout's story and his witty way of writing. I even had enough of a connection with this book that I forgave the few loose ends that weren't tied up at the end of the book.
On one hand, I would love a sequel to this book, but on the other hand, I worry that a sequel wouldn't continue Sprout's story in a way that I would find satisfactory, so maybe it's better if I just let myself imagine what happens next.
Absolutely everyone should read this book.
matokah's review against another edition
4.0
It's interesting how a book can be at both times affecting and totally off-putting.
At its core, Sprout is a coming of age novel about a boy who's been uprooted from his East Coast home after the death of his mother. His father takes him to Kansas (although the choice of location was likely and primarily unplanned on his dad's part due to his grieving). From the age of 12 onwards, Sprout gets to acclimate to Midwestern conservative lifestyles around him, all while knowing he's a little different from the rest of his classmates.
This book gets four stars for the beginning and ending thirds. The beginning was engaging and interesting. The end left me reeling a bit on an emotional level.
Unfortunately, the middle of the book, though not poorly written or devised, got me a bit stuck. There's only so much angsty hipster teenage voice I can take before I just start remembering why I'm glad I'm no longer one.
Also, the gay teen in the closet - alcoholic father - motherless child spiels are all a bit cliche to me by now. I think Dale Peck did a good job of freshening them up and making them work for Sprout, but in some ways I wish he would've developed the relationship between father and son a little differently, with a bit more panache.
Overall though, if you're looking to read an LGBT-themed book where being gay is not the central focus of the novel, this one's mostly a winner. It's nice to see LGBT characters portrayed in a novel for purposes other than parading around their sexual orientation and making them out to be fundamentally different in some way than their straight classmates.
Kudos to Peck for creating a character gay teens can relate to, likely without ostracizing straight teens in the process.
At its core, Sprout is a coming of age novel about a boy who's been uprooted from his East Coast home after the death of his mother. His father takes him to Kansas (although the choice of location was likely and primarily unplanned on his dad's part due to his grieving). From the age of 12 onwards, Sprout gets to acclimate to Midwestern conservative lifestyles around him, all while knowing he's a little different from the rest of his classmates.
This book gets four stars for the beginning and ending thirds. The beginning was engaging and interesting. The end left me reeling a bit on an emotional level.
Unfortunately, the middle of the book, though not poorly written or devised, got me a bit stuck. There's only so much angsty hipster teenage voice I can take before I just start remembering why I'm glad I'm no longer one.
Also, the gay teen in the closet - alcoholic father - motherless child spiels are all a bit cliche to me by now. I think Dale Peck did a good job of freshening them up and making them work for Sprout, but in some ways I wish he would've developed the relationship between father and son a little differently, with a bit more panache.
Overall though, if you're looking to read an LGBT-themed book where being gay is not the central focus of the novel, this one's mostly a winner. It's nice to see LGBT characters portrayed in a novel for purposes other than parading around their sexual orientation and making them out to be fundamentally different in some way than their straight classmates.
Kudos to Peck for creating a character gay teens can relate to, likely without ostracizing straight teens in the process.
beecheralyson's review against another edition
4.0
Slow start but enjoyed Daniel/Sprout's transformation over time and what he learned. Really a 3.5 but no half stars so I bumped up to a 4.
jkh107's review against another edition
4.0
Complex and interesting. A coming of age tale about a green-haired gay boy who lives in an ivy-covered trailer with his alcoholic father, and becomes involved with an abused neighbor. Overall excellent but I found the ending somewhat abrupt and hanging.