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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I loved the voice in this book. Norris is funny, even if obnoxious sometimes. I needed something on the lighter side and this fit the bill.
Solid YA high school tropes interspersed with a few original jokes and deep thinking.
I am truly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Norris is bitter, sarcastic, and often the outsider. A lot of people call him unlikable and I'm not sure I would call him that but that is probably because I saw a lot of myself in him, but many would probably call me unlikeable.
High school can be hard and messy and at the end of the day most are just trying their best, and this is well deserving of the Morris award.
High school can be hard and messy and at the end of the day most are just trying their best, and this is well deserving of the Morris award.
Gut Instinct Rating: 3.5
Characters: 5
Believability: 4.5
Uniqueness: 4.5
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 4
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.39
Characters: 5
Believability: 4.5
Uniqueness: 4.5
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 4
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.39
I am very glad this is on the NC High School Battle of the Books list. It was an entertaining read.
Black French Canadian teenager...mom moves him from Canada to Texas.
About the high school experience, about trying to be invisible when that's not possible...about forging new friendships and relationships and then blowing it completely...about making amends.
A good quick read and captures the teen voice well.
About the high school experience, about trying to be invisible when that's not possible...about forging new friendships and relationships and then blowing it completely...about making amends.
A good quick read and captures the teen voice well.
I loved it. There was humour, drama, hockey, and a REALISTIC ending. I will recommend this to many patrons.
"'Liam says that no one is normal. He says we're all just different flavors of fucked-up, hiding it as best as we can. I'm starting to think that maybe he was right.'"
Norris is one of those characters that I couldn't decide if I loved or hated. I ultimately ended up on the loved side, but he is one tough cookie. Norris and his mom have just moved from Canada to Austin, Texas, and Norris is not prepared for what Austin is really like. It's hot, the people are not what he was used to in Canada, and even though he knows racism is a bigger problem in the United States, Norris isn't fully prepared for what he experiences at high school. Norris has a lot to say and virtually no filter, so he often finds himself in uncomfortable situations.
Enter the notebook Norris uses to jot down notes of what life is like in Austin. I really enjoyed reading the notes from Norris' notebook at the beginning of each chapter. This was such a fun and unique twist on introducing new characters and situations. I'm not the biggest fan of third person narration and after a while, this kind of drove me crazy. Yet, it somehow worked for this story. I really appreciated this story of what life in the U.S. is like to those who immigrate here, especially in high school. This was a unique perspective, and one I really enjoyed reading.
This is a very solid young adult novel. I would recommend this book for older young adult readers due to some underage drinking and references to watching porn (nothing graphic).
TW: divorce, parental abandonment, racism, bullying, cheating, alcohol (underage drinking and drunkenness)
Norris is one of those characters that I couldn't decide if I loved or hated. I ultimately ended up on the loved side, but he is one tough cookie. Norris and his mom have just moved from Canada to Austin, Texas, and Norris is not prepared for what Austin is really like. It's hot, the people are not what he was used to in Canada, and even though he knows racism is a bigger problem in the United States, Norris isn't fully prepared for what he experiences at high school. Norris has a lot to say and virtually no filter, so he often finds himself in uncomfortable situations.
Enter the notebook Norris uses to jot down notes of what life is like in Austin. I really enjoyed reading the notes from Norris' notebook at the beginning of each chapter. This was such a fun and unique twist on introducing new characters and situations. I'm not the biggest fan of third person narration and after a while, this kind of drove me crazy. Yet, it somehow worked for this story. I really appreciated this story of what life in the U.S. is like to those who immigrate here, especially in high school. This was a unique perspective, and one I really enjoyed reading.
This is a very solid young adult novel. I would recommend this book for older young adult readers due to some underage drinking and references to watching porn (nothing graphic).
TW: divorce, parental abandonment, racism, bullying, cheating, alcohol (underage drinking and drunkenness)
Funny and sweet and sometimes realistically frustrating, with a stellar voice and an ending that felt earned.
Super enjoyed that! I laughed a few times, and it brought me back to my YA glory days when it seemed like these ultra clever/witty bits of brain candy of were coming out at a greater clip.