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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager is a funny and honest story about how major life changes and adolescence really mess with your head. I’m a big fan of all things Montreal and I was a midwestern transplant to Austin for 3 years, so all of the stereotype jokes kept me quite entertained as the author frequently used them as a way the main character, Norris, tried to interact with the world when he was unhappy or scared — by assigning everyone a box to fit in and a role to play.
Philippe also makes some great references to traditional teen movies and stories dating WAYYYYY back. They may go over the heads of some teens, but he does a beautiful job of keeping his characters from repeating the expectations of the well established coming-of-age genre.
Philippe also makes some great references to traditional teen movies and stories dating WAYYYYY back. They may go over the heads of some teens, but he does a beautiful job of keeping his characters from repeating the expectations of the well established coming-of-age genre.
Really more 4.5 but really a great story! I hope to see more from Ben Philippe!
ben philippe teaches screenwriting, according to his author bio, and that shows; he really excels at quick snappy dialogue that made me laugh out loud a few times, while the descriptive part of the prose is a little weaker for sure. this book wasn't groundbreaking, but i don't think it was trying to be; what it ended up being was a lot of fun! it was incredibly entertaining & i liked the characters quite a bit (particularly norris, madison, and liam). the plot was... rather predictably cliche... but i'm more inclined to let that slide with ownvoices books because usually the only people who get a turn on the cliches are white cishet abled people, so there we are. my tl;dr is that my family read this over winter break as part of our Family Book Club TM and it was just. a fun time
4.5
I absolutely loved this book! I thought the field guide aspect was just a different format as the reader. And as someone who has lived in Austin, I enjoyed the commentary that much more!
I absolutely loved this book! I thought the field guide aspect was just a different format as the reader. And as someone who has lived in Austin, I enjoyed the commentary that much more!
I was expecting The Field Guide to the North American Teenager to be funnier than it was. However, I did enjoy it, and I think that teen boys will, too. I appreciated the character's development and the chapter headings, but my favorite part was definitely the author acknowledgements. (And I kept imagining Madison as the character Rhiannon from Easy A, played by Aly Michalka.)
Just as a premise, I’m a Canadian who thrived while reading all of the stereotypes both, Canadian and American. I read 50% of the book in one sitting and could not put it down. Norris’ personality, narration, and quips with the other characters was so freaking funny that I nearly burst it out laughing at times.
All of the side/secondary characters stood out and were entertaining to read. Madison is my fave. She’s a queen. Mr. Goade always made me laugh when he appeared. There was a potential love triangle that didn’t bother me (which is saying something since I hate love triangles with a burning passion).
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. I would happily read it again.
All of the side/secondary characters stood out and were entertaining to read. Madison is my fave. She’s a queen. Mr. Goade always made me laugh when he appeared. There was a potential love triangle that didn’t bother me (which is saying something since I hate love triangles with a burning passion).
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. I would happily read it again.
I liked this book very much. Norris was hard to take at the start, but that was very much a feature instead of a bug as he had to do a lot of growing in the story. Cute love story as well.
Laugh out loud funny, realistic, plausible ending, teen/high school story. Very enjoyable listen.
Quippy, but angsty. Pretty predictable. Was grateful the ending took the route it did. Was interested in the Austin setting but it was pretty blandly handled.