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Described as a “Tuesdays with Morrie” for teens, I found this book more a meditation about when good kids make bad decisions - and what real consequences, apologies and restoring practices can look like (within a fictional world). I liked the way it demonstrated the main character’s growth in a relatable way and one of my favorite bits was the Easter Egg of finding a few characters from his first novel with minor roles here, as it was set in the same town / school.

Good young adult book about a boy who does something stupid and is sentenced to volunteer working with an elderly man with terminal emphesyma (sp?). They learn a lot from each other, etc... VERY similar to the play Visiting Mr. Green if you've seen it, but with a younger slant more appropriate for middle-schoolers.

This book is about a young man whose parents are getting a divorce. One night he gets drunk and attempts to drive to his dad's house to yell at him. Of course, he doesn't get there because he drives the car into his neighbor's lawn. He is sentenced to community service at a nursing home. He is assigned the patient that is the hardest to get along with.

4.5 stars

How you spin a tale with light humor and quick wit around a deep and meaningful message is a mystery to me. But sonnenblick works magic with his books: I laugh. I cry. I think.

More of his books are in my future.

A funny and touching book about second chances. While Alex has a wonderfully self-deprecating wit, he also has some anger/frustration issues that lead him to do some rather dangerous things. As the story opens, he's lucky to be alive, merely the butt of jokes and facing community service.

He's assigned to spend time with Sol, an elderly guy with a challenging temperament. Alex suffers more blows to his pride here--something he seems to need as much as he needs a fatherly figure in his life. The two end up bonding over music, though each has to take some vulnerable steps for that to happen.

I think what I appreciated most about this story is its theme of pride and humility, how the first is actually cowardly and the latter brave.

The romantic subplot will be a teensy disappointing for female readers, because it is underplayed. I also somewhat surprised that the parents' subplot went the direction it did, though found it pretty refreshing. Especially because the adults maturely don't give their child every grisly detail about past problems, but focus on present forgiveness and moving forward.

My daughter insisted I read this one, because she adored it. She'd come to dinner and read multiple passages aloud to us. It was fun to discuss it with her after I'd finished reading. In particular we talked about how she'd attempted jazz guitar and got really discouraged by how hard it is, so she especially related to Alex's struggles musically. We had some great discussions about friendship vs. romance too.

What a great story and lesson that we can all benefit from. Unless I missed some details, I didn't think Alex was as bad of a kid as the other characters let on towards the end of the book, however the change in his attitude towards his community service was very evident in the letters he write to the judge.
Sonnenblick does a great job adding subtle details and pieces of foreshadowing that made this book so fun to read. The addition of character from his other novel is brilliant and creates a little Sonnenblick world while sharing a new story with the reader.

just no
challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Never fails to make me laugh and cry. A favorite re-read by an amazing author.
emotional funny reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes