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onesmartcupcake 's review for:
Winger
by Andrew Smith
4.5-5 stars for this raw, hilarious, raunchy, sweet, gut-punch of a novel. Despite the great reviews, I did not go into this book expecting to love it as much as I did. And love it, I did. Ryan Dean is a rich, relatable character and a fantastic narrator with a distinctive voice. The story explores masculinity, power, sex, friendship, and loss with brilliant humor and heartbreaking honesty. It's a true coming of age story and an unfiltered peek into one boy's mind and soul as he stumbles towards adulthood and discovers his humanity.
I think this would also be a strong readalike for The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian, If I Ever Get Out Of Here, and possibly Looking for Alaska. Additionally, I would love to find some time to think about Winger in context with Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian and Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn, two other 2013 award-winning novels featuring compelling, young male narrators and exploring masculinity, gender, sex, violence, and power.
*However, I have to add that I agree with readers who have found the ending predictable in the worst way--i.e. the events surrounding Joey. I really liked this book but I think that it is problematic in its treatment of a generally well-rounded queer supporting characters.
I think this would also be a strong readalike for The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian, If I Ever Get Out Of Here, and possibly Looking for Alaska. Additionally, I would love to find some time to think about Winger in context with Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian and Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn, two other 2013 award-winning novels featuring compelling, young male narrators and exploring masculinity, gender, sex, violence, and power.
*However, I have to add that I agree with readers who have found the ending predictable in the worst way--i.e. the events surrounding Joey. I really liked this book but I think that it is problematic in its treatment of a generally well-rounded queer supporting characters.