jrosenstein 's review for:

Tyrell by Coe Booth

4.0

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I found myself being much more drawn into this book than I expected. Booth is a welcome addition to YA lit. Tyrell has many of the problems found in "problem" novels, but nothing about this feels typical. Tyrell is a very well-developed character. I'm not a teenage boy but to me he seemed totally believable. The ending is also unlike the ending of any other YA novel I've ever read. Booth does not offer any easy hope or redemption for any of her characters, nor does she leave you depressed. This is also a great book for teen boys who are reluctant readers, but it is definitely for high school. Lots of swearing, a good amount of sex, and plenty of drinking and pot smoking. That said, I already handed this to one of my 10th graders who never reads and he started reading parts out loud to the other kids at his table.