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A review by daniellemedina
Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel Bump
3.0
Everywhere You Don't Belong is a little like a runaway train and I mean that in the best way. You think you know where you're headed and what's going to happen but then you hit a bump and things speed in a completely different direction and all you can do is hang on and hope that it all end well.
This debut novel centers on Claude McKay Love, a fairly ordinary black boy being raised by his grandmother and her eccentric gay friend, Paul, on the South Side of Chicago in what I think are the 2000s (it sounds like Obama is senator when he's mentioned although it's never confirmed). He's got a lot to deal with - abandoned by his parents, bullied by schoolmates, dealing with riots and violence outside his front door, losing friends, falling in love and having to live up to his grandmother's expectation that he'll grow into a social activist like she is - and he's not always able to cope. And even though it's set what I think is 20 years ago, unfortunately the issues the book covers are still timely - when an innocent black boy is killed by police, a riot erupts on the South Shore changing Claude's life and the lives of those around him forever.
Bump's writes in what almost feels like a stream of consciousness. It took me a while to get into the rhythm but once I did, it really added to the story. There's a lot of humor especially in the characters' bluntness (I loved Grandma and want a prequel about her backstory with Paul!) but the book also has heart and tackles some difficult topics. Claude isn't a tough guy. He actually cries over everything and you kind of can't blame him.
The second half is when it went off the rails for me (again, not in a bad way) and we follow Claude to college in Missouri. I was less interested in his experience there but by then I'd become so attached to Claude that I was willing to hold on to see how the ride ended and I was glad I did.
The early chapters of this book are close to perfection for me. Bump's writing is sharp and clever, the plot is layered and I couldn't get enough of Claude's childhood friends Nugget, Bubbly and Jonah. I wish the rest of the book had lived up to the start but I still enjoyed it. It's a really worthwhile and quick read that I bet a lot of people will be talking about. I can't wait to see what's next from this author!
Thank you to Algonquin Books, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy to review.
This debut novel centers on Claude McKay Love, a fairly ordinary black boy being raised by his grandmother and her eccentric gay friend, Paul, on the South Side of Chicago in what I think are the 2000s (it sounds like Obama is senator when he's mentioned although it's never confirmed). He's got a lot to deal with - abandoned by his parents, bullied by schoolmates, dealing with riots and violence outside his front door, losing friends, falling in love and having to live up to his grandmother's expectation that he'll grow into a social activist like she is - and he's not always able to cope. And even though it's set what I think is 20 years ago, unfortunately the issues the book covers are still timely - when an innocent black boy is killed by police, a riot erupts on the South Shore changing Claude's life and the lives of those around him forever.
Bump's writes in what almost feels like a stream of consciousness. It took me a while to get into the rhythm but once I did, it really added to the story. There's a lot of humor especially in the characters' bluntness (I loved Grandma and want a prequel about her backstory with Paul!) but the book also has heart and tackles some difficult topics. Claude isn't a tough guy. He actually cries over everything and you kind of can't blame him.
The second half is when it went off the rails for me (again, not in a bad way) and we follow Claude to college in Missouri. I was less interested in his experience there but by then I'd become so attached to Claude that I was willing to hold on to see how the ride ended and I was glad I did.
The early chapters of this book are close to perfection for me. Bump's writing is sharp and clever, the plot is layered and I couldn't get enough of Claude's childhood friends Nugget, Bubbly and Jonah. I wish the rest of the book had lived up to the start but I still enjoyed it. It's a really worthwhile and quick read that I bet a lot of people will be talking about. I can't wait to see what's next from this author!
Thank you to Algonquin Books, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy to review.