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A review by dreesreads
Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel Bump
4.0
Claude, the main character, is a typical teen despite his somewhat unusual upbringing in South Shore, Chicago (where Bump himself grew up). He struggles with abandonment issues (his parents left him to be raised by his grandmother, his friends keep moving to "better" neighborhoods). Only Janice stays, and Janice should have some abandonment issues of her own. She channels her issues into hared of the gang who instigated a riot.
Despite his often feeling out of place (even with Janice's friends) and unwanted, he knows he is loved--like so many teenagers from all kinds of places and upbringings. Bump has created a character who is funny and somewhat irreverant, but also lost and unclear on how to accomplish his dream of getting out and doing "something".
He heads to college in Missouri, to major in journalism. He has a weird roommate and doesn't much like working on the school paper, or the people he works with. Does he like his major? He doesn't know. When he and the other black staffer are assigned the "diversity project" he realizes this isn't going to work. He doesn't even understand what they want or what to do or how.
And then Janice comes for a surprise visit. The story goes absurd and surreal from here, but I could not help rooting for these characters, and their chance to get back at the two groups they feel ruined their childhoods.
Despite his often feeling out of place (even with Janice's friends) and unwanted, he knows he is loved--like so many teenagers from all kinds of places and upbringings. Bump has created a character who is funny and somewhat irreverant, but also lost and unclear on how to accomplish his dream of getting out and doing "something".
He heads to college in Missouri, to major in journalism. He has a weird roommate and doesn't much like working on the school paper, or the people he works with. Does he like his major? He doesn't know. When he and the other black staffer are assigned the "diversity project" he realizes this isn't going to work. He doesn't even understand what they want or what to do or how.
And then Janice comes for a surprise visit. The story goes absurd and surreal from here, but I could not help rooting for these characters, and their chance to get back at the two groups they feel ruined their childhoods.