Author: Andrew Smith
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release date: May 13th 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Source: Bought
Add it: GoodReads | BookDepository
Rating: ★★★★
Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He's living in the Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he's madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.
With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life's complications and even find some happiness along the way. but when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what's important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.
Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen's experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.
My Thoughts
That ending though..! I did not see that one coming and that is a first. As an avid reader, I've come across many different endings, but eventually endings become predictable. When I come across a book that surprises me in the end I find that very valuable. Unfortunately I cannot discuss what that ending is, but if you have read it then you probably know what I'm talking about. Let me know if you were surprised as well.
Ryan Dean West had the potential to become "the French word for shower" (as said in the book), but thanks to the help of his rugby team's captain, Joey, he learns the value of friendship and a more grown-up attitude. I like that this book is a coming of age story that seems real and legit. Ryan Dean curses, he is insecure about girls and friends and his friendship with a gay guy, like any 14-year-old (junior) would be. The writing style is something I find to be very important and it can make or break a story. Fortunately Andrew Smith's writing style is easy to get used to, which makes getting into the story and identifying with the main character is simple and a smooth process.
The story line is to some extent something that could happen in real-life, sadly also the ending (it's an event that happened in the United States). This is definitely a plus since it is a contemporary book and not all stay close to reality enough. Of course there is always space for adding in other elements since that is every author's right.
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