Winger

“Joey told me nothing ever goes back exactly the way it was, that things expand and contract- like breathing, but you could never fill your lungs up with the same air twice.”

Winger
by Andrew Smith
439 p. Simon & Schuster. May 2013.
Gr. 9 Up

14-year-old junior Ryan Dean West, nicknamed Winger for his position on Pine Mountain’s rugby team, is a self-proclaimed loser.  Told through frenetic first-person narrative, short comics, charts, and diagrams, he relates the story of his first couple of months at school.  He’s hopelessly in love with his best friend Annie, who sees him as a little boy and stuck in Opportunity Hall, the dormitory for troublemakers, rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team.  Ryan Dean’s narrations of his missteps are laced with wit and profanity, revealing the thoughts of a 14-year-old boy authentically.  Smith’s writing displays his understanding of teenage boys and he cleverly depicts the inner turmoil of boy just trying to fit in.  Despite being 400+ pages, the book is a quick read with a fast-moving and engaging pace.  Humorous, and ultimately devastating, this moving, coming-of-age story is impossible to forget.

The Feels

I am utterly heart broken. I had heard that something happened in the end of this book that would probably make me cry–one review I read said they cried until they were dehydrated!–but I still wasn’t quite expecting the emotional gut punch.  I was laughing out loud for 400 pages to the hormonally charged humor and misadventures of Ryan Dean until the book took a dark turn.  There are subtle hints along the way, so I thought I was prepared, but I was wrong.  I was completely shocked by the climax that left Ryan Dean speechless and forever changed, and I couldn’t help but cry.  I’m glad no one was around, because I was curled into a ball crying big, ugly tears.

No, I take it back. I actually could have used a hug at that point, in all honesty.

I wish there had more attention given to the aftermath of the dark conclusion, but I am still blown away by Smith’s book.

Also, there is apparently a sequel in the works: Stand-Off.Welcome to my TBR list, Stand-Off.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
359 p. Simon & Schuster. February 2012
Gr 9 Up

During the summer of 1987, two 15 year old boys, Aristotle “Ari” and Dante meet and form an unlikely friendship. Ari is an angry loner with a father who won’t open up and an older brother in prison; Dante’s a reader, an artist, a philosopher, and a little bit of a crier. Yet against all odds, Dante  is able to break down Ari’s walls as their friendship develops.  This smart, engaging, coming-of-age story is one of family, friendship, love, and self-discovery.

The Feels

This book took my breath away.

I can easily say this is one of my favorite books I read this year.  The book won tons of awards, including the Lambda Literary Award, Stonewall Book Award for LGBT fiction, Pura Belpré Author Award for Latino fiction, as well as an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award honor and Michael L. Printz honor award. The book is a simple story about an angry and sad boy who meets another boy, but it’s beautifully written and almost lyrical.  The tone of the book is warm and welcoming, and the characters are authentic and likable.

I have all sorts of feelings about this book (and they’re happy feels).  If you haven’t read this book, you should. It’s beautiful and perfect in every way.  Also, apparently there may be a sequel in the works from Dante’s POV.