Great coming-of-age novel
342456
I really enjoyed this read that centers around the complex knot of emotions and experiences that go along with leaving home, discovering sexuality and the adventure of early adult self-discovery.  I read it in one sitting and you probably will too..its compelling and suspenseful. I especially love how the book kept me guessing as to what's real and what's imagination.  I'm looking forward to reading the rest of his novels.
4300229
This is ostensibly a young adult (YA) book taking place in the not-too-distant future when Muslims in America are being arrested and placed in detention centers, but it is more than worth reading by all adults. The novel's absorbing story has been thoughtfully plotted and engrossingly written. Sometimes the trite terms "timely" and "important" can discourage readers but in this instance the words should be interpreted as encouragement to read a no-holds-barred novel about friendship, trust, decency and, most of all, love, all occurring in an atmosphere of fear, paranoia, anger and hatred. The story is mostly about a 15-year-old Hannibal, Missouri girl, Sarah-Mary Williams who has a troubled life but, despite this, is thoughtful, honest, and committed to doing the right thing. The other characters, including particularly a university professor who is Iranian-American and who is fleeing arrest, are vividly drawn and the sub-themes are realistic and interesting.
2861081
This well-written young adult novel is a delight to read. In particular, Fair's authorial voice is original and witty as he portrays adolescent angst and self-consciousness in this coming of age book. The major male characters-Mitch, Peanut, and Jay are convincing, and I find myself caring what happens to them. The female characters all feel believable, too. The author deftly gives us a succinct backstory on each character, which adds depth to their individual progress through rites of passage, and makes each character distinct in the mind of the reader.
Humor is always bubbling under the surface, even in the most challenging scenes, where Mitch struggles through social anxiety, drug abuse and issues with the opposite sex. Dialogue and interior monologue are very strong indeed, and Fair employs authentic, colloquial language so his young characters' voices are on point.
Fair is a writer to watch out for in the future. His novel demonstrates he is a writer-in-the-world, with a keen eye for detail. His book is not only entertaining - it highlights some of the dangers and challenges faced by today's youth as well as the opportunities and excitement of growing up in the modern world. A nice touch is the "alternative ending" at the close of the book. I have to say, I like the first ending better.
3063221
After reading somewhat tepid reviews of this novel, I was expecting to be disappointed with it.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  First of all, it is beautifully written, with some enchanting and poetic turns of phrase throughout.  Narratively, it is, at times, a little difficult to follow, and there isn't a tremendous amount of engaging narrative flow to the plot.  But it is a wonderful character study and coming of age story.
I found the portrayal of the characters to be creative and original.  I felt that I knew each of them very well by the end of the book.  And contrary to other reviews, I cared about many of them.  And there is a wide-eyed freshness to the book mostly through the eyes of Jane, who I saw as the main character of the book (it could be argued that it is Owens, her father).
There's a lot in this book, and the ride is at times bumpy.  But it is consistently satisfying and better than most of the novels that are out there.  If you are looking for a straightforward, no nonsense novel, this is not it.  But if you want to stretch your mind a bit, the rewards are tremendous!
4925551
Cute novel with endearing characters. A coming of age story that at the same time delves into more "grown up" topics that so many kids face-- death of loved ones, coping mechanisms, sexuality, boundaries. And it focuses so much on art! Very refreshing. I loved Jonas's character so much. My 11-12 year old self could relate so much to these characters, and I'm glad the book is out there for other kids who think they might be a tad weird.
81785
Two Truths and a Lie by Amanda Griffith is a great modern day coming of age story, dealing with the average problems of today's society. The main character Brandy, has a close to perfect life with great friends and a good parent relationship, but what she lacks is popularity. In an after school HI-Y group, she mets Kristen and Brittany, the two most popular girls at school and they "befriend" her. But this friendship makes Brandy do bad things like shoplifting from a store in the mall and taking her parents car to a dance, lying to get a teacher fired and driving drunk home, when her parents told her she couldn't go. At school she also has to face the problem of David, the school bully and sexual harasser, who harasses Brandy and her friends, and shots Brandy's horse. Celia, Brandy's old best friend gets depressed and cuts herself and Brandy realizes she has to set things straight. She breaks into the main office at her school to look at David and Jerry's files, and finds out that David raped a girl, and Jery just watched. Brandy leaves Kristens friendship at the HI-Y vacation, where Kristen yells and hurts the chaperone and then leaves for the guys. Brandy goes to gets help and is almost raped by David, but this time Jerry won't sit around and watch. He attacks David, and they both will bring him to court for attempted assault and rape. This book was really good. Amanda Griffith is a fabulous author and I woulds reccomend this book to everyone I meet. This book shows the importance of friendship, and how people change if they are given the chance to become popular. Amanda's novel is like a modern day 'A Separate Peace' except better because now we can really relate to it.
4583288
Nicely written debut novel that explores the hopes and dreams of a mother and daughter when each was 17.  Elsie and Lulu have had a tough time.  Lulu's married-to-someone-else father, Bashkim, left.  Elie's raised her on her own in a town where the economy is sagging.  Lulu's a smart cookie but she's left adrift when her NYU application is rejected. This sets off an exploration of the past that hits a number of themes.  The story is told from both perspectives, which enriches the experience.  Thanks to the publisher for the arc.  This is very good and relatable literary fiction.
1855820
This wonderful coming-of-age story by Robin Reardon transcends stereotypes, focusing on a main character who is, if not a jock, athletic. Jason Peele is on his school's track team, and so are all of his potential romantic interests.

It's nice to see an author address gays who are athletically inclined. The topic isn't broached enough, in my humble opinion to reflect reality. In other words, there are a large number of high school teens who play football, baseball, basketball, tennis, teens who are on the track team, swim team, etc. - who are just as good as their heterosexual counterparts, and who get short shrift in gay literature. These teens, seeking out YA gay literature, don't find themselves in many books and are often disillusioned. There are notable exceptions of course. Alex Sanchez' superb "Rainbow Trilogy" (Rainbow Boys, Rainbow High, and Rainbow Road ), comes to mind, as one of the three main characters is the star of the basketball team, and another is on the swim team.

But this isn't just a book with athletic teens. This is an extremely well written and well researched book. Jason's journey is an interesting one. We meet him in the first chapter after a wet dream (about David Bowie - to each their own, I suppose <grin>), and watch him grow. We see how easy it is for him to be around girls, how willing he is to help others, and how difficult and tongue tied he is around boys, especially one - Raj, an Indian student on the track team whose event is the high jump. (Jason's is the relay, and I think, the 100 meter dash.) Jason is immensely likable. He seems at all times to take other people's problems and concerns into consideration, at one point going so far as to tell a girl something that could backfire, if she chose to have loose lips. He is honorable and kindhearted, and these are the qualities that attract Raj - and the reader.

It's also nice to see an interracial relationship depicted without any of the typical (and clich&eacute;d) race issues. Jason sees Raj, and is attracted to him. When he gets to know Raj, he likes him even more because Raj is a nice guy. Period. (As it should be in an ideal world - not that this book expresses utopian ideals...) There's never a question about whether or not he could see himself with someone of a different nationality. Reardon handles their relationship deftly.

There are times when the book might feel preachy to some, and I mention this in my review only to refute reviews that (if written in the future, because as of this writing there are none) look down on it. I'm of the opinion that the book is not preachy; rather, it's sharing essential information that teens need. Just the facts, ma'am - so to speak.

Robin Reardon has a strong, assertive voice, is able to portray different yet complex characters adeptly, and is unquestionably a writer to keep an eye on.
3384715
"Goodbye, Rudy Kazoody" is a coming of age story set in the Bronx in the 1960s. Joey and his family are immigrants from Italy trying to make a place for themselves in America. As anyone who remembers their own teenage years knows, it can be hard to fit in, and it's even harder for Joey, who doesn't speak English. Life for Joey and his family is not easy, and the author doesn't shy away from describing the poverty and violence they face. But after Joey's cousin Spike takes him under his wing, things start to look up.

The cast of characters in this book is varied and interesting, and I found myself feeling deep sympathy for Joey. I don't have personal experience with the challenges that immigrants face, but after reading "Goodbye, Rudy Kazoody" I feel like I have a better sense of what some people go through. Hardships aside, though, this book paints a vivid, nostalgic picture of adolescence. It's clear that the author grew up in the 1960s Bronx just like Joey and Spike. I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of coming of age stories, and I look forward to seeing what the sequel is like.
1678348
I'm not a big fan of coming-of-age novels, but I truly enjoyed reading Arona Henderson's book Lilacs in the Snow.  The characters in this book - especially the viewpoint character, a young Jewish girl named Caasi Lichman, as well as the antagonist, her domineering and self-destructive father -- are very well-developed, realistic and multi-faceted, constantly evolving and changing over the span of the story arc.  Henderson is a master of vivid description, using exquisite details and engaging all five senses to paint her scenes, whether of beauty or of squalor, and capturing all the thoughts and feelings that define Caasi's character and make her so real and so relatable for all the young girls in real life.  The daily struggles and conflicts Caasi has to face - poverty, sickness, emotional abuse, conflicts with her peers - are very much like those faced by many other people in real life, and by overcoming them and gaining strength from them, she can serve as an example and an inspiration for all those who are going through troubled times.  Definitely worth reading.  Five stars!
1976516
This is a wonderful coming of age story of Skylar Hoyt, a senior in high school. The event that changes her life does not overwhelm her but shapes her into a young adult that is deliberate about her choices in life.

All the characters are well-written and enjoyable. Although this is classified as Christian fiction, I didn't find the religious aspect overwhelming as sometimes some books are - it was a light and fun read tied to faith. The most enduring lesson of this book I feel is that people aren't perfect. And it's their very imperfectness that keeps providing challenges in life. It's all about dealing with the ups and downs of life, and Skylar seems to have come to an understanding about how to do just that.

The only issue I had was with the formatting. I read a Kindle version and I wish that there were section breaks before scene changes in the book. Reading without these sometimes confused me when a paragraph was the only indication of a scene change. I hope the author takes this feedback into account. Other than that, a very enjoyable read!
443565
Just a great coming of age story that also shows how making real connections with other is sometimes just what we need to cure some mental illnesses.  Easy to read and very engaging; characters are well developed.
3727799
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a beautiful YA coming-of-age story by Benjamin Alire Senz. It follows the life of Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and his budding friendship with Dante Quintana, another teenage boy. The novel lacks a conventional plot, and instead focuses on the inner workings and daily life of its teenage protagonist. Ari struggles with loneliness, feeling distant from those around him, as well as a difficulty in displaying his feelingsmultiple inner conflicts that Senz expertly weaves together to create a stunning, emotionally resonate narrative.

Ari's voice is very reminiscent of Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Senz does a wonderful job of genuinely capturing the angst, frustration, confusion, and turmoil that comes with being a teenager who is still unsure of where they fit in the world. Although it was sometimes difficult to understand Ari's motivations, the novel's deep point of view helped to construct him as a relatable, poignant character. Then there's Dante, who is Ari's foil, a manic pixie dream boy, and the perfect companion character to the more brooding, rough-around-the-edges protagonist. Ari and Dante's interactions are profound yet believable, avoiding the clich of the teenage philosophers mostly due to the fact that Senz created two characters that complement one another. Where Ari is quiet, Dante is outspoken, where Ari is rough, Dante is gentleyet they both maintain the same level of strength of character.

One thing that did disappointment me about this narrative, however, was how long it took Ari to come to terms with his feelings about Dante and the path it took to get him there. Although I was happy that the two finally got together, I wasn't completely convinced of Ari's sexuality by the end of the novel. While the novel was a convincing coming-of-age, I'm not so sure it was a convincing romancewhich, somehow, I'm okay with.
221423
It was a coming of age book with all that entails and it was well done. All the tropes were there and they were interestingly, entertainingly done. I loved the characters, and the way the author wrote and the "voice" of the book.

It was more than just a "gay coming of age" story and it rose above my expectations. I've grown used to a rather low bar when it comes to a lot of "gay" fiction and this is a good book regardless of the sexuality of the characters in it.

I'm not expressing myself well. I've only just finished it. I already want to read it again.
4654815
This is a lovely coming-of-age story set in the 21st century when the predictable has suddenly become unpredictable and the world is facing an unforeseen crisis.  For those who believe in climate science, this story of the slowing of the revolutions of planet Earth and its effects on Earth's inhabitants does not seem so far fetched.  Throughout the book, I could see troubling comparisons to our own slow-moving catastrophe of global warming and its effects on life as we know it.  Not only is this novel timely, but it is masterfully written and well worth the read.
3939479
This coming-of-age novel, set in Arkansas in the late sixties and early seventies, is a read that will resound with everyone. Martha and Spoon grow up in households with one or more of their parents who feel that are "married to Jesus" and/or spend an inordinate amount of time in a storefront church. But Martha and her friend Spoon are the holdouts in these religious conversions. Even Martha's younger brother is becoming converted. Not only that, but with the strictness of their families, they are fighting to be normal teens--wearing jeans and "cool" clothes and listening to rock 'n roll. With the help and love of her grandmother, Martha learns how to survive in her somewhat dysfunctional family. A great, worthwhile read that has moments of joy, sorrow, and laughter.
3287998
Excellent coming of age novel for young women who love to read, write, and learn. Religious differences among Jews, Christians, and Muslim and handled respectfully.