I read a review of this book nearly a month ago, scoured western New York for a copy of it while I was on vacation, devoured and loved the book--then I completely forgot about it. I feel that is not a sign about the quality of the book, but rather, a sign of my book addiction--I'm always going to be stalking the bookshelves, looking for my next fix...No really, this was a great YA read! Reviewers keep comparing the protagonist, James Sveck, to the next Holden Caulfield. Perhaps, but I think James is more puzzled than angered by his upscale urban world. A promising NY teen with an acceptance to Brown and a job in his mother's art gallery, he's looking instead for a "sanctuary," as the book's publisher says. He keeps trolling through the online real estate listings in Kansas, hoping to find the perfect place to get away from it all.
It's a really smart book and should appeal to most teens--guys, especially. There's some discussion of homosexuality without that becoming the primary issue; it seems to be a sign that society (and the slow-moving world of children's publishing) is accepting that this is no longer a fringe issue with a niche audience.
1 comment:
I really enjoyed Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You and thought James was such an interesting character. If you haven't already read it, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is another good one.
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