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Also Known as Rowan Pohi
Bobby Steele and his pals, Marcus and Big Poobs, all public school kids from working class backgrounds, are waiting for tenth grade to start when they come across an application form for Whitestone Academy, a prestigious and posh private school. Just for giggles, they decide that a nonexistent kid should apply—and so Rowan Pohi is born. (Named for their favorite hangout, Pohi is IHOP spelled backwards.) Amazingly enough, the phantom Rowan is accepted at Whitestone.
Eager to escape the boredom of public school and his unhappiness at home, Bobby shows up at Whitestone’s new student orientation, reinventing himself as Rowan. He begins a suspenseful career as an impostor, hoping that the two worlds he’s living in will stay separate forever. For a short, exhilarating time, they do. Ralph Fletcher’s signature light touch in addressing serious issues in young people’s lives is evident in this story of identity lost and found.
199 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
12 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Fletcher
78 books186 followersRalph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.
Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.
Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 8, 2011
Warning: this review contains spoilers
Bobby Steele’s name is infamous but not through any fault of his own. He shares his name with his father whose face and name appeared all over the newspapers when he was arrested for burning his wife’s arm with a hot iron after a fight. It was the first and last time he laid his hand on her – she leaves as soon as he is released from his short stay in prison but she doesn’t take her kids. Bobby and his younger brother Cody remain behind with a father they both love and fear.
One day during summer vacation and just before the school year starts, Bobby and his best mates Marcus and Big Poobs are hanging out at their favourite place, IHOP when they come across an application form for the prestigious Whitestone Academy, a private school for rich people (or for those with a scholarship). They create a guy called Rowan Pohi (Pohi being IHOP spelled backwards) fill the form with loads of fake information (but don’t include school transcripts) send it out (complete with a syrup stain and everything) and wouldn’t you know, a miracle happens and Rowan Pohi is actually accepted at this prestigious, posh academy.
Deciding they have gone far enough, the boys decide to fake-kill and fake-bury Rowan Pohi but Bobby, unbeknownst to the other two, decides to go ahead with the ruse and pretending to be Rowan goes to Whitestone on the first day of school. He is moved by a need to change his life and to move away from his problems at home, even though he is daunted by not having the thousands of dollars required to pay the school, or even money enough for the uniform. Not that this is an actual problem because soon enough Rowan/Bobby lands a full scholarship after writing a 500 word essay which he writes within 45 minutes without any preparation or advance notice.
Could be accepted at one of the best schools be as simple as that? Could earning a full scholarship in a super competitive environment be as easy as this? These questions kept plaguing me as I read the book. In all fairness, the school finds out soon enough (in a matter of days) and Bobby is caught. BUT after a disciplinary meeting in which people realise he is in fact, a good guy he is invited to stay. Thus, he is rewarded in the end, even though he committed a fraudulent act.
There is a huge amount of suspension of disbelief required from the reader and although some novels do make this suspicion of disbelief an easy task depending on how good the story is or how well-developed the characters are, I am afraid that Also Known as Rowan Pohi is not one of them. Yes, the details of the ruse are too far-fetched (the application is accepted without any real information in it; the form has a syrup stain shows a blatant lack of attention I doubt a reputable school would accept; etc) but I feel I could have accepted all of this if the other aspects of the novel had worked. But things progressed ridiculously fast and an inordinate amount of emotional engagement between Rowan/Bobby and the school, new friends, a potential girlfriend and even his persona are supposedly very deep but never truly believable.
There is also the matter of Bobby’s young brother Cody. Ever since their mother left, the 5 year-old kid has been behaving as though he is a Native-American – using accessories and telling “stories” and “facts” that reek of stereotyping. Towards the end of the novel he is clearly beyond that “phase” and is now into Spider-man because and I quote: “Being Spider-Man is way cooler than being an Indian” [1.the sound you just heard was my head hitting the desk]. I understand this is coming from a 5 year-old but nowhere in the text there is the acknowledgement that being a Native American and being Spiderman are not the same thing AT ALL.
Despite all of that, I appreciate that there are in fact, many aspects of this novel that were really good. I understood Bobby’s motivations for not wanting to share a name with his father and simply wanting to go to a better school that had sports programs (cut from his public school) and that would give him a better chance in life. I liked his relationship with his two best friends and with his brother. Above all, I thought the author excelled at making the father a sympathetic figure despite everything. He is making amends for his mistakes, trying to rise above his lot in life, attending AA meetings and still suffering the consequences of his regrettable behaviour. His wife left because of HIM and will never return, his kids fear HIM and yet he needs to go on and to bring them up to the best of his ability.
There is a very fragile balancing act between what worked and what didn’t work though and ultimately the balance tips towards the latter.
Bobby Steele’s name is infamous but not through any fault of his own. He shares his name with his father whose face and name appeared all over the newspapers when he was arrested for burning his wife’s arm with a hot iron after a fight. It was the first and last time he laid his hand on her – she leaves as soon as he is released from his short stay in prison but she doesn’t take her kids. Bobby and his younger brother Cody remain behind with a father they both love and fear.
One day during summer vacation and just before the school year starts, Bobby and his best mates Marcus and Big Poobs are hanging out at their favourite place, IHOP when they come across an application form for the prestigious Whitestone Academy, a private school for rich people (or for those with a scholarship). They create a guy called Rowan Pohi (Pohi being IHOP spelled backwards) fill the form with loads of fake information (but don’t include school transcripts) send it out (complete with a syrup stain and everything) and wouldn’t you know, a miracle happens and Rowan Pohi is actually accepted at this prestigious, posh academy.
Deciding they have gone far enough, the boys decide to fake-kill and fake-bury Rowan Pohi but Bobby, unbeknownst to the other two, decides to go ahead with the ruse and pretending to be Rowan goes to Whitestone on the first day of school. He is moved by a need to change his life and to move away from his problems at home, even though he is daunted by not having the thousands of dollars required to pay the school, or even money enough for the uniform. Not that this is an actual problem because soon enough Rowan/Bobby lands a full scholarship after writing a 500 word essay which he writes within 45 minutes without any preparation or advance notice.
Could be accepted at one of the best schools be as simple as that? Could earning a full scholarship in a super competitive environment be as easy as this? These questions kept plaguing me as I read the book. In all fairness, the school finds out soon enough (in a matter of days) and Bobby is caught. BUT after a disciplinary meeting in which people realise he is in fact, a good guy he is invited to stay. Thus, he is rewarded in the end, even though he committed a fraudulent act.
There is a huge amount of suspension of disbelief required from the reader and although some novels do make this suspicion of disbelief an easy task depending on how good the story is or how well-developed the characters are, I am afraid that Also Known as Rowan Pohi is not one of them. Yes, the details of the ruse are too far-fetched (the application is accepted without any real information in it; the form has a syrup stain shows a blatant lack of attention I doubt a reputable school would accept; etc) but I feel I could have accepted all of this if the other aspects of the novel had worked. But things progressed ridiculously fast and an inordinate amount of emotional engagement between Rowan/Bobby and the school, new friends, a potential girlfriend and even his persona are supposedly very deep but never truly believable.
There is also the matter of Bobby’s young brother Cody. Ever since their mother left, the 5 year-old kid has been behaving as though he is a Native-American – using accessories and telling “stories” and “facts” that reek of stereotyping. Towards the end of the novel he is clearly beyond that “phase” and is now into Spider-man because and I quote: “Being Spider-Man is way cooler than being an Indian” [1.the sound you just heard was my head hitting the desk]. I understand this is coming from a 5 year-old but nowhere in the text there is the acknowledgement that being a Native American and being Spiderman are not the same thing AT ALL.
Despite all of that, I appreciate that there are in fact, many aspects of this novel that were really good. I understood Bobby’s motivations for not wanting to share a name with his father and simply wanting to go to a better school that had sports programs (cut from his public school) and that would give him a better chance in life. I liked his relationship with his two best friends and with his brother. Above all, I thought the author excelled at making the father a sympathetic figure despite everything. He is making amends for his mistakes, trying to rise above his lot in life, attending AA meetings and still suffering the consequences of his regrettable behaviour. His wife left because of HIM and will never return, his kids fear HIM and yet he needs to go on and to bring them up to the best of his ability.
There is a very fragile balancing act between what worked and what didn’t work though and ultimately the balance tips towards the latter.
August 6, 2011
Summary:
A handful of weeks before he's set to start the tenth grade, Bobby Steele and his friends, Marcus and Big Poobs, are lazing in their preferred booth at the local IHOP, bored out of their heads. Just as they're about to expire from boredom, they find a syrup-stained application to the exclusive Whitestone Academy lying on an abandoned table a few feet away. Brilliant idea hatched, they fill in the necessary blanks, creating a boy named Rowan and mail in his application, just to see if they can get accepted.
Imagine Bobby's surprise when he receives Rowan's acceptance package a little more than a week later. The boys celebrate their victory with a laugh and goodbye to their brainchild, laying Rowan to rest. That's supposed to be the end of it. They pulled one over on the snobs at Whitestone and got a few kicks in the process.
The End.
That is, until Bobby steps through the hallowed halls of Whitestone himself, as Rowan Pohi, walking a tightrope of secrets and deceptions where the slightest misstep could bring his whole life crashing down.
My Thoughts:
While ALSO KNOWN AS ROWAN POHI was a fast, fun read, it did not lack for depth. Bobby's family dynamic was by turns, disconcerting, inspiring, and in the end, hopeful. His personality shone through in every thought, action, and word, lighting up the pages with his own brand of wry, self-effacing humor, even as he desperately clung to the Rowan persona, unwilling to be Bobby Steele.
His friends, both as Rowan and as Bobby were lively and engaging. Big Poobs was my favorite of the side-characters. My favorite line in the whole book came when Bobby tells his boys how he resurrected Rowan and entered Whitestone as a student. Big Poobs, in his earnest and endearing way, says, "Rowan came back from the dead? Only Jesus and vampires can do that!" AHAHAHAHA I love it!
It is this quirky comedic relief that helps soften the blow of exactly why Bobby feels he needs to hide behind the shield that Rowan Pohi is, the shield that protects him from the stain that comes with the name Robert Steele. It's at once heart-breaking and wrath-inducing that he feels the need to hide, but without it, the reader has no need to get behind Bobby, and cheer him on, you will.
A handful of weeks before he's set to start the tenth grade, Bobby Steele and his friends, Marcus and Big Poobs, are lazing in their preferred booth at the local IHOP, bored out of their heads. Just as they're about to expire from boredom, they find a syrup-stained application to the exclusive Whitestone Academy lying on an abandoned table a few feet away. Brilliant idea hatched, they fill in the necessary blanks, creating a boy named Rowan and mail in his application, just to see if they can get accepted.
Imagine Bobby's surprise when he receives Rowan's acceptance package a little more than a week later. The boys celebrate their victory with a laugh and goodbye to their brainchild, laying Rowan to rest. That's supposed to be the end of it. They pulled one over on the snobs at Whitestone and got a few kicks in the process.
The End.
That is, until Bobby steps through the hallowed halls of Whitestone himself, as Rowan Pohi, walking a tightrope of secrets and deceptions where the slightest misstep could bring his whole life crashing down.
My Thoughts:
While ALSO KNOWN AS ROWAN POHI was a fast, fun read, it did not lack for depth. Bobby's family dynamic was by turns, disconcerting, inspiring, and in the end, hopeful. His personality shone through in every thought, action, and word, lighting up the pages with his own brand of wry, self-effacing humor, even as he desperately clung to the Rowan persona, unwilling to be Bobby Steele.
His friends, both as Rowan and as Bobby were lively and engaging. Big Poobs was my favorite of the side-characters. My favorite line in the whole book came when Bobby tells his boys how he resurrected Rowan and entered Whitestone as a student. Big Poobs, in his earnest and endearing way, says, "Rowan came back from the dead? Only Jesus and vampires can do that!" AHAHAHAHA I love it!
It is this quirky comedic relief that helps soften the blow of exactly why Bobby feels he needs to hide behind the shield that Rowan Pohi is, the shield that protects him from the stain that comes with the name Robert Steele. It's at once heart-breaking and wrath-inducing that he feels the need to hide, but without it, the reader has no need to get behind Bobby, and cheer him on, you will.
August 13, 2011
Bobbie Steele and his two best buddies, Marcus and Big Poobs, spend a good amount of time talking up things the way teen boys do when in a group. Whenever a Whitestone Academy student enters IHOP, the boys comment on the snobby “Stonys” and their designer jeans, school uniform and preppy manner. It is obvious they are jealous of the other kids’ affluence and opportunities. Board, they joke that the three of them could get an imaginary guy into Whitestone, if they really wanted to. As happens with those types of “jokes,” it became a challenge. Soon an application was mailed on behalf of transfer student, Rowan Pohi. Rowan is accepted. Bobbie decides to become Rowan and, without telling anyone, he starts tenth grade as a “Stoney.”
I liked the story. The humor is at times juvenile, which means right on target for a teen boy. The author remembers high school well. Bobbie tries to lead this double life and gets away with it by a narrow margin. I wanted the guy to succeed and not go back to the dumpy public school he hates. He takes many risks, especially in not telling his buddies. At Riverview High, Bobbie is marked absent day after day, while at Whitestone Rowan is learning the ropes and becoming popular.
Once Bobbie takes Rowan’s place at Whitestone the other two guys, Big Poobs and Marcus, get sidelined through most of the story. Having these two guys in on the fun would have livened up the story, not that it is not lively without them. Bobbie has a complicated life and it is fun to read how he gets into and then, maybe, out of, the trouble. This close to the new school year is a good time to read Also Known as Rowan Pohi. Maybe while at an IHOP?
Note: received from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.
I liked the story. The humor is at times juvenile, which means right on target for a teen boy. The author remembers high school well. Bobbie tries to lead this double life and gets away with it by a narrow margin. I wanted the guy to succeed and not go back to the dumpy public school he hates. He takes many risks, especially in not telling his buddies. At Riverview High, Bobbie is marked absent day after day, while at Whitestone Rowan is learning the ropes and becoming popular.
Once Bobbie takes Rowan’s place at Whitestone the other two guys, Big Poobs and Marcus, get sidelined through most of the story. Having these two guys in on the fun would have livened up the story, not that it is not lively without them. Bobbie has a complicated life and it is fun to read how he gets into and then, maybe, out of, the trouble. This close to the new school year is a good time to read Also Known as Rowan Pohi. Maybe while at an IHOP?
Note: received from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.
September 21, 2011
Also Known as Rowan Pohi is a quick read- but that same fact doesn't make it an easy one. A couple of moments had me fanning suspiciously damp eyes. And for what? A teenage boy's made up alter ego? The same boy working out the aftermath of his mother leaving? Or was it, the same boy working out things with his dad?
Mostly, it's that last item... alot of the things between them hit very close to home. Like Bobby, I could be judgemental... but like Bobby, there's also a moment when one just has to go, 'He is who he is.'
Bobby isn't perfect at all. He lies, on paper and to almost everyone's face... but I could forgive him, if not completely, then a little. Simply because he and his had gone through so much already. Add the fact that I couldnt help but admire how clearly he thought of himself and his situation... and how accepting he was of his mother's choice.
As to his father, I think what happened to him is what I found missing in SPLIT. Bobby senior dealt with the consequences of his actions. I have to respect that. Another thing that struck me was Bobby's thoughts on before's and after's. That his after left him absolutely aware of who his fatjer was and what he could do.
But there were heartwarming moments too.. especially between brothers. I loved that he loved Cody! Even when faced with the hard things, the big brother in him came through. But it was the simple things of reading a bed time story or shoppimg whem incovenient that warmed Bobby to me. Then add the fact that he is a goofball. Proof? What other proof than he and his friends coming up with an alter ego and him becoming the same?
It's quick, quirky but not always easy...
Thanks Net Galley!
3/5
Mostly, it's that last item... alot of the things between them hit very close to home. Like Bobby, I could be judgemental... but like Bobby, there's also a moment when one just has to go, 'He is who he is.'
Bobby isn't perfect at all. He lies, on paper and to almost everyone's face... but I could forgive him, if not completely, then a little. Simply because he and his had gone through so much already. Add the fact that I couldnt help but admire how clearly he thought of himself and his situation... and how accepting he was of his mother's choice.
As to his father, I think what happened to him is what I found missing in SPLIT. Bobby senior dealt with the consequences of his actions. I have to respect that. Another thing that struck me was Bobby's thoughts on before's and after's. That his after left him absolutely aware of who his fatjer was and what he could do.
But there were heartwarming moments too.. especially between brothers. I loved that he loved Cody! Even when faced with the hard things, the big brother in him came through. But it was the simple things of reading a bed time story or shoppimg whem incovenient that warmed Bobby to me. Then add the fact that he is a goofball. Proof? What other proof than he and his friends coming up with an alter ego and him becoming the same?
It's quick, quirky but not always easy...
Thanks Net Galley!
3/5
November 26, 2011
On a lark, Bobby Steele and his friends fake an application to a prestigious private high school. No one is more surprised than Bobby . . . especially when Bobby actually follows through and starts attending the school as Rowan Pohi, the made-up applicant. Things start well. For some reason, the school doesn't seem overly concerned that they haven't received any tuition, met or gotten any signed forms from his parents--though they are a little miffed not to have received his transcripts. But as long as he's doing well in his classes, nothing else seems to matter. He even makes the football team and gets a hot new girl friend . . . but then he is recognized by a couple of bullies who threaten to turn rat him out unless he pays them . . .
This story was fast-paced (I read the book in an hour) and the writing is perfectly geared to young teen boys. I thought the book was going to be a lot funnier than it was, so if you're looking for a comedy, this isn't the book for you. There were some heavy things going on in Bobby's life . . . his father has anger and alcohol issues which resulted in jail time for Dad and Bobby's mother abandoning the family. But still, the book isn't overly heavy or dramatic. It's a story of a teen boy trying to find his way.
I could see young guys liking the whole 'kid putting it over on the adults' theme and they probably wouldn't mind the implausible plot . . . so while I'd give it a 3 star rating for an adult, I'd give it 4 stars for 12-14 year-old boys.
This story was fast-paced (I read the book in an hour) and the writing is perfectly geared to young teen boys. I thought the book was going to be a lot funnier than it was, so if you're looking for a comedy, this isn't the book for you. There were some heavy things going on in Bobby's life . . . his father has anger and alcohol issues which resulted in jail time for Dad and Bobby's mother abandoning the family. But still, the book isn't overly heavy or dramatic. It's a story of a teen boy trying to find his way.
I could see young guys liking the whole 'kid putting it over on the adults' theme and they probably wouldn't mind the implausible plot . . . so while I'd give it a 3 star rating for an adult, I'd give it 4 stars for 12-14 year-old boys.
November 1, 2015
This is an enjoyable read. The character struggle is a bit predictable but the character is likable and it is well written. If you enjoy stories where the character gets themselves into a tight spot and has to figure out when to tell the truth, you'll in enjoy this book.
May 11, 2017
Got this from the lib for my 14-yr old, who appears to hate reading. It looked good, but it's hard to motivate someone who is resistant. So I read it. And Iiked it - yah, it's YA. It's also thought-provoking and entertaining. My kid would definitely enjoy it, if only...
My only (very mild) criticism is that the author, who looks about my age, seems to be writing from remembrances of his youth, with references to social media and current things thrown in here and there. I didn't mind this at all. I just think that kids today are verrrrryyy different from kids back when - their mindset, their actions/intentions, EVERYthing. I'm wondering if they would be able to appreciate this kind of old-school writing.
My only (very mild) criticism is that the author, who looks about my age, seems to be writing from remembrances of his youth, with references to social media and current things thrown in here and there. I didn't mind this at all. I just think that kids today are verrrrryyy different from kids back when - their mindset, their actions/intentions, EVERYthing. I'm wondering if they would be able to appreciate this kind of old-school writing.
June 16, 2020
This book was excellent! It is the first one I have read by this author, and I look forward to checking out other titles by Fletcher.
Inventing a completely new person and getting that student into a prestigious preparatory school take a lot of creativity. Then Rowan goes on to win a prestigious scholarship. Bobby Steele is quite a kid! Although you know the truth will come out eventually, the tale unfolds beautifully. I highly recommend this title.
Inventing a completely new person and getting that student into a prestigious preparatory school take a lot of creativity. Then Rowan goes on to win a prestigious scholarship. Bobby Steele is quite a kid! Although you know the truth will come out eventually, the tale unfolds beautifully. I highly recommend this title.
November 5, 2020
I liked this book but my 6th grader didn’t like the kids kissing in the pool and I felt uncomfortable reading about the husband burning his wife with an iron to my 6th grader. Overall the book read well and kept us both entertained.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2016
This is great. It shows you how you shouldn't betray your friends. And if you do, you must have really good friends because they are the ones that are going to be there for you.
January 21, 2019
Too short and an overly predictable plotline.
January 13, 2022
Cute plot. I think the ESOL kids at my high school will find this entertaining!
November 10, 2011
In one memorable M*A*S*H episode, Hawkeye and the crew invented Captain John Tuttle, a remarkable man who had to “die” when a real officer wanted to honor him. Ralph Fletcher uses the same premise to explore how a teenage boy comes to terms with himself and his name in Also Known as Rowan Pohi.
Bobby Steele doesn't have the best life around – his mom left after his father did a horrific thing to her. Bobby's sophomore year is about to start, he has a younger brother starting kindergarten to watch out for, his father goes to AA meetings and work and that's about it. Bobby also has the burden of having the same name as his father, the name splashed across the local news.
One afternoon at IHOP, the snooty kids at a nearby booth leave an application for the esteemed private school they'll be attending. Whitestone has a new multi-million dollar planetarium; Bobby's high school can't afford to have the parking lot refinished. As a lark, the boys fill out the application. Rowan's last name is the name of the restaurant backwards. He's a go-getter from the extremely poor town of Pinon, New Mexico.
Rowan, of course, is accepted to Whitestone. The guys know they'll never be able to come up with transcripts and a Social Security number, so their invention dies after a sudden illness. They bury the acceptance letter and go on with their real lives. Circumstances compel Bobby to dig up the papers and go to new student orientation at Whitestone.
For a short novel (199 pages), there's a lot going on. The ways Fletcher invents for Bobby to stay at the school are creative and fun to read. His encounters with the students there, which are a cross-section of realistic types, are fairly realistic. A subplot with Bobby's old friends is not developed.
Bobby's younger brother, Cody, has an obsession with pretending he is a cliché of a Native American, replete with feather, that isn't explored fully. It's also uncomfortable when this young child, obsessed with fake Indian artifacts, shoplifts, and the aftermath of that episode is used for Bobby's story but not for Cody's story. There is another short attempt to connect with a fictional Native American when Bobby compares one of his friends to Chief Broom in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest which will fly right over the heads of young readers who have no connection to the book or film. (Iconoclast alert: Fletcher, who has published several “how-to” writing books for students, also slams To Kill a Mockingbird.) Fletcher does connect Bobby's father to Bobby's story in true Hollywood fashion but in this case, it's fairly successful.
On a superficial level, there is much in this book to enjoy. It does have the bare bones of what could have been an even deeper story.
Bobby Steele doesn't have the best life around – his mom left after his father did a horrific thing to her. Bobby's sophomore year is about to start, he has a younger brother starting kindergarten to watch out for, his father goes to AA meetings and work and that's about it. Bobby also has the burden of having the same name as his father, the name splashed across the local news.
One afternoon at IHOP, the snooty kids at a nearby booth leave an application for the esteemed private school they'll be attending. Whitestone has a new multi-million dollar planetarium; Bobby's high school can't afford to have the parking lot refinished. As a lark, the boys fill out the application. Rowan's last name is the name of the restaurant backwards. He's a go-getter from the extremely poor town of Pinon, New Mexico.
Rowan, of course, is accepted to Whitestone. The guys know they'll never be able to come up with transcripts and a Social Security number, so their invention dies after a sudden illness. They bury the acceptance letter and go on with their real lives. Circumstances compel Bobby to dig up the papers and go to new student orientation at Whitestone.
For a short novel (199 pages), there's a lot going on. The ways Fletcher invents for Bobby to stay at the school are creative and fun to read. His encounters with the students there, which are a cross-section of realistic types, are fairly realistic. A subplot with Bobby's old friends is not developed.
Bobby's younger brother, Cody, has an obsession with pretending he is a cliché of a Native American, replete with feather, that isn't explored fully. It's also uncomfortable when this young child, obsessed with fake Indian artifacts, shoplifts, and the aftermath of that episode is used for Bobby's story but not for Cody's story. There is another short attempt to connect with a fictional Native American when Bobby compares one of his friends to Chief Broom in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest which will fly right over the heads of young readers who have no connection to the book or film. (Iconoclast alert: Fletcher, who has published several “how-to” writing books for students, also slams To Kill a Mockingbird.) Fletcher does connect Bobby's father to Bobby's story in true Hollywood fashion but in this case, it's fairly successful.
On a superficial level, there is much in this book to enjoy. It does have the bare bones of what could have been an even deeper story.
November 18, 2011
Enjoyable YA aimed at teen boys who are reluctant readers
Fifteen-year-old Bobby Steele and his best friends, Big Poobs and Marcus, are students at the dreary, underfunded, local secondary school, Riverview High. They regularly hang out at the local IHOP, a restaurant where teens from the ritzy private school Whitestone Prep--AKA "Stonys"--can also be found. One day out of boredom, Bobby and his friends decide to create a fake boy and fill out an application for him for Whitestone. They name him Rowan and choose the last name "Pohi," which is IHOP spelled backward.
The three of them are amazed and rather intimidated when their application is actually approved, and they mutually agree that the joke has gone far enough. Big Poobs and Marcus immediately move on, but everything Bobby has ever wanted is at Whitestone, and it becomes a temptation he can't resist to pass himself off as Rowan Pohi.
I liked Bobby very much. He is a sweet guy, forgiving of his mother, who deserted their family because his father physically abused her, and tolerant of his father, who is working hard to make restitution to his family for what he did. Bobby is very protective and caring of his five-year-old brother, who is an endearing child.
The tone of the story is wistful and sad for the most of the book. I was strongly rooting for things to turn out well for Bobby, who is a very talented runner, an excellent writer, and has exceptional social skills along with being blessed with good looks. He is the kind of boy who, if he can get a good education, can go very far in life.
There is an interesting love triangle in the book with Bobby drawn to a rich, beautiful girl as well as a smart but average-looking girl who is of his same social class.
Without being preachy, the story makes topical references to recent drastic cuts in funding to public schools and how enormously greater are the opportunities in life for young people who are able to attend good schools. The relationship of Bobby to his friends rather reminds me of the movie Good Will Hunting, though this story is much less complex.
This is a fast and easy read that reluctant readers would enjoy. It is good to see a male protagonist in YA. The cover is something that might appeal to boys such that they would not feel embarrassed to be caught reading the book.
Other than one non-explicit make-out session, the book is entirely PG and suitable for teens 12-15. And even in that one scene, Rowan's attitude is romantic rather than purely lustful. He's a good boy--but not a boring boy.
I rate the book as follows:
Hero: 5
Subcharacters: 4
Story: 4
Writing: 4
Total: 4
Fifteen-year-old Bobby Steele and his best friends, Big Poobs and Marcus, are students at the dreary, underfunded, local secondary school, Riverview High. They regularly hang out at the local IHOP, a restaurant where teens from the ritzy private school Whitestone Prep--AKA "Stonys"--can also be found. One day out of boredom, Bobby and his friends decide to create a fake boy and fill out an application for him for Whitestone. They name him Rowan and choose the last name "Pohi," which is IHOP spelled backward.
The three of them are amazed and rather intimidated when their application is actually approved, and they mutually agree that the joke has gone far enough. Big Poobs and Marcus immediately move on, but everything Bobby has ever wanted is at Whitestone, and it becomes a temptation he can't resist to pass himself off as Rowan Pohi.
I liked Bobby very much. He is a sweet guy, forgiving of his mother, who deserted their family because his father physically abused her, and tolerant of his father, who is working hard to make restitution to his family for what he did. Bobby is very protective and caring of his five-year-old brother, who is an endearing child.
The tone of the story is wistful and sad for the most of the book. I was strongly rooting for things to turn out well for Bobby, who is a very talented runner, an excellent writer, and has exceptional social skills along with being blessed with good looks. He is the kind of boy who, if he can get a good education, can go very far in life.
There is an interesting love triangle in the book with Bobby drawn to a rich, beautiful girl as well as a smart but average-looking girl who is of his same social class.
Without being preachy, the story makes topical references to recent drastic cuts in funding to public schools and how enormously greater are the opportunities in life for young people who are able to attend good schools. The relationship of Bobby to his friends rather reminds me of the movie Good Will Hunting, though this story is much less complex.
This is a fast and easy read that reluctant readers would enjoy. It is good to see a male protagonist in YA. The cover is something that might appeal to boys such that they would not feel embarrassed to be caught reading the book.
Other than one non-explicit make-out session, the book is entirely PG and suitable for teens 12-15. And even in that one scene, Rowan's attitude is romantic rather than purely lustful. He's a good boy--but not a boring boy.
I rate the book as follows:
Hero: 5
Subcharacters: 4
Story: 4
Writing: 4
Total: 4
November 17, 2011
Ralph Fletcher doesn't waste any time jumping in to the story of Bobby Steele, aka Rowan Pohi, as we meet Bobby and his best friends right before the beginning of tenth grade. Out of boredom and a bit of mischievousness, the boys create a smart, athletic, and outgoing guy - Rowan Pohi. After submitting an application and a glowing letter of recommendation on his behalf, Rowan is admitted to Whitestone Prep. The boys are excited and a bit dumbfounded that they have pulled one over on the school admissions committee but decide that Rowan can no longer exist and decide to kill him off and bury the application as well as the acceptance letter. Poor Rowan didn't even have a chance.
Bobby Steele can stop thinking of Rowan, partly because he imagined himself as Rowan - he was athletic. He was intelligent, and he could have gone to Whitestone Prep given the right opportunity and the money to pay for tuition. And Bobby has another reason why Rowan should have a chance - a domestic incident involving his parents, leaves Bobby and his family the talk of the town and him with a name that he doesn't want to claim. Rowan Pohi is then reborn.
In a community separated by class, Bobby is able to infiltrate the school as Rowan without much opposition. He makes some friends easily - the girls are taken with him. The teachers are too as Rowan begins to prove himself academically as well as on the football field. But his pasts (both real and fake) start to catch up with him. Rowan's transcripts from his former school still haven't arrived and a classmate reveals that he knows about Rowan's little secret and wants him to pay-up. Bobby realizes that he may have jumped into this Rowan Pohi persona a bit too impulsively and it's going to catch up with him - sooner than he thinks.
I enjoyed getting to know Bobby and Rowan as he/they navigated going to a new school and created a fresh start. There were many events that happened too easily for Rowan without much question - getting into the school and then the repercussions of what happened after his true identity was revealed. But I did think the relationship that Bobby had with his family was realistic. Bobby's father's horrible actions were not easily forgiven and he continues to see his father through the eyes of a child aged beyond their years through a traumatic experience. The light-hearted moments balance out all of the heavy and make Also Known a Rowan Pohi a quick and enjoyable read about identity and acceptance - of self and others.
Readers who like this book should also read Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach.
Bobby Steele can stop thinking of Rowan, partly because he imagined himself as Rowan - he was athletic. He was intelligent, and he could have gone to Whitestone Prep given the right opportunity and the money to pay for tuition. And Bobby has another reason why Rowan should have a chance - a domestic incident involving his parents, leaves Bobby and his family the talk of the town and him with a name that he doesn't want to claim. Rowan Pohi is then reborn.
In a community separated by class, Bobby is able to infiltrate the school as Rowan without much opposition. He makes some friends easily - the girls are taken with him. The teachers are too as Rowan begins to prove himself academically as well as on the football field. But his pasts (both real and fake) start to catch up with him. Rowan's transcripts from his former school still haven't arrived and a classmate reveals that he knows about Rowan's little secret and wants him to pay-up. Bobby realizes that he may have jumped into this Rowan Pohi persona a bit too impulsively and it's going to catch up with him - sooner than he thinks.
I enjoyed getting to know Bobby and Rowan as he/they navigated going to a new school and created a fresh start. There were many events that happened too easily for Rowan without much question - getting into the school and then the repercussions of what happened after his true identity was revealed. But I did think the relationship that Bobby had with his family was realistic. Bobby's father's horrible actions were not easily forgiven and he continues to see his father through the eyes of a child aged beyond their years through a traumatic experience. The light-hearted moments balance out all of the heavy and make Also Known a Rowan Pohi a quick and enjoyable read about identity and acceptance - of self and others.
Readers who like this book should also read Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2017
Fanciful = success. Why wouldn't one love that? Overcome adversity through strength.
December 14, 2012
One day, while bored at IHOP, Bobby Steele and his friends Marcus and Big Poobs decide to create a fake application for Whitestone Academy, a fancy private school that rivals their own public one. Rowan Pohi is born, and they have a good time creating a persona for this person. But then Rowan is accepted to Whitestone, and Bobby decides to attend the school as Rowan. Everything goes according to plan for a while, but Bobby can’t balance his two worlds forever, and eventually they come crashing together.
Readers, what can I say? Nothing about this one worked for me. It’s fluffy wish-fulfillment masquerading as deeper fiction, and the result is an uneven mess. Even with a complete suspension of disbelief, the story seems improbable at best. Half-baked characters and an underdeveloped plot make this one difficult to get through despite it’s very short length.
Even recognizing the story’s implausibility isn’t enough to make this one enjoyable. When Bobby decides to attend Whitestone as Rowan, the reader knows he won’t be able to keep up the facade for very long. Perhaps making things worse is the fact that Bobby is never a fully developed character, making his plight as a nice guy from the wrong side of the tracks fall completely flat. This is exceedingly apparent, especially when he starts talking about the night his father abused his mother: it’s supposed to be upsetting, and it is, but it also feels incredibly manipulative.
Nothing about the story feels authentic in any way. Bobby’s ultimate success at Whitestone feels completely undeserved and is largely underwhelming, as far as culminating events go. Everything about this novel was underwhelming, except for the weirdly culturally insensitive and racist comments about Native Americans.
Definitely worth skipping. It might work for reluctant readers (especially male ones), but there are so many better options out there it hardly seems worth it.
Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher. Clarion Books: 2011. Library copy. Read for 2012 Cybils Round 1 Panel.
Readers, what can I say? Nothing about this one worked for me. It’s fluffy wish-fulfillment masquerading as deeper fiction, and the result is an uneven mess. Even with a complete suspension of disbelief, the story seems improbable at best. Half-baked characters and an underdeveloped plot make this one difficult to get through despite it’s very short length.
Even recognizing the story’s implausibility isn’t enough to make this one enjoyable. When Bobby decides to attend Whitestone as Rowan, the reader knows he won’t be able to keep up the facade for very long. Perhaps making things worse is the fact that Bobby is never a fully developed character, making his plight as a nice guy from the wrong side of the tracks fall completely flat. This is exceedingly apparent, especially when he starts talking about the night his father abused his mother: it’s supposed to be upsetting, and it is, but it also feels incredibly manipulative.
Nothing about the story feels authentic in any way. Bobby’s ultimate success at Whitestone feels completely undeserved and is largely underwhelming, as far as culminating events go. Everything about this novel was underwhelming, except for the weirdly culturally insensitive and racist comments about Native Americans.
Definitely worth skipping. It might work for reluctant readers (especially male ones), but there are so many better options out there it hardly seems worth it.
Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher. Clarion Books: 2011. Library copy. Read for 2012 Cybils Round 1 Panel.
November 10, 2011
It took me a while to get into this brief novel. Honestly, I was not amused by the antics of Bobby and his friends; I really don't see what's so funny about submitting a faked application to the local private high school. Plus, while I feel bad for Bobby's bad home life (father infamous for having once attacked their mother with an iron, after which she split and has not been heard from since), I wasn't too invested in it. Once he assumed the identity of Rowan Pohi, though, the story, and his life, really took off.
Of course, I want to say right now that nothing about this story is remotely believable, despite this being realistic fiction. For one thing, they would not have accepted Rowan without transcripts. Paperwork is what makes the modern world function; this is not the age where people can easily escape themselves. Also, repeated mention was made of the fact that Whitestone Academy has a rifle range. What the hell kind of high school has a rifle range? That's just asking for a lawsuit. On top of that, there is no way at all that a private school possessed of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, amazing food, a 5:1 teacher student ratio, a rifle range and a brand new planetarium would cost only $5,000 dollars a semester. I know people who send their children to private school and it costs more than that without all of those extras.
Suspending this disbelief, though, this is a pretty fun middle grade caper. It's interesting to see how he blends into the school, and I couldn't help being glad that he got to go there, since he clearly has so much more potential than his high school would ever be able to make use of. Fletcher also made some interesting observations on spousal abuse and persecution, despite not focusing on those points too heavily.
Also Known as Rowan Pohi could be a good read for reluctant readers, with pretty easy language and a lot of dialogue.
Of course, I want to say right now that nothing about this story is remotely believable, despite this being realistic fiction. For one thing, they would not have accepted Rowan without transcripts. Paperwork is what makes the modern world function; this is not the age where people can easily escape themselves. Also, repeated mention was made of the fact that Whitestone Academy has a rifle range. What the hell kind of high school has a rifle range? That's just asking for a lawsuit. On top of that, there is no way at all that a private school possessed of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, amazing food, a 5:1 teacher student ratio, a rifle range and a brand new planetarium would cost only $5,000 dollars a semester. I know people who send their children to private school and it costs more than that without all of those extras.
Suspending this disbelief, though, this is a pretty fun middle grade caper. It's interesting to see how he blends into the school, and I couldn't help being glad that he got to go there, since he clearly has so much more potential than his high school would ever be able to make use of. Fletcher also made some interesting observations on spousal abuse and persecution, despite not focusing on those points too heavily.
Also Known as Rowan Pohi could be a good read for reluctant readers, with pretty easy language and a lot of dialogue.
December 16, 2011
Overall I did enjoy this book and I could see most of my students enjoying it as well.
I am a little hesitant to purchase it for the library because it does contain a heavy make-out scene. While it's nothing that is overly explicit he does mention holding the "world" in his hands. "For nearly an hour I had the whole world in my hand - two lush planets actually, or binary stars - but that world is gone." I'm in the unusual position of having a 5th-8th grade library. Somethings that would be acceptable in a 7-8 library don't always fly here. While that line would probably be over the heads of most 5th graders it only takes one.
Bobby and his friends decide to fight the summer boredom by creating a fake application to the elite private school in their town. They create Rowan Pohi, a well rounded student from Arizona who dreams of going to Whitestone. Much to their amazement Rowan gets accepted to the private school and that's when things get complicated. Bobby decides to start the year fresh where no one knows who he is or his sordid family past. He attends orientation as Rowan, wins a scholarship and begins a new life...sort of.
Of course Bobby can't stay as Rowan forever and pretty soon things start to fall apart. One of the things that annoyed me about this book and kept it from being 4 stars for me is that Bobby never sees any punishment for pretending to be someone else. Even though it isn't identity theft it's still lying. Things are wrapped a little to neat for me and Bobby comes away a little to clean.
I can see most of my students enjoying and understanding Bobby and his motives. Might be a purchase for an 7th or 8th grade classroom rather than a library purchase. Again this is only for my library because of our awkward age range. I would highly recommend for any jr. high or high school library.
I am a little hesitant to purchase it for the library because it does contain a heavy make-out scene. While it's nothing that is overly explicit he does mention holding the "world" in his hands. "For nearly an hour I had the whole world in my hand - two lush planets actually, or binary stars - but that world is gone." I'm in the unusual position of having a 5th-8th grade library. Somethings that would be acceptable in a 7-8 library don't always fly here. While that line would probably be over the heads of most 5th graders it only takes one.
Bobby and his friends decide to fight the summer boredom by creating a fake application to the elite private school in their town. They create Rowan Pohi, a well rounded student from Arizona who dreams of going to Whitestone. Much to their amazement Rowan gets accepted to the private school and that's when things get complicated. Bobby decides to start the year fresh where no one knows who he is or his sordid family past. He attends orientation as Rowan, wins a scholarship and begins a new life...sort of.
Of course Bobby can't stay as Rowan forever and pretty soon things start to fall apart. One of the things that annoyed me about this book and kept it from being 4 stars for me is that Bobby never sees any punishment for pretending to be someone else. Even though it isn't identity theft it's still lying. Things are wrapped a little to neat for me and Bobby comes away a little to clean.
I can see most of my students enjoying and understanding Bobby and his motives. Might be a purchase for an 7th or 8th grade classroom rather than a library purchase. Again this is only for my library because of our awkward age range. I would highly recommend for any jr. high or high school library.
January 14, 2012
Rowan Ian Pohi begins as a figment of the imaginations of Bobby, Marcus and Poob; he’s a product of sheer boredom. When Bobby spots an application to the upscale private prep school Whitestone left behind on a table at the local IHOP by some “Stonies,” they decide to apply to Whitestone as Rowan Pohi as a harmless prank. Several weeks later their prank becomes a little less harmless as Pohi is accepted – pending a few additional requirements. The three guys decide to forget about Rowan and prepare for their sophomore year at Riverview. However, Bobby can’t get Rowan out of his mind; he’s always wanted to go to Whitestone but he knew he’d never be accepted on his own merits. He decides to take the leap and take on Rowan Pohi’s identity for himself. The only questions are: how long can he last at Whitestone with his fake identity and if he’s discovered how will he explain himself?
I was intrigued by this book from the second I read the blurb. Private school setting? Check. Case of assumed identity? Check. What made it even more interesting to me is the fact that this wasn’t a case of STOLEN identity, but an entirely fictional identity from the first. I wondered how does someone go about creating another identity – and more importantly – why?
I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. This isn’t the best book I’ve ever read but it’s a good solid read; probably could be read in one sitting by many readers. It held my attention throughout.
Want to read the rest? Visit my blog: My Shelf Confessions - Also Known as Rowan Pohi Review
I was intrigued by this book from the second I read the blurb. Private school setting? Check. Case of assumed identity? Check. What made it even more interesting to me is the fact that this wasn’t a case of STOLEN identity, but an entirely fictional identity from the first. I wondered how does someone go about creating another identity – and more importantly – why?
I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. This isn’t the best book I’ve ever read but it’s a good solid read; probably could be read in one sitting by many readers. It held my attention throughout.
Want to read the rest? Visit my blog: My Shelf Confessions - Also Known as Rowan Pohi Review
October 30, 2011
Rowan Pohi isn’t real. He’s just a boy from Arizona concocted by Bobby Steele and his friends Marcus and Big Poobs one day while they are sitting in Ihop. Bored and needing a little excitement, Bobby and his friends fill out an application for admission to the prestigious Whitestone Academy. Rowan gets good grades, plays football and helps those less fortunate; the perfect candidate for Whitestone. When Rowan receives an acceptance letter, Bobby, Marcus and Poobs can hardly believe it. The joke should end there, but when Bobby meets a cute girl from Whitestone and tells her his name is Rowan Pohi, he sets off a chain of events that gets him in deeper than he is comfortable with. Bobby knows the charade won’t last long, but he can’t stop. Rowan’s life is so much better than his own. The pristine halls of Whitestone are so much better than Bobby’s old high school, and there are so many more opportunities for him here, but how can he go on living a life that isn’t really his?
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Mr. Fletcher has crafted an enjoyable story filled with characters so distinct they practically crawl out of the pages. Bobby is especially sympathetic, and I wanted nothing but the best for him. I really wanted him to succeed and find a better life. The writing is effortless, the voice distinct and though at times I was afraid there would be too many loopholes for the plot to be plausible, Mr. Fletcher covered them all with believable outcomes. This is a quick and easy read (I read it in about two hours), and one I would highly recommend.
(Review based on an advanced reader’s copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley)
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Mr. Fletcher has crafted an enjoyable story filled with characters so distinct they practically crawl out of the pages. Bobby is especially sympathetic, and I wanted nothing but the best for him. I really wanted him to succeed and find a better life. The writing is effortless, the voice distinct and though at times I was afraid there would be too many loopholes for the plot to be plausible, Mr. Fletcher covered them all with believable outcomes. This is a quick and easy read (I read it in about two hours), and one I would highly recommend.
(Review based on an advanced reader’s copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley)
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February 3, 2012I love a good story about reinventing yourself, because lets face it, most of us would've loved the opportunity, especially in grade school or high school. And Bobby's Rowan transition is pretty epic. It was downright Ferris Bueller-esque.
I liked Bobby's character quite a bit. He's spontaneous and doesn't really think about the consequences of what he's getting into, everything is done by the seat of his pants. But obviously he's also smart, no dummy could pull off the scam he's setting up. Which makes his entry into Whitestone less of a joke and more of his rightful place as a smart kid who needs to be challenged more then his sad public school can manage. And that's the turning point from amusing scam story to actually rooting for Bobby for me.
However I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a bit more of his friends in the story. They're there to set things up but then become slightly dispensable which I thought was a loss to the story. Marcus and Big Poobs had the potential to be amusing side kicks, and as a pretty short book there was room for that aspect of the story to be expanded on. Instead the focus is more on Bobby, his dad, his brother and two girls at Whitestone. If you think about Ferris Bueller, Sloane and Cameron really made the story, without them it's just a delinquent teen who's way too smart for his own good. Bobby could have used a bit more rounding out through his friends, and it could have done a lot for building some of the suspense.
That being said, this was a fun light read, it required little of the reader except to come along for the ride.
I liked Bobby's character quite a bit. He's spontaneous and doesn't really think about the consequences of what he's getting into, everything is done by the seat of his pants. But obviously he's also smart, no dummy could pull off the scam he's setting up. Which makes his entry into Whitestone less of a joke and more of his rightful place as a smart kid who needs to be challenged more then his sad public school can manage. And that's the turning point from amusing scam story to actually rooting for Bobby for me.
However I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a bit more of his friends in the story. They're there to set things up but then become slightly dispensable which I thought was a loss to the story. Marcus and Big Poobs had the potential to be amusing side kicks, and as a pretty short book there was room for that aspect of the story to be expanded on. Instead the focus is more on Bobby, his dad, his brother and two girls at Whitestone. If you think about Ferris Bueller, Sloane and Cameron really made the story, without them it's just a delinquent teen who's way too smart for his own good. Bobby could have used a bit more rounding out through his friends, and it could have done a lot for building some of the suspense.
That being said, this was a fun light read, it required little of the reader except to come along for the ride.
June 8, 2012
Also Known as Rowan Pohi is a new YA by long time author Ralph Fletcher. My son's been recommending his books to me for about a year now, so I jumped at the change to read his newest.
Rowan Pohi reads like the YA version of I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos. I say that fondly as both are great stories of self acceptance and self improvement. Joey Pigza which is aimed at a slightly younger set of readers is a more light hearted take, while Also Known at Rowan Pohi pulls fewer punches.
Bobby Steele, Marcus and Big Poobs spend their free time at IHOP. It is there that they make up Rowan Pohi and apply to the local private high school in his name. When Rowan is accepted, the three friends decide they must kill him off before things get any farther out of hand. Except, Bobby sees Rowan as a chance to escape from his current underfunded, crappy public high school. He can reinvent himself.
Again like Joey, Bobby comes from a broken family. Here though, it's him, his much younger brother and their father, who a couple years back burned their mother with an iron. The fact that she left her children with the man who had sent her to the hospital and forever scarred her, is the one detail that leaves me scratching my head. It also put me on edge for the remainder of the book, afraid that Bobby's alternate life as Rowan Pohi would send his father over the edge again.
Although the set up of Also Known as Rowan Pohi is a bit goofy, it plays out well. There's a chance for a smart kid to better himself but there are also consequences for his deception.
Rowan Pohi reads like the YA version of I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos. I say that fondly as both are great stories of self acceptance and self improvement. Joey Pigza which is aimed at a slightly younger set of readers is a more light hearted take, while Also Known at Rowan Pohi pulls fewer punches.
Bobby Steele, Marcus and Big Poobs spend their free time at IHOP. It is there that they make up Rowan Pohi and apply to the local private high school in his name. When Rowan is accepted, the three friends decide they must kill him off before things get any farther out of hand. Except, Bobby sees Rowan as a chance to escape from his current underfunded, crappy public high school. He can reinvent himself.
Again like Joey, Bobby comes from a broken family. Here though, it's him, his much younger brother and their father, who a couple years back burned their mother with an iron. The fact that she left her children with the man who had sent her to the hospital and forever scarred her, is the one detail that leaves me scratching my head. It also put me on edge for the remainder of the book, afraid that Bobby's alternate life as Rowan Pohi would send his father over the edge again.
Although the set up of Also Known as Rowan Pohi is a bit goofy, it plays out well. There's a chance for a smart kid to better himself but there are also consequences for his deception.
October 11, 2014
Rowan Pohi, the latest 10th grader to be admitted to the prestigious Whitestone Academy, is the kind of kid that every teacher wants to have and every kid wants to be. Handsome, intelligent, athletic, and popular, he is set to rule the school. The only problem? Rowan’s not real.
Rowan Pohi is, in fact, a character created by Bobby Steele and his friends; part of a prank in which the bored boys fill out an application to the prestigious school under “Rowan’s” name to see if they can get him accepted. The ruse was supposed to end there, but it soon spirals out of control when the nonexistent boy’s application, complete with fake teacher recommendations and grades, is actually accepted. Bobby, eager to leave his undesirable old life behind, assumes Rowan’s identity.
With a fresh start, maybe he can forget about the fact that his mom left them, that his father has anger management issues and a criminal record, that he is stuck attending the mediocre public school. After sealing the deal by winning a full Whitestone scholarship in an essay contest, Rowan Pohi is Bobby’s ticket to a better life. Of course, Bobby’s charmed new life can only go on for so long.
Soon enough, troublesome blackmailing classmates threaten the illusion that he has so carefully crafted. How can Bobby reveal his secret identity without ruining everything he holds dear? A funny and fast-paced story that will appeal to anyone who has ever wished that they were someone else. Especially good for boys.
This review originally appeared on abookandahug.com
Rowan Pohi is, in fact, a character created by Bobby Steele and his friends; part of a prank in which the bored boys fill out an application to the prestigious school under “Rowan’s” name to see if they can get him accepted. The ruse was supposed to end there, but it soon spirals out of control when the nonexistent boy’s application, complete with fake teacher recommendations and grades, is actually accepted. Bobby, eager to leave his undesirable old life behind, assumes Rowan’s identity.
With a fresh start, maybe he can forget about the fact that his mom left them, that his father has anger management issues and a criminal record, that he is stuck attending the mediocre public school. After sealing the deal by winning a full Whitestone scholarship in an essay contest, Rowan Pohi is Bobby’s ticket to a better life. Of course, Bobby’s charmed new life can only go on for so long.
Soon enough, troublesome blackmailing classmates threaten the illusion that he has so carefully crafted. How can Bobby reveal his secret identity without ruining everything he holds dear? A funny and fast-paced story that will appeal to anyone who has ever wished that they were someone else. Especially good for boys.
This review originally appeared on abookandahug.com
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April 16, 2016Also Known as Rowan Pohi is a fictional young adult novel written by Ralph Fletcher in 2011. While Ralph is most well known for his children’s books but also has published works of poetry and some more young adult novels. I haven’t read or heard of any of Fletcher’s other works, but I am fond of his writing style so I am hoping to read some more of his young adult novels. I decided to read Also Known as Rowan Pohi after I had received it while participating in blind date with a book.
Bobby Steele has always been impulsive. It’s what is mother would always say before she left. When Bobby and his friends come across an application form to the stuck up Whitestone Prep while bored at IHOP, they create Rowan Pohi. A straight A student who wants to be apply to Whitestone Prep. But when Rowan gets in, Bobby takes his chance and becomes Rowan. The boy with the chances and opportunities Bobby will and could never have. How far will his impulsive nature take him?
This was by far the funniest book I had read all year. The story is unbelievable and wouldn’t ever be able to happen in real life, but yet all of Fletcher’s characters are so realistic and believable. The feelings and emotions are so real and the subplots create a real motive for Bobby to get into and stay in the school. How Whitestone was described was very similar to our school and it was very easy to understand to overwhelming feeling of going from a public school to a well funded private one. I would definitely check out some other books like this and would love a sequel to this one. ⅘ stars.
Bobby Steele has always been impulsive. It’s what is mother would always say before she left. When Bobby and his friends come across an application form to the stuck up Whitestone Prep while bored at IHOP, they create Rowan Pohi. A straight A student who wants to be apply to Whitestone Prep. But when Rowan gets in, Bobby takes his chance and becomes Rowan. The boy with the chances and opportunities Bobby will and could never have. How far will his impulsive nature take him?
This was by far the funniest book I had read all year. The story is unbelievable and wouldn’t ever be able to happen in real life, but yet all of Fletcher’s characters are so realistic and believable. The feelings and emotions are so real and the subplots create a real motive for Bobby to get into and stay in the school. How Whitestone was described was very similar to our school and it was very easy to understand to overwhelming feeling of going from a public school to a well funded private one. I would definitely check out some other books like this and would love a sequel to this one. ⅘ stars.
October 15, 2012
Now for a surprisingly fun one! This is, in a sense, the story of George P. Burdell for a YA audience, but it ends up being a story that's a lot more fun than it should be; telling a story about identity, accepting oneself for who you are, and more.
Rowan Pohi is the name of a kid who wants to go to an elite prep school. The issue is that the kid doesn't exist - Bobby and his friends made him up completely, and submitted his application. It then turns out that Rowan gets into the prestigious academy, and Bobby decides to go behind the backs of his friends and enroll at Whitestone as Rowan. It gives him a new lease on life, but also requires a lot of lying and finagling to make work.
The book is short, paced perfectly. It's funny (from silly stuff like the friend named "Big Poobs" to the antics Bobby gets into in an attempt to keep his double life), and a lot comes about that ends up being both instructive and inspirational. For a small book, it packs a pretty hefty punch, and it's hard not to be smiling through most of it.
It's certainly not inspiring or empowering the way a Stargirl might be, but it's a book that has a lot of heart and a lot going for it without trying too hard and without relying on after school special tropes, which is ultimately a rare quality these days. It's a quick and fun read that people might walk away with a little something extra at the end of the day. Highly recommended.
Rowan Pohi is the name of a kid who wants to go to an elite prep school. The issue is that the kid doesn't exist - Bobby and his friends made him up completely, and submitted his application. It then turns out that Rowan gets into the prestigious academy, and Bobby decides to go behind the backs of his friends and enroll at Whitestone as Rowan. It gives him a new lease on life, but also requires a lot of lying and finagling to make work.
The book is short, paced perfectly. It's funny (from silly stuff like the friend named "Big Poobs" to the antics Bobby gets into in an attempt to keep his double life), and a lot comes about that ends up being both instructive and inspirational. For a small book, it packs a pretty hefty punch, and it's hard not to be smiling through most of it.
It's certainly not inspiring or empowering the way a Stargirl might be, but it's a book that has a lot of heart and a lot going for it without trying too hard and without relying on after school special tropes, which is ultimately a rare quality these days. It's a quick and fun read that people might walk away with a little something extra at the end of the day. Highly recommended.
August 13, 2016
This book might've been more amazing had Fletcher devised some ways to make Rowan's acceptance at Whitestone more plausible, but I suspect that would've involved some high-tech shenanigans or other twists that would've been even more implausible. That was not the story Fletcher was trying to tell, obviously, Bobby was always meant to get caught. He's a regular guy with good intentions who happens to have a rather odd adventure.
The book is short and a bit simplistic, likely geared toward middle-grade readers (though there are a couple instances of profanity), just based on dialogue. The dialogue was really awkward. Not only did the characters make lame jokes, but also conversation didn't flow naturally. Some of interactions between Bobby, Cody, and their father didn't ring true. It seemed like Fletcher was doing a stereotypical imitation of how he thought a working-class man, a 5-year-old, and a teenage boy would talk and interact with each other. Note to self: Work on my own dialogue and characterization...
Ironically, the essay that "Rowan" writes to earn himself a scholarship to Whitestone is much more masterfully written than this book. Where's THAT writer, huh?
This book could also have been longer and more fun...if Fletcher tried to drag the story out more. However, he stuck to the main plotline, and as a result, this book doesn't have much meat or a takeaway. It might be more accurate to describe this as a long short story.
The book is short and a bit simplistic, likely geared toward middle-grade readers (though there are a couple instances of profanity), just based on dialogue. The dialogue was really awkward. Not only did the characters make lame jokes, but also conversation didn't flow naturally. Some of interactions between Bobby, Cody, and their father didn't ring true. It seemed like Fletcher was doing a stereotypical imitation of how he thought a working-class man, a 5-year-old, and a teenage boy would talk and interact with each other. Note to self: Work on my own dialogue and characterization...
Ironically, the essay that "Rowan" writes to earn himself a scholarship to Whitestone is much more masterfully written than this book. Where's THAT writer, huh?
This book could also have been longer and more fun...if Fletcher tried to drag the story out more. However, he stuck to the main plotline, and as a result, this book doesn't have much meat or a takeaway. It might be more accurate to describe this as a long short story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2011
Also Known as Rowan Pohi is a quite short, light and interesting reading about Bobby Steele, a boy who decides to trick his way into Whitestone, a prestigious school in Bobby’s town. It’s begun with a prank with his friends when they invented Rowan Pohi, a smart and talented boy who wanted to enter Whitestone. But when they received a letter telling them that Rowan is accepted, Bobby decided to take his place and be Rowan Pohi.
This is a light reading; it only took me about one and a half hour to finish it. The main character, Bobby Steele, hated his name due to its association with his father, Bobby Steele Senior, after a terrible event between his father and his mother. Thinking that his future is doomed due to the name and his low rank school, Bobby thinks Rowan Pohi is his getaway ticket to be what he always wanted to be.
I like Bobby, I can relate to him. For him Rowan Pohi is his mardi grass. He could be himself, or, not himself, depend on from which side you’re looking at. Being Rowan Pohi gives him a chance he couldn’t get as Bobby Steele, a chance for clean start and promising future. Other characters aren’t that interesting although I quite like his friends and their friendship.
Overall this is too short to make you feel deeply engaged but it’s still a nice reading, a book that fits for kids and those who like reading kids books like me.
This is a light reading; it only took me about one and a half hour to finish it. The main character, Bobby Steele, hated his name due to its association with his father, Bobby Steele Senior, after a terrible event between his father and his mother. Thinking that his future is doomed due to the name and his low rank school, Bobby thinks Rowan Pohi is his getaway ticket to be what he always wanted to be.
I like Bobby, I can relate to him. For him Rowan Pohi is his mardi grass. He could be himself, or, not himself, depend on from which side you’re looking at. Being Rowan Pohi gives him a chance he couldn’t get as Bobby Steele, a chance for clean start and promising future. Other characters aren’t that interesting although I quite like his friends and their friendship.
Overall this is too short to make you feel deeply engaged but it’s still a nice reading, a book that fits for kids and those who like reading kids books like me.
July 15, 2013
I didn’t read all of this book, but simply read the first half-ish and then skimmed the rest. I was pretty disappointed with the story. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it going in, but it sounded pretty amusing, so I gave it a shot. From the get-go I was not a fan of Bobby or his weirdly named friends. I thought their lives were dull and unrealistic. Maybe I’m judging them too harshly, but I thought their actions were kind of lame and I didn’t care for their conversations either. It wasn’t nearly as amusing as I had anticipated, especially when Bobby/Rowan actually got into the school and was trying to juggle the two lives he led. It was full of unnecessary drama and didn’t have very many realistic elements. I didn’t care for the way things worked out and I didn’t have a big interest in seeing Bobby/Rowan succeed because I didn’t really like him. I also thought the ending was HIGHLY unrealistic and that was a big turn-off. I had expected something along those lines, but the way it was handled just made me grimace. Not something I’d recommend: the plot, characters, and story left something to be desired.
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
July 27, 2011
Original review posted @ www.bookgoonie.com August 2011
http://wp.me/p1h3Ps-pH
Bobby Steele and his buddies decide it would be a kick to make up a fake identity and see if it would get admitted into the prestigious Whitestone Academy. They are shocked when it becomes a reality. The prank has played itself out and so they ceremonial bury Rowan Pohi. But Bobby in a moment of feeling sorry for himself digs up the acceptance papers from Rowan's grave. Bobby decides to assume Rowan's fake life.
A few years ago, Bobby's mom left. It is a long story, but his dad burned her with the iron. He went to jail for 65 days. But she left him and his 5 year old brother. When he decides to dig up Rowan's papers, he has had a rough day. Bobby was referred to as a bad seed, just like his dad. So why not be someone else?
When Bobby starts going to Whitestone, I really didn't see it as he was ashamed of his name. I saw it as what the heck...I'll do it a few days, but the lie grew. Well yes, he will get busted. But in that process he stands up for himself, confronts and forgives his dad, mourns that his mom left him, and finds new pride in being Bobby Steele. It is a fun and light read about family, divorce, abandonment and self.
http://wp.me/p1h3Ps-pH
Bobby Steele and his buddies decide it would be a kick to make up a fake identity and see if it would get admitted into the prestigious Whitestone Academy. They are shocked when it becomes a reality. The prank has played itself out and so they ceremonial bury Rowan Pohi. But Bobby in a moment of feeling sorry for himself digs up the acceptance papers from Rowan's grave. Bobby decides to assume Rowan's fake life.
A few years ago, Bobby's mom left. It is a long story, but his dad burned her with the iron. He went to jail for 65 days. But she left him and his 5 year old brother. When he decides to dig up Rowan's papers, he has had a rough day. Bobby was referred to as a bad seed, just like his dad. So why not be someone else?
When Bobby starts going to Whitestone, I really didn't see it as he was ashamed of his name. I saw it as what the heck...I'll do it a few days, but the lie grew. Well yes, he will get busted. But in that process he stands up for himself, confronts and forgives his dad, mourns that his mom left him, and finds new pride in being Bobby Steele. It is a fun and light read about family, divorce, abandonment and self.
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