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My Most Excellent Year
Dear Anthony:
I appreciate your recent interest, but I'm not accepting applications at this time. Your letter will be kept in our files and someone will get back to you if there is an opening. Thank you for thinking of me.
Respectfully,
Alejandra Perez
P.S. It's not Allie. It's Ale.
I appreciate your recent interest, but I'm not accepting applications at this time. Your letter will be kept in our files and someone will get back to you if there is an opening. Thank you for thinking of me.
Respectfully,
Alejandra Perez
P.S. It's not Allie. It's Ale.
Meet T.C., who is valiantly attempting to get Alejandra to fall in love with him; Alejandra, who is playing hard to get and is busy trying to sashay out from under the responsibilities of being a diplomat's daughter; and T.C.'s brother Augie, who is gay and in love and everyone knows it but him.
403 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2008
113 people are currently reading
15654 people want to read
About the author
Steve Kluger
12 books339 followersSteve Kluger is an author and playwright, born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1952, who grew up with only two heroes: Tom Seaver and Ethel Merman. Few were able to grasp the concept. A veteran of "Casablanca" and a graduate of "The Graduate," he has written extensively on subjects as far ranging as World War II, rock and roll, and the Titanic, and as close to the heart as baseball and the Boston Red Sox (which frequently have nothing to do with one another). Doubtless due to the fact that he's a card-carrying Baby Boomer whose entire existence was shaped by the lyrics to "Abbey Road," "Workingman's Dead," and "Annie Get Your Gun" (his first spoken words, in fact, were actually stolen from "The Pajama Game"), he's also forged a somewhat singular path as a civil rights advocate, campaigning for a "Save Fenway Park" initiative (which qualifies as a civil right if you're a Red Sox fan), counseling gay teenagers, and--on behalf of Japanese American internment redress--lobbying the Department of the Interior to restore the baseball diamond at he Manzanar National Historic Site. Meanwhile, he donates half of his spare time to organizations such as Lambda Legal Defense, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and Models of Pride, and gives the rest of it to his nieces and nephews--the nine kids who own his heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,139 reviews
October 29, 2012
When Flannery first recommended this book to me with the promise of Boston and baseball, my exact reaction was, "........" The opening paragraph of her review cracks me up because what I remember most about Boston is: rats. Lots and lots of rats. Since "everywhere" is too general, let me tell you 3 specific places where I saw a rat.
1. Subway (as in Eat Fresh®)
2. California Pizza Kitchen, Prudential Center
3. My dorm room
My friends refused to walk on my left because whenever I saw a rat charging out of the bushes, I'd push them out into the street. Excuse me for trying to save your life! Did no one see the episode of Little House on the Prairie where everyone in Walnut Grove nearly died of typhus?! That wasn't just a TV show, that was a PSA.
Second only to rats in Boston are Red Sox fans. The SAWX. I grew up watching sports (not baseball, as if) but nothing in my life prepared me for Red Sox Nation. I lived 5 minutes away from Fenway Park and got a very rude awakening the first (and only) time I tried to take the T after a game. My PTSD still prevents me from talking about it.
Imagine my surprise when not only did I end up finishing this book, I loved it. It reminded me that aside from the rats and the Sox, Boston was also where I first fell in love, strolled through a park at night while someone played the saxophone, and had a chocolate chip cannoli from Mike's Pastry. (Don't knock it til you've tried it! My love for Mike's has outlasted that first love.) Every so often, I need to be reminded that hope exists. I need it to wrap me in a bear hug and refuse to let go until I surrender because anything less won't work with me. Some Disney magic also helps.
My Most Excellent Year refers to the year Alejandra Perez and a 6-year-old named Hucky entered the lives of T.C. Keller and Augie Hwong. T.C. and Augie declared they were brothers in 1st grade and never looked back. T.C. had just lost his mother and he bonded with the quiet kid who was the one person who didn't look at him like he'd just lost his mother. Of course, Augie didn't stay quiet. Have you ever met a quiet Ethel Merman fan? While Augie shared his love of musicals during their weekly sleepovers, T.C. shared his love of baseball. When Alejandra (that's Alé with an é) transferred to their school freshman year and politely rejected T.C.'s offer to consider a relationship with her, while talking to Augie about musical theater, both boys were goners. Their story is told through journal entries, emails, IMs, and texts.
First, I loved that two of the main characters are minorities. This was such an issue for me growing up, and it's still an issue for me now, but it's so important to see last names like Hwong and Perez and not deal with stereotypical characterizations. Augie is the son of a Chinese immigrant mother and American-born Chinese father. His mother terrorizes the Boston theater community with her reviews for the Globe. Here's a sample of her review of Carousel:
Second, I loved the fathers in this. T.C.'s dad, Ted, named after Ted Williams naturally, and Augie's dad, Craig, are such presences in their sons' lives. T.C. uses a vocabulary word in one of his journal entries and a few pages later, Ted ends up using the same word in an email to T.C.'s counselor. You can just see T.C. using it around the house with Ted, making up ridiculous sentences along the way.
Third, Augie Hwong is who I tried to get my little brother to be. Yes, the one who is now a big bad cop. I just think children, particularly boys, need a well-rounded education, especially of the musical variety. Also, I knew even back then that he was destined for a career involving weaponry so I wanted to get to him before the mouthbreathers did. Since I controlled the radio in the car (ah, the perks of being the oldest), I played a steady stream of Rent, Les Miserables, and Ragtime. (Wicked came later.) I was so proud when I heard him humming "Would you light my candle?" I was even prouder when Rent the movie came out and he went to watch it on his own.
This book had the same energy of Sorta Like a Rock Star and it was what I hoped Will Grayson Will Grayson would be. The format of journal entries and emails and texts made it an easy, fun read. You don't need to know all (or any) of the baseball and theater references to get this book. Just read a short synopsis of All About Eve so you understand one of my favorite Augie moments. I know it's not perfect, but it had so much heart that like Mary Poppins, My Most Excellent Year is practically perfect in every way.
Rating: 5/5 stars.
This was my last book in The Readventurer challenge and it was the perfect book to go out on. Thanks for the recs, Flann!
This review appears on Young Adult Anonymous.
1. Subway (as in Eat Fresh®)
2. California Pizza Kitchen, Prudential Center
3. My dorm room
My friends refused to walk on my left because whenever I saw a rat charging out of the bushes, I'd push them out into the street. Excuse me for trying to save your life! Did no one see the episode of Little House on the Prairie where everyone in Walnut Grove nearly died of typhus?! That wasn't just a TV show, that was a PSA.
Second only to rats in Boston are Red Sox fans. The SAWX. I grew up watching sports (not baseball, as if) but nothing in my life prepared me for Red Sox Nation. I lived 5 minutes away from Fenway Park and got a very rude awakening the first (and only) time I tried to take the T after a game. My PTSD still prevents me from talking about it.
Imagine my surprise when not only did I end up finishing this book, I loved it. It reminded me that aside from the rats and the Sox, Boston was also where I first fell in love, strolled through a park at night while someone played the saxophone, and had a chocolate chip cannoli from Mike's Pastry. (Don't knock it til you've tried it! My love for Mike's has outlasted that first love.) Every so often, I need to be reminded that hope exists. I need it to wrap me in a bear hug and refuse to let go until I surrender because anything less won't work with me. Some Disney magic also helps.
My Most Excellent Year refers to the year Alejandra Perez and a 6-year-old named Hucky entered the lives of T.C. Keller and Augie Hwong. T.C. and Augie declared they were brothers in 1st grade and never looked back. T.C. had just lost his mother and he bonded with the quiet kid who was the one person who didn't look at him like he'd just lost his mother. Of course, Augie didn't stay quiet. Have you ever met a quiet Ethel Merman fan? While Augie shared his love of musicals during their weekly sleepovers, T.C. shared his love of baseball. When Alejandra (that's Alé with an é) transferred to their school freshman year and politely rejected T.C.'s offer to consider a relationship with her, while talking to Augie about musical theater, both boys were goners. Their story is told through journal entries, emails, IMs, and texts.
First, I loved that two of the main characters are minorities. This was such an issue for me growing up, and it's still an issue for me now, but it's so important to see last names like Hwong and Perez and not deal with stereotypical characterizations. Augie is the son of a Chinese immigrant mother and American-born Chinese father. His mother terrorizes the Boston theater community with her reviews for the Globe. Here's a sample of her review of Carousel:
"Nice songs to beat your wife to. Attend at your own risk."She instilled her love of theater in Augie, but made sure to warn him about Carousel when he was 8. Alé is the daughter of diplomats and her father was the ambassador to Mexico until he accepted a position at Harvard. She's used to hobnobbing (and accidentally insulting) diplomats, actors, and (I'm assuming) Bono. Her closest friend before moving to Brookline was a Secret Service agent.
Second, I loved the fathers in this. T.C.'s dad, Ted, named after Ted Williams naturally, and Augie's dad, Craig, are such presences in their sons' lives. T.C. uses a vocabulary word in one of his journal entries and a few pages later, Ted ends up using the same word in an email to T.C.'s counselor. You can just see T.C. using it around the house with Ted, making up ridiculous sentences along the way.
Third, Augie Hwong is who I tried to get my little brother to be. Yes, the one who is now a big bad cop. I just think children, particularly boys, need a well-rounded education, especially of the musical variety. Also, I knew even back then that he was destined for a career involving weaponry so I wanted to get to him before the mouthbreathers did. Since I controlled the radio in the car (ah, the perks of being the oldest), I played a steady stream of Rent, Les Miserables, and Ragtime. (Wicked came later.) I was so proud when I heard him humming "Would you light my candle?" I was even prouder when Rent the movie came out and he went to watch it on his own.
This book had the same energy of Sorta Like a Rock Star and it was what I hoped Will Grayson Will Grayson would be. The format of journal entries and emails and texts made it an easy, fun read. You don't need to know all (or any) of the baseball and theater references to get this book. Just read a short synopsis of All About Eve so you understand one of my favorite Augie moments. I know it's not perfect, but it had so much heart that like Mary Poppins, My Most Excellent Year is practically perfect in every way.
Rating: 5/5 stars.
This was my last book in The Readventurer challenge and it was the perfect book to go out on. Thanks for the recs, Flann!
This review appears on Young Adult Anonymous.
February 24, 2011
“If you don’t like it, just lie.”
A friend lent me her copy of Steve Kluger’s My Most Excellent Year after I said I wished there were more novels that just happened to feature characters of diversity, instead of having their diversity carry the whole book. This is not to devalue books that specifically highlight a certain experience, but so few of them are equally entertaining as they are important. When was the last time I read about a black Mia Thermopolis or a gay Percy Jackson? I’m not interested in hearing that a character of colour will deter the majority of readers; as an Asian, I grew up identifying with white characters just fine. And if it is true, then doesn’t it just highlight some of the problems in educating children (and adults) about cultural or gender sensitivity?
Enter My Most Excellent Year, cheekily subtitled A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park. While it might not be ‘serious,’ I dare you to say this book isn’t important. It does so many amazing things, all with a jazzy smile (or a well-placed ‘um’). Told in instant messages, English homework assignments, memos and press clippings, My Most Excellent Year is from the point of view three main characters: T.C., Augie and Alejandra. As the title suggests, it chronicles their most excellent year—the ninth grade.
T.C. and Augie decided to be “brothers” when they were eight, in every sense of the term but actual blood-relation. That means that even their parents get looped in on this, eventually realizing that they’ve each gained an extra son. In the beginning of ninth grade, Alejandra moves to their school. As an ambassador’s daughter, her family is frighteningly educated and well-connected. T.C. develops a crush on her, and she and Augie share some interests—but I don’t want to spoil the rest of the book because you should really read it!
It’s funny, because I didn’t even notice the diversity among the characters until I was past half-way and thought: oh, wow, this book features a guy with a dead parent, a gay Asian boy, a girl of Mexican descent, and a deaf kid. Kluger made me think about them as characters first, characters that inspire each other and inspire me. I love all of them. I would let Augie pick out my clothes, I would invite Alejandra to my book club, and I would even suffer a baseball game if T.C. were coming with me. Even the parents (and one hilarious guidance counselor) were adults I’d totally want on my PTA.
In addition, there are two romances in the novel, one gay and one straight. And both were equally adorable and tingly. TINGLY.
As for how realistic it is… how often is real life entertaining? Or more entertaining than the son of Zeus or the just-discovered princess of a European country? I’m not sure how realistic it is for the CIA to get a couple of teenagers seats to the World Series, or Liza Minelli asking to speak to your best friend. Also, two random boys getting past security at a Julie Andrews benefit? Why not. If an umbrella can help a nanny fly, anything can happen.
A friend lent me her copy of Steve Kluger’s My Most Excellent Year after I said I wished there were more novels that just happened to feature characters of diversity, instead of having their diversity carry the whole book. This is not to devalue books that specifically highlight a certain experience, but so few of them are equally entertaining as they are important. When was the last time I read about a black Mia Thermopolis or a gay Percy Jackson? I’m not interested in hearing that a character of colour will deter the majority of readers; as an Asian, I grew up identifying with white characters just fine. And if it is true, then doesn’t it just highlight some of the problems in educating children (and adults) about cultural or gender sensitivity?
Enter My Most Excellent Year, cheekily subtitled A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park. While it might not be ‘serious,’ I dare you to say this book isn’t important. It does so many amazing things, all with a jazzy smile (or a well-placed ‘um’). Told in instant messages, English homework assignments, memos and press clippings, My Most Excellent Year is from the point of view three main characters: T.C., Augie and Alejandra. As the title suggests, it chronicles their most excellent year—the ninth grade.
T.C. and Augie decided to be “brothers” when they were eight, in every sense of the term but actual blood-relation. That means that even their parents get looped in on this, eventually realizing that they’ve each gained an extra son. In the beginning of ninth grade, Alejandra moves to their school. As an ambassador’s daughter, her family is frighteningly educated and well-connected. T.C. develops a crush on her, and she and Augie share some interests—but I don’t want to spoil the rest of the book because you should really read it!
It’s funny, because I didn’t even notice the diversity among the characters until I was past half-way and thought: oh, wow, this book features a guy with a dead parent, a gay Asian boy, a girl of Mexican descent, and a deaf kid. Kluger made me think about them as characters first, characters that inspire each other and inspire me. I love all of them. I would let Augie pick out my clothes, I would invite Alejandra to my book club, and I would even suffer a baseball game if T.C. were coming with me. Even the parents (and one hilarious guidance counselor) were adults I’d totally want on my PTA.
In addition, there are two romances in the novel, one gay and one straight. And both were equally adorable and tingly. TINGLY.
As for how realistic it is… how often is real life entertaining? Or more entertaining than the son of Zeus or the just-discovered princess of a European country? I’m not sure how realistic it is for the CIA to get a couple of teenagers seats to the World Series, or Liza Minelli asking to speak to your best friend. Also, two random boys getting past security at a Julie Andrews benefit? Why not. If an umbrella can help a nanny fly, anything can happen.
June 22, 2011
I haven't quite officially finished this book but I can already see that it's going to be a happy ending. Nothing bad happens! It's that perfect department store window, mannequins placed just so. It's a half-hour sitcom with laugh track. It's those people down the street you kind of hate, the perfect family with the perfect lawn and the perfect future ahead of them (not the perfection that hides eeeevil secrets, I mean the annoyingly perfect).
The book is a series of school essays (journal entries), emails, IMs, and articles. Each chapter is from a different character POV. Best friends TC & Augie and Alejandra look back at freshman year.
It's all so extremely ideal I had to "pfft!" the pressure out every once in a while. Especially Augie's story, which was so unbelievably painless. Annoying things: You can see the effort to show diversity. The little chapter-ending exclamations weren't as funny as they tried to be. Life is not that perfect!
But it's also a fun read, where it's okay that nothing insurmountable happens because I just listened to the news and man is it depressing out there. Give me a moment of fake-happy to recover. YA summer!
The book is a series of school essays (journal entries), emails, IMs, and articles. Each chapter is from a different character POV. Best friends TC & Augie and Alejandra look back at freshman year.
It's all so extremely ideal I had to "pfft!" the pressure out every once in a while. Especially Augie's story, which was so unbelievably painless. Annoying things: You can see the effort to show diversity. The little chapter-ending exclamations weren't as funny as they tried to be. Life is not that perfect!
But it's also a fun read, where it's okay that nothing insurmountable happens because I just listened to the news and man is it depressing out there. Give me a moment of fake-happy to recover. YA summer!
September 15, 2021
Well the ride is over and I’m feeling pretty sad. I hate turning the last page when the book is so damn good.
That said I urge anyone looking for a fun trip into the minds of 3 teenage school kids (with a 6 year old and a few adults throwing their two cents), in to read this book.
This is a story about love, life and family. It is told through the Diary entry’s and various emails and IM messages that are typical of Steven Kluger’s style.
TC, Augie, and Alejandra are the main talkers in this story. Through them we learn about family, growing up, falling in love and most importantly that dreams can come true if you work for them.
This book had me laughing out loud most of the time, and yet still had me needing a few tissues. If Hucky doesn’t break your heart I seriously doubt you have one.
I wish I had the words to do this book the justice it deserves. Instead all I can do is urge everyone to read it. I’m betting you wont regret it.
I would love to see a follow up book. To meet TC, Augie , Alejandra and Hucky a few years down the line would be a dream come true.
ETA Still dreaming
That said I urge anyone looking for a fun trip into the minds of 3 teenage school kids (with a 6 year old and a few adults throwing their two cents), in to read this book.
This is a story about love, life and family. It is told through the Diary entry’s and various emails and IM messages that are typical of Steven Kluger’s style.
TC, Augie, and Alejandra are the main talkers in this story. Through them we learn about family, growing up, falling in love and most importantly that dreams can come true if you work for them.
This book had me laughing out loud most of the time, and yet still had me needing a few tissues. If Hucky doesn’t break your heart I seriously doubt you have one.
I wish I had the words to do this book the justice it deserves. Instead all I can do is urge everyone to read it. I’m betting you wont regret it.
I would love to see a follow up book. To meet TC, Augie , Alejandra and Hucky a few years down the line would be a dream come true.
ETA Still dreaming
August 23, 2013
5 Sickeningly Sweet Stars
T.C., Alé and Augie are high-schoolers who have been assigned an English lesson of journaling their “most excellent year”. Follow along through these journal entries, chats, I.M.s, etc. as the three come of age and come into their own.
Obviously, this one isn’t ever going to win a Pulitzer, but judging the book for its genre – it is absolutely worthy of 5 stars. I don’t care if it’s completely cliché, the characters are too mature to be 14, the plot isn’t realistic. So what? Sometimes it’s just perfect to read something that makes you feel so good. It’s so saccharine sweet that I’m fairly certain I have a cavity and my face is going to hurt from smiling for DAYS. Steve Kluger, where have your books been all my life????
T.C., Alé and Augie are high-schoolers who have been assigned an English lesson of journaling their “most excellent year”. Follow along through these journal entries, chats, I.M.s, etc. as the three come of age and come into their own.
Obviously, this one isn’t ever going to win a Pulitzer, but judging the book for its genre – it is absolutely worthy of 5 stars. I don’t care if it’s completely cliché, the characters are too mature to be 14, the plot isn’t realistic. So what? Sometimes it’s just perfect to read something that makes you feel so good. It’s so saccharine sweet that I’m fairly certain I have a cavity and my face is going to hurt from smiling for DAYS. Steve Kluger, where have your books been all my life????
August 18, 2008
My feelings are kind of torn about this one. There's no doubt that the book is full of hilarious moments. But sometimes the funny felt a little forced. All of the characters are so clever and amusing and witty that sometimes I wanted to scream that real people aren't like this! (At least not where I'm from - maybe Boston is a whole 'nother world.) All of the characters of course had the exact same sense of humor, and their voices started to sound an awful lot alike after a while. And some of the subplots are so unbelievable and tied up so neatly that it jolted me out of the story. Still, there were quite a few times while reading that I literally laughed out loud, and that's fairly unusual for me. So I guess maybe I'll give it one thumb up instead of two.
March 29, 2017
4 stars for being one of the most heartwarming books ever.
My Most Excellent Year is a multi-medium contemporary about three kids; high school class clown T.C., theater kid Augie, and the absolutely badass Alejandra. This book succeeds mainly because of the main three characters' interesting personalities. Each one is unique and interesting
Alejandra and T.C.'s romance is completely free of instalove. Their banter-filled relationship was so fun to read about. Kluger also does a great job with Augie's budding relationship. However, possibly my favorite part was the feel of friendship and community throughout the school.
I love how heartwarming this book is while still feeling real. This book gives me hope for the human race; all the characters are flawed, but they're all so good. Definitely recommended to fans of contemporary and well-written romance.
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My Most Excellent Year is a multi-medium contemporary about three kids; high school class clown T.C., theater kid Augie, and the absolutely badass Alejandra. This book succeeds mainly because of the main three characters' interesting personalities. Each one is unique and interesting
Alejandra and T.C.'s romance is completely free of instalove. Their banter-filled relationship was so fun to read about. Kluger also does a great job with Augie's budding relationship. However, possibly my favorite part was the feel of friendship and community throughout the school.
I love how heartwarming this book is while still feeling real. This book gives me hope for the human race; all the characters are flawed, but they're all so good. Definitely recommended to fans of contemporary and well-written romance.
My Blog | My GR Account |
August 26, 2008
I was not going to buy this book. I already had two perfectly good paperbacks in hand. But then I read the first sentence, and I couldn't put it down. [Note to Ms. LaFontaine: I didn't meant to give you a hard time about this assignment, but "My Totally Excellent Year" would have been like so 1995, we'dhave been laughed out of Brookline if anybody found out.] The subtitle's also a gem- 'a novel of love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park.' That's right, this book was written for you, Kelly and Dr. B. And even if you're not that into the red sox or musical theatre, I think it'll charm the pants off you.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was this is a pretty realistic story. The kids lead more exciting than average lives, but in general, the major events of the book are not set off by Shakespearean setups of mistaken identity or missed notes- they're set up by the kids initiative. Similarly, this is a very happy book- the author has found plenty to write about in his wonderful characters and doesn't need to insert terrible tragedies to provide interest. And all of the characters- parents, adults, small dog- had me from the get go.
In short, I was sad when I finished this at 1 AM last night, because I want to keep listening in on these people's conversations, wandering around Brookline and Cambridge with them, and enjoying their attempts to delight each other. They surely succeeded in delighting ME.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was this is a pretty realistic story. The kids lead more exciting than average lives, but in general, the major events of the book are not set off by Shakespearean setups of mistaken identity or missed notes- they're set up by the kids initiative. Similarly, this is a very happy book- the author has found plenty to write about in his wonderful characters and doesn't need to insert terrible tragedies to provide interest. And all of the characters- parents, adults, small dog- had me from the get go.
In short, I was sad when I finished this at 1 AM last night, because I want to keep listening in on these people's conversations, wandering around Brookline and Cambridge with them, and enjoying their attempts to delight each other. They surely succeeded in delighting ME.
January 12, 2010
My Most Excellent Year is the story of three teens that are reflecting on their freshman year of high school, hence the title. They are doing it as an assignment during junior year, so the story is made up of letters, journal entries, and other writings. T.C. is in love with Ale but doesn't know how to tell her. Ale is deciding whether to pursue her own interests or to try to live up to her parent's expectations. And Augie, T.C.'s brother, is trying to figure out what true love is.
To put it mildly, I was disappointed with this novel. It sounded interesting and I thought the writing style was unique, but it never really came together as a whole. The characters were interesting but not very convincing, their three separate voices blended together and sometimes I couldn't figure out who was narrating during certain portions of the book. Also, the plot had a little bit too much going on. While it is fiction, and the author is allowed to make stuff up, there was a bit too many story lines that were either over-used or underdeveloped.
I didn't emotionally connect to any of the characters. The book was published in 2008, but the teen speak utilized in the novel sounded like it dated way back, like maybe even past 2000. I give this book two stars because at times it was funny (either intentionally or unintentionally) and sometimes I liked Augie. For reasons other than those, I probably wouldn't recommend this book to any of the teenagers I know.
To put it mildly, I was disappointed with this novel. It sounded interesting and I thought the writing style was unique, but it never really came together as a whole. The characters were interesting but not very convincing, their three separate voices blended together and sometimes I couldn't figure out who was narrating during certain portions of the book. Also, the plot had a little bit too much going on. While it is fiction, and the author is allowed to make stuff up, there was a bit too many story lines that were either over-used or underdeveloped.
I didn't emotionally connect to any of the characters. The book was published in 2008, but the teen speak utilized in the novel sounded like it dated way back, like maybe even past 2000. I give this book two stars because at times it was funny (either intentionally or unintentionally) and sometimes I liked Augie. For reasons other than those, I probably wouldn't recommend this book to any of the teenagers I know.
April 8, 2016
4,5 STARS!
I think all of us came AT LEAST ONCE (in month? year? life?) across a book that makes you fall in love almost from the very first page. I could have said already at 10%, I'd love it. And I did.
And HOW I did.
My Most Excellent Year is one of a very few books I know or read that has ONLY likable characters. That radiates pure happiness and joy. Hilarious and moving. That will make you laugh and cry on the same page.
Maybe.
Maybe the author made his characters a bit too adult, too mature to believe that they were just 14 year old!!! But I prefer THIS WAY rather than the opposite. I had enough examples to name, but I won't.
I LOVE THIS BOOK.
WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT? We accompany ONE YEAR long 3 friends(the third one was a new one!) in ninth grade + their families and people that are closed to them. Sounds boring? NOOOOOOO!!! IT IS NOT!!!
And while Steve Kluger can do it better than I...Here is one of my MANY highlights out of the book(the last paragraph) that at the same time explains you the best way WHY you have to read it in the first place:
Even though I didn’t notice it while it was happening, I got reminded in ninth grade of a few things I guess I should have known all along:
1. A first kiss after five months means more than a first kiss after five minutes.
2. Always remember what it was like to be six.
3. Never, ever stop believing in magic, no matter how old you get. Because if you keep looking long enough and don’t give up, sooner or later you’re going to find Mary Poppins. And if you’re really lucky, maybe even a purple balloon.
AND NOW THE VERY LAST SENTENCE. YOU THINK IT IS UNIMPORTANT? YOU'RE WRONG!!!
Thanks, Mama. I love you.
What I HAVE yet to mention:
This book is written in a very unusual format. There is no a typical conventional storytelling.
It is made in the form of diaries, instant messengers, emails exchange.
It is refreshing, creative and extraordinary.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL YA FANS.
June 24, 2010
This is an incredible story!!
This book is written entirely in assignment form, e-mails, texts, diary entries and journals, so at first I thought this would be distracting since I'm not use to this style and usually don't prefer it. But, I liked it and thought the way this book was delivered was very well put together and only added to it's appeal.
My Most Excellent Year tells the tale of three people, TC, Alejandra, and Augie (and then later on Hucky) as they tell about there most excellent year and then some...
These characters were very well developed which isn't something I expected with this type of writing format, thinking the characters would be lost somewhere amongst the letters and e-mails, but sure enough, these characters are very defined.
I loved there story, there personalities and how they are linked.
This was a very touching, amusing and magical book that really took me by surprise, I really love when books do that!
An Excellent Read!
This book is written entirely in assignment form, e-mails, texts, diary entries and journals, so at first I thought this would be distracting since I'm not use to this style and usually don't prefer it. But, I liked it and thought the way this book was delivered was very well put together and only added to it's appeal.
My Most Excellent Year tells the tale of three people, TC, Alejandra, and Augie (and then later on Hucky) as they tell about there most excellent year and then some...
These characters were very well developed which isn't something I expected with this type of writing format, thinking the characters would be lost somewhere amongst the letters and e-mails, but sure enough, these characters are very defined.
I loved there story, there personalities and how they are linked.
This was a very touching, amusing and magical book that really took me by surprise, I really love when books do that!
An Excellent Read!
July 19, 2009
My favorite YA novel of the year so far. It pulls every single heartstring and makes you glad it did. I really did laugh and cry, and sometimes both at once. Completely over the top, and yet somehow utterly believable.
April 18, 2017
This is an absolutely ridiculous book and I smiled the entire time I was reading it.
August 8, 2014
Originally posted here.
The moment I saw my good friend Maggie of Young Adult Anonymous give My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger such a glowing review, I knew I would want to read it. I went on Goodreads and also realized that another friend, Flannery of The Readventurer, rated it highly. I wanted to grab a copy as soon as I could but since books are expensive here in Singapore, I waited until I was in Manila before buying the paperback. I’ve had my copy since December last year and only felt like reading it recently. I was in the mood for a fun contemporary YA read and thought My Most Excellent Year would fit the bill. It was published in 2009 so I realized it’s the perfect choice for a Retro Friday review.
I am happy to report that My Most Excellent Year lived up to my expectations. It is such a feel good, heartwarming kind of read. I have no idea why it isn’t more well-known. It’s been out for a while now and I think only a handful of my blogging buddies have read it. It’s a good thing I love spreading the word about under-the-radar titles because I need to convince more people to read this. At first glance, I didn’t think My Most Excellent Year was the kind of book that I would enjoy mostly because the story has alternating POVs (T.C., Augie and Alé) and their interests lie in American history and politics, baseball and musicals. While I love seeing musicals, I’m not a die-hard fan who knows all the songs, actors/actresses and notable performances. And I know next to nothing about baseball and American history. In spite of that, I was absorbed by the story because at its core, My Most Excellent Year is about family, friendship and first love. I was charmed by the thought of two boys, T.C. and Augie, deciding to be brothers when they were 6 years old. Not like two best friends who think of each other as brothers, they really act like siblings to the point that even their parents have gotten used to having two sons instead of just one. So they have a Mom, Dad and a Pop. They share their rooms in two households and they have vacations together. I thought it was so sweet how warm and accommodating their families were. This book has such great parents in it, I think it's worthwhile to point that out since we rarely see wonderful parents in YA.
During ninth grade, both T.C. and Augie have to deal with falling in love for the first time. It was so much fun to see them struggling to adjust to what they're feeling (especially Augie, who hasn't even figured out that he likes boys instead of girls). It was sweet how supportive they are of each other, not just in their love lives but also in their interests in general. Like T.C. would watch musicals with Augie even if he doesn't really enjoy them. Being great guys, it's not surprising when T.C. befriends a lonely, deaf six-year-old boy called Hucky and Augie was right there along with him. T.C. wanted to reach out to Hucky because he sees a young Augie in the little boy, while Augie thinks Hucky was exactly like T.C. when they were that age. I hope it doesn't seem too confusing that there are a lot of characters in the book because it was very easy to get to know the characters. I also really liked the format of the book – emails between various characters (I loved how even the parents email each other about their kids), IM messages and diary entries. I could relate to the format because that's also how I communicate with friends and family, especially now that I live away from home. This was such a lovely, immensely readable book, the kind that lets you end on a happy sigh. While younger in tone and feel compared to some of the other contemporary YA novels that I loved, I still highly recommend My Most Excellent Year to anyone who needs an uplifting type of read. I'm mighty curious about the rest of Steve Kluger's back list.
The moment I saw my good friend Maggie of Young Adult Anonymous give My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger such a glowing review, I knew I would want to read it. I went on Goodreads and also realized that another friend, Flannery of The Readventurer, rated it highly. I wanted to grab a copy as soon as I could but since books are expensive here in Singapore, I waited until I was in Manila before buying the paperback. I’ve had my copy since December last year and only felt like reading it recently. I was in the mood for a fun contemporary YA read and thought My Most Excellent Year would fit the bill. It was published in 2009 so I realized it’s the perfect choice for a Retro Friday review.
I am happy to report that My Most Excellent Year lived up to my expectations. It is such a feel good, heartwarming kind of read. I have no idea why it isn’t more well-known. It’s been out for a while now and I think only a handful of my blogging buddies have read it. It’s a good thing I love spreading the word about under-the-radar titles because I need to convince more people to read this. At first glance, I didn’t think My Most Excellent Year was the kind of book that I would enjoy mostly because the story has alternating POVs (T.C., Augie and Alé) and their interests lie in American history and politics, baseball and musicals. While I love seeing musicals, I’m not a die-hard fan who knows all the songs, actors/actresses and notable performances. And I know next to nothing about baseball and American history. In spite of that, I was absorbed by the story because at its core, My Most Excellent Year is about family, friendship and first love. I was charmed by the thought of two boys, T.C. and Augie, deciding to be brothers when they were 6 years old. Not like two best friends who think of each other as brothers, they really act like siblings to the point that even their parents have gotten used to having two sons instead of just one. So they have a Mom, Dad and a Pop. They share their rooms in two households and they have vacations together. I thought it was so sweet how warm and accommodating their families were. This book has such great parents in it, I think it's worthwhile to point that out since we rarely see wonderful parents in YA.
During ninth grade, both T.C. and Augie have to deal with falling in love for the first time. It was so much fun to see them struggling to adjust to what they're feeling (especially Augie, who hasn't even figured out that he likes boys instead of girls). It was sweet how supportive they are of each other, not just in their love lives but also in their interests in general. Like T.C. would watch musicals with Augie even if he doesn't really enjoy them. Being great guys, it's not surprising when T.C. befriends a lonely, deaf six-year-old boy called Hucky and Augie was right there along with him. T.C. wanted to reach out to Hucky because he sees a young Augie in the little boy, while Augie thinks Hucky was exactly like T.C. when they were that age. I hope it doesn't seem too confusing that there are a lot of characters in the book because it was very easy to get to know the characters. I also really liked the format of the book – emails between various characters (I loved how even the parents email each other about their kids), IM messages and diary entries. I could relate to the format because that's also how I communicate with friends and family, especially now that I live away from home. This was such a lovely, immensely readable book, the kind that lets you end on a happy sigh. While younger in tone and feel compared to some of the other contemporary YA novels that I loved, I still highly recommend My Most Excellent Year to anyone who needs an uplifting type of read. I'm mighty curious about the rest of Steve Kluger's back list.
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
T.C., originally Anthony Conigliaro Keller, was born into a family who loves baseball, and speaks with a very distinct accent. Like his family, T.C. loves the sport and practically knows all there is to know about baseball. It certainly helps him with his grades; if only it could help him get the girl of his dreams. With quite an odd family, a knack at frustrating those around him, making sure he only gets a B+ on everything (except for algebra, since he isn't a poser), and being a trendsetter, T.C.'s life completely changed when his mother passed away.
Augie, T.C.'s non-biological, Chinese brother, became his best friend after his mother died, helping him cope. With a love for theater, movies, and everything dramatic, Augie definitely hasn't found his true identity yet, even though everyone around him, especially the ones he loves, has. Besides theatrics, Augie is a pretty good soccer player, especially when he is playing with T.C. Of course, these distractions can't possibly pull his mind away from how his heart is pulling him in a very different direction.
Alejandra, a.k.a. T.C.'s dream girl, has never fit in, both at school or home. With a father who was the ambassador to Mexico, her dream was never with politics like her brother but more towards dance, which she must keep a secret. Because of her father, Alejandra has been able to meet some very famous politicians and celebrities. Of course, all of the famous people she met didn't help her status in school, since she was automatically considered stuck-up. But T.C. still loves her, except she doesn't love him back, or so she thinks. Not one to hide her opinions, who wouldn't be scared of her?
Beginning in their late junior year, the three flash back to their freshmen year... their most excellent year.
The year where love, sexuality, identity, friendship, and strength were discovered. Each one writing in the diaries for their English class, all addressed to an important person: T.C. to his mama, Augie to the diva of the week, and Alejandra to Jacqueline, the wife of her favorite president, JFK.
Laughter, tears, and relief will be felt by not only the characters but also the readers. MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR takes three very distinct, honest teens who all have problems of their own, and who need each other desperately in the end. Steve Kluger allows the reader to have a close interaction with the characters, who are all very well-developed and defined, making the story all the more enjoyable.
T.C., originally Anthony Conigliaro Keller, was born into a family who loves baseball, and speaks with a very distinct accent. Like his family, T.C. loves the sport and practically knows all there is to know about baseball. It certainly helps him with his grades; if only it could help him get the girl of his dreams. With quite an odd family, a knack at frustrating those around him, making sure he only gets a B+ on everything (except for algebra, since he isn't a poser), and being a trendsetter, T.C.'s life completely changed when his mother passed away.
Augie, T.C.'s non-biological, Chinese brother, became his best friend after his mother died, helping him cope. With a love for theater, movies, and everything dramatic, Augie definitely hasn't found his true identity yet, even though everyone around him, especially the ones he loves, has. Besides theatrics, Augie is a pretty good soccer player, especially when he is playing with T.C. Of course, these distractions can't possibly pull his mind away from how his heart is pulling him in a very different direction.
Alejandra, a.k.a. T.C.'s dream girl, has never fit in, both at school or home. With a father who was the ambassador to Mexico, her dream was never with politics like her brother but more towards dance, which she must keep a secret. Because of her father, Alejandra has been able to meet some very famous politicians and celebrities. Of course, all of the famous people she met didn't help her status in school, since she was automatically considered stuck-up. But T.C. still loves her, except she doesn't love him back, or so she thinks. Not one to hide her opinions, who wouldn't be scared of her?
Beginning in their late junior year, the three flash back to their freshmen year... their most excellent year.
The year where love, sexuality, identity, friendship, and strength were discovered. Each one writing in the diaries for their English class, all addressed to an important person: T.C. to his mama, Augie to the diva of the week, and Alejandra to Jacqueline, the wife of her favorite president, JFK.
Laughter, tears, and relief will be felt by not only the characters but also the readers. MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR takes three very distinct, honest teens who all have problems of their own, and who need each other desperately in the end. Steve Kluger allows the reader to have a close interaction with the characters, who are all very well-developed and defined, making the story all the more enjoyable.
April 14, 2019
I got hooked up after reading the blurb.
“My Most Excellent Year” by Steve Kluger is an incredible book. It’s the story of three teens in their freshman year of high school, about their most excellent year. There's T.C. (Anthony) who is obsessed with baseball and anything related with baseball, his best friend Augie (Asian gay teenager), and Alejandra a.k.a T.C.’s dream girl who doesn’t return his love. Each character has a unique personality. It’s a book about a lifelong friendship and love. There are two different love stories in the book. This is my first book of Steve Kluger. I just love his writing, how he creates such diverse characters. I love how extraordinarily he writes such an ordinary story. This book is written in the style of a snippet, news article, and letter. Actually, it follows an epistolary fashion. The author has successfully written some little magical moments about life. I got emotionally attached with the characters. I laughed a lot while reading this. The quirky moments of the characters are hilarious.
“Augie: Does everybody else know?
T.C.: About my epitaph?
Augie: About me being gay, you gink-head hoser-face!
T.C. Not everybody. There's a night watchman at a Dunkin Donuts just outside of Detroit. He doesn't know yet.”
I love T.C. and Augie's friendship. It’s one of my favorite books. It’s just sad to see it coming to a close so soon.
Such an excellent book! 😍
“My Most Excellent Year” by Steve Kluger is an incredible book. It’s the story of three teens in their freshman year of high school, about their most excellent year. There's T.C. (Anthony) who is obsessed with baseball and anything related with baseball, his best friend Augie (Asian gay teenager), and Alejandra a.k.a T.C.’s dream girl who doesn’t return his love. Each character has a unique personality. It’s a book about a lifelong friendship and love. There are two different love stories in the book. This is my first book of Steve Kluger. I just love his writing, how he creates such diverse characters. I love how extraordinarily he writes such an ordinary story. This book is written in the style of a snippet, news article, and letter. Actually, it follows an epistolary fashion. The author has successfully written some little magical moments about life. I got emotionally attached with the characters. I laughed a lot while reading this. The quirky moments of the characters are hilarious.
“Augie: Does everybody else know?
T.C.: About my epitaph?
Augie: About me being gay, you gink-head hoser-face!
T.C. Not everybody. There's a night watchman at a Dunkin Donuts just outside of Detroit. He doesn't know yet.”
I love T.C. and Augie's friendship. It’s one of my favorite books. It’s just sad to see it coming to a close so soon.
Such an excellent book! 😍
September 15, 2011
I absolutely loved this book.
It's not deep, you won't be crying your eyes out, but it's wonderful. It's funny and heartfelt and very sweet. At times, it definitely strays into the "unbelievable" side of things in terms of dialogue and the total lack of teenage drama, but I think that is part of what makes this book so enjoyable and unique. I can't think of another YA book I have read quite like this one, with these engaging characters and the flow of the novel.
A bit about my thoughts on the Deaf character follow in the spoiler.
Definitely one of my favorite books ever.
It's not deep, you won't be crying your eyes out, but it's wonderful. It's funny and heartfelt and very sweet. At times, it definitely strays into the "unbelievable" side of things in terms of dialogue and the total lack of teenage drama, but I think that is part of what makes this book so enjoyable and unique. I can't think of another YA book I have read quite like this one, with these engaging characters and the flow of the novel.
A bit about my thoughts on the Deaf character follow in the spoiler.
Definitely one of my favorite books ever.
February 27, 2024
reread, 2024
i first read this book in high school in 2008, and i remember how much i wanted to live inside its pages. i’m happy to report that even 16 years later, i still feel the same. this has to be the sweetest book in the world. the friendships, the humor, the found family—it’s the purest escapism. utterly charming.
i first read this book in high school in 2008, and i remember how much i wanted to live inside its pages. i’m happy to report that even 16 years later, i still feel the same. this has to be the sweetest book in the world. the friendships, the humor, the found family—it’s the purest escapism. utterly charming.
May 9, 2018
so cute
October 31, 2012
I give the rating of two stars in its truest sense of "it's okay." This was a difficult novel to rate. I thought the writing was really good, and it was funny. But the main characters were all so incredible. They were all wealthy (or at least not poor), they all were really smart/got good grades, they were all really talented in different ways, they were all very attractive, etc. And I guess it is quite possible that three people like them would all be friends, so I don't know why I'm complaining about that. But I mean, both main male characters lettered in three sports, got straight As, were really nice to people, and did either comedy or musical theater. Are there that many guys like that running around high school? Jocks, nerds, and thespians all rolled into one?
And then you find out that one of them is gay, and the only reaction his best friend/brother has is "oh, I'm so glad you finally figured out that you were gay." It just seems like if I were a boy who had a best friend who was more like a brother, who I had a bed for in my bedroom and a bed of my own in his bedroom at his house that finding out he is gay would change the dynamic of the relationship a bit, at least a little. But no one seemed to mind. His best friends, his parents, etc. It was all taken in stride. The only mention of gay not being completely mainstream and normal was one sentence where the non-gay friend said that sometimes he was called a "fag" by people who assumed he was gay because they were such good friends. But he said he didn't mind that misconception, because girls seemed to take that as a challenge and chase him all the more. (I don't know if "fag" is a swear word or just a rude word, so I didn't know whether to type it out or asterisk it, but know that it is a not a word I ever say.) And I am not trying to imply that it should be a problem or come between them; I simply thought it might be something that would require more of a discussion between them.
The story line between Ale and Anthony is really sweet. And I loved the story line involving Hucky. He's just amazing. It is so sad that some parents with disabled children really can do things like that. I loved the sweet miracle of Mary Poppins and wish we could all keep more of the childhood magic alive in our lives. American Sign Language keeps popping up everywhere in my life (books, shows, seeing people sign when I'm out). I'm starting to wonder if I should try learning it. But I don't actually know any deaf people.
I found the parts very interesting that talked about how TC dealt with losing his mother when he was only six. And I really liked the close relationship that he shared with his father. Actually, all of these teenagers had good relationships with their parents. Their parents were all pretty involved in their lives, which seems to be rare in media portrayals of teenagers. Granted, Ale did hide from her parents that she was taking singing and dancing classes instead of French classes, but she did eventually come clean. And that is much smaller than some secrets teens have from their parents!
I really liked that these were high schoolers in a contemporary novel, but their relationships never went further than kissing.
There were a few comments that were anatomical in nature.
And I really think that it is not fair that boys don't get to have shower curtains in their locker rooms at schools. Girls get them. Boys should have them, too.
I picked up the book, because it was a YA book written by a male with two male protagonists, and I really was curious to see what they would be thinking and how it would turn out. And then I kept reading it, because I was interested what their view of the gay issue would be.
There was one completely unnecessary "F" word. And not even spoken. Just a character sketch in Anthony's journal about Bucky F. Dent. (But the F was not abbreviated.) Anthony is very much a Boston Red Sox fan.
I did like this quote. "Did you ever take modern dance . . .? Did you know that your body can say more with eight bars of music than you could possibly write in a fifteen-page essay?"
Augie's feminist journalist mother brought out some points regarding musicals that I had never thought of before.
Most of the baseball references and music references were over my head.
And then you find out that one of them is gay, and the only reaction his best friend/brother has is "oh, I'm so glad you finally figured out that you were gay." It just seems like if I were a boy who had a best friend who was more like a brother, who I had a bed for in my bedroom and a bed of my own in his bedroom at his house that finding out he is gay would change the dynamic of the relationship a bit, at least a little. But no one seemed to mind. His best friends, his parents, etc. It was all taken in stride. The only mention of gay not being completely mainstream and normal was one sentence where the non-gay friend said that sometimes he was called a "fag" by people who assumed he was gay because they were such good friends. But he said he didn't mind that misconception, because girls seemed to take that as a challenge and chase him all the more. (I don't know if "fag" is a swear word or just a rude word, so I didn't know whether to type it out or asterisk it, but know that it is a not a word I ever say.) And I am not trying to imply that it should be a problem or come between them; I simply thought it might be something that would require more of a discussion between them.
The story line between Ale and Anthony is really sweet. And I loved the story line involving Hucky. He's just amazing. It is so sad that some parents with disabled children really can do things like that. I loved the sweet miracle of Mary Poppins and wish we could all keep more of the childhood magic alive in our lives. American Sign Language keeps popping up everywhere in my life (books, shows, seeing people sign when I'm out). I'm starting to wonder if I should try learning it. But I don't actually know any deaf people.
I found the parts very interesting that talked about how TC dealt with losing his mother when he was only six. And I really liked the close relationship that he shared with his father. Actually, all of these teenagers had good relationships with their parents. Their parents were all pretty involved in their lives, which seems to be rare in media portrayals of teenagers. Granted, Ale did hide from her parents that she was taking singing and dancing classes instead of French classes, but she did eventually come clean. And that is much smaller than some secrets teens have from their parents!
I really liked that these were high schoolers in a contemporary novel, but their relationships never went further than kissing.
There were a few comments that were anatomical in nature.
And I really think that it is not fair that boys don't get to have shower curtains in their locker rooms at schools. Girls get them. Boys should have them, too.
I picked up the book, because it was a YA book written by a male with two male protagonists, and I really was curious to see what they would be thinking and how it would turn out. And then I kept reading it, because I was interested what their view of the gay issue would be.
There was one completely unnecessary "F" word. And not even spoken. Just a character sketch in Anthony's journal about Bucky F. Dent. (But the F was not abbreviated.) Anthony is very much a Boston Red Sox fan.
I did like this quote. "Did you ever take modern dance . . .? Did you know that your body can say more with eight bars of music than you could possibly write in a fifteen-page essay?"
Augie's feminist journalist mother brought out some points regarding musicals that I had never thought of before.
Most of the baseball references and music references were over my head.
March 5, 2017
Review in German (01.11.2008) : My most excellent young adult novel. Bitte mehr davon! My Most Excellent Year ist einer dieser Romane, bei denen alle Fäden am Ende zu meiner Zufriedenheit verknüpft worden sind und Story und Charaktere mir so sympathisch waren, dass ich sie sofort nach dem Zuklappen des Buches bereits vermisste. Der Klappentext sagt eigenlich schon viel - obwohl sie kurz ist. Ich führe etwas aus: Hauptaktionspunkt der vielschichtigen, mehrere Jahre abdeckenden Geschichte ist eine High School in Boston (In der Nähe des Fenway Park, dem Stadion der Red Sox). Sie setzt sich zusammen aus für die Schule geschriebenen Berichten (z.B. mit dem TItel "My most excellent year"), Tagebucheinträgen, Listen, Lexikonartikeln, Chatprotokollen, Briefen und E-Mails.
Die Hauptfiguren sind:
* T.C. Keller, der bewusst seine Noten auf einem niedrigen Level hält, mit Leidenschaft Baseball spielt, mit seinen Vater (Witwer) zusammenlebt, nach Außen als ein oberflächlicher Jock wirkt und große Anstrengungen unternimmt, die kühle, intelligente Alejandra Perez für sich zu gewinnen.
* Augie Wong, seit der Grunddschule T.C.s selbsterwählter Bruder. Sein Vater hat ein Buchladencafé, seine Mutter ist eine feministische Theaterkritikerin. Augie liebt Broadway-Musicals und Musical-Verfilmungen. Er kann alle weiblichen Parts auswendig und weiß nicht, dass er schwul ist (alle anderen wissen es), bis er sich in Andy Wrexler, Mädchenheld, verliebt. Augie bekommt die Leitung des jährlichen Theaterstücks der Schule zugesprochen.
* Alejandra Perez, Diplomatentochter, fühlt sich schon etwas zu T.C. hingezogen, schämt sich aber dafür, einen oberflächlichen Hohlkopf zu mögen. Ale geht offiziell zum Französisch-Unterricht, nimmt aber heimlich Stunden im Tanzen und Singen.
* Teddy Keller, T.C.s Vater, freut sich, dass sein Sohn wegen mangelnden Einsatzes so oft zu seiner Beratungslehrerin Lori muss, die er seit Jahren erfolglos zu einem Date überreden versucht.
* Hucky Harper, Heimkind, gehöhrlos und fünfjährig, beobachtet immer das Baseball-Training im Fenway Park zu. Dort lernt er T.C. kennen. Er schaut jeden Tag die Mary-Poppins-Verfilmung mit Julie Andrews an und wartet darauf, dass Mary Poppins kommt, um ihn zu retten.
Die Art, wie jede dieser Personen sich um die Probleme der anderen Personen sorgt, sich dabei positiv verändert, selbstkritisch und humorvoll ihre Situation und ihre Vergangenheit betrachtet, ist einfach nur schön gemacht. Ich konnte kaum fassen, dass dieses Buch von einem Mann geschrieben wurde. Seit Liebste Abby vom Autorenduo Hadley Irwin habe ich kein so gutes Buch über männliche Teenager mehr gelesen.
First read first in 2008. I need multiple reading dates, Godoreads!
Die Hauptfiguren sind:
* T.C. Keller, der bewusst seine Noten auf einem niedrigen Level hält, mit Leidenschaft Baseball spielt, mit seinen Vater (Witwer) zusammenlebt, nach Außen als ein oberflächlicher Jock wirkt und große Anstrengungen unternimmt, die kühle, intelligente Alejandra Perez für sich zu gewinnen.
* Augie Wong, seit der Grunddschule T.C.s selbsterwählter Bruder. Sein Vater hat ein Buchladencafé, seine Mutter ist eine feministische Theaterkritikerin. Augie liebt Broadway-Musicals und Musical-Verfilmungen. Er kann alle weiblichen Parts auswendig und weiß nicht, dass er schwul ist (alle anderen wissen es), bis er sich in Andy Wrexler, Mädchenheld, verliebt. Augie bekommt die Leitung des jährlichen Theaterstücks der Schule zugesprochen.
* Alejandra Perez, Diplomatentochter, fühlt sich schon etwas zu T.C. hingezogen, schämt sich aber dafür, einen oberflächlichen Hohlkopf zu mögen. Ale geht offiziell zum Französisch-Unterricht, nimmt aber heimlich Stunden im Tanzen und Singen.
* Teddy Keller, T.C.s Vater, freut sich, dass sein Sohn wegen mangelnden Einsatzes so oft zu seiner Beratungslehrerin Lori muss, die er seit Jahren erfolglos zu einem Date überreden versucht.
* Hucky Harper, Heimkind, gehöhrlos und fünfjährig, beobachtet immer das Baseball-Training im Fenway Park zu. Dort lernt er T.C. kennen. Er schaut jeden Tag die Mary-Poppins-Verfilmung mit Julie Andrews an und wartet darauf, dass Mary Poppins kommt, um ihn zu retten.
Die Art, wie jede dieser Personen sich um die Probleme der anderen Personen sorgt, sich dabei positiv verändert, selbstkritisch und humorvoll ihre Situation und ihre Vergangenheit betrachtet, ist einfach nur schön gemacht. Ich konnte kaum fassen, dass dieses Buch von einem Mann geschrieben wurde. Seit Liebste Abby vom Autorenduo Hadley Irwin habe ich kein so gutes Buch über männliche Teenager mehr gelesen.
First read first in 2008. I need multiple reading dates, Godoreads!
September 28, 2024
So... It's epistolary which is always fun. Emails, IMs, diary entries. No direct narration.
I read it in about three sittings in a single day, stayed up till 2 am finishing it. Mostly because the characters are adorable than any real suspense. The book seems pretty low on conflict to me, though I haven't read a ton of YA stuff to compare it to. It's basically two 14 year olds one straight, one gay, finding their first loves, and the biggest worries are does she/he like me. The parents are pretty much ideal understanding accepting types and not a source of conflict. I guess Alejandra's do provide a tiny bit of resistance but, meh. It reminded me of Will Grayson, Will Grayson a bit, but with less (virtually no) gloomy brooding.
Structurally the book felt rather haphazard to me. With the lack of conflict and the rather easy way the characters got to the first stages of their relationships, it seemed like the book could have just stopped about 1/3 of the way in and been a sweet, cute little novella, but then Kluger throws a six year old deaf boy who's obsessed with Mary Poppins into their lives and he gives the book a reason to keep going.
I liked this much better than Almost Like Being in Love which is the only other thing I've read by the author. It doesn't have any of the things that annoyed me about that book, but is told in much the same way.
I read it in about three sittings in a single day, stayed up till 2 am finishing it. Mostly because the characters are adorable than any real suspense. The book seems pretty low on conflict to me, though I haven't read a ton of YA stuff to compare it to. It's basically two 14 year olds one straight, one gay, finding their first loves, and the biggest worries are does she/he like me. The parents are pretty much ideal understanding accepting types and not a source of conflict. I guess Alejandra's do provide a tiny bit of resistance but, meh. It reminded me of Will Grayson, Will Grayson a bit, but with less (virtually no) gloomy brooding.
Structurally the book felt rather haphazard to me. With the lack of conflict and the rather easy way the characters got to the first stages of their relationships, it seemed like the book could have just stopped about 1/3 of the way in and been a sweet, cute little novella, but then Kluger throws a six year old deaf boy who's obsessed with Mary Poppins into their lives and he gives the book a reason to keep going.
I liked this much better than Almost Like Being in Love which is the only other thing I've read by the author. It doesn't have any of the things that annoyed me about that book, but is told in much the same way.
May 27, 2008
I'm in love!
I'm trying to come up with a way this book could have been more perfectly tailored to my interests, and I'm failing miserably.
It's a brilliant combination of Jaclyn Moriarty's banter, wacky characters, and epistolary flair, a fully appropriate level of loathing for all things Yankee (specifically Mr. Bucky Bleepin' Dent) to complement the Carlton Fisk adoration (brilliantly discussed in The Greatest Game, for those who are interested), an absolute adoration of Julie Andrews and all she stands for, a dash of E. Lockhart's Dramarama, and a handful of truly wonderful characters.
Funny, touching, tons of fun, and with a pop culture reference for everyone, this is an absolute must read.
Kluger's The Last Days of Summer just jumped about 100 spots up my to-read list.
I'm trying to come up with a way this book could have been more perfectly tailored to my interests, and I'm failing miserably.
It's a brilliant combination of Jaclyn Moriarty's banter, wacky characters, and epistolary flair, a fully appropriate level of loathing for all things Yankee (specifically Mr. Bucky Bleepin' Dent) to complement the Carlton Fisk adoration (brilliantly discussed in The Greatest Game, for those who are interested), an absolute adoration of Julie Andrews and all she stands for, a dash of E. Lockhart's Dramarama, and a handful of truly wonderful characters.
Funny, touching, tons of fun, and with a pop culture reference for everyone, this is an absolute must read.
Kluger's The Last Days of Summer just jumped about 100 spots up my to-read list.
May 25, 2024
(5/18/24) My comfort book!! Usually I never re-read books but this story is always the perfect amount of sweet, funny, and charming, so that I feel like I can come back to this book and its cast of characters all the time.
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(9/2/20) still one of my favorite feel-good re-reads. it never gets old and it is as sweet as ever each time i read it.
listened to the audiobook for the first time, loved tc’s voice actor because it just hits different to hear the boston accent :)
(2/23/15) every time I reread this book, I have to put it down periodically because I am smiling too hard. it's not a Work of Intellectual Literature, but it makes me happy while reading it and isn't that what we are looking for in the end? If you ask me I will tell you that this is one of my top top favorite books that I have read in all my years of reading.
it's a love story. this is a book about best friend love, new romance love, old romance love, brother love, family love. it reminds you that it's worth any and all inconveniences to go lengths for the people you really care about.
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(9/2/20) still one of my favorite feel-good re-reads. it never gets old and it is as sweet as ever each time i read it.
listened to the audiobook for the first time, loved tc’s voice actor because it just hits different to hear the boston accent :)
(2/23/15) every time I reread this book, I have to put it down periodically because I am smiling too hard. it's not a Work of Intellectual Literature, but it makes me happy while reading it and isn't that what we are looking for in the end? If you ask me I will tell you that this is one of my top top favorite books that I have read in all my years of reading.
it's a love story. this is a book about best friend love, new romance love, old romance love, brother love, family love. it reminds you that it's worth any and all inconveniences to go lengths for the people you really care about.
August 14, 2015
Ik heb dit boek gelezen met een glimlach van oor tot oor. Het is geen hoogstaande literatuur, het is voorspelbaar, de personages zijn een beetje stereotiep, maar het is grappig en lief en schattig. Het is een boek dat je wil knuffelen. Het is een boek dat ik, als ik ooit met een donkere wolk in mijn hoofd zit, zeker nog eens ga lezen, want het is complete feel good en soms is dat gewoon net hetgeen wat je nodig hebt in een boek. Plus, het is een soort van briefroman met chatsessies en e-mails er in verwerkt en we weten intussen allemaal dat ik daar van hou.
February 5, 2012
4.5 Stars
Wonderful! Funny, insightful, obsessive but in a good way... and unashamedly, universally romantic.
Should I admit that I knew all the movie stars mentioned, and all of their movies? Oh, and Mary Poppins is still one of my favs (true for everyone in this house).
P.S. I learned about this book from Flannery's wonderful review, which I strongly recommend (along with the book!).
Wonderful! Funny, insightful, obsessive but in a good way... and unashamedly, universally romantic.
Should I admit that I knew all the movie stars mentioned, and all of their movies? Oh, and Mary Poppins is still one of my favs (true for everyone in this house).
P.S. I learned about this book from Flannery's wonderful review, which I strongly recommend (along with the book!).
September 19, 2019
A charming YA book with quirky, smart teenage characters; gay and straight romantic story lines; a variety of writing mediums; heartwarming messages about love and family and community; AND a Julie Andrews cameo! Oh, and baseball for the more sports-minded reader. I'm not sure if the book would appeal to the average contemporary teenager, but this middle-aged, life-long musical theater fan found it delightful.
December 2, 2015
Very cute story. The characters were life like. I enjoyed this, but felt the ending was rushed. It could have gone on for another 3-4 chapters in my opinion.
September 9, 2018
honestly, this book is everything i’ve ever needed in a novel rolled into one. a character performing music and the mirror in her school talent show? another character addressing every diary entry to a different broadway diva? another character having a pen pal relationship with julie andrews? truly a modern masterpiece.
does this book have any depth to it whatsoever? not particularly. there’s some LGBT identity issues that are lightly touched on, but this isn’t a book you read because you want to be intellectually challenged; it’s a book you read because you’re a lil bit sad because you’re 8 weeks away from leaving spain and coming home and you wish it was one week because you’re dreadfully tired, london-sick and you want some joy in your life.
pretty niche situation there, martyn.
please give this glorious book a read, it made me smile, laugh out loud and cry more than most things i’ve read recently.
does this book have any depth to it whatsoever? not particularly. there’s some LGBT identity issues that are lightly touched on, but this isn’t a book you read because you want to be intellectually challenged; it’s a book you read because you’re a lil bit sad because you’re 8 weeks away from leaving spain and coming home and you wish it was one week because you’re dreadfully tired, london-sick and you want some joy in your life.
pretty niche situation there, martyn.
please give this glorious book a read, it made me smile, laugh out loud and cry more than most things i’ve read recently.
December 17, 2018
The best thing about fiction books is how the story can touch all our emotional buttons even if the plot is a little too perfectly described that it's almost too difficult to imagine real people could talk and act like that.
This is one of those stories but the voices of the three protagonists are so well combined and the lives they have so amazing, I just can't help but smile while thinking about what I've read.
I can see the flaws in this book but you know, I don't care, because this is a sweet story, it's a tale about believing in our dreams and abilities and perhaps even a little bit in the possibility there is magic in the world...
This is one of those stories but the voices of the three protagonists are so well combined and the lives they have so amazing, I just can't help but smile while thinking about what I've read.
I can see the flaws in this book but you know, I don't care, because this is a sweet story, it's a tale about believing in our dreams and abilities and perhaps even a little bit in the possibility there is magic in the world...
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