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Stick
Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan (nicknamed Stick because he’s tall and thin) is bullied for being “deformed” – he was born with only one ear. His older brother Bosten is always there to defend Stick. But the boys can’t defend one another from their abusive parents.
When Stick realizes Bosten is gay, he knows that to survive his father's anger, Bosten must leave home. Stick has to find his brother, or he will never feel whole again. In his search, he will encounter good people, bad people, and people who are simply indifferent to kids from the wrong side of the tracks. But he never loses hope of finding love – and his brother.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2011
53 people are currently reading
4358 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Smith
19 books1,703 followersAndrew Smith is the author of Winger, Grasshopper Jungle, The Alex Crow, 100 Sideways Miles, and Rabbit & Robot, among others. Exile from Eden: Or, After the Hole, the long-awaited sequel to Grasshopper Jungle, is coming from Simon & Schuster on September 24, 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews
July 12, 2016
3.5 STARS
Some books bitchslap you with sentimentality, some punch you in the boobs with longing and heartbreak, some books feel like a good one-night stand that leaves you with the disgusting aftertaste of regret, self-loathing and the fear of herpes… okay, I think I'm getting sidetracked now… and some books hurt you in places you didn't know could hurt while lying in bed reading by yourself.
The blurb is pretty upfront, and true enough, this was not an easy read. I really thought I was going to DNF this at 15%. I've NEVER DNF-ed a book just for being too much. And I've read my share of too much. In truth, what Stick and Bosten went through, the abuse and the violence that went on inside and outside that house, usually puts me off. Because more often than not, I feel like I'm being emotionally manipulated into crying (I'm looking at you, Reason to Breathe). But placing this in the context of a deformed thirteen year old boy dealing with the complexity of puberty and the terrifying changes that comes with it, layered with the simplicity of his relationship with his brother… It worked.
The first half of Stick portrayed the lives of the McClellan brothers in Point No Point, Washington through the eyes of Stark "Stick" McClellan and his brother Bosten. Stick has one ear, one best friend (Emily) and a lot of abuse thrown his way. His brother, Bosten keep the wolves in school at bay but when they're home, there's no one between them, their parents and St. Fillan's Room. Their father may have beaten them into believing they are less than who they are, that this was the norm in every household, but they still got each other.
The second half deals with the aftermath of Bosten running away from home after their father found out that he's gay. Stick embarks on a lonesome roadtrip as he tracks his brother back to California, the place where they learned that kindness and love didn't come with rules and punishments through their Aunt Dahlia.
I may have to admit into liking the first half better than the last despite the persistenttwig branch I had in my eye while reading through it. I felt the narrative flowed, tension was evenly spaced and Stick's sexual awakening provided simultaneous charm and entertainment reminiscent of Ryan Dean in Winger. I always get a massive feels erection with stories reflecting relationships with brothers. Romantic and erotic relationships feel very pedestrian and easy but translating the depth and texture of that bond between brothers while displaying each as a person distinct from the other? It takes a very tempered hand to get that right, I feel.
Not to sell this one short on the romance because I found his and Emily's moments delightful in their innocence, warming the corners of my heart that have been frozen by their horrible parents. That particular exchange they have when Stick tells her what goes on in his house? Like getting shanked right in the aorta.
Such innocence. Much love. Very happy. Wow.
The second half wasn't bad but with Bosten missing from the picture, I felt the story lost a bit of its balance. Some scenes felt too expository for me with some characters not serving any purpose in the bigger picture that was The Evolution of Stick to Stark McClellan (I don't get the point of April, for instance). There were good, intense moments that had me praying for certain things NOT to happen (my imagination can go to the dark and fucked up place in a certain setting) and one moment when I felt the tear-pushing just got too obvious Oh come on, you're above that pay-grade Andrew Smith. Anywhere else I would've cried foul, but this time I'm just chalking it up as a slip.
The last 25% felt this side of rushed and predictable, an ill-fit for something as gritty as the first half of this book. The heavy handedness on pounding the recurring theme of things happening and things changing started as an annoying paper cut that eventually grew to a mammoth bleeding gash on the face. There came a point it became impossible to ignore anymore.
These were small issues I had with the book, but what cost this book a higher rating from me was that the idea of Aunt Dahlia coming across too Poppins-esque, I think I was bothered by that, more than her turning up out of nowhere in their lives after having suffered so much. I like the imperfect and uneven edges in my books, the splinters make them more acceptable as realistic fiction. Aunt Dahlia just felt too smooth and California was just too much of a perfect yang to Washington's yin.
Stick is a tough book, yes, but I find myself drawn to these kinds of stories, pushing my boundaries and expanding my horizons as a reader. I'm going to step over my boundaries and aggressively push this to anyone who has read and liked or disliked Reason to Breathe.
They drive different messages across but they intersect at certain points. And in those points, this is the book that that one aspires to, but will never be.
Also on BookLikes.
"You're dumb, Bosten."
I pushed him back.
I love my brother.
"Okay." And then he said, "I wish I wasn't like this."
You're the luckiest and best person in the world, Bosten."
"Stick?"
"What?"
"I can't live with dad anymore."
"I know."
Some books bitchslap you with sentimentality, some punch you in the boobs with longing and heartbreak, some books feel like a good one-night stand that leaves you with the disgusting aftertaste of regret, self-loathing and the fear of herpes… okay, I think I'm getting sidetracked now… and some books hurt you in places you didn't know could hurt while lying in bed reading by yourself.
The blurb is pretty upfront, and true enough, this was not an easy read. I really thought I was going to DNF this at 15%. I've NEVER DNF-ed a book just for being too much. And I've read my share of too much. In truth, what Stick and Bosten went through, the abuse and the violence that went on inside and outside that house, usually puts me off. Because more often than not, I feel like I'm being emotionally manipulated into crying (I'm looking at you, Reason to Breathe). But placing this in the context of a deformed thirteen year old boy dealing with the complexity of puberty and the terrifying changes that comes with it, layered with the simplicity of his relationship with his brother… It worked.
The first half of Stick portrayed the lives of the McClellan brothers in Point No Point, Washington through the eyes of Stark "Stick" McClellan and his brother Bosten. Stick has one ear, one best friend (Emily) and a lot of abuse thrown his way. His brother, Bosten keep the wolves in school at bay but when they're home, there's no one between them, their parents and St. Fillan's Room. Their father may have beaten them into believing they are less than who they are, that this was the norm in every household, but they still got each other.
The second half deals with the aftermath of Bosten running away from home after their father found out that he's gay. Stick embarks on a lonesome roadtrip as he tracks his brother back to California, the place where they learned that kindness and love didn't come with rules and punishments through their Aunt Dahlia.
I may have to admit into liking the first half better than the last despite the persistent
Not to sell this one short on the romance because I found his and Emily's moments delightful in their innocence, warming the corners of my heart that have been frozen by their horrible parents. That particular exchange they have when Stick tells her what goes on in his house? Like getting shanked right in the aorta.
"Um. I love you, Emily. Do you know that?" I wasn't afraid or ashamed to say it. "So please don't cry, okay?"
"Of course I know you love me. Do you think I'm dumb?"
"No. I don't."
"Well, I love you, Stark McClellan."
"I know."
Such innocence. Much love. Very happy. Wow.
The second half wasn't bad but with Bosten missing from the picture, I felt the story lost a bit of its balance. Some scenes felt too expository for me with some characters not serving any purpose in the bigger picture that was The Evolution of Stick to Stark McClellan (I don't get the point of April, for instance). There were good, intense moments that had me praying for certain things NOT to happen (my imagination can go to the dark and fucked up place in a certain setting) and one moment when I felt the tear-pushing just got too obvious Oh come on, you're above that pay-grade Andrew Smith. Anywhere else I would've cried foul, but this time I'm just chalking it up as a slip.
The last 25% felt this side of rushed and predictable, an ill-fit for something as gritty as the first half of this book. The heavy handedness on pounding the recurring theme of things happening and things changing started as an annoying paper cut that eventually grew to a mammoth bleeding gash on the face. There came a point it became impossible to ignore anymore.
These were small issues I had with the book, but what cost this book a higher rating from me was that the idea of Aunt Dahlia coming across too Poppins-esque, I think I was bothered by that, more than her turning up out of nowhere in their lives after having suffered so much. I like the imperfect and uneven edges in my books, the splinters make them more acceptable as realistic fiction. Aunt Dahlia just felt too smooth and California was just too much of a perfect yang to Washington's yin.
Stick is a tough book, yes, but I find myself drawn to these kinds of stories, pushing my boundaries and expanding my horizons as a reader. I'm going to step over my boundaries and aggressively push this to anyone who has read and liked or disliked Reason to Breathe.
They drive different messages across but they intersect at certain points. And in those points, this is the book that that one aspires to, but will never be.
"See? I told you."
What?"
"You are what you are, Stick. Nobody and nothing is going to make you change."
My brother knew the truth about everything.
Also on BookLikes.
August 2, 2017
Meu primeiro Andrew Smith <3. Vou lembrar pra sempre!
Eu fiquei muito surpreso com essa história. NÃO FOI NADA DO QUE EU PENSAVA. Eu já fui preparado pra uma coisa dark, sobre preconceito, sobre deficiência, etc. MAS É MUITO MAIS QUE ISSO. Eu não sei nem por onde começar falando dessa história maravilhosa. Que dor que eu senti em cada cena. Me tocou demais. O Andrew retrata o adolescente como ele é! Meninos de 13 anos ficam excitados com qualquer coisa, gente, lidem com isso. Mesmo nos piores momentos.
Eu fiquei envolvido do início ao fim e fiquei surpreso, porque várias pessoas me disseram que o livro começava bom e depois ficava chato. CHATO? PELAMORDEDEUS. A história toda é de uma crueldade tão grande que não tinha como ficar chato. Eu só queria ler pra saber se tudo ia ficar bem. Que livrão. Esse tipo de história que me dá orgulho de ler livros para o público jovem adulto e saber que tem conteúdo nesse meio SIM!
As últimas 180 páginas li numa noite. alucinadíssima.
<3 Favoritado
Eu fiquei muito surpreso com essa história. NÃO FOI NADA DO QUE EU PENSAVA. Eu já fui preparado pra uma coisa dark, sobre preconceito, sobre deficiência, etc. MAS É MUITO MAIS QUE ISSO. Eu não sei nem por onde começar falando dessa história maravilhosa. Que dor que eu senti em cada cena. Me tocou demais. O Andrew retrata o adolescente como ele é! Meninos de 13 anos ficam excitados com qualquer coisa, gente, lidem com isso. Mesmo nos piores momentos.
Eu fiquei envolvido do início ao fim e fiquei surpreso, porque várias pessoas me disseram que o livro começava bom e depois ficava chato. CHATO? PELAMORDEDEUS. A história toda é de uma crueldade tão grande que não tinha como ficar chato. Eu só queria ler pra saber se tudo ia ficar bem. Que livrão. Esse tipo de história que me dá orgulho de ler livros para o público jovem adulto e saber que tem conteúdo nesse meio SIM!
As últimas 180 páginas li numa noite. alucinadíssima.
<3 Favoritado
September 7, 2011
“It’s just…well, it’s ugly”
She shrugged. “I don’t think so. I think it’s cool. Everyone else is so…the same. You know?
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
I need a cuddle.
High Points.
Stick. Bosten. Emily. Strength. Brothers. Talking through pipes. Best friends. Being different. Catching crabs. Anotia. Bubble baths. Jock straps. Surfing. Breaking out. Milkshakes. UFOs. Beanies. Playing California.
Low Points.
I wasn’t all that fussed with Stick’s road trip. What I really liked about this book was that even though there was a hell of a lot of dark and gritty subject material, it wasn’t gratuitous or done purely for shock factor. Except for one scene just over half way through. I don’t think it added much to the story except make the reader feel uncomfortable and shocked. But that might just be me.
And I know I know that California is made of rainbows and sunshine andthe Kardashians wonderful stuff…. But does it hold the power to solve every problem with surfing and no pants at breakfast?
It can?
Oh…. OK, I apologise.
Scratch that last bit.
Hero.
I fell in love with Stick from page one. For such a damaged, insecure and slightly clueless boy his narration was absolutely hilarious and always endearing.
I just wanted towait patiently for him to hotwire a car because I haven’t the foggiest where one would start with doing something like that sneak out and go and get burgers and Cokes (You can have a vanilla milkshake if you want Stick, but I don’t like them.) And even though he often didn’t think with his head and got into situations which made me have literal kittens, he always thought with his heart.
Sibling.
Bosten (my spellcheck is having none of that). YES. I don’t want to go too much into this section but the majority of my notes on scenes with Bosten & Stick consisted of “Awwwwww” and “Ohhhhh” and “OH GAWD” and “WHY IS THE WORLD SUCH A HORRIBLE PLACE?”
Love Interest. Best Friend. Soul Mate.
Oh gosh… Emily. EMILY! Cute. as. a. button and I wish you and Stick could run away and live in one of those whitewashed beach huts you see on British beaches where nothing bad could ever to the two of you and everything is perfect.
Emily and Stick’s relationship really reminded me of Jenny and Forrest’s, which is never a bad thing in my book…. And in this one!
Like peas and carrots.
Theme Tune.
I'll Take Care of You (Jamie XX Remix) by Gil Scott-Heron
For Stick and Bosten.
Girl/Boy Angst Scale.
6/10.
*narrows eyes at Kim*
Who is she?!
Oh and Buck? Yeah, more kittens were had.
Sadness Scale.
10/10. Mate, this book should come with a warning. I purposely didn’t read any reviews for this before I went into it because I didn’t want to know what happened and, even though the synopsis hints at the sadness in this book… well those little hints did NOT prepare me for this book.
Yeah.
Mr Smith depicted these dark subjects in such an unnervingly calm and almost off-hand way that perfectly illustrated how sickeningly normal it was for Stick and Bosten to live in this way. And I think that was the thing that upset me the most.
The ending, without giving too much away, really reminded me of Unhooking the Moon.
I haven’t decided whether that is a good thing or not.
*Inhales an entire packet of Hob Nobs*
Recommended For.
People who are looking for great contemporary YA. People who don’t mind putting on a stone with all the comfort eating that will happen on completion of said great contemporary YA. People who have ever felt like an outcast. People who know how to hotwire a car. People who think vanilla milkshakes People who like to take walks on the beach and catch crabs. People who like to take baths (HA and also ‘awwww’). People who find jock straps uncomfortable. People who don’t like to wear underwear at breakfast. People who wee in wetsuits….for warmth. Californians.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers.
You can find this review and tons of other exciting things at my blog here.
She shrugged. “I don’t think so. I think it’s cool. Everyone else is so…the same. You know?
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
I need a cuddle.
High Points.
Stick. Bosten. Emily. Strength. Brothers. Talking through pipes. Best friends. Being different. Catching crabs. Anotia. Bubble baths. Jock straps. Surfing. Breaking out. Milkshakes. UFOs. Beanies. Playing California.
Low Points.
I wasn’t all that fussed with Stick’s road trip. What I really liked about this book was that even though there was a hell of a lot of dark and gritty subject material, it wasn’t gratuitous or done purely for shock factor. Except for one scene just over half way through. I don’t think it added much to the story except make the reader feel uncomfortable and shocked. But that might just be me.
And I know I know that California is made of rainbows and sunshine and
It can?
Oh…. OK, I apologise.
Scratch that last bit.
Hero.
I fell in love with Stick from page one. For such a damaged, insecure and slightly clueless boy his narration was absolutely hilarious and always endearing.
“I mean, a shot to the balls is a shot to the balls, pretty much no matter what you’re wearing. Well, I guess an exception could be a suit of armor, but you can’t shoot free throws in one.”
I just wanted to
Sibling.
Bosten (my spellcheck is having none of that). YES. I don’t want to go too much into this section but the majority of my notes on scenes with Bosten & Stick consisted of “Awwwwww” and “Ohhhhh” and “OH GAWD” and “WHY IS THE WORLD SUCH A HORRIBLE PLACE?”
Oh gosh… Emily. EMILY! Cute. as. a. button and I wish you and Stick could run away and live in one of those whitewashed beach huts you see on British beaches where nothing bad could ever to the two of you and everything is perfect.
Emily and Stick’s relationship really reminded me of Jenny and Forrest’s, which is never a bad thing in my book…. And in this one!
“Kids in eight grade liked nipping at you. Worse than cornered crabs, even if you weren’t missing any parts.
And for some reason, Emily wasn’t like that. She never put up with the kids with claws.”
Like peas and carrots.
Theme Tune.
I'll Take Care of You (Jamie XX Remix) by Gil Scott-Heron
For Stick and Bosten.
Girl/Boy Angst Scale.
6/10.
*narrows eyes at Kim*
Who is she?!
Oh and Buck? Yeah, more kittens were had.
Sadness Scale.
10/10. Mate, this book should come with a warning. I purposely didn’t read any reviews for this before I went into it because I didn’t want to know what happened and, even though the synopsis hints at the sadness in this book… well those little hints did NOT prepare me for this book.
Yeah.
Mr Smith depicted these dark subjects in such an unnervingly calm and almost off-hand way that perfectly illustrated how sickeningly normal it was for Stick and Bosten to live in this way. And I think that was the thing that upset me the most.
The ending, without giving too much away, really reminded me of Unhooking the Moon.
I haven’t decided whether that is a good thing or not.
*Inhales an entire packet of Hob Nobs*
Recommended For.
People who are looking for great contemporary YA. People who don’t mind putting on a stone with all the comfort eating that will happen on completion of said great contemporary YA. People who have ever felt like an outcast. People who know how to hotwire a car. People who think vanilla milkshakes People who like to take walks on the beach and catch crabs. People who like to take baths (HA and also ‘awwww’). People who find jock straps uncomfortable. People who don’t like to wear underwear at breakfast. People who wee in wetsuits….for warmth. Californians.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers.
You can find this review and tons of other exciting things at my blog here.
December 14, 2011
This review has been rattling around my head for months. I could not get my feelings down on paper. The words were stuck. I might sound a little “off my rocker” nuts here, but….I did not want to disappoint these characters. Crazy, right? I wanted to use just the right words to describe how much these characters affected my world. Stick, Bosten, Emily, and Buck were so well drawn and layered with such love and strength. They amazed me, inspired me, and left a giant hole in my heart! Here I am months later still reeling from the emotional impact of their story.
So... let me just adjust my straight jacket a bit here before we get started. :D
How does a heart continue to beat and love surrounded by so much ugliness and pain? The strength of love and loyalty is just one of the many mysteries and miracles of life that will never cease to amaze me. Andrew Smith seems to create these small, terrifying, harsh worlds and fill them with such gentle souls who will make you just hold your breath, hoping nothing breaks their hearts and sprits. I am still holding my breath after this one!
Stick by Andrew Smith introduces readers to Bosten and Stick McClellan. Brothers who protect, support, believe in, and love each other with all their hearts through such pain, abuse and ugliness. Thank goodness they had each other! I just wanted to put them both in my pocket and keep them safe and warm! Smith possesses such a visceral style and way of describing a scene or emotion that will just impact, linger, and haunt you. I can still hear the giggles bursting out of Buck and Bosten after one of their silly prank filled nights, feel the dark chills of that room, and smell the cigarette stench seeping into my pores. My stomach is still knotted with fear and anger at the ugliness directed at these boys. BUT my heart also filled with love.
Love is what I took away from these pages. There was something else though. I cannot put my finger on it. Even when a character seemed to be helping or caring for the boys, I wanted to yell—“Run! Do not trust her!”. It was more than suspense—it was an unsettling tone or sense of doom. Bosten and Stick’s love and loyalty fueled this story and overpowered any unsettledness in my gut though. This book has such a big heart! Stick has such a big heart! Whether the boys are protecting each other from harm or sharing time over a milkshake, you will feel the love and admiration for each other on every page. I adore the McClellan brothers! :) I miss them and wish them a long, happy, beautiful life! I know, I know—my crazy is showing again. Haha…fictional characters, fictional characters! But I still miss their voices! :D
Stick may “drive at night, blow things up, and French kiss older girls”, but it was his love and heart that made him the coolest kid around! :)
So... let me just adjust my straight jacket a bit here before we get started. :D
How does a heart continue to beat and love surrounded by so much ugliness and pain? The strength of love and loyalty is just one of the many mysteries and miracles of life that will never cease to amaze me. Andrew Smith seems to create these small, terrifying, harsh worlds and fill them with such gentle souls who will make you just hold your breath, hoping nothing breaks their hearts and sprits. I am still holding my breath after this one!
Stick by Andrew Smith introduces readers to Bosten and Stick McClellan. Brothers who protect, support, believe in, and love each other with all their hearts through such pain, abuse and ugliness. Thank goodness they had each other! I just wanted to put them both in my pocket and keep them safe and warm! Smith possesses such a visceral style and way of describing a scene or emotion that will just impact, linger, and haunt you. I can still hear the giggles bursting out of Buck and Bosten after one of their silly prank filled nights, feel the dark chills of that room, and smell the cigarette stench seeping into my pores. My stomach is still knotted with fear and anger at the ugliness directed at these boys. BUT my heart also filled with love.
Love is what I took away from these pages. There was something else though. I cannot put my finger on it. Even when a character seemed to be helping or caring for the boys, I wanted to yell—“Run! Do not trust her!”. It was more than suspense—it was an unsettling tone or sense of doom. Bosten and Stick’s love and loyalty fueled this story and overpowered any unsettledness in my gut though. This book has such a big heart! Stick has such a big heart! Whether the boys are protecting each other from harm or sharing time over a milkshake, you will feel the love and admiration for each other on every page. I adore the McClellan brothers! :) I miss them and wish them a long, happy, beautiful life! I know, I know—my crazy is showing again. Haha…fictional characters, fictional characters! But I still miss their voices! :D
Stick may “drive at night, blow things up, and French kiss older girls”, but it was his love and heart that made him the coolest kid around! :)
July 28, 2011
I work in a bookstore, which means I am pretty much surrounded by book snobs (and I mean that in the nicest way possible, I swear). My particular department is kids books, so I hear all kinds of derogatory comments about books written for people under the age of 18. Most of these comments are disguised as jokes, but they're the kind of joke that the teller actually believes. Also, they aren't funny. Now me, I love books. I've read picture books that are works of art (Shaun Tan, anyone?), I've read literary fiction that blew my mind, I've read entire paranormal romance series that are like cheap candy: they all serve their purposes. In my mind, there aren't really kid books and adult books, there are good books, and there are bad books, and there are a whole lot of books that stretch everywhere in between. And you know, every time I ask one of these kid-book-denigrating jokers if they actually read any of the books they mock, they look at me like I'm crazy and talk about having better things to do or not having any interest in vampires. They also have no interest in listening to me talk about the good books that we shelve in YA or Middle Readers.
Which is all a long intro into me saying that Stick is a good book. Not a good YA book, or a good Middle Reader (and I've lately become obsessed with this author's blog, and now know he has very strong feelings about these various terms and where Stick falls); Stick is simply a good book. No, a great book. If I hadn't also just started Smith's Marbury Lens (with his Ghost Medicine ready to go on my shelf as well), I might damn well just pick it up tonight and start it right over from the beginning. Stark McClellan is the kind of narrator that feels so real, he becomes real, as though Andrew Smith had just pulled a velveteen rabbit out of his hat. The story is harrowing and emotional and disturbingly believable, while the language sounds like a 13 year old boy (and trust me, I've known a few in my time): it's blunt one minute, then wise, confused, and poetic all in turn.
This is now one of the books I will hand to someone convinced there's nothing worth reading in the kids section (if any of those people would ever accept my advice). Except they'll have to wait until October, because I'm not giving up this ARC for anything less than a signed copy of the actual book.
Which is all a long intro into me saying that Stick is a good book. Not a good YA book, or a good Middle Reader (and I've lately become obsessed with this author's blog, and now know he has very strong feelings about these various terms and where Stick falls); Stick is simply a good book. No, a great book. If I hadn't also just started Smith's Marbury Lens (with his Ghost Medicine ready to go on my shelf as well), I might damn well just pick it up tonight and start it right over from the beginning. Stark McClellan is the kind of narrator that feels so real, he becomes real, as though Andrew Smith had just pulled a velveteen rabbit out of his hat. The story is harrowing and emotional and disturbingly believable, while the language sounds like a 13 year old boy (and trust me, I've known a few in my time): it's blunt one minute, then wise, confused, and poetic all in turn.
This is now one of the books I will hand to someone convinced there's nothing worth reading in the kids section (if any of those people would ever accept my advice). Except they'll have to wait until October, because I'm not giving up this ARC for anything less than a signed copy of the actual book.
March 20, 2015
"Heartbreak" - that's how they call it.
This is how I feel now, this is what this book might cause to you too.
It should come with a note saying: 'open at your own risk' or 'put your heart aside because it might shatter'.
It should come with a happy pill for you to take, it should come with Stick and Bosten in a cute package - such that you could take them in your arms and hold them close to your heart, such that you could hug their pain away.
Oh, this story is really sad... No no no.. 'Sad' is just a tiny drop in an ocean of horrors.
I never seem to know how happy I really am, how lucky I am, what a wonderfully happy life I'm living, what a serene childhood I've had (with its ups and downs) until I read a story like this one. Because you never know what you have until you see how would it be without it.
You see, I am a horrible reader. I asked for an ARC a while back and I got one, but then I got scared. I knew this was supposed to be a though read and I've postponed picking it up ever since.. Right until now.. Months later. I am not sure if what I did was wrong though, because in fact I was right: this story was though, it was heartbreaking, it killed me a bit and it was totally worth it.
But the heartbreaking part is that the story itself is not always sad (ironic much?). It gives you some moments to breathe, to relax, it makes you think that things might get beter and then it just leaves you gaping for air after another shocking scene.
So yes, there were some cute moments about growing up and noticing changes on your body; about boys starting to become teenagers and about them noticing girls (and women), about falling in love for the first time, doing crazy stuff, kissing older girls, stealing cars and running away.
There are also secrets kept safe and promises that might be broken, there is also friendship and love.. there are dreams, not only nightmares.
I even couldn't stop laughing at some scenes, because I've been friend with boys and I know similar funny stories about them, so as far as I’m concerned some scenes were pretty much realistic, even though these days it is easier to find some answers for all the question you might have.
The characters are of course the best part of the story, so I'll talk a bit about them now...
Stick
Oh my, Stick - such a cute little boy!
You see, at the beginning he was so shy and scared and didn't know what to do, how to defend himself in front of the others.
He's missing an ear and he thinks this makes him ugly. It's hard for me to trust him with this, because reading his thoughts he seemed to be such a beautiful boy - no one with such a big heart and so honest feelings can be ugly, no matter what.
He was bullied by his colleagues and at home it was even worse. He tried to be though like his brother but he couldn't; I wish I could tell him that crying doesn't make him weak, that he was strong, that he deserved more.
"I'd tiptoe everywhere. I couldn't ever hear myself, but I wondered how noisy I made their world, them having two ears and all."
But by the ending, he got to really have a voice of his own and those thoughts weren't imprisoned in his mind anymore, running in circles. He left them out, he released that pressure, he grew up in only a couple of months and I was so happy for him. I wish him now all the happiness in the world!
Bosten
I loved how close Stick and Bosten were, I loved how they tried to make things better, how they stood for each other, how there was trust between them and love, and how everything was possible as long as they were together. They were for each other like a tiny piece of Heaven in this Hell.
You must know that there were many really disturbing things in this book, one of them is Bosten's story - as his relation with his father got only worse. It was just too much (like it wasn't already way too much) and I cared so much for Bosten because I saw him lose it near ending and I wanted to shake him, to make him see how he was hurting his brother too (without meaning it), the only person he tried so hard to keep safe (as safe as he could anyway).
But I forgive him because I understand his situation, I get that he couldn't take it anymore, that he needed to go, to break free, as far away from his father.. even though for once it meant leaving his brother behind (and this is not a spoiler, as you can find it in the synopsis as well).
Emily
Emily was the cutest girl ever, the best Stick could have found. They were both so sweet they broke my heart, but in a good way. She was smart and kind and so lovely. Stick had some happy moments just because of her and for this only I love her even more.
If I were to be young again I wish I’d be her: so bold, straightforward, so loyal and cute.
The parents
Do people like this deserve to live on this world?
DO THEY?!
And if the answer is yes then please tell me WHY?
Why on Earth could these monstrosities of people deserve to breathe, when all that I wanted was to choke them to death, to kick them until there would be nothing left but dust?
That's a dangerous though that doesn't say much about me, because thinking like that I might not be so much better than them, but I got so damn angry! I wanted to scream at some scenes, I wanted to cry with the kids, I wanted to take them home with me, I wanted to show them that life can get better, can be better, that they deserve more, that they can have more.
Some lovely characters
It pained me to see how good Paul’s mum (as a side note, I liked her a lot until I just.. didn't anymore) and Emily’s were with Stick, in fact with them both. There was such a big difference and I wanted to make these kids realize sooner that what they were living at home was a nightmare and it shouldn't have been like that at all. Their definition of normal was wrong - this was normal: people caring, talking nicely, hugging, and showing their love.
The strange thing is that I had tears in my eyes reading about their first trip to California and how nice their aunt was. I didn't cry at those terrible scenes from back home because I was too horrified for my brain to order to my eyes to come up with some tears, but it seemed to manage that pretty well while reading those happy pages… Because the difference was too big, their realization too hard, because they deserved to have this instead as a 'normal'.
Their friends from California were really cool as well. I loved how they made them feel at ease, how they became friends so easily, how they showed them how to surf and have a wonderful time.
"The strange thing was how much it seemed to me like I was really home, maybe for the first time in my life."
There is a lot to talk about regarding this book and these awesome characters, but I want you to discover it stept by step. The only thing I can complain a bit about is the ending, as it felt so abrupt. But anyways, I loved and hated this story with all my heart, because this is what a wonderful story does to you.
But now what? What could I read to make my heart whole again, to smile after all these tears?
...Now what?
End note:
This book reminded me of Split, so if your heart can take some more, than maybe you should give it a try.
Also, I received this book for review from the publisher (via Netgalley), so thank you very much!
Happy midnight reading!
** This review can also be found at ReadingAfterMidnight.com
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August 27, 2011
Stick is an abused teen. His parents are controlling, unloving, physically and mentally abusive. While Stick could react by being angry, bitter, mean and abusive himself, instead he is kind, gentle, loving, and he cherishes the small acts of kindness that neighbors, friends and others give to him.
Stick still suffers from those horrible growing pains from child to teen. His "growing" attraction to all things female, made me laugh. Stick's desire to try out scenes from a stolen Penthouse magazine with his best friend Emily made him seem more real.
Stick's relationship with his brother Bosten is the focus of the book. However, I really think it is about Stick growing up and forming his own identity instead of just being Bosten's little brother.
Some parts of the book dragged. When Stick goes on a search for his brother, some of the interactions with characters along the way came across as too convenient. However, towards the end of the book, I realized how important those interactions were to Stick's new strength as an individual.
I loved Stick's Aunt. She was hope and comfort. She was Stick's strength when he didn't have any of his own and she was his future when he finally stood up to his abusive family.
June 12, 2011
It’s a simple fact that it’s easier to write a bad review than a good one. When something doesn’t work, you can usually figure out what it is that’s broken down. When something works seamlessly…well, there are no rough edges to pick apart, no gaping plot holes to point towards, no awkward characters to take umbrage with.
Which is a round-about way of saying that it is a special kind of challenge to review a 5-star book. One of those books that stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. One of those books that worms its way into your head and your heart and changes you somehow.
I opened Andrew Smith’s “Stick” with a great sense of anticipation because he’s pretty much the only author I can point to and say that I’ve loved each of his books, in very different ways for very different reasons, without exception. That’s a little scary for a reader. Waiting for the one you aren’t going to like.
But with “Stick” I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I’d say that this book is going to be even better upon further reads. It’s a quiet book. It doesn’t bash you over the head and draw attention to itself. It introduces you to characters that resemble those you know or those you’d like to know. And then it makes you root for them simply because they are so real and because they’re written so honestly.
The plot of “Stick” is fine and engaging. As it doesn’t release until October, I’m not going to go into great detail here and risk spoiling it for anyone. But what makes this book work isn’t so much the plot anyhow, it’s the relationship between the characters. Stick and his older brother Bosten have one of those bonds that is forged by charging through fire together and coming out bloodied and changed but stronger for it. There are real and often terrifying obstacles in their lives: abusive parents; personal insecurities; random rotten luck. But through it all, the strength of their love for each other leaps off the page and is enviable and tangible.
I’ve read a lot about people sobbing through this book and I get that. But I found myself smiling through most of it, not because there weren’t moments of true heartbreak, but because, through it all, Stick finds moments of equally true compassion, and friendship, and love. And because, as much as Stick knocks himself down, he never, ever, gives up.
As always, Smith’s writing is at once lyrical and true-to-life, a combination that, as readers, we aren’t gifted with often enough. He pulls no punches and never veers to avoid something that might be uncomfortable to read or to feel. And that’s important here because this is a book that you feel, and a book that you hear, as much as it is one that you read. It is, in fact, one of those books that that worms its way into your head and your heart and changes you somehow. 5*
Which is a round-about way of saying that it is a special kind of challenge to review a 5-star book. One of those books that stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. One of those books that worms its way into your head and your heart and changes you somehow.
I opened Andrew Smith’s “Stick” with a great sense of anticipation because he’s pretty much the only author I can point to and say that I’ve loved each of his books, in very different ways for very different reasons, without exception. That’s a little scary for a reader. Waiting for the one you aren’t going to like.
But with “Stick” I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I’d say that this book is going to be even better upon further reads. It’s a quiet book. It doesn’t bash you over the head and draw attention to itself. It introduces you to characters that resemble those you know or those you’d like to know. And then it makes you root for them simply because they are so real and because they’re written so honestly.
The plot of “Stick” is fine and engaging. As it doesn’t release until October, I’m not going to go into great detail here and risk spoiling it for anyone. But what makes this book work isn’t so much the plot anyhow, it’s the relationship between the characters. Stick and his older brother Bosten have one of those bonds that is forged by charging through fire together and coming out bloodied and changed but stronger for it. There are real and often terrifying obstacles in their lives: abusive parents; personal insecurities; random rotten luck. But through it all, the strength of their love for each other leaps off the page and is enviable and tangible.
I’ve read a lot about people sobbing through this book and I get that. But I found myself smiling through most of it, not because there weren’t moments of true heartbreak, but because, through it all, Stick finds moments of equally true compassion, and friendship, and love. And because, as much as Stick knocks himself down, he never, ever, gives up.
As always, Smith’s writing is at once lyrical and true-to-life, a combination that, as readers, we aren’t gifted with often enough. He pulls no punches and never veers to avoid something that might be uncomfortable to read or to feel. And that’s important here because this is a book that you feel, and a book that you hear, as much as it is one that you read. It is, in fact, one of those books that that worms its way into your head and your heart and changes you somehow. 5*
February 9, 2025
é um livro muito bom, fiquei bem incomodada com a situação dos irmãos mas não gostei muito do final ;c
October 11, 2011
Wow. Guys. I think we all pretty much know my thoughts about Andrew Smith, right? Kinda on the verge of stalker-ish-ness-ism. (or whatever) Nah. Actually the truth is, Andrew Smith is the very first writer that I've EVER connected with. Yeah, on that level. (I'm not talking to you if you have no idea what I even mean here.) I have read and collected all of Andrew's books and anxiously await the next in line. Andrew's newest release, STICK, (October 11, 2011 Feiwel and Friends) was absolutely no exception. I was willing to hitch a ride all the way to New York, go to Macmillan and beg for a copy if need be. Word must have got around about that and I'm sure those fancy high-rise pubs do not like bloggers just popping in unannounced so they sent me an advance copy. Let's just say the day I received STICK seemed like a dream. I read uninterruptedly until I finished and then with in a couple days I read the entire novel again. Yes. It. Is. That. Good.
When I read STICK I didn't know what to expect. I had hints. I knew it was going to be a difficult book to digest. Then again, if it wasn't, it wouldn't have been written by Andrew Smith. So many issues are covered within this novel. What's so-called normal and what's not, is one of the biggest for Stick. He is faced with the definition of "normal" the entire novel. Are all of these things in his life "normal" just because they have been present in his life?
There is so much happening in Stick's life in such a short time. There's a girl. Emily. She is Stick's best friend. They do everything together. And, there's his brother, Bosten. They used to do everything together but he's gotten older and has strayed off some. In Stick's life there couldn't be two more important people than Bosten and Emily. They mean the world to him.
This story is about two brothers and their love for each other. The struggles they go through, the mistakes they make. Learning how to let go and stand up for yourself. Doing the right things. Doing the wrong things. Loving yourself and loving someone else. And a very long journey to find a way back home.
Andrew makes you love the characters in his books, you feel what they do, you actually understand what they are going through. There were plenty of times that I had tears, times that I was shouting and a couple times I would do a fist pump in the air and say "hell-yeah". I was in it with both boys from the beginning and I was on their side. I felt their pain and joy. I also cried their tears. There were times I would close my eyes and vision an ocean in California just like where Stick learned to surf. I would even imagine the taste of Sex Wax and how wonderful the smell would be. I still listen to the playlist when I get lonely and want to visit the characters.
Andrew has a writing style that is so very unique even though everyone of his books are different from one another. I think what links them all together is the realness of them. For me, it's the wondering "what part of this is real and what part is fiction". I've told several folks that you could give me 10 books with no labels and I would be able to pick out an Andrew Smith book every time. Just by his writing style. No one could duplicate him. It takes a lot of heart and courage to put parts of your own life into words and make that into a story. I admire anyone that can do that. It seems as though Andrew just keeps rocking them out.
When I read STICK I didn't know what to expect. I had hints. I knew it was going to be a difficult book to digest. Then again, if it wasn't, it wouldn't have been written by Andrew Smith. So many issues are covered within this novel. What's so-called normal and what's not, is one of the biggest for Stick. He is faced with the definition of "normal" the entire novel. Are all of these things in his life "normal" just because they have been present in his life?
There is so much happening in Stick's life in such a short time. There's a girl. Emily. She is Stick's best friend. They do everything together. And, there's his brother, Bosten. They used to do everything together but he's gotten older and has strayed off some. In Stick's life there couldn't be two more important people than Bosten and Emily. They mean the world to him.
This story is about two brothers and their love for each other. The struggles they go through, the mistakes they make. Learning how to let go and stand up for yourself. Doing the right things. Doing the wrong things. Loving yourself and loving someone else. And a very long journey to find a way back home.
Andrew makes you love the characters in his books, you feel what they do, you actually understand what they are going through. There were plenty of times that I had tears, times that I was shouting and a couple times I would do a fist pump in the air and say "hell-yeah". I was in it with both boys from the beginning and I was on their side. I felt their pain and joy. I also cried their tears. There were times I would close my eyes and vision an ocean in California just like where Stick learned to surf. I would even imagine the taste of Sex Wax and how wonderful the smell would be. I still listen to the playlist when I get lonely and want to visit the characters.
Andrew has a writing style that is so very unique even though everyone of his books are different from one another. I think what links them all together is the realness of them. For me, it's the wondering "what part of this is real and what part is fiction". I've told several folks that you could give me 10 books with no labels and I would be able to pick out an Andrew Smith book every time. Just by his writing style. No one could duplicate him. It takes a lot of heart and courage to put parts of your own life into words and make that into a story. I admire anyone that can do that. It seems as though Andrew just keeps rocking them out.
December 15, 2014
3.5 stars
Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan - nicknamed Stick because of his height - looks up to his older brother Bosten; unlike Stick, Bosten has two ears and knows how to fight back against the bullies at school. But both Bosten and Stick suffer at the hands of their abusive parents. After visiting their Aunt Delilah in California and getting a taste of freedom, the two boys realize that their family life differs from the typical familial dynamics of their peers. Bosten runs away when his father finds about about his homosexuality, and then Stick decides to pursuit his brother and bring him home, wherever home may be.
Stick had a lot of heart at its center. Our protagonist, Stick, deals with the teasing of his peers, his troubled family, and his emerging feelings for the females in his life. Smith writes his voice in a consistent way that demonstrates his growth over the course of the novel, and he imbues Stick's perspective with a grim hope that despite the severity of his obstacles, he might grow as a person and as a brother.
However, I felt like Smith tried to take on too much in this novel without giving the characters enough definition. Stick encounters a lot of people throughout the book and almost all of them feel like black and white outlines waiting for color. I wanted more of an explanation behind Aunt Delilah's presence in the story, as well as more development of Bosten, Stick's parents, and Emily. Stick does several things in this book - goes on a road trip, takes a bath with a girl, scours the streets for his brother - but I wished for more depth from his interactions with the other characters, which would have lent more of an emotional impact to the book as a whole.
Despite its rough edges and messy plot, Stick rings with honesty due to Stick's voice. While I might not have enjoyed an Andrew Smith novel yet - at least I liked this one more than Winger - he still has my admiration for writing about diverse, troubling topics that afflict many teens today.
Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan - nicknamed Stick because of his height - looks up to his older brother Bosten; unlike Stick, Bosten has two ears and knows how to fight back against the bullies at school. But both Bosten and Stick suffer at the hands of their abusive parents. After visiting their Aunt Delilah in California and getting a taste of freedom, the two boys realize that their family life differs from the typical familial dynamics of their peers. Bosten runs away when his father finds about about his homosexuality, and then Stick decides to pursuit his brother and bring him home, wherever home may be.
Stick had a lot of heart at its center. Our protagonist, Stick, deals with the teasing of his peers, his troubled family, and his emerging feelings for the females in his life. Smith writes his voice in a consistent way that demonstrates his growth over the course of the novel, and he imbues Stick's perspective with a grim hope that despite the severity of his obstacles, he might grow as a person and as a brother.
However, I felt like Smith tried to take on too much in this novel without giving the characters enough definition. Stick encounters a lot of people throughout the book and almost all of them feel like black and white outlines waiting for color. I wanted more of an explanation behind Aunt Delilah's presence in the story, as well as more development of Bosten, Stick's parents, and Emily. Stick does several things in this book - goes on a road trip, takes a bath with a girl, scours the streets for his brother - but I wished for more depth from his interactions with the other characters, which would have lent more of an emotional impact to the book as a whole.
Despite its rough edges and messy plot, Stick rings with honesty due to Stick's voice. While I might not have enjoyed an Andrew Smith novel yet - at least I liked this one more than Winger - he still has my admiration for writing about diverse, troubling topics that afflict many teens today.
September 12, 2012
4 Stars, maybe 4.5
This is an interesting and involving YA story. Stick, whose real name is Stark, is a young, tall teenager with a missing ear who feels alienated from most of the kids around him, other than his friend Emily. As the story opens, Stick finds himself on the cusp of many changes both internal, in how he feels about Emily and how he reacts to other people, and in the events occurring in his life. He and his older brother Bosten live with abusive parents. His mother is mostly cold, disengaged and rigid. His father hands out most of the physical abuse. The boys cling to each other as the only real family they have. But their parents are fighting with each other, Stick is facing a dizzying onset of adolescence, and then discovers that Bosten is gay and in love with his best friend. This isn't a problem for Stick, other than putting another person in Bosten's heart, with a small impact on the closeness between him and his brother. But the adults around them are not likely to be as accepting. It turns out to be impossible for them to protect each other from the fallout of those changes.
This is written from Stick's POV, with occasion short sections written in the slightly disjointed way phrases sometimes come to him, heard only through one ear. It works very well, and the voice felt very authentic for a fourteen year old boy. A lot happens in this story, in both emotional and plot terms, sometimes almost too much, but the author makes it work. Stick's slightly matter-of-fact narrative tone keeps the story from plunging into melodrama, while conveying emotion well. The ending is hopeful, but a bit uncertain, which is realistic. Bosten's journey is darker than Stick's, and because this is the younger brother's book one gets only glimpses of what Bosten has gone through and how far he has yet to go. I'd love to read a sequel that would take away that lingering anxiety I have for Bosten's future, but it says something for how clearly the characters are portrayed that he remains in my mind well after the book is done. Definitely worth the read.
This is an interesting and involving YA story. Stick, whose real name is Stark, is a young, tall teenager with a missing ear who feels alienated from most of the kids around him, other than his friend Emily. As the story opens, Stick finds himself on the cusp of many changes both internal, in how he feels about Emily and how he reacts to other people, and in the events occurring in his life. He and his older brother Bosten live with abusive parents. His mother is mostly cold, disengaged and rigid. His father hands out most of the physical abuse. The boys cling to each other as the only real family they have. But their parents are fighting with each other, Stick is facing a dizzying onset of adolescence, and then discovers that Bosten is gay and in love with his best friend. This isn't a problem for Stick, other than putting another person in Bosten's heart, with a small impact on the closeness between him and his brother. But the adults around them are not likely to be as accepting. It turns out to be impossible for them to protect each other from the fallout of those changes.
This is written from Stick's POV, with occasion short sections written in the slightly disjointed way phrases sometimes come to him, heard only through one ear. It works very well, and the voice felt very authentic for a fourteen year old boy. A lot happens in this story, in both emotional and plot terms, sometimes almost too much, but the author makes it work. Stick's slightly matter-of-fact narrative tone keeps the story from plunging into melodrama, while conveying emotion well. The ending is hopeful, but a bit uncertain, which is realistic. Bosten's journey is darker than Stick's, and because this is the younger brother's book one gets only glimpses of what Bosten has gone through and how far he has yet to go. I'd love to read a sequel that would take away that lingering anxiety I have for Bosten's future, but it says something for how clearly the characters are portrayed that he remains in my mind well after the book is done. Definitely worth the read.
October 10, 2011
Cruelty and ugliness is something Stark lives with daily. He thinks his deformity, a missing ear, is ugly but that is nothing when you compare it to his parents. Thirteen-year-old Stark and his older brother Bosten have been dealt the Piece of Crap Parent card. Their parents aren't just mean, they are downright cruel. Very early on we know the boys' parents aren't exactly Mike and Carol Brady. There are hints of abuse very early on and by page thirty-seven, we know that their father is militant and controlling that rules with an iron hand, and their mother is a sadistic side-kick.
You would think that child abuse is the central theme to STICK. I would have to argue and say no. STICK is a story about what two brothers will do to protect the other. Keep secrets, tell lies, physically go to blows to stand up for one another...the boys do it all and more. In a sense, they are all they have. They are each others support and only source of unconditional love. Real love. Without one, the other would not exist. When Bosten is outed as gay, not such a great thing in the mid 1970s, he makes his escape before his father gets a hold of him. Stick impatiently waits for his brother to return but after a few days, Stick makes a decision to go out on his own and find him. No easy task considering he thinks his brother made his way to California. He adds stealing a car on his list of things he would do for Bosten.
I went into reading this book with my eyes wide open. I was ready for the bat-shit genius that Smith is so famous for. The Marbury Lens stayed with me for months.... I was prepared for anything and everything Smith was going to through at me. *insert a pleasant sigh* I have to admit, STICK was an easier read for me. In fact, I flew through it in just a couple of hours. Yes, very sensitive and tough issues are addressed - child abuse, sexual abuse, homosexuality, bullying - but they were painted in a such a realistic light with authentic voices that the pages kept turning. I never once questioned a conversation, an action, or the thoughts of the characters. The parents are heartless, the brothers are brave, and there are even a few unsung heroes in the mix. Putting it simple, everything about this book worked. One of my favorites of the year.
You would think that child abuse is the central theme to STICK. I would have to argue and say no. STICK is a story about what two brothers will do to protect the other. Keep secrets, tell lies, physically go to blows to stand up for one another...the boys do it all and more. In a sense, they are all they have. They are each others support and only source of unconditional love. Real love. Without one, the other would not exist. When Bosten is outed as gay, not such a great thing in the mid 1970s, he makes his escape before his father gets a hold of him. Stick impatiently waits for his brother to return but after a few days, Stick makes a decision to go out on his own and find him. No easy task considering he thinks his brother made his way to California. He adds stealing a car on his list of things he would do for Bosten.
I went into reading this book with my eyes wide open. I was ready for the bat-shit genius that Smith is so famous for. The Marbury Lens stayed with me for months.... I was prepared for anything and everything Smith was going to through at me. *insert a pleasant sigh* I have to admit, STICK was an easier read for me. In fact, I flew through it in just a couple of hours. Yes, very sensitive and tough issues are addressed - child abuse, sexual abuse, homosexuality, bullying - but they were painted in a such a realistic light with authentic voices that the pages kept turning. I never once questioned a conversation, an action, or the thoughts of the characters. The parents are heartless, the brothers are brave, and there are even a few unsung heroes in the mix. Putting it simple, everything about this book worked. One of my favorites of the year.
September 3, 2011
3.5/5
It read like the Perks of Being a Wallflower but had me reeling the same way I did with Smith's Marburry Lens after that kidnap-grope scene. This one had me angry and hurting for all of them, all at once... particularly the first half. The jump into the second half had me reeling for other reasons though. Specifically, where had Dahlia been all their lives? That alone had me a little bi more angry. To think of all the things they'd gone through with such horrible people! When all the while she was there... or could have been there!
Stick sounds a lot like the lead in Perks of Being a Wallflower. Both were innocent, clueless and naive until I reminded myself that he was just thirteen. I kept having to recall that STICK was just THIRTEEN. And like in Perks, I found myself asking, is this kid for real? Did he really have no clue as to what was what and or what went where? Perhaps his naivette was a product of how he was brought up... perhaps not, but he simply read young to me, much younger than a purported thirteen. And talk of his upbringing made me want to PUNCH somebody, specifically his parents! It's this aspect that had me reeling. As I said, there's a moment in it that struck me the same way that kidnap grope scene in Marbury did: complete and utter shock then disgust. Suffice to say, it brought out a lot of emotions in me, not all of them positive.
The shining moments in this sad painful read are his relationships~ with his brother and his peers. Still, his relationship with his brother gave me pause. He idolized his brother; in truth they idolized each other. But it's a relationship that worried me a little too. One could not leave given his fear for the other's future while the other could not man up because the elder was always there. So I worried for them and hurt for them. And before things did get better, things got worse.
Read this with the knowledge that it isn't easy, but given a voice like Stick's that was sometimes improbabaly innoccent, well, I had to see it through.
3.5/5
THANKS NETGALLEY!
It read like the Perks of Being a Wallflower but had me reeling the same way I did with Smith's Marburry Lens after that kidnap-grope scene. This one had me angry and hurting for all of them, all at once... particularly the first half. The jump into the second half had me reeling for other reasons though. Specifically, where had Dahlia been all their lives? That alone had me a little bi more angry. To think of all the things they'd gone through with such horrible people! When all the while she was there... or could have been there!
Stick sounds a lot like the lead in Perks of Being a Wallflower. Both were innocent, clueless and naive until I reminded myself that he was just thirteen. I kept having to recall that STICK was just THIRTEEN. And like in Perks, I found myself asking, is this kid for real? Did he really have no clue as to what was what and or what went where? Perhaps his naivette was a product of how he was brought up... perhaps not, but he simply read young to me, much younger than a purported thirteen. And talk of his upbringing made me want to PUNCH somebody, specifically his parents! It's this aspect that had me reeling. As I said, there's a moment in it that struck me the same way that kidnap grope scene in Marbury did: complete and utter shock then disgust. Suffice to say, it brought out a lot of emotions in me, not all of them positive.
The shining moments in this sad painful read are his relationships~ with his brother and his peers. Still, his relationship with his brother gave me pause. He idolized his brother; in truth they idolized each other. But it's a relationship that worried me a little too. One could not leave given his fear for the other's future while the other could not man up because the elder was always there. So I worried for them and hurt for them. And before things did get better, things got worse.
Read this with the knowledge that it isn't easy, but given a voice like Stick's that was sometimes improbabaly innoccent, well, I had to see it through.
3.5/5
THANKS NETGALLEY!
September 15, 2024
Stick has a lot more heart than Smith's breakout novel, Winger, which I gave three stars but I remember as only a two-star book. Stark "Stick" McClellan is impossibly sympathetic and hug-worthy, and his characterization is what buoys this novel. There are a couple less than believable plot turns, and I'm left sort of wondering Stick was a lot longer along the lines of A Little Life, but those are quibbles really for a young adult novel that has this much raw, emotional honesty. It is also a perfect counterpoint to one of my favourite reads this year, The Last Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter.
September 4, 2011
Andrew Smith has done it again: penned a compelling tale about the power of love. Stark and Bosten McClellan have secrets; secrets that are capable of destroying them both. Holding on to hope and the love for his brother, Stark "Stick" sets out on a journey to heal them both. I'll wait until closer to this book's release date to comment further. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to read the ARC and cannot wait to put this gripping story into the hands of my students
October 2, 2016
Andrew Smith possui uma bizarrice muito peculiar. Mas em "Minha Metade Silenciosa", ele parece acertar a mão e equilibrar com bastante talento os elementos de sua história. Contando o dia a dia de Palito (Stick), um menino que nasceu sem uma orelha, ele cria um livro tocante e difícil de largar de lado.
No primeiro e no segundo ato (cerca de 200) páginas, ele explora a relação de Stick com os amigos e a família, a melhor parte. Seu pilar de resistência é o irmão, que junto com ele é vítima de surras violentíssimas do pai, e do descaso da mãe. Essa é a vida que ele conhece, que ele acha normal. E acompanhar o personagem entendendo que ele pode ser mais do que isso, que ele pode escapar desse ambiente nocivo, é realmente empolgante. Não tem como não torcer pelos dois.
O terceiro ato (mais 100 páginas), contudo, tem problemas sérios. Metade dele é quase uma história à parte na qual o Andrew Smith recaí nas suas bizarrices costumeiras. Como te lembrar de 5 em 5 linhas que um adolescente fica de pinto duro por qualquer coisa. Mesmo que esteja numa situação emocionalmente desgastante onde não teria nenhum sentido isso acontecer. E por aí vai.
Quando o livro volta aos eixos e à história principal, falta pouco para fechar a trama, que é resolvida em 5 páginas. E embora o final seja forte, não tem como não pensar nas 50 páginas desperdiçadas enquanto a trama principal termina corrida, sem desenvolvimento emocional dos principais envolvidos e sem nem voltar a alguns personagens importantes para o protagonista na primeira metade do livro.
Apesar desse erro tosco (nenhum editor do cara achou isso?), fica recomendado junto com "Ghost Medicine" como melhores portas de entrada pro trabalho do autor.
No primeiro e no segundo ato (cerca de 200) páginas, ele explora a relação de Stick com os amigos e a família, a melhor parte. Seu pilar de resistência é o irmão, que junto com ele é vítima de surras violentíssimas do pai, e do descaso da mãe. Essa é a vida que ele conhece, que ele acha normal. E acompanhar o personagem entendendo que ele pode ser mais do que isso, que ele pode escapar desse ambiente nocivo, é realmente empolgante. Não tem como não torcer pelos dois.
O terceiro ato (mais 100 páginas), contudo, tem problemas sérios. Metade dele é quase uma história à parte na qual o Andrew Smith recaí nas suas bizarrices costumeiras. Como te lembrar de 5 em 5 linhas que um adolescente fica de pinto duro por qualquer coisa. Mesmo que esteja numa situação emocionalmente desgastante onde não teria nenhum sentido isso acontecer. E por aí vai.
Quando o livro volta aos eixos e à história principal, falta pouco para fechar a trama, que é resolvida em 5 páginas. E embora o final seja forte, não tem como não pensar nas 50 páginas desperdiçadas enquanto a trama principal termina corrida, sem desenvolvimento emocional dos principais envolvidos e sem nem voltar a alguns personagens importantes para o protagonista na primeira metade do livro.
Apesar desse erro tosco (nenhum editor do cara achou isso?), fica recomendado junto com "Ghost Medicine" como melhores portas de entrada pro trabalho do autor.
May 21, 2012
Nicely written book. I really enjoyed it!
The format on the kindle was off a little with big spaces at times in the middle of sentences which made it difficult to read. For a $10 ebook I wouldn't expect these types of problems.
The format on the kindle was off a little with big spaces at times in the middle of sentences which made it difficult to read. For a $10 ebook I wouldn't expect these types of problems.
May 15, 2016
Que família horrível, que irmãos maravilhosos! :p
September 7, 2023
bem interessante a princípio, mas tem horas q parece q o autor nem sabe o q está fazendo e deixa tudo esquisito e estranho, só para ao final voltar na mesma linearidade que existia no início.
June 10, 2018
I loved this book and wished I had more time to form my review. This book is one of those books that really get to you. Like gets under your skin and you can't shake it kind of book. The characters are written so well it's like they are your friends or family members and every thing they went through you felt deep down to your core.
Bosten and Stark (he likes to be called Stick because he is so tall and skinny) they are brothers and Stick was born with his ear missing. He gets bullied a lot in school and Bosten is always there to take care of Stick. The boys live through terrible abuse that is inflicted on them by their parents. It is so heartbreaking and makes you want to punch those parents.
Bosten goes through not only the physical abuse from his father but one night he accidentally found out the other type of abuse that Bosten gets from their father and it makes Stick sick and angry.
There is so much depth to this book and so much more these boys go through. It's amazing and I highly recommend everyone to read this. Light and fluffy this is not but if you want a book that hits you in the heart and gut and makes you think about these characters like they are real then please pick this up. It was a random pick and it ended up making me feel every emotion. Wow you won't be dissapointed
Bosten and Stark (he likes to be called Stick because he is so tall and skinny) they are brothers and Stick was born with his ear missing. He gets bullied a lot in school and Bosten is always there to take care of Stick. The boys live through terrible abuse that is inflicted on them by their parents. It is so heartbreaking and makes you want to punch those parents.
Bosten goes through not only the physical abuse from his father but one night he accidentally found out the other type of abuse that Bosten gets from their father and it makes Stick sick and angry.
There is so much depth to this book and so much more these boys go through. It's amazing and I highly recommend everyone to read this. Light and fluffy this is not but if you want a book that hits you in the heart and gut and makes you think about these characters like they are real then please pick this up. It was a random pick and it ended up making me feel every emotion. Wow you won't be dissapointed
January 28, 2016
Stick by Andrew Smith a book full of adventure and mixed emotions on one another is the way to describe this text. Stick was published by Macmillan, New York, NY in September of 2011. This book is for people that feel apart from people because of the way you are, or the way you seem to be towards others. Stick is the main character of this text and he will show and connect to people that have a hard life inside and outside of their house and how he feels about being different from everyone else because of a birth defect he cannot control.
This story is based on a 8th grader named Stark McClellan but known as Stick. Stick suffers with a hard life inside and outside of his home. One of Sticks biggest problem that he has to face everyday is his birth defect which is only having one ear. And this to him is the biggest reason to not fitting in at all with people as well as getting bullied at any chance anyone gets. He lives with his Mom and Dad as well as with his brother Bosten. His parents aren't your typical parents, they are abusive towards both of them as it's said “From the middle of his shoulder blades, pasted his butt and onto his thighs, Bosten was streaked with purple welts. Some of the marks that were raised were actually bled” (Smith 62). Bosten is a very strong, firm boy that's loves his brother and would do for him whatever needs to be done as long as Stick doesn't get hurt. But as well he is full of surprises throughout out this book. Stick is not well known by anyone which leads him to not having many friends, except for his best friend Emily. Emily is Sticks best friend and she is the person that makes a total difference in His life everyday. She is the only person that sees him for who he really is. Which this leads into a 13 year old boy hitting puberty, which becomes a problem to his feelings and him not knowing how to feel towards his best friend for not knowing much about growth.
Another big role in this book is Aunt Dahlia. She is a big role in the book because she makes them feel real love in a place they can call home. They began to see all this change even the first day they met her, “ Something about her made me begin to feel like it was okay” (Smith 115). This lets us know that he begins to slowly feel comfortable with the himself, but not just that but also with his great aunt. Aunt Dahlia showed them a what a loving home was, something they never knew about at their own home.
The reason why I recommend this book is because this story is told by a new coming teenager that knows nothing about feelings, nothing about emotions and that just feels stuck. Just like a lot of kids nowadays entering the “teen world”. I also recommend this book because it's such an easy book to follow along, with what everything is going on.This book is quite a roller coaster ride because he goes through so many emotions and feelings that makes him question himself and the people around him.I think the best part of the book is that Stick finally figures out what real home love is, and also that he learns to appreciate himself for who he is and not for what he looks like. This book is full of emotions in bad ways as well as good ways, but thanks to that this book is well understood because this book has real life problems that expel can relate too.
This story is based on a 8th grader named Stark McClellan but known as Stick. Stick suffers with a hard life inside and outside of his home. One of Sticks biggest problem that he has to face everyday is his birth defect which is only having one ear. And this to him is the biggest reason to not fitting in at all with people as well as getting bullied at any chance anyone gets. He lives with his Mom and Dad as well as with his brother Bosten. His parents aren't your typical parents, they are abusive towards both of them as it's said “From the middle of his shoulder blades, pasted his butt and onto his thighs, Bosten was streaked with purple welts. Some of the marks that were raised were actually bled” (Smith 62). Bosten is a very strong, firm boy that's loves his brother and would do for him whatever needs to be done as long as Stick doesn't get hurt. But as well he is full of surprises throughout out this book. Stick is not well known by anyone which leads him to not having many friends, except for his best friend Emily. Emily is Sticks best friend and she is the person that makes a total difference in His life everyday. She is the only person that sees him for who he really is. Which this leads into a 13 year old boy hitting puberty, which becomes a problem to his feelings and him not knowing how to feel towards his best friend for not knowing much about growth.
Another big role in this book is Aunt Dahlia. She is a big role in the book because she makes them feel real love in a place they can call home. They began to see all this change even the first day they met her, “ Something about her made me begin to feel like it was okay” (Smith 115). This lets us know that he begins to slowly feel comfortable with the himself, but not just that but also with his great aunt. Aunt Dahlia showed them a what a loving home was, something they never knew about at their own home.
The reason why I recommend this book is because this story is told by a new coming teenager that knows nothing about feelings, nothing about emotions and that just feels stuck. Just like a lot of kids nowadays entering the “teen world”. I also recommend this book because it's such an easy book to follow along, with what everything is going on.This book is quite a roller coaster ride because he goes through so many emotions and feelings that makes him question himself and the people around him.I think the best part of the book is that Stick finally figures out what real home love is, and also that he learns to appreciate himself for who he is and not for what he looks like. This book is full of emotions in bad ways as well as good ways, but thanks to that this book is well understood because this book has real life problems that expel can relate too.
October 12, 2011
Stick came out today, a new novel by Andrew Smith, the author of Ghost Medicine, In the Path of Falling Objects, and The Marbury Lens. These are three of my favorite books, each for different reasons but more than anything they are three books about the relationships young men have with each other, and more specifically, brothers. Stick is similar in that it explores this territory, Andrew Smith territory, but it is, like each of Andrew's other books, different.
Synopsis from Amazon: Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan (nicknamed Stick because he’s tall and thin) is bullied for being “deformed” – he was born with only one ear. His older brother Bosten is always there to defend Stick. But the boys can’t defend one another from their abusive parents. When Stick realizes Bosten is gay, he knows that to survive his father's anger, Bosten must leave home. Stick has to find his brother, or he will never feel whole again. In his search, he will encounter good people, bad people, and people who are simply indifferent to kids from the wrong side of the tracks. But he never loses hope of finding love – and his brother.
This is a subtle book beautifully written, sensitive, and innocent. But what I like more than anything are two things Andrew does: 1) His uncanny ability to write from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Stick. It is his trademark as a writer - to be able to get inside the heads of these protagonists. There are no wrong turns in the story because Stick does what he needs to - nothing more and nothing less. This is an incredible feat of writing. The second thing that Andrew does that makes him stand out is write beautiful prose. Some writers write pretty words but you notice them because they write that way for the sake of writing that way. Andrew crafts every sentence and every sentence sings as part of a larger tapestry that is his novel. His prose seems effortless and his narrative flows without a hitch because of it. And this is not just the way he writes Stick's thoughts, jumbled up sometimes and filled with holes another as if the words bang around inside and can't exit - an ingenious technique he uses to show how Stick hears and perceives the world.
Here's one of my favorites: "And none of what happened to us would ever make sense if I didn't let the biggest monsters that swarm in my head come up and reveal their teeth there is no love in our house only rules." When you read the context for this it will blow you away. In the land of realistic fiction for young adults, Andrew Smith is king.
Synopsis from Amazon: Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan (nicknamed Stick because he’s tall and thin) is bullied for being “deformed” – he was born with only one ear. His older brother Bosten is always there to defend Stick. But the boys can’t defend one another from their abusive parents. When Stick realizes Bosten is gay, he knows that to survive his father's anger, Bosten must leave home. Stick has to find his brother, or he will never feel whole again. In his search, he will encounter good people, bad people, and people who are simply indifferent to kids from the wrong side of the tracks. But he never loses hope of finding love – and his brother.
This is a subtle book beautifully written, sensitive, and innocent. But what I like more than anything are two things Andrew does: 1) His uncanny ability to write from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Stick. It is his trademark as a writer - to be able to get inside the heads of these protagonists. There are no wrong turns in the story because Stick does what he needs to - nothing more and nothing less. This is an incredible feat of writing. The second thing that Andrew does that makes him stand out is write beautiful prose. Some writers write pretty words but you notice them because they write that way for the sake of writing that way. Andrew crafts every sentence and every sentence sings as part of a larger tapestry that is his novel. His prose seems effortless and his narrative flows without a hitch because of it. And this is not just the way he writes Stick's thoughts, jumbled up sometimes and filled with holes another as if the words bang around inside and can't exit - an ingenious technique he uses to show how Stick hears and perceives the world.
Here's one of my favorites: "And none of what happened to us would ever make sense if I didn't let the biggest monsters that swarm in my head come up and reveal their teeth there is no love in our house only rules." When you read the context for this it will blow you away. In the land of realistic fiction for young adults, Andrew Smith is king.
January 28, 2016
Stick by Andrew Smith has changed my perspective on what it can be like to not be loved in your own home. Stick was published by Square Fish and Macmillian in New York, NY in September 2015. It can take you on a roller coaster with many loops. You'll feel like everything is going smooth for Stark, and then BOOM! Everything at once hits you again. No matter how much you try to put the book down you just can't. There are some hard subjects to face, you keep reading no matter the outcome because it's just that good!
Stark McClellan also known as Stick, is an awkward 14 year boy. Living in Washington. Oh and to top it all off, he was born with one ear. This has caused him to stand out and also constantly get bullied at school. The book follows Stick and his brother, Bosten as they go through the mental and physical abuse at home by their mother and father. I've read books that deal with child abuse like, A child called it. But never have I felt this feeling to the character as much I do to Stick. Anyone can get hooked on this book if you're into something that connects to the real world, it is an eye opener. Along the way, Stick has Emily to find comfort in, besides his brother Bosten who is always beating kids up for him. Emily's family is very loving and always welcome Stick in their house with open arms and loving hearts. Sticks parents have never showed him or his brother that feeling of love. They find that sense of warmth through their good friends and their aunt Dahlia.
As the boys deal with the abuse, Stick sees his brother Bosten doing something unusual. Soon later, the father finds out that what Bosten has done and does not approve of it. He beats him, Bosten runs away and doesn't tell where he's going. Stick feels he has to go and find his brother. On the journey, he encounters good people and of course bad people. You as the reader, can feel for Stick even if you haven't gone through what he has went through. You can feel all the pain. Throughout the book you see that Andrew Smith uses a unique writing technique. He spaces out words and sentences that are being said to Stick. So you get that feeling of hearing the way Stick hears, with his one ear. Stick will definitely leave a print on your heart. Be prepared to feel some sense of heartbreak, it is a very powerful book.
Stark McClellan also known as Stick, is an awkward 14 year boy. Living in Washington. Oh and to top it all off, he was born with one ear. This has caused him to stand out and also constantly get bullied at school. The book follows Stick and his brother, Bosten as they go through the mental and physical abuse at home by their mother and father. I've read books that deal with child abuse like, A child called it. But never have I felt this feeling to the character as much I do to Stick. Anyone can get hooked on this book if you're into something that connects to the real world, it is an eye opener. Along the way, Stick has Emily to find comfort in, besides his brother Bosten who is always beating kids up for him. Emily's family is very loving and always welcome Stick in their house with open arms and loving hearts. Sticks parents have never showed him or his brother that feeling of love. They find that sense of warmth through their good friends and their aunt Dahlia.
As the boys deal with the abuse, Stick sees his brother Bosten doing something unusual. Soon later, the father finds out that what Bosten has done and does not approve of it. He beats him, Bosten runs away and doesn't tell where he's going. Stick feels he has to go and find his brother. On the journey, he encounters good people and of course bad people. You as the reader, can feel for Stick even if you haven't gone through what he has went through. You can feel all the pain. Throughout the book you see that Andrew Smith uses a unique writing technique. He spaces out words and sentences that are being said to Stick. So you get that feeling of hearing the way Stick hears, with his one ear. Stick will definitely leave a print on your heart. Be prepared to feel some sense of heartbreak, it is a very powerful book.
September 24, 2011
It's always a day for celebration when a new Andrew Smith novel comes out. Andrew's books are among the most well-written, compelling books I've ever read and are filled with characters that worm their way into your heart and demand to be noticed.
STICK by Andrew Smith (Feiwel & Friends, October 11, 2011)
I got hooked on Andrew's books last year with THE MARBURY LENS which was like a crazy thrill ride I'm normally too scared to go on at amusement parks. But books are so much safer to me, and I devoured MARBURY and praised it to anyone who would listen. Next, I read IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS which, though not fantasy/sci-fi, had me hanging on every word. This was also the case for Andrew's latest, STICK.
Reading STICK, I had a difficult time putting the book down. I mean, sure, I trusted that things would end with hope, but still, I had to know. The thing about Andrew Smith's books that truly makes them stand out in the market is the absolute tension on every page. It's done crazy-well, and creates books that stick with readers long after the last page is read.
I highly recommend STICK to fans of Andrew (especially those who loved IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS). Also, STICK makes for excellent guy reading (because, seriously, the mind of a teen boy is a scary place to venture).
STICK by Andrew Smith (Feiwel & Friends, October 11, 2011)
I got hooked on Andrew's books last year with THE MARBURY LENS which was like a crazy thrill ride I'm normally too scared to go on at amusement parks. But books are so much safer to me, and I devoured MARBURY and praised it to anyone who would listen. Next, I read IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS which, though not fantasy/sci-fi, had me hanging on every word. This was also the case for Andrew's latest, STICK.
Reading STICK, I had a difficult time putting the book down. I mean, sure, I trusted that things would end with hope, but still, I had to know. The thing about Andrew Smith's books that truly makes them stand out in the market is the absolute tension on every page. It's done crazy-well, and creates books that stick with readers long after the last page is read.
I highly recommend STICK to fans of Andrew (especially those who loved IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS). Also, STICK makes for excellent guy reading (because, seriously, the mind of a teen boy is a scary place to venture).
July 26, 2012
A tough book to read - there were a few times I nearly stopped. Not because it isn't good - it is a good book - but because it could be just a bit too real. Stick and his brother Bosten have grown up with abuse - daily, sometimes brutal but often subtle abuse. Every family has little oddities, things normal to the members. Stick and his brother must tuck in their shirts, button them all the way up, wear a t-shirt - a bit strange, but not horrific. They also know that a beating was coming - not when, or why, but a beating was as inevitable as waking up in the morning. There was no sense that their parents love them - and the boys see that as normal. What was hard to read was that acceptance of abuse as normal. It is easy to teach someone - even an independent, intelligent adult - that abuse is "normal".
Even raised by parents who should be locked away, the boys are loving, somewhat regular boys - they are resilient, tough, and have always had each other. Stick realizes that he is changing, that what was always normal is not, that changes are necessary, and that he has some control in his life.
Even raised by parents who should be locked away, the boys are loving, somewhat regular boys - they are resilient, tough, and have always had each other. Stick realizes that he is changing, that what was always normal is not, that changes are necessary, and that he has some control in his life.
January 14, 2012
4.5 stars
This is a book about a boy. His name is Stark, but everyone calls him Stick on account of his height. He is a boy just trying to survive all the stuff that makes being a boy hard including being bullied because he has one ear and trying to figure out what sex and girls means to him. On top of all of the normal boy stuff, he has a home life which includes being beat on a weekly basis. However, he finds solitude in his time with Emily, his best friend, and Bosten, his brother. This book is as much Bosten's story as it is Stick's. We meet Stick on a Friday where everything seems to change in his life- Emily touches his missing ear, which no one does, his brother beats up a boy for harassing him and he learns that his brother is gay. None of these things bother Stick, but they sure to change his life. This book filled with many different issues (bullying, homophobia, child abuse, survival, sex) doesn't ever become an issue book, though, it is just a book about love (love for a brother, love for friends, love in general) and a boy.
This is a book about a boy. His name is Stark, but everyone calls him Stick on account of his height. He is a boy just trying to survive all the stuff that makes being a boy hard including being bullied because he has one ear and trying to figure out what sex and girls means to him. On top of all of the normal boy stuff, he has a home life which includes being beat on a weekly basis. However, he finds solitude in his time with Emily, his best friend, and Bosten, his brother. This book is as much Bosten's story as it is Stick's. We meet Stick on a Friday where everything seems to change in his life- Emily touches his missing ear, which no one does, his brother beats up a boy for harassing him and he learns that his brother is gay. None of these things bother Stick, but they sure to change his life. This book filled with many different issues (bullying, homophobia, child abuse, survival, sex) doesn't ever become an issue book, though, it is just a book about love (love for a brother, love for friends, love in general) and a boy.
January 30, 2016
Stick By Andrew Smith (published by first Macmillian, New York, NY in 2011) Is a very emotional and horrifying read. 13 year old Stark McClellan and his brother, 16 year old Bosten McClellan have an unordinary life that no teenage boy should ever have to live.
Stark McClellan also known as “Stick” is 6ft tall and only has one ear. He isn't your average 13 year old boy, but with the protection of his older brother Bosten, he has nothing to worry about. Stick idolizes Bosten. He keeps his deepest darkest secrets and would do anything to keep him out of harm's way. That is until one day, their dad finds out Bosten’s darkest secret that pushes him over the edge.
This Book was definitely an emotional roller coaster, and the ride has just begun. Stick will make you laugh and cry your eyes out. This book shows the horrifying things that kids have to go through on a daily basis. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves controversy and drama.
Stark McClellan also known as “Stick” is 6ft tall and only has one ear. He isn't your average 13 year old boy, but with the protection of his older brother Bosten, he has nothing to worry about. Stick idolizes Bosten. He keeps his deepest darkest secrets and would do anything to keep him out of harm's way. That is until one day, their dad finds out Bosten’s darkest secret that pushes him over the edge.
This Book was definitely an emotional roller coaster, and the ride has just begun. Stick will make you laugh and cry your eyes out. This book shows the horrifying things that kids have to go through on a daily basis. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves controversy and drama.
February 4, 2017
i'm sure if i'd finished this book at, like, 3am alone in my room i would be crying my eyes out. but as it is it's 4pm and i'm next to my parents trying to keep it all in. fuck, this was an emotional rollercoaster.
i fell in love with stick and bosten's brothers dynamic instantly. the story took so many turns in different directions i never knew what to expect next, and i was always expecting the worst. that still didn't prepare me.
i just need every character in this to be okay, please? (except THOSE characters that i actually want dead, or far far far away from anyone they can harm)
i fell in love with stick and bosten's brothers dynamic instantly. the story took so many turns in different directions i never knew what to expect next, and i was always expecting the worst. that still didn't prepare me.
i just need every character in this to be okay, please? (except THOSE characters that i actually want dead, or far far far away from anyone they can harm)
November 26, 2015
I really liked it I thought it was interesting and the story was so good I had a hard time putting it down. I fell in love with the characters and it was also interesting to see the romance going on with stick and how he juggled Kimmy and Emily because he seemed to love them both and find that because of them things were changing. I also liked that he was willing to do anything for his brother even if that ment running away from home and going to LA.
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