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The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin
6 Hours
Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can't hear what's going on, but he's a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will's interested in more than just murder . . .)
Those who prefer their heroes to be not-so-usual and with a side of wiseguy will gobble up this witty, geeks-rule debut. "From the Hardcover edition."
Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can't hear what's going on, but he's a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will's interested in more than just murder . . .)
Those who prefer their heroes to be not-so-usual and with a side of wiseguy will gobble up this witty, geeks-rule debut. "From the Hardcover edition."
5 pages, Digital Audio
First published February 9, 2010
34 people are currently reading
2405 people want to read
About the author
Josh Berk
9 books147 followersThe Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin will be released on February 9, 2010.
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
December 2, 2011
Recently I was discussing YA literature with some of my GR friends and I decided to check out my YA shelf. Don't let the low count on my read shelf fool you, I do read quite a bit, but as some of you might know (and many of you don't) I only rate and review books that I actually finished, the ones I do not finish I simply delete from my shelves. Now, sometimes I will make myself finish a book even though it's a definite wall-banger, that way I can really appreciate a well written or a great written one. There are a lot of books that I don't finish, and a large number of those are in fact YA books. Why? Well I find that many of the YA books are badly or, at best, mediocrity written and it irks me to no end to see that so many YA authors underestimate the YA readers. Just because they are young doesn't mean they are stupid and can't spot a well written book when they read one. Give them some credit will ya.
Anyway, I saw that I have over 100 YA books on my to read shelf, so naturally I decided to read one and put a tiny dent in my YA pile.
Hmmm....what to choose, what to read? There are so many YA books....
Should I read a humorous YA, a contemporary perhaps, or a romance? Adventure? Ahaaa!....how about a genre-bending YA story!
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin is genre-bending story about a very perceptive, smart, hearing-impaired, chubby high school guy (William Halpin) who transfers from his deaf school to a mainstream high school. The transfer isn't easy for Will. He has no friends and he's kind of desperate to make some. He's trying to keep up with his classes by lip reading teacher's lectures, but the teachers aren't very helpful (you actually need to see people's lips to read them).
While chatting with people online did you ever find yourself in a situation where you're not sure if someone is being rude, sarcastic, or funny? You see a person's post and you realize it can be taken in so many different ways, but since you can't actually see that person (their facial expressions) and you can't hear the tone of that person's voice, you can't really be sure what they meant. Do we even realize how much we rely on those things while conversing with others? Will doesn't have that privilege. He is extremely perceptive, he watches people and then records his observations in his notebook, those are his personal psychological profiler notes.
Now, I did say that this is a genre-bending YA story....it's a coming of age story, social satire and a murder mystery all in one. Will and his new friend, a goofy looking and funny talking kid named Smiley, are trying to solve a murder and at the same time deal with school, girl obsessions and teen age stuff. It's a very fun book.
Funny thing is, while reading The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin I pictured Will as Seth
I love Superbad
And Smiley is kind of Fogelish with a ponytail (especially in the gunfire situation they get themselves in....yeah there's actually some gunfire in the book).
In order to like a book many readers often need to identify with the character (at least in some way), and while I'm not that kind of a reader I did find that I can relate to some of the stuff Will is going trough (looking for acceptances from his peers, teenage infatuation with a person who doesn't give a rat's ass about you, et crapera *ups, sorry* I guess Will's expressions are quite catchy, I meant et cetera)....anyone who was a teenager can.
I wish that more YA writers would focus more on good writing and quality character development and less on fancy covers and ever present love triangles they so love to insert in their books.
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin didn't exactly blow me away, but it was a great fun to read. Well done Josh Berk, well done....as a matter of fact, very well done my good man (hmm, I guess Smiley's expressions are catchy too).
Anyway, I saw that I have over 100 YA books on my to read shelf, so naturally I decided to read one and put a tiny dent in my YA pile.
Hmmm....what to choose, what to read? There are so many YA books....
Should I read a humorous YA, a contemporary perhaps, or a romance? Adventure? Ahaaa!....how about a genre-bending YA story!
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin is genre-bending story about a very perceptive, smart, hearing-impaired, chubby high school guy (William Halpin) who transfers from his deaf school to a mainstream high school. The transfer isn't easy for Will. He has no friends and he's kind of desperate to make some. He's trying to keep up with his classes by lip reading teacher's lectures, but the teachers aren't very helpful (you actually need to see people's lips to read them).
While chatting with people online did you ever find yourself in a situation where you're not sure if someone is being rude, sarcastic, or funny? You see a person's post and you realize it can be taken in so many different ways, but since you can't actually see that person (their facial expressions) and you can't hear the tone of that person's voice, you can't really be sure what they meant. Do we even realize how much we rely on those things while conversing with others? Will doesn't have that privilege. He is extremely perceptive, he watches people and then records his observations in his notebook, those are his personal psychological profiler notes.
Now, I did say that this is a genre-bending YA story....it's a coming of age story, social satire and a murder mystery all in one. Will and his new friend, a goofy looking and funny talking kid named Smiley, are trying to solve a murder and at the same time deal with school, girl obsessions and teen age stuff. It's a very fun book.
Funny thing is, while reading The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin I pictured Will as Seth
I love Superbad
And Smiley is kind of Fogelish with a ponytail (especially in the gunfire situation they get themselves in....yeah there's actually some gunfire in the book).
In order to like a book many readers often need to identify with the character (at least in some way), and while I'm not that kind of a reader I did find that I can relate to some of the stuff Will is going trough (looking for acceptances from his peers, teenage infatuation with a person who doesn't give a rat's ass about you, et crapera *ups, sorry* I guess Will's expressions are quite catchy, I meant et cetera)....anyone who was a teenager can.
I wish that more YA writers would focus more on good writing and quality character development and less on fancy covers and ever present love triangles they so love to insert in their books.
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin didn't exactly blow me away, but it was a great fun to read. Well done Josh Berk, well done....as a matter of fact, very well done my good man (hmm, I guess Smiley's expressions are catchy too).
July 25, 2015
I am utterly disappointed in The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, a young adult book where a deaf character who signs FINALLY has center stage. And it's a murder mystery to boot? Even better! No. Not better. Awful.
Unfortunately, Dark Days is culturally inaccurate and presents a hearing-centric perspective through a deaf character. Josh Berk's passing knowledge of sign language, Deaf Culture, the major contentions within this culture, and experiences of growing up deaf give him just enough material to be dangerous--and WRONG. (This does not include issues of mature content (i.e. the student-teacher liaisons, teenage pregnancy, the misogynistic trend) which put this book a bit above the 7th grade reading level--in my opinion, at least).
In Berk's acknowledgements, there is a short paragraph acknowledging the blogs of deaf writers who "helped [him] understand [his] subject better without even knowing it;" meaning, he only read these blogs and contacted perhaps one person (250)? This, I imagine, did not include any deaf vlogs in sign language, as Berk is quite obviously sign illiterate; this limits his faulty research to only the deaf individuals with confidence in their English. The only blog specifically named is not connected to the Deaf Community (and is no longer active).
Berk does not acknowledge the ADA's (American with Disabilities Act) role in the schooling of Deaf children, and the teachers all seem to blatantly ignore Will's IEP (Individual Education Plan, which would be necessary even for a student with hearing aids) by not facing him or providing another way for him to participate with class except lip-reading (which is NOT nearly as accurate as the narrative makes it seem). Further, Deaf Schools often offer Driver's Ed or at least find places that will provide for their deaf students--Will's plight doesn't make sense. Again, the ADA should provide some form of accommodation.
Finally, the worst crime, is Berk's superficial knowledge of cochlear implants and the controversy surrounding them in the Deaf Community. Yes, there are arguments within the community about "Who is 'deaf enough?'" and the cause of one's deafness can be held against you in radical, heated debates--but I'm not sure such a thing would be prevalent in a Deaf school, where most of the student's parents are hearing and probably not involved in the Deaf community. I find it hard to believe this argument, and Will's opinions about cochlear implants (again, many of the students at the deaf school will probably have these), would be enough to push him into a mainstream school. As for the implants themselves, how DARE he present implants as no big deal without knowing the specifics of the surgery involved (pg. 172)! Will (and Berk) essentially doesn't mind if a piece of a deaf child's skull is removed, or if this surgery sentences the child to a school life punctuated by speech therapy, lip reading, and living between two worlds without belonging in either.
Will is an incredibly think-hearing character and offers me nothing to show Deaf students--or hearing students--in terms of personal-literary connection. If books with deaf characters are only going to be written by hearing authors, at least do your research first!
Oh, and P.S. Really? The only black girl is named Ebony?? That's just lazy.
(I review books for use in my language arts classroom at maireadsalot.wordpress.com)
Unfortunately, Dark Days is culturally inaccurate and presents a hearing-centric perspective through a deaf character. Josh Berk's passing knowledge of sign language, Deaf Culture, the major contentions within this culture, and experiences of growing up deaf give him just enough material to be dangerous--and WRONG. (This does not include issues of mature content (i.e. the student-teacher liaisons, teenage pregnancy, the misogynistic trend) which put this book a bit above the 7th grade reading level--in my opinion, at least).
In Berk's acknowledgements, there is a short paragraph acknowledging the blogs of deaf writers who "helped [him] understand [his] subject better without even knowing it;" meaning, he only read these blogs and contacted perhaps one person (250)? This, I imagine, did not include any deaf vlogs in sign language, as Berk is quite obviously sign illiterate; this limits his faulty research to only the deaf individuals with confidence in their English. The only blog specifically named is not connected to the Deaf Community (and is no longer active).
Berk does not acknowledge the ADA's (American with Disabilities Act) role in the schooling of Deaf children, and the teachers all seem to blatantly ignore Will's IEP (Individual Education Plan, which would be necessary even for a student with hearing aids) by not facing him or providing another way for him to participate with class except lip-reading (which is NOT nearly as accurate as the narrative makes it seem). Further, Deaf Schools often offer Driver's Ed or at least find places that will provide for their deaf students--Will's plight doesn't make sense. Again, the ADA should provide some form of accommodation.
Finally, the worst crime, is Berk's superficial knowledge of cochlear implants and the controversy surrounding them in the Deaf Community. Yes, there are arguments within the community about "Who is 'deaf enough?'" and the cause of one's deafness can be held against you in radical, heated debates--but I'm not sure such a thing would be prevalent in a Deaf school, where most of the student's parents are hearing and probably not involved in the Deaf community. I find it hard to believe this argument, and Will's opinions about cochlear implants (again, many of the students at the deaf school will probably have these), would be enough to push him into a mainstream school. As for the implants themselves, how DARE he present implants as no big deal without knowing the specifics of the surgery involved (pg. 172)! Will (and Berk) essentially doesn't mind if a piece of a deaf child's skull is removed, or if this surgery sentences the child to a school life punctuated by speech therapy, lip reading, and living between two worlds without belonging in either.
Will is an incredibly think-hearing character and offers me nothing to show Deaf students--or hearing students--in terms of personal-literary connection. If books with deaf characters are only going to be written by hearing authors, at least do your research first!
Oh, and P.S. Really? The only black girl is named Ebony?? That's just lazy.
(I review books for use in my language arts classroom at maireadsalot.wordpress.com)
April 9, 2010
Will Halpin decides to opt out of the political issues at his deaf school and go mainstream. At the mainstream school he will have to use his lipreading skills to get by, but he doesn't mind because his ability allows him to drop some eaves on other people's conversations. In the first week he finds himself in love with the most popular girl in school, but on the bottom run of the social ladder. By the second week a mysterious death of a student (in the very coal mine where one of Will's long lost relatives died) sparks an intensive investigation by Will and his only new friend at the school--the social pariah Devon.
The book is funny (Will's written observations of the silent world around him are hilarious, but when he combines with Devon it just gets better and better) and smart; it plays with narrative. The first week sets everything up for us so when the the book turns into a mystery in the second part it's not jarring. The pieces of the mystery come together quickly, but in a way that make sense for the characters. Putting the book down once you've picked it up is the hardest thing about reading it.
Though the main characters make a lot of references to the Hardy Boys, this is NOT a wholesome Hardy Boys read. There is an edge of the sharp reality of being a real american teenager underneath the cartoony cover that gives the book gravity.
The book is funny (Will's written observations of the silent world around him are hilarious, but when he combines with Devon it just gets better and better) and smart; it plays with narrative. The first week sets everything up for us so when the the book turns into a mystery in the second part it's not jarring. The pieces of the mystery come together quickly, but in a way that make sense for the characters. Putting the book down once you've picked it up is the hardest thing about reading it.
Though the main characters make a lot of references to the Hardy Boys, this is NOT a wholesome Hardy Boys read. There is an edge of the sharp reality of being a real american teenager underneath the cartoony cover that gives the book gravity.
February 21, 2018
This book had an interesting perspective because it was about the life of a deaf, otherwise normal, teenage kid. It's scary to go to a public school with some kind of disability because you never know what others will think of you. There are things in this book that described difficulties that I never thought of. A murder happens and the main character, Hamburger Halpin, and his new friend try to solve it. The book was slow at times, however, and wasn't the most entertaining. Other than that, the murder is definitely not someone I would have expected. If you want a book with a new look on life or new perspective then I totally recommend this book.
November 5, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Looking for a wacky adventure? Get your hands on a copy of THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN. I'll admit I was attracted by the title, thinking it sounded like a "good time" read, and I wasn't disappointed.
Will Halpin is embarking on a new and sort of terrifying journey. Will is deaf and has spent his educational years attending a special school for the deaf. He has recently made the decision to enroll in public high school. In addition to his deafness, Will is a bit on the chunky side and not exactly up on the latest fashion trends, dating habits, and musical interests of mainstream high school teens.
Will does his best to understand his surroundings by lip-reading the words of his teachers and classmates. He meets a fellow misfit, Devon Smiley, who knows how to finger spell, and they strike up a friendship. Together, the two pass the time observing and commenting on the various oddities of their classmates and teachers. As outsiders, they watch as star football player, Pat Chambers, hands out coveted invitations to one of his special parties. Knowing neither of them has a chance of being invited, they watch in fascination to see which privileged few receive the limited invites.
The party takes a backseat in the action when the students go on a field trip to a nearby abandoned coal mine. Just as it looks like they'll be boarding the bus for the return trip to school, panic breaks out when it is reported that Pat Chambers has fallen down the mine shaft and is dead.
Will and Devon decide to take on the challenge of investigating the tragic accident, and the first thing they encounter is that it probably was no accident. What follows next involves computer hacking, researching the backgrounds and habits of various teachers and students, and stumbling across a number of shocking discoveries. Can a deaf kid and a Hardy Boys fan make sense of the clues and help the police solve the mystery?
THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN by Josh Berk features sarcastic humor and clever mystery elements as it reveals what it's like to try fitting in when you have a disability. Berk's characters creatively reflect high school stereotypes, making them entertaining and easy to relate to. Overall, an enjoyable read and one many teens will be interested in checking out.
Looking for a wacky adventure? Get your hands on a copy of THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN. I'll admit I was attracted by the title, thinking it sounded like a "good time" read, and I wasn't disappointed.
Will Halpin is embarking on a new and sort of terrifying journey. Will is deaf and has spent his educational years attending a special school for the deaf. He has recently made the decision to enroll in public high school. In addition to his deafness, Will is a bit on the chunky side and not exactly up on the latest fashion trends, dating habits, and musical interests of mainstream high school teens.
Will does his best to understand his surroundings by lip-reading the words of his teachers and classmates. He meets a fellow misfit, Devon Smiley, who knows how to finger spell, and they strike up a friendship. Together, the two pass the time observing and commenting on the various oddities of their classmates and teachers. As outsiders, they watch as star football player, Pat Chambers, hands out coveted invitations to one of his special parties. Knowing neither of them has a chance of being invited, they watch in fascination to see which privileged few receive the limited invites.
The party takes a backseat in the action when the students go on a field trip to a nearby abandoned coal mine. Just as it looks like they'll be boarding the bus for the return trip to school, panic breaks out when it is reported that Pat Chambers has fallen down the mine shaft and is dead.
Will and Devon decide to take on the challenge of investigating the tragic accident, and the first thing they encounter is that it probably was no accident. What follows next involves computer hacking, researching the backgrounds and habits of various teachers and students, and stumbling across a number of shocking discoveries. Can a deaf kid and a Hardy Boys fan make sense of the clues and help the police solve the mystery?
THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN by Josh Berk features sarcastic humor and clever mystery elements as it reveals what it's like to try fitting in when you have a disability. Berk's characters creatively reflect high school stereotypes, making them entertaining and easy to relate to. Overall, an enjoyable read and one many teens will be interested in checking out.
March 15, 2011
Does imagining a fat, deaf, sarcastic version of a
Hardy Boy make you giggle on the inside??
Yeah, me too.
Spoilers:
Meet Will Halpin, your overweight, hungry, smart-mouthed deaf kid who is not playing the sympathy card and his new friend, Devon (a/k/a Smileyman). There has been a murder in the old coal mines of their town. A Jerk-Jock has been pushed! Hamburger Halpin and Smiley are on the case... sort of. With the help of a few friends they are determined (sort of, mostly Smiley) to figure out who pushed this giant [image error]
down to his death!!!!
Yes, it's predictable. In the beginning I had 2 suspects and
Ding, Ding, Ding
Yep, I figured it out!
But.... I had a fun time with Hamburger!! If you somewhat like goofy mysteries, maybe slightly Scooby-Doo-ish... I'd say go for it! The writing was quirky and fast paced, I enjoyed myself ;)
Test the waters, this one is a treat!
Hardy Boy make you giggle on the inside??
Yeah, me too.
Spoilers:
Meet Will Halpin, your overweight, hungry, smart-mouthed deaf kid who is not playing the sympathy card and his new friend, Devon (a/k/a Smileyman). There has been a murder in the old coal mines of their town. A Jerk-Jock has been pushed! Hamburger Halpin and Smiley are on the case... sort of. With the help of a few friends they are determined (sort of, mostly Smiley) to figure out who pushed this giant [image error]
down to his death!!!!
Yes, it's predictable. In the beginning I had 2 suspects and
Ding, Ding, Ding
Yep, I figured it out!
But.... I had a fun time with Hamburger!! If you somewhat like goofy mysteries, maybe slightly Scooby-Doo-ish... I'd say go for it! The writing was quirky and fast paced, I enjoyed myself ;)
Test the waters, this one is a treat!
May 14, 2011
I loved this. Will's decision to move from a deaf school to the local public high school is one that puts him at odds with many of his deaf friends, and leaves him quite adrift in a school that doesn't seem to be making much effort to help him cope. So now he's the fat newcomer who's also the only deaf student - more than a lot to deal with. But the book is funny, Will is a great character, and when he makes his first friend, the book veers into Hardy Boys mystery territory in a way I found delightfully unexpected.
August 18, 2012
(My reviews are intended for my own info as a language arts teacher: they serve as notes and reflections for teaching and recommending to students. Therefore, spoilers may be present but will be hidden.)
SUMMARY: Josh Berk's YA novel is a blend of mystery, realistic fiction, and awareness about what it is like to be hearing impaired. Will Halpin, a recently main-streamed deaf high school student, serves as the protagonist. The first half of the book details Will's adjustment to a "regular" high school, after having recently attended a school for the deaf. I found his observations about what it is like to be deaf to be really interesting. There is quite a bit of funny, but shallow, observation about his new classmates and teachers. Since he doesn't fit in, this purposeful observation and even note-taking seems realistic to me.
Nearly halfway through the book (page 117 out of 248!) we finally arrive at the crime that is described on the book jacket: a classmate of Will's, jerky jock Pat Chambers, has possibly been pushed down a mine shaft. And herein lies one of my main problems with the book: it touts itself as a mystery, but the mystery does not start to develop until the end. As a result, the potential for engaging crime-solving action and suspense (or even bungled, juvenile crime-solving action, as seem more realistic to Berk's writing) is squashed. I was looking forward to reading about silly, misguided red herring moments, and the author offered few. There are some clues and details that trigger predictions from readers, but, again, little time is left for readers to ponder who may have killed Chambers.
My other issue is that I wonder how much Will's character will ring true with most of my students. This has nothing to do with his hearing impairment and everything to do with his "voice" as a teenager. I can't quite put my finger on it, but he doesn't "sound" like too many of the students I teach. A book this immersed in youth culture has to be completely accurate for reader buy-in. I think Josh Berk just missed the mark.
SUMMARY: Josh Berk's YA novel is a blend of mystery, realistic fiction, and awareness about what it is like to be hearing impaired. Will Halpin, a recently main-streamed deaf high school student, serves as the protagonist. The first half of the book details Will's adjustment to a "regular" high school, after having recently attended a school for the deaf. I found his observations about what it is like to be deaf to be really interesting. There is quite a bit of funny, but shallow, observation about his new classmates and teachers. Since he doesn't fit in, this purposeful observation and even note-taking seems realistic to me.
Nearly halfway through the book (page 117 out of 248!) we finally arrive at the crime that is described on the book jacket: a classmate of Will's, jerky jock Pat Chambers, has possibly been pushed down a mine shaft. And herein lies one of my main problems with the book: it touts itself as a mystery, but the mystery does not start to develop until the end. As a result, the potential for engaging crime-solving action and suspense (or even bungled, juvenile crime-solving action, as seem more realistic to Berk's writing) is squashed. I was looking forward to reading about silly, misguided red herring moments, and the author offered few. There are some clues and details that trigger predictions from readers, but, again, little time is left for readers to ponder who may have killed Chambers.
My other issue is that I wonder how much Will's character will ring true with most of my students. This has nothing to do with his hearing impairment and everything to do with his "voice" as a teenager. I can't quite put my finger on it, but he doesn't "sound" like too many of the students I teach. A book this immersed in youth culture has to be completely accurate for reader buy-in. I think Josh Berk just missed the mark.
June 27, 2019
Digital audiobook performed by Jim Meskimen
This is a humorous coming-of-age story with a bit of a mystery thrown in and featuring an unlikely hero. Will Halpin is deaf, overweight and struggling to make friends in his new school. He's left the safety of "deaf school" and chosen to mainstream at the local public high school, but the teachers can't (or won't) get the hang of always facing him so he can read lips. He is a skilled observer, however, and he jots his notes on his fellow students and teachers in a notebook. His one friend is the uber-dork Devon Smiley, and when the school's quarterback (and all-around jerk) "falls" down a mine shaft on a school field trip, they channel the Hardy Boys to investigate.
I’m glad to see a book that features a main character with a disability, who finds ways to deal effectively in a world that doesn’t always made accommodations for him. Will (and Devon) also have to deal with the usual drama of high school – bullies, the “in” crowd vs the nerds, teachers who don’t really care, unrequited love, and the universally hated showers after gym class.
It's a fast read, and I loved Will & Devon's humor.
Jim Meskimen does a fine job of narrating the audio version. He set a good pace and I was quickly caught up in the story line.
This is a humorous coming-of-age story with a bit of a mystery thrown in and featuring an unlikely hero. Will Halpin is deaf, overweight and struggling to make friends in his new school. He's left the safety of "deaf school" and chosen to mainstream at the local public high school, but the teachers can't (or won't) get the hang of always facing him so he can read lips. He is a skilled observer, however, and he jots his notes on his fellow students and teachers in a notebook. His one friend is the uber-dork Devon Smiley, and when the school's quarterback (and all-around jerk) "falls" down a mine shaft on a school field trip, they channel the Hardy Boys to investigate.
I’m glad to see a book that features a main character with a disability, who finds ways to deal effectively in a world that doesn’t always made accommodations for him. Will (and Devon) also have to deal with the usual drama of high school – bullies, the “in” crowd vs the nerds, teachers who don’t really care, unrequited love, and the universally hated showers after gym class.
It's a fast read, and I loved Will & Devon's humor.
Jim Meskimen does a fine job of narrating the audio version. He set a good pace and I was quickly caught up in the story line.
January 22, 2016
Will Halpin is taking a serious leap - from a Deaf School into a "Mainstream" School. Because of his excellent lipreading skills as well as his detestation for his hearing aids, Will lives in a silent world. This does NOT make it easy to fit into a gossip-filled, loud and chaotic high school. It also doesn't help that he's, uh, hefty. Plumpish. Big boned.
But he does it. He goes to class and is more than a little bit observant of his peers - his snarky and sometimes hilarious notebook slowly begins to fill with his thoughts on his new teachers and classmates. Despite his hesitation with people, Will cannot avoid a new friend that will soon be his partner as they investigate a crime involving a student at their school.
Will is a pretty hysterical and self-depreciating narrator. It's a lively place inside his head and I really liked all the texting conversations between him and his friend Smiley. I enjoyed watching him sort out his world and it was interesting to be in situations where we don't know what's happening because Will doesn't - I liked reading the experiences of a deaf character. One other thing that made this book intriguing was the coal mining secondary plot, since this book takes place in the hills of Pennsylvania.
Overall, this book was fun to read but I'll be honest, the whole "crime" thing caught me off-guard and it was hard for me to believe. It made the book take such a different turn and while I liked having Will's deafness be an asset to solving a crime, I just never really believed it. What I did believe, though, was that Will is an unlikely hero that a lot of teens will relate to as an outsider with big dreams.
But he does it. He goes to class and is more than a little bit observant of his peers - his snarky and sometimes hilarious notebook slowly begins to fill with his thoughts on his new teachers and classmates. Despite his hesitation with people, Will cannot avoid a new friend that will soon be his partner as they investigate a crime involving a student at their school.
Will is a pretty hysterical and self-depreciating narrator. It's a lively place inside his head and I really liked all the texting conversations between him and his friend Smiley. I enjoyed watching him sort out his world and it was interesting to be in situations where we don't know what's happening because Will doesn't - I liked reading the experiences of a deaf character. One other thing that made this book intriguing was the coal mining secondary plot, since this book takes place in the hills of Pennsylvania.
Overall, this book was fun to read but I'll be honest, the whole "crime" thing caught me off-guard and it was hard for me to believe. It made the book take such a different turn and while I liked having Will's deafness be an asset to solving a crime, I just never really believed it. What I did believe, though, was that Will is an unlikely hero that a lot of teens will relate to as an outsider with big dreams.
March 15, 2012
This book gets a big plus for being different. You often don't find a teen book about a very likeable overweight guy. He is very jokey and I liked the side kick Devin.
It was a bit of a slog with all the texting and my daughter found it a bit too descriptive and slow so she put it down. It seemed like something she might be able to relate to since her husband is hard of hearing. I wonder how deaf students will react to the story. It would be good to hear reviews from deaf kids that have been mainstreamed.
The protagonist is actually hard of hearing but chooses not to wear his hearing aids. That is true to life for many teens--they would rather struggle with lip reading then deal with finicky hearing aids that everyone can see them wearing. It was also understandable that he left the deaf school over the political issues. Whether you have deaf parents or not or are hard of hearing or totally deaf makes a big difference on how you are viewed in the deaf world. It is about time that we see deaf kids playing the main characters in books. There are many deaf issues that come up throughout the book that I feel people need to know --things like trying to lip read when someone is wearing a mustache.
It is a funny book about high school from a totally different perspective. The two boys tackle a murder mystery just like the hardy Boys would. What a team of characters!
It was a bit of a slog with all the texting and my daughter found it a bit too descriptive and slow so she put it down. It seemed like something she might be able to relate to since her husband is hard of hearing. I wonder how deaf students will react to the story. It would be good to hear reviews from deaf kids that have been mainstreamed.
The protagonist is actually hard of hearing but chooses not to wear his hearing aids. That is true to life for many teens--they would rather struggle with lip reading then deal with finicky hearing aids that everyone can see them wearing. It was also understandable that he left the deaf school over the political issues. Whether you have deaf parents or not or are hard of hearing or totally deaf makes a big difference on how you are viewed in the deaf world. It is about time that we see deaf kids playing the main characters in books. There are many deaf issues that come up throughout the book that I feel people need to know --things like trying to lip read when someone is wearing a mustache.
It is a funny book about high school from a totally different perspective. The two boys tackle a murder mystery just like the hardy Boys would. What a team of characters!
November 4, 2023
Cute YA and an extra star for representation of hearing impairments
April 14, 2017
In general, I was impressed with this book. It's always great to see YA novels combine seemingly disparate plotlines in interesting ways--in this case, the story of a Deaf boy transitioning into a mainstream high school and the story of the same boy solving the murder of a classmate combine to make a fascinating, multi-layered novel. However, an element that really grated on me was the way Will was handled as a fat character. Will's narration has an irreverent, humorous tone, which is generally entertaining, but it also meant that he would make a self-deprecating jab about his size at least once every few pages. It's frustrating to see a protagonist's weight constantly made into a punchline, particularly since the author has no corresponding point to make concerning issues such as bullying or self-esteem. I was thrilled to find a book with a fat Deaf teenager as the protagonist, but I'd like to see one by an author who doesn't think it's hilarious to make fun of fat people.
March 28, 2017
Eh. That's about it. Eh.
August 8, 2012
A story of why i bought this book:
I was t a YA Festival in which I had not heard of any of the authors. Josh Berk was there signing books and wearing what can only be described as a really quality jacket. It was velvet, red and had a pocket in the front for a pipe which he only carried because his jacket had a pocket for it.I took one look at this guy and said to myself, " he makes good life choices." I then proceeded to buy his boo, to get it signed just so i could have a conversation with this man.
He signed the book, told the story of how he wore the aforementioned jacket to his wedding 8 years ago and broke it out just again for this occasion, explained the pipe, talked about how Gatsby is the "Greatest Gatsby he knows!" and was playfully convinced by me that my friend and i are the same person. This all happened before i even read the title of the book that i had purchased. No regrets.
I sincerely hope that Josh Berk reads reviews of his books on goodreads, sees this, and knows that he is a quality person that makes great life decisions and sells books because of it!
Book reviews:
Overall, i really enjoyed his book. It was well written, and had an interesting story to tell. I loved getting to see the world through the eyes of someone who cannot hear their world. It was interesting to see what was going on in the mind of a person like that. To see how they perceive the world.
Why four stars?
two reasons:
1. Most of the characters seemed to be stereotypical high schoolers and seemed predictable. There was the quarterback who is an asshole to everyone and very rich, and hes dating the pretty cheerleader who is also rich and her best friend is another bitchy cheerleader, and the jocks pick on the nerds, and so on and so on. the hierarchy of popularity is something so typically found in books and movies, but in real life (or at least in my school) its nothing like that at all. So i felt like i couldnt really relate to the basic social structure in this book.
2. I'm not a very big fan of crime books/tv shows. They all seem to blend together and get very cheesey after a little while. The whole "who done it?" plot structure seems to leave no room for interpretation in the mind of the reader. It's not this book personally, its the genre that i have a problem with. It's just not for me.
I was t a YA Festival in which I had not heard of any of the authors. Josh Berk was there signing books and wearing what can only be described as a really quality jacket. It was velvet, red and had a pocket in the front for a pipe which he only carried because his jacket had a pocket for it.I took one look at this guy and said to myself, " he makes good life choices." I then proceeded to buy his boo, to get it signed just so i could have a conversation with this man.
He signed the book, told the story of how he wore the aforementioned jacket to his wedding 8 years ago and broke it out just again for this occasion, explained the pipe, talked about how Gatsby is the "Greatest Gatsby he knows!" and was playfully convinced by me that my friend and i are the same person. This all happened before i even read the title of the book that i had purchased. No regrets.
I sincerely hope that Josh Berk reads reviews of his books on goodreads, sees this, and knows that he is a quality person that makes great life decisions and sells books because of it!
Book reviews:
Overall, i really enjoyed his book. It was well written, and had an interesting story to tell. I loved getting to see the world through the eyes of someone who cannot hear their world. It was interesting to see what was going on in the mind of a person like that. To see how they perceive the world.
Why four stars?
two reasons:
1. Most of the characters seemed to be stereotypical high schoolers and seemed predictable. There was the quarterback who is an asshole to everyone and very rich, and hes dating the pretty cheerleader who is also rich and her best friend is another bitchy cheerleader, and the jocks pick on the nerds, and so on and so on. the hierarchy of popularity is something so typically found in books and movies, but in real life (or at least in my school) its nothing like that at all. So i felt like i couldnt really relate to the basic social structure in this book.
2. I'm not a very big fan of crime books/tv shows. They all seem to blend together and get very cheesey after a little while. The whole "who done it?" plot structure seems to leave no room for interpretation in the mind of the reader. It's not this book personally, its the genre that i have a problem with. It's just not for me.
January 2, 2012
Will Halpin, deaf and overweight, starts his year at a new, mainstream school without knowing what he's really getting into. He's a good lip reader, but the teachers never remember to face him so he doesn't know what's going on in class, except that his sexy math teacher is flirting with the obnoxious football player who is holding party invitations over everyone's head like a mark of popularity. The kids basically ignore Will except when they're laughing at him (though he can't tell why), though class nerd Devin does attach himself to Will for unknown reasons. Then there's that field trip to the Happy Memories Coal mine, where thirty kids go in and twenty nine come out. Can Will use his lip-reading skills to help self-appointed detective Devin solve the murder?
I never knew quite what to make of this book--it didn't quite get the balance right of humor and seriousness (what Rick Riordan does so brilliantly), so I didn't ever know how I was supposed to feel about it. Will was often unlikeable--frankly, he was kind of a jerk--which made it hard to sympathize with him. Then the characters' emotional reactions to things were just off. Will and Devin get shot at, which apparently doesn't bother them after they survive, then they gleefully end someone's career without much thought before or after, then something awful happens to someone Will has been pining over and he plays a role, but doesn't seem much concerned by it. And he acquires a pointless dog which plays no part in the plot. I think the book didn't know if it was The Hardy Boys or a Lois Duncan thriller. I did really like Devin, who was always himself and didn't apologize for it. I also liked that Will didn't want anything to do with Devin at first, then gradually came to appreciate him but never said that directly to the audience--it just came through in the action, as it ideally should. But for me, the balance was just off.
I never knew quite what to make of this book--it didn't quite get the balance right of humor and seriousness (what Rick Riordan does so brilliantly), so I didn't ever know how I was supposed to feel about it. Will was often unlikeable--frankly, he was kind of a jerk--which made it hard to sympathize with him. Then the characters' emotional reactions to things were just off. Will and Devin get shot at, which apparently doesn't bother them after they survive, then they gleefully end someone's career without much thought before or after, then something awful happens to someone Will has been pining over and he plays a role, but doesn't seem much concerned by it. And he acquires a pointless dog which plays no part in the plot. I think the book didn't know if it was The Hardy Boys or a Lois Duncan thriller. I did really like Devin, who was always himself and didn't apologize for it. I also liked that Will didn't want anything to do with Devin at first, then gradually came to appreciate him but never said that directly to the audience--it just came through in the action, as it ideally should. But for me, the balance was just off.
May 4, 2013
This book was not really what I thought it would be. It's a mystery...I don't usually go down for mysteries. But the reviews intrigued me and I needed a book on my phone to listen to as I fall asleep so I downloaded it.
What I really liked was the main character, Will (Hamburger Helpin)'s, humor. Wry humor eventually gets so on my nerves but his wasn't too wry but rather felt authentic and a little snarky. I don't normally like first person narration but this was very entertaining and not in the least annoying. It especially makes me crazy when authors try to sound too much like teenagers. This author did a very realistic rendition of being a teenager dealing with high school ridicule and anxieties. Will is deaf so he has an extra helping of problems especially because he's trying to mainstream.
Hmmm. What I didn't like was the mystery - just a little too predictable. l was not a huge fan of the texting back and forth, necessary because the main character was deaf. But when you listen to it, the narrator has to read every word and this included every single "Hamburger Helpin:....." then, "SmileyMan3000:..." then, "Hamburger Helpin:....." then, "SmileyMan3000:..." then..."Hamburger Helpin:...: There was a ton of this!
Overall, this was an entertaining and quick read. Nothing very deep at all, no lurking or lingering messages. I'm glad it was a short read because the simplicity and mystery would have bored me for much longer I think. But if you're looking for a good little book for a road-trip, plane trip or just to pass the evening, this might just be the book for you.
What I really liked was the main character, Will (Hamburger Helpin)'s, humor. Wry humor eventually gets so on my nerves but his wasn't too wry but rather felt authentic and a little snarky. I don't normally like first person narration but this was very entertaining and not in the least annoying. It especially makes me crazy when authors try to sound too much like teenagers. This author did a very realistic rendition of being a teenager dealing with high school ridicule and anxieties. Will is deaf so he has an extra helping of problems especially because he's trying to mainstream.
Hmmm. What I didn't like was the mystery - just a little too predictable. l was not a huge fan of the texting back and forth, necessary because the main character was deaf. But when you listen to it, the narrator has to read every word and this included every single "Hamburger Helpin:....." then, "SmileyMan3000:..." then, "Hamburger Helpin:....." then, "SmileyMan3000:..." then..."Hamburger Helpin:...: There was a ton of this!
Overall, this was an entertaining and quick read. Nothing very deep at all, no lurking or lingering messages. I'm glad it was a short read because the simplicity and mystery would have bored me for much longer I think. But if you're looking for a good little book for a road-trip, plane trip or just to pass the evening, this might just be the book for you.
February 19, 2010
This story is about Will "Hamburger" Halpins journy into the general education school. He previously attended the deaf school but he decided to swich because of the deaf hierocracy going on in the school. Halpin soon figures out that new people are not always accepting as he is exiled from the rest of his peers. The story soon starts to center around an incident that happened at the mining field trip where one of the class mates ends up dead.
I found this book completely absorbing and very hard to but down when I began to read it. The characters personalities begged for you to know more about them as the story continued. The story also keeps you guessing till the end just had the nerves to get rid of Pat after all the terrible things he did to everyone around him. You find it very hard to narrow down because Pat had done something to just about every character in the book. The book has so many loops and turns you have no idea who the murderer was until the very last chapter.
I did have a problem with a lot of the dialog however. It just didn't seem very natural to me. There were a lot of fat jokes and deaf jokes in the story that just kept coming. The jokes just seemed to start to over power the whole story. A few jokes here and there would have been funny but the were a constint prescence that seemed to take away from the story it's self.
Over all I thought the story was an ok read. I liked the twist in the story and thought that it was a very good concept. I would recommned anyone who likes originality and crude humor to read this book.
I found this book completely absorbing and very hard to but down when I began to read it. The characters personalities begged for you to know more about them as the story continued. The story also keeps you guessing till the end just had the nerves to get rid of Pat after all the terrible things he did to everyone around him. You find it very hard to narrow down because Pat had done something to just about every character in the book. The book has so many loops and turns you have no idea who the murderer was until the very last chapter.
I did have a problem with a lot of the dialog however. It just didn't seem very natural to me. There were a lot of fat jokes and deaf jokes in the story that just kept coming. The jokes just seemed to start to over power the whole story. A few jokes here and there would have been funny but the were a constint prescence that seemed to take away from the story it's self.
Over all I thought the story was an ok read. I liked the twist in the story and thought that it was a very good concept. I would recommned anyone who likes originality and crude humor to read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2011
This is everything a young adult book should be! While communicating moral issues and addressing uncomfortable topics of equality for special needs students (the main character is very deaf), this book is incredibly cool, entertaining, and is written well! The main character has that disconnected sarcastic tone that one might use after being shunned by mainstream society, but manages to find his niche in fit in well after some adjustments.
After some introductions of the main character Will along with his witty sense of humor, Devon and his old fashioned good grammar along with some serious sign language skillz, the beautiful yet cruel math teacher Miss Prefontaine, Will's crush named Leigha, and the pot-smoking bus driver who turns up once or twice. The friends decide to solve the murder of a classmate "hardy boys style" by using Devon's unique talents along with Will's sharp perceptions using his other 4 senses. The murder mystery part is definitely cool, but I loved the characters and how they interacted. There are more than a few laugh out loud moments. Thank you Josh Berk for writing something that is actually cool to read and that can show today's teens that just because someone's different, doesn't mean they can't be awesome. I read this over the span of one day, meaning that most teens will find it accessible and easy to read as well. I loved it.
A note to publisher: the cover is stupid and implies it's for fourth graders. What's up with that?
After some introductions of the main character Will along with his witty sense of humor, Devon and his old fashioned good grammar along with some serious sign language skillz, the beautiful yet cruel math teacher Miss Prefontaine, Will's crush named Leigha, and the pot-smoking bus driver who turns up once or twice. The friends decide to solve the murder of a classmate "hardy boys style" by using Devon's unique talents along with Will's sharp perceptions using his other 4 senses. The murder mystery part is definitely cool, but I loved the characters and how they interacted. There are more than a few laugh out loud moments. Thank you Josh Berk for writing something that is actually cool to read and that can show today's teens that just because someone's different, doesn't mean they can't be awesome. I read this over the span of one day, meaning that most teens will find it accessible and easy to read as well. I loved it.
A note to publisher: the cover is stupid and implies it's for fourth graders. What's up with that?
November 3, 2010
Will Halpin has decided to leave his deaf school and attend the local high school. It is a hard transition, but when one of his classmates is killed during a field trip to a coal mine, he and his friends may be the only possibility of finding the killer.
I loved this book! Will's voice is funny and refreshing. I do love a smart protagonist with loads of wit and sarcasm! And while Devon is definitely dorky, his is also both believable and charming. Berk even makes the school bullies more than just one-dimensional characters.
As for the mystery, it's quite entertaining. I didn't figure it out too quickly and it is realistic and well-paced. Will and Devon end up uncovering several mysteries while just trying to solve this one!
Love the references to Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Sherlock Holmes. They were tastifully used and not overbearing. The use of technology was also well-done.
I had heard about some of the deaf community issues that were brought up in the story, but it was nice to have those fleshed out a little and described by a character I really liked and understood. I brushed up on some sign language,too. Kind of made me want to learn more...
As for read-alikes, definitely reminded me of Slob, King Dork and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. So, if you liked those, check this one out!
I loved this book! Will's voice is funny and refreshing. I do love a smart protagonist with loads of wit and sarcasm! And while Devon is definitely dorky, his is also both believable and charming. Berk even makes the school bullies more than just one-dimensional characters.
As for the mystery, it's quite entertaining. I didn't figure it out too quickly and it is realistic and well-paced. Will and Devon end up uncovering several mysteries while just trying to solve this one!
Love the references to Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Sherlock Holmes. They were tastifully used and not overbearing. The use of technology was also well-done.
I had heard about some of the deaf community issues that were brought up in the story, but it was nice to have those fleshed out a little and described by a character I really liked and understood. I brushed up on some sign language,too. Kind of made me want to learn more...
As for read-alikes, definitely reminded me of Slob, King Dork and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. So, if you liked those, check this one out!
September 25, 2012
Will Halpin is deaf and like The Curious Incident of a Dog in Night-Time, Will is insistent he help solve a crime where his disability is supposed to help him. It's an odd-ish mystery and more tongue-in-cheek that truly serious (though the crime of murder is!) On a school visit to a coal mine, a boy whose father is accused of bad business, dies at the bottom of the mine shaft. Told through his first-person narration, his notebook ramblings, and his IM and texts to a friend, Will is navigating the hearing world and uncovering the mystery. There are quite a few characters to keep track of and Will and his friends do some very uncommon and illegal kinds of investigation to arrive at their conclusion, yet they're getting closer. As with most of the story, the person and the motive for murder isn't mind-bending or particularly shocking because the whole story is just a bit out of reach.
What I did enjoy was a somewhat complex character, Will, who like Marcelo in the Real World, is now in a different world. In this case, Will wants to leave his deaf school to mainstream which presents many challenges. He's also struggling with his own background and his parents to grow up, but he's also self-conscious, and not always about his hearing, but because he's also overweight.
In general, the book was fun, not serious, and worth a look through but not a close-read.
What I did enjoy was a somewhat complex character, Will, who like Marcelo in the Real World, is now in a different world. In this case, Will wants to leave his deaf school to mainstream which presents many challenges. He's also struggling with his own background and his parents to grow up, but he's also self-conscious, and not always about his hearing, but because he's also overweight.
In general, the book was fun, not serious, and worth a look through but not a close-read.
October 29, 2010
I found myself truly enjoying the main character Will Halpin and his observations of the high school hearing world around him. Will, a large and congenial type of 16 yr. old boy, has transferred to the public high school from his deaf school without benefit of an interpreter. Enter Devon Smiley the only other kid who knows sign language and who is on the same popularity level as the new overweight deaf kid. On a field trip to the local coal mine Pat Chambers, the most popular football player in school, has a tragic and deadly accident which casts suspicions on many students and adults. Devon inserts himself into a friendship with Will and together this Hardy Boys detective duo sets out to solve the mystery of what happened to Devon's nemesis. Is Devon a suspect? Is the flirty sexy math teacher a suspect? Could it be the drug crazed bus driver? Read and find out. Many laughs await you as Will lip reads, interprets Devon's new passion for sign language, and his own interpretation on his high school life.
October 30, 2011
Since I like to know as little as possible before I start reading a book, I failed to read the back cover of the book before I started reading. At first, I thought this book was going to be about kids with disabilities and bullying, and then around page 100 my idea of this book changed. Turns out it is and it isn't. Will "Hamburger" Halpin transfer to a mainstream high school from a deaf high school during his junior year. As he tries to navigate the social and academic world of high school, he begins to question the choice he made. On a class field trip during his second week of school, a classmate ends up perishing (no, I'm not giving anything away - this is the information, I neglected to read that's on the back cover). The book then turns into a mystery. What exactly happened on this field trip? Ultimately, though, Hamburger Halpin is about friendship. Told with a strong voice and a lot of candor, Berk has written a first rate book!
July 1, 2009
Sometimes I wonder what it's like to be a guy. I figure Nick Hornby is pretty authoritative on the subject of adult guys, so I look to him for insight. Then I discovered Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid series, so now I have a pretty good idea what it's like to be a 12-year-old boy.
When I heard my husband cracking up, literally bringing himself to tears he was laughing so hard, I checked out what he was reading. It was then I knew that Josh Berk was going to be my key to the mind of the teenage boy.
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin is funny, sweet, funny, a little snarky, and oh-so-very-funny. There's mystery, great dialogue, capering, and so much fun.
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this book, so everyone else is going to have to be patient, but boy is it worth the wait. My 14 and 12 year old nephews are going to adore this book, I just know it. So will you.
When I heard my husband cracking up, literally bringing himself to tears he was laughing so hard, I checked out what he was reading. It was then I knew that Josh Berk was going to be my key to the mind of the teenage boy.
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin is funny, sweet, funny, a little snarky, and oh-so-very-funny. There's mystery, great dialogue, capering, and so much fun.
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this book, so everyone else is going to have to be patient, but boy is it worth the wait. My 14 and 12 year old nephews are going to adore this book, I just know it. So will you.
August 8, 2010
I had high hopes for this teen mystery with a deaf main protagonist, but it never really took off as I read it. Will Halpin is the best thing about this book -- he's a likable, affable narrator who chronicles his transition from a deaf school to public school. The mystery aspect is not very rewarding, though it does allow author Berk to showcase some funny exchanges between "Hardy boys" Halpin and fellow outcast Smiley. I also liked how Berk brought in the aspect of deaf culture and pride. Ultimately, though, I was bored at times and don't know if I'd readily recommend this one to teens.
March 10, 2010
Finally, another authentically-voiced guy book to recommend. And it's funny, in a laugh out loud and share a line funny.
July 14, 2010
Just the right mix of comedy and sincerity. I knew kids like Devon Smiley in HS. Sadly, I'm pretty sure I spent most of my time mocking them. Nobody's perfect , but DDHH is pretty close.
July 23, 2011
A little growing up. A little mystery. But not gripping or thought provoking.
May 19, 2018
Recently transferred from his school for deaf children, Will Halpin isn’t popular at his new high school. With insecurity over his weight, deafness, and being the awkward new kid, high school is just as vicious to him as you’d anticipate. However, he does make friends with a fellow outcast. Will doesn’t take his ostracism sitting down though; his sarcastic, witty descriptions of his circumstances will have you laughing to the point of tears (he describes an administrator as smelling like beef, and himself like a manatee). Will may have an unpleasant adjustment to his new school, but his brash observations (and cussing. This book isn’t for you if you don’t care for profanity) will keep the pages turning.
Will is quite sassy, and hilarious in his narration. He may be unable to hear, but he’s very observant, which comes in handy when a popular kids dies on a school field trip! That’s right, this book is a mystery, too. And a good one. Who would want to kill the popular boy? The flirty teacher? Another student?
I read this book in college, and picked it up again after seeing it at the library (I was delightfully surprised PWPLS had this one as it isn’t terribly well known). I’ve read responses to the novel that question the depiction of deaf culture, the snarky humor, etc. It’s a flawed novel without a question (the perfect novel doesn’t exist), but this is funny novel, and adding a mystery to the novel contributes to the appeal. I could certainly see a reluctant teen reader getting a kick out of this one.
http://librarycatalog.pwcgov.org/pola...
Will is quite sassy, and hilarious in his narration. He may be unable to hear, but he’s very observant, which comes in handy when a popular kids dies on a school field trip! That’s right, this book is a mystery, too. And a good one. Who would want to kill the popular boy? The flirty teacher? Another student?
I read this book in college, and picked it up again after seeing it at the library (I was delightfully surprised PWPLS had this one as it isn’t terribly well known). I’ve read responses to the novel that question the depiction of deaf culture, the snarky humor, etc. It’s a flawed novel without a question (the perfect novel doesn’t exist), but this is funny novel, and adding a mystery to the novel contributes to the appeal. I could certainly see a reluctant teen reader getting a kick out of this one.
http://librarycatalog.pwcgov.org/pola...
October 6, 2017
I chose to read The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk because I knew that for my independent reading project I wanted to do it on a book that involves mystery. I expected this to be a better book because the title gives you the thought that something terrible has happened to Hamburger Haplin. Instead this book bored me as the entire plot of the book was repeated multiple times. Instead the book was slow and took its time up until the end where things were just starting to happen.
“Now, I have always loved ghost stories. Perhaps because people often seem to vaguely sense my own presence while rarely acknowledging it. I’ve been brushed off like a specter, a chill. …” (Berk). This quote shows how the shape and identity of someone can be manipulated by others. Will Halpin is left out and slightly bullied because he is deaf he becomes more independent throughout the book. Because Halpin is deaf his abilities are limited to what he can become when he is an adult. He has to learn to overcome his disabilities to be able to work and live like the rest of society. For Halpin to create an identity that's true for himself means a lot because he doesn't have to blend in with other people because he is always going to be the deaf kid in the school and he can't change that.
If I had to recommend this book to anyone it would be to someone who enjoys plot twists and mysteries. The characters in the book are in their teens so the age group of the readers should be majority people in high school because they can actually relate to some of the struggles of school.
“Now, I have always loved ghost stories. Perhaps because people often seem to vaguely sense my own presence while rarely acknowledging it. I’ve been brushed off like a specter, a chill. …” (Berk). This quote shows how the shape and identity of someone can be manipulated by others. Will Halpin is left out and slightly bullied because he is deaf he becomes more independent throughout the book. Because Halpin is deaf his abilities are limited to what he can become when he is an adult. He has to learn to overcome his disabilities to be able to work and live like the rest of society. For Halpin to create an identity that's true for himself means a lot because he doesn't have to blend in with other people because he is always going to be the deaf kid in the school and he can't change that.
If I had to recommend this book to anyone it would be to someone who enjoys plot twists and mysteries. The characters in the book are in their teens so the age group of the readers should be majority people in high school because they can actually relate to some of the struggles of school.
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