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The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Thirteen-year-old Henry's happy, ordinary life comes to an abrupt halt when his older brother, Jesse, picks up their father's hunting rifle and leaves the house one morning. What follows shatters Henry's family, who are forced to resume their lives in a new city, where no one knows their past. When Henry's therapist suggests he keeps a journal, at first he is resistant. But soon he confides in it at all hours of the day and night.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2012
52 people are currently reading
2764 people want to read
About the author
Susin Nielsen
28 books631 followersSusin got her start feeding cast and crew on the popular television series, Degrassi Junior High. They hated her food, but they saw a spark in her writing. Nielsen went on to pen sixteen episodes of the hit TV show. Since then, Nielsen has written for over 20 Canadian TV series. Her first young adult novel, Word Nerd, was published in 2008 to critical acclaim. It won multiple Young Readers’ Choice Awards, as did her second novel, Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom. Her third novel, The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, was published in August 2012. It went on to win the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, the Canadian Library Association’s Children’s Book of the Year Award, and a number of Young Readers’ Choice Awards. Author Wally Lamb named it his top YA pick for 2012 in his “First Annual Wally Awards,” and recently Rolling Stone magazine put it at #27 in their list of “Top 40 Best YA Novels.”
Her books have been translated into multiple languages. Susin’s new novel, We Are All Made of Molecules, will be published in Canada, the US and the UK in Spring of 2015. She lives in Vancouver with her family and two naughty cats. She is delighted to have finally figure out how to "claim" her author profile on Goodreads!
Her books have been translated into multiple languages. Susin’s new novel, We Are All Made of Molecules, will be published in Canada, the US and the UK in Spring of 2015. She lives in Vancouver with her family and two naughty cats. She is delighted to have finally figure out how to "claim" her author profile on Goodreads!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
February 22, 2013
I don't know how she does it.
The 'she' of course refers to Nielsen, author of Word Nerd, Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom, and now The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen. Three consecutively published middle-grade/YA novels I have loved, each one beautifully written, with diverse narrators dealing with consequential subject matters. The Reluctant Journal...is a departure- of sorts- for Nielsen. It is, without a doubt, darker and more uncomfortable than her previous works. The novel deals with- among other topics- mental illness, bullying, suicide, death and grief.
I will admit that I was nervous about reading this novel for a few reasons. One: regular readers may already know that I am a huge fan of Nielsen's writing, so I had my expectations set really high! Two: I was worried that Henry's story would just be too sad to read (based on the description). I can answer my concerns. One: the novel was brilliant. And two: yes, the story broke my heart, smashed it to bits, but also filled it with joy. The plot is tight and surprising, the dialogue is pitch-perfect and Henry's narrative voice is unlike anything I have read.
Through Henry's 'reluctant' journal writing, we are taken into his present as well as the past involving "IT"- the accident and aftershocks that changed Henry and his family forever. Henry's narration is very much at the surface: he's very angry, deeply saddened and lost, and it comes across in his expressive and affecting entries. Henry and his parents are just trying to hold on, while attempting to forge a new life in Vancouver- where no one knows about "IT". He never anticipates opening up to anyone- not to his wonderful new friend Farley, to his therapist, and especially not to two nosy and lonely neighbors. But before long, incidents at his school and changes in his home life force Henry to talk about Jesse and the "IT" that changed EVERYTHING.
I highly, highly recommend this novel for all readers of contemporary YA and middle-grade fiction.
The 'she' of course refers to Nielsen, author of Word Nerd, Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom, and now The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen. Three consecutively published middle-grade/YA novels I have loved, each one beautifully written, with diverse narrators dealing with consequential subject matters. The Reluctant Journal...is a departure- of sorts- for Nielsen. It is, without a doubt, darker and more uncomfortable than her previous works. The novel deals with- among other topics- mental illness, bullying, suicide, death and grief.
I will admit that I was nervous about reading this novel for a few reasons. One: regular readers may already know that I am a huge fan of Nielsen's writing, so I had my expectations set really high! Two: I was worried that Henry's story would just be too sad to read (based on the description). I can answer my concerns. One: the novel was brilliant. And two: yes, the story broke my heart, smashed it to bits, but also filled it with joy. The plot is tight and surprising, the dialogue is pitch-perfect and Henry's narrative voice is unlike anything I have read.
Through Henry's 'reluctant' journal writing, we are taken into his present as well as the past involving "IT"- the accident and aftershocks that changed Henry and his family forever. Henry's narration is very much at the surface: he's very angry, deeply saddened and lost, and it comes across in his expressive and affecting entries. Henry and his parents are just trying to hold on, while attempting to forge a new life in Vancouver- where no one knows about "IT". He never anticipates opening up to anyone- not to his wonderful new friend Farley, to his therapist, and especially not to two nosy and lonely neighbors. But before long, incidents at his school and changes in his home life force Henry to talk about Jesse and the "IT" that changed EVERYTHING.
I highly, highly recommend this novel for all readers of contemporary YA and middle-grade fiction.
September 20, 2012
Henry is my favourite Nielsen protagonist yet. He manages to be sweet and vulnerable without being cloying or un-relatable. Sometimes I worry that male readers don’t gravitate towards sensitive male narrators, but that won’t be an issue here. Henry is too specific to be an “everykid” (thank goodness), but Nielsen has given him lots of traits and worries and interests that will endear him to a wide range of readers.
His grieving process is handled carefully. Henry has moments of anger, fear, regret, and deep sadness. This is not a book about grief, though it permeates every page. There are some harsh revelations, and I love how Nielsen never beats around the bush or alludes to things- she just goes for it. This applies to “rude” jokes, violent bullying, or “unsavoury” language. There is no sugar-coating or avoidance. I appreciate this honesty and so will her young readers.
All this being said, this is one of the funniest middle grade books I’ve read all year. I don’t think Nielsen could NOT be funny if she tried (this is a compliment). In this country literary merit is not associated with humourous writing, at least not in children’s fiction. A quick look at the GG winners and finalists over the past decade demonstrates a preference for historical fiction and/0r gritty subject matter. These books may have moments of humour, but they are by no means funny books.Humour is exceedingly difficult to pull off, especially for children. When done right, it speaks to them in a way that no other style does. Kids need funny, they crave it. Shouldn’t we recognize those skilled authors who can pull it off?
Nielsen is by no means stranger to awards, as her previous work has scooped up numerous nominations (and a few wins), mostly in children’s choice award categories. Again, here is the discrepancy between child friendly and awards- friendly. A few authors manage to bridge this gap but most end up being one or the other. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen may be about the aftermath of a murder-suicide, but it is a deeply funny book. I hope that this year awards committees give Nielsen the literary cred she deserves.
His grieving process is handled carefully. Henry has moments of anger, fear, regret, and deep sadness. This is not a book about grief, though it permeates every page. There are some harsh revelations, and I love how Nielsen never beats around the bush or alludes to things- she just goes for it. This applies to “rude” jokes, violent bullying, or “unsavoury” language. There is no sugar-coating or avoidance. I appreciate this honesty and so will her young readers.
All this being said, this is one of the funniest middle grade books I’ve read all year. I don’t think Nielsen could NOT be funny if she tried (this is a compliment). In this country literary merit is not associated with humourous writing, at least not in children’s fiction. A quick look at the GG winners and finalists over the past decade demonstrates a preference for historical fiction and/0r gritty subject matter. These books may have moments of humour, but they are by no means funny books.Humour is exceedingly difficult to pull off, especially for children. When done right, it speaks to them in a way that no other style does. Kids need funny, they crave it. Shouldn’t we recognize those skilled authors who can pull it off?
Nielsen is by no means stranger to awards, as her previous work has scooped up numerous nominations (and a few wins), mostly in children’s choice award categories. Again, here is the discrepancy between child friendly and awards- friendly. A few authors manage to bridge this gap but most end up being one or the other. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen may be about the aftermath of a murder-suicide, but it is a deeply funny book. I hope that this year awards committees give Nielsen the literary cred she deserves.
August 12, 2016
Great book which will create empathy in a reader on themes of bullying, family breakdown, suicide, grief and then moving on with your life. Story is written from Henry's journal which his psychiatrist has encouraged him to write as therapy, Henry is a wrestling fan which some teens will identify with. Sounds depressing but it has very funny moments and it is believable. A fantastic read for secondary students, not just for boys.
February 13, 2017
I thought Henry K. Larsen was one of the most engaging characters I'd met recently. He is a thinker, a keeper of secrets, a homelife that is challenging and a deeply troubled soul. But for all his troubles, he has a sense of humour, a taste for WWE and a tendency to gather unusual friends. Farley, who befriends Henry at his new school despite Henry's best efforts, is just gorgeous!
I loved the way the big underlying secret was revealed one tiny detail at a time. Henry's journal is a joy and a delight while being infinitely sad. This is a book about a horrific subject, it is about how people cope in different ways after terrible trauma and is is a book about the families of those left behind after a terrible incident. I can't reveal the incident because it would ruin the story but Susan Nielsen is fast becoming one of the great voices in YA and I highly recommend that you get a copy of this for your school library and read it before you put it on the shelves, you will know the people you want to hand it to.
I loved the way the big underlying secret was revealed one tiny detail at a time. Henry's journal is a joy and a delight while being infinitely sad. This is a book about a horrific subject, it is about how people cope in different ways after terrible trauma and is is a book about the families of those left behind after a terrible incident. I can't reveal the incident because it would ruin the story but Susan Nielsen is fast becoming one of the great voices in YA and I highly recommend that you get a copy of this for your school library and read it before you put it on the shelves, you will know the people you want to hand it to.
July 25, 2012
So much to say about this book!
Will write it all up in the next day or two.
A day or two has come and gone. I have not stopped thinking about this book, and how I wanted to put into words how much I loved it.
Honestly, in my own ignorance, I have never really thought much about the families of the shooter, when I hear of these things on the news. I have felt for the shooter in some cases, but never really thought about their families. Always the victims' families. But they are victims also, aren't they?
I just loved the writing, the characters, the story....all of it.
Henry K. Larsen.....what a brave, strong character. Love him!
I am sure I will add more, I just can't figure out how to put it all into words.
Will write it all up in the next day or two.
A day or two has come and gone. I have not stopped thinking about this book, and how I wanted to put into words how much I loved it.
Honestly, in my own ignorance, I have never really thought much about the families of the shooter, when I hear of these things on the news. I have felt for the shooter in some cases, but never really thought about their families. Always the victims' families. But they are victims also, aren't they?
I just loved the writing, the characters, the story....all of it.
Henry K. Larsen.....what a brave, strong character. Love him!
I am sure I will add more, I just can't figure out how to put it all into words.
September 14, 2012
Henry K. Larsen’s therapist has suggested that he write down his thoughts and feelings. Like any teenage boy, Henry does so reluctantly. Hence the title.
There are three things I especially like about this book:
1. Suspense: The author uses progressive revelation, doing out little by little what is at the heart of Henry’s troubles. His whole life has changed because of IT, and we read to find out what IT is. (If you read the book jacket, you find out it has something to do with his older brother picking up a hunting rifle and leaving the house.) And even when you do find out what IT is, there is another secret, buried deeper, that sheds much more light on what is going on with Henry.
2. Characterization: Henry is a lovable geek who is dealing with a whole lot of crap that the world just dumped on him. His response was to stuff his emotions and talk in “robot voice,” a strategy which landed him in therapy. After a few pages I was really pulling for this kid and hoping he could get it all figured out. The supporting characters are nicely drawn, with some surprises here and there. We feel understanding and affection for them.
3. Tone: It’s tough to get the tone right with a heavy subject like this. The story is told with eyes wide open about dealing with a family tragedy, but it doesn’t lose sight of everyday life and artfully blends humor into the mix.
In the end, lots of good things happen for Henry, perhaps just a few more than would happen in real life, although the end isn’t all sunshine and roses.
This is a book for teens getting through a rough time, or friends of teens going through a rough time. It is a book for kids dealing with grief and bullies and change.
It is a book about choices and life lessons and how you keep going.
There are three things I especially like about this book:
1. Suspense: The author uses progressive revelation, doing out little by little what is at the heart of Henry’s troubles. His whole life has changed because of IT, and we read to find out what IT is. (If you read the book jacket, you find out it has something to do with his older brother picking up a hunting rifle and leaving the house.) And even when you do find out what IT is, there is another secret, buried deeper, that sheds much more light on what is going on with Henry.
2. Characterization: Henry is a lovable geek who is dealing with a whole lot of crap that the world just dumped on him. His response was to stuff his emotions and talk in “robot voice,” a strategy which landed him in therapy. After a few pages I was really pulling for this kid and hoping he could get it all figured out. The supporting characters are nicely drawn, with some surprises here and there. We feel understanding and affection for them.
3. Tone: It’s tough to get the tone right with a heavy subject like this. The story is told with eyes wide open about dealing with a family tragedy, but it doesn’t lose sight of everyday life and artfully blends humor into the mix.
In the end, lots of good things happen for Henry, perhaps just a few more than would happen in real life, although the end isn’t all sunshine and roses.
This is a book for teens getting through a rough time, or friends of teens going through a rough time. It is a book for kids dealing with grief and bullies and change.
It is a book about choices and life lessons and how you keep going.
July 13, 2020
C’est définitif, je suis complètement charmée par Susin Nielsen. J’ai vraiment adoré ce roman écrit sous la forme d’un journal. Henry ainsi que tous ceux qui gravitent autour de lui sont des personnages hyper attachants. Malgré le drame épouvantable qui est traité (j’apprécie qu’on nous dépeigne la réalité de ceux qui restent, qui doivent vivre avec les conséquences des actes), l’autrice arrive à nous faire sourire. C’est beau, c’est plein d’espoir et en plus on y retrouve mon préféré, Ambroise!
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September 12, 2012Wow. Just wow. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen was nothing like what I was expecting. The book description was something along the lines of "Susin peoples this novel about the ultimate cost of bullying with a cast of fabulous characters, dark humour, and a lovable, difficult protagonist struggling to come to terms with the horrible crime his brother has committed."
Okay. I can deal with some dark humor. Especially when I look at the cover. Doesn't it look light-hearted? I was expecting something like The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Franscico Stork. Or John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.
NO WAY. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen is NOT as light-hearted as TFOS. In fact, it's a very dark, very intense read that depressed the heck out of me. Yes, it's THAT GOOD. It totally involved me. I felt tremendous empathy for Henry and his family, but some times I just had to put it down and go for a walk with the dogs. Maybe hug my kids.
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen is not a perfect book by the way. Everything wraps up a tiny bit too fast, and the secondary characters aren't fully formed. But I found it poignant and authentic and what it had to say far exceeds any faults.
Pam T~
Okay. I can deal with some dark humor. Especially when I look at the cover. Doesn't it look light-hearted? I was expecting something like The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Franscico Stork. Or John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.
NO WAY. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen is NOT as light-hearted as TFOS. In fact, it's a very dark, very intense read that depressed the heck out of me. Yes, it's THAT GOOD. It totally involved me. I felt tremendous empathy for Henry and his family, but some times I just had to put it down and go for a walk with the dogs. Maybe hug my kids.
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen is not a perfect book by the way. Everything wraps up a tiny bit too fast, and the secondary characters aren't fully formed. But I found it poignant and authentic and what it had to say far exceeds any faults.
Pam T~
February 22, 2016
Gosh! Tough read, even with all the humour and affection.
Well written with terrific pacing and reveals. Henry is a great narrator (coz I couldn't find a way to say person who journals), no matter how reluctant he is.
Well written with terrific pacing and reveals. Henry is a great narrator (coz I couldn't find a way to say person who journals), no matter how reluctant he is.
March 1, 2019
I am a big fan of Susin Nielsen, and this is my favourite one so far. It is quite a depressing/shocking story about the brother of a school shooter, but as usual with Nielsen it's done with humour and a lot of heart. I particularly like Henry's quirky new school friends and his drippy, but actually quite effective therapist.
August 20, 2012
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen is a dark yet hilarious novel about 13 year old Henry who is still trying to come to terms with the death of his brother Jesse and the awful thing that Jesse did. This book addresses topics like suicide, grief, depression, mental health and bullying.
I loved how this book managed to be so funny while talking about such dark topics. This is mainly due to Henry, the main character. Henry is bitter and angry, a sarcastic and stubborn kid who at first, refuses to believe that things get better. Henry's conversations with his psychiatrist were particularly enjoyable to read. His references to his "wobblies" and his robot voice give him extra quirks that add humor to the book, but at the same time address the serious issues going on in his life. Even though Henry seems like the typical angry kid on the outside, he has very complex feelings throughout the whole novel. Anger at his brother Jesse for murdering his bully and killing himself, sorrow for what Jesse had gone through when he was being bullied, grief for Jesse's death, hope that his mother will come back to live with him and his father, and a detachment from the whole situation are all things that Henry deals with.
The side characters were all gems. Each character was odd and different, with their own problems in life. My favorites were Farley, Mr. Attapatu (can't remember the spelling, sorry!) and Alberta. Each character was odd and different, with their own problems in life. Each character was well crafted and developed so that they didn't just become caricatures placed in the novel just for humor.
The book was amazing in the way it dealt with bullying. The flashbacks of Jesse being bullied were so heartbreaking to read. This book was unique since it is not narrated by the bullying victim but by someone close to the victim who is helpless to prevent it effectively. It was refreshing to read about the other victims of a tragedy like this, the families’ of bullies and bullying victims. Henry and his family had to deal with the aftermath of "it", as did the family of the bully. They were the ones who had to pick up the pieces and face the judgment of others. It was great to see another viewpoint in the whole discussion of bullying. Henry and his friend Farley are also bullied and the book shows how they deal with bullying as well, adding humor.
I loved the ending of the book. Things end happily as Henry and all the odd friends he makes along the way come home from a wrestling match. Not everything is alright though. Henry and his family still have their issues to deal with and so do all the other characters. But there's a feeling of hope at the end. His mom is slowly recovering from her depression, Henry's relationship with Alberta is blossoming and slowly he is becoming happier.
I loved how this book managed to be so funny while talking about such dark topics. This is mainly due to Henry, the main character. Henry is bitter and angry, a sarcastic and stubborn kid who at first, refuses to believe that things get better. Henry's conversations with his psychiatrist were particularly enjoyable to read. His references to his "wobblies" and his robot voice give him extra quirks that add humor to the book, but at the same time address the serious issues going on in his life. Even though Henry seems like the typical angry kid on the outside, he has very complex feelings throughout the whole novel. Anger at his brother Jesse for murdering his bully and killing himself, sorrow for what Jesse had gone through when he was being bullied, grief for Jesse's death, hope that his mother will come back to live with him and his father, and a detachment from the whole situation are all things that Henry deals with.
The side characters were all gems. Each character was odd and different, with their own problems in life. My favorites were Farley, Mr. Attapatu (can't remember the spelling, sorry!) and Alberta. Each character was odd and different, with their own problems in life. Each character was well crafted and developed so that they didn't just become caricatures placed in the novel just for humor.
The book was amazing in the way it dealt with bullying. The flashbacks of Jesse being bullied were so heartbreaking to read. This book was unique since it is not narrated by the bullying victim but by someone close to the victim who is helpless to prevent it effectively. It was refreshing to read about the other victims of a tragedy like this, the families’ of bullies and bullying victims. Henry and his family had to deal with the aftermath of "it", as did the family of the bully. They were the ones who had to pick up the pieces and face the judgment of others. It was great to see another viewpoint in the whole discussion of bullying. Henry and his friend Farley are also bullied and the book shows how they deal with bullying as well, adding humor.
I loved the ending of the book. Things end happily as Henry and all the odd friends he makes along the way come home from a wrestling match. Not everything is alright though. Henry and his family still have their issues to deal with and so do all the other characters. But there's a feeling of hope at the end. His mom is slowly recovering from her depression, Henry's relationship with Alberta is blossoming and slowly he is becoming happier.
November 4, 2012
Once again, I am utterly charmed by Nielsen's voice and how her characters are so completely themselves. This one deals with a much more serious (and topical) subject than Word Nerd did: bullying, and its most horrifying aftermath. Our protagonist's brother, after enduring years of abuse (some of which is described in graphic, disturbing detail), does the... well, it's not the unthinkable anymore. I wish so hard it were unthinkable, but these kinds of incidents happen and keep happening, which makes this book poignant and timely and important.
This isn't Jesse's story, however, though he hovers at the edges of the pages like a ghost. It's the story of his younger brother Henry, trying to pick up the pieces of a life and family blown apart, trying to start over and realizing slowly that you can't, exactly.
It made me cry, which is a rare thing in books, but I also need to stress (before I make this sound all gloomy) what a FUNNY book this is. Darkly funny, sometimes, but other times just plain funny. Nielsen gives us a diverse cast of high school misfits, weird neighbours, grieving parents, professional wrestlers, odd mental health professionals, all through the eyes of honest Henry, who is (like Ambrose in Word Nerd) observant, introspective, level-headed, and still so much a kid.
The language caveats from my review of Word Nerd apply, and then some. The bullying scenes (one in particular) are deeply, deeply upsetting. But you know, kids are resilient. That's what this book is about. I think this is an important (and upsetting) subject, and one that needs to be brought out into the light. The tragedy of Jesse is that he feels he can't tell anyone, especially his parents. He wants to protect them from the truth. I don't think young readers need to be protected from this truth. The truth is an important inoculation against bullying.
(Full disclosure: Susin Nielsen is my fellow GG Literary Award nominee, and my neighbour here in Vancouver. This book is set in our neighbourhood, which tickles me to no end. I didn't tell her I was reading her book, in case I didn't enjoy it. So, there's the pinch of salt. YMMV, and all that.)
This isn't Jesse's story, however, though he hovers at the edges of the pages like a ghost. It's the story of his younger brother Henry, trying to pick up the pieces of a life and family blown apart, trying to start over and realizing slowly that you can't, exactly.
It made me cry, which is a rare thing in books, but I also need to stress (before I make this sound all gloomy) what a FUNNY book this is. Darkly funny, sometimes, but other times just plain funny. Nielsen gives us a diverse cast of high school misfits, weird neighbours, grieving parents, professional wrestlers, odd mental health professionals, all through the eyes of honest Henry, who is (like Ambrose in Word Nerd) observant, introspective, level-headed, and still so much a kid.
The language caveats from my review of Word Nerd apply, and then some. The bullying scenes (one in particular) are deeply, deeply upsetting. But you know, kids are resilient. That's what this book is about. I think this is an important (and upsetting) subject, and one that needs to be brought out into the light. The tragedy of Jesse is that he feels he can't tell anyone, especially his parents. He wants to protect them from the truth. I don't think young readers need to be protected from this truth. The truth is an important inoculation against bullying.
(Full disclosure: Susin Nielsen is my fellow GG Literary Award nominee, and my neighbour here in Vancouver. This book is set in our neighbourhood, which tickles me to no end. I didn't tell her I was reading her book, in case I didn't enjoy it. So, there's the pinch of salt. YMMV, and all that.)
October 30, 2012
In short: The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen was a wholly enjoyable read with a very important message.
What a lovely, quick read this was! I'm not really sure what I had been expecting of The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen - perhaps just a nice and moral story about bullying - but I had no idea of the depth of the subject matter, nor that I would end up enjoying it so much! Susin Nielsen manages to create a perfect balance of serious and poignant subject matter and cute and witty humour with effortless writing to produce a thoroughly enjoyable MG contemporary read with an important message. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen was, simply, a JOY to read and I highly recommend it to all readers.
The varied cast of colourful characters was a huge part of the reason The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen was such a delightful read for me. I seriously loved them all. They were excellently written, with their quirks on full display, and they were just so VIBRANT. They may have been a bit on the cliched side, but I found that there was something very comforting and heartening about them, perhaps because of those reliable well-known personalities.
Something else that I really and truly loved about this book was how Canadian it was. Admittedly - and rather ashamedly - I don't really read a whole lot of local fiction. But after reading The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, I am convinced that I MUST read more books from local authors in the future. It was so fun to read a book with Canadian references and a Canadian setting. And it's always good to support local authors.
But above all, I really appreciated the message of the novel. The importance of being true to yourself and loving others for being themselves. The importance of standing up for yourself and not taking to heart what the bullies say. Because in the end, those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. I wish I could've had the maturity and self-assuredness that Henry develops when I was his age.
What a lovely, quick read this was! I'm not really sure what I had been expecting of The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen - perhaps just a nice and moral story about bullying - but I had no idea of the depth of the subject matter, nor that I would end up enjoying it so much! Susin Nielsen manages to create a perfect balance of serious and poignant subject matter and cute and witty humour with effortless writing to produce a thoroughly enjoyable MG contemporary read with an important message. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen was, simply, a JOY to read and I highly recommend it to all readers.
The varied cast of colourful characters was a huge part of the reason The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen was such a delightful read for me. I seriously loved them all. They were excellently written, with their quirks on full display, and they were just so VIBRANT. They may have been a bit on the cliched side, but I found that there was something very comforting and heartening about them, perhaps because of those reliable well-known personalities.
Something else that I really and truly loved about this book was how Canadian it was. Admittedly - and rather ashamedly - I don't really read a whole lot of local fiction. But after reading The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, I am convinced that I MUST read more books from local authors in the future. It was so fun to read a book with Canadian references and a Canadian setting. And it's always good to support local authors.
But above all, I really appreciated the message of the novel. The importance of being true to yourself and loving others for being themselves. The importance of standing up for yourself and not taking to heart what the bullies say. Because in the end, those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. I wish I could've had the maturity and self-assuredness that Henry develops when I was his age.
September 15, 2012
I got this book free from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This is an excellent depiction of a boy and his family family, ripped apart at the seams by violence and tragedy, and how they begin to stitch themselves back together again. The protagonist, 13-year-old Henry, began his diary at the request of his therapist. Although reluctant to write at first (hence the title), Henry came to depend on his journal as a confidant to help him deal with his pain and grief. The characterization of this boy and the people around him -- his parents, other residents in his apartment building, his new school friends -- is spot-on.
The big problem, though, is that this really doesn't sound like a real diary. In my experience just about every diary-novel has this issue. For the story to work, it has to be detailed. You have to actually hear the characters talk, and so on. But most people don't write in their diaries in that kind of detail; diary entries are usually summaries of the day's events instead, since the diarist writes for himself and he already knows what happened.
Try not to let that bother you. This is a very good book. But I think it would have been better in a more typical, episodic format.
If you liked this book you would probably also enjoy Ann Dee Ellis's This Is What I Did , Catherine Austen's Walking Backward and Susan Shaw's One of the Survivors .
This is an excellent depiction of a boy and his family family, ripped apart at the seams by violence and tragedy, and how they begin to stitch themselves back together again. The protagonist, 13-year-old Henry, began his diary at the request of his therapist. Although reluctant to write at first (hence the title), Henry came to depend on his journal as a confidant to help him deal with his pain and grief. The characterization of this boy and the people around him -- his parents, other residents in his apartment building, his new school friends -- is spot-on.
The big problem, though, is that this really doesn't sound like a real diary. In my experience just about every diary-novel has this issue. For the story to work, it has to be detailed. You have to actually hear the characters talk, and so on. But most people don't write in their diaries in that kind of detail; diary entries are usually summaries of the day's events instead, since the diarist writes for himself and he already knows what happened.
Try not to let that bother you. This is a very good book. But I think it would have been better in a more typical, episodic format.
If you liked this book you would probably also enjoy Ann Dee Ellis's This Is What I Did , Catherine Austen's Walking Backward and Susan Shaw's One of the Survivors .
March 30, 2015
J'ai lu "Journal d'un dégonflé" mais c'est tout, je n'avais aucun intérêt pour tous les autres "Journal de..." sur pages lignées ornées de petits dessins faits à la main. J'ai quand même voulu lire celui-là parce que j'avais adoré Word Nerd et que j'avais beaucoup apprécié Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom de la même auteure. Et je n'ai pas été déçue ! Bien que le roman soit écrit sous forme de journal et que l'humour soit très présent, c'est une histoire tragique et triste, vécue par un garçon ordinaire, qui voudrait juste avoir une vie ordinaire, mais qui doit composer avec son passé. Et qui tente de le cacher à tout prix.
J'aime que Susin Nielsenentrecroise les histoires de ses trois romans. On retrouve Ambroise dans celui-ci, qui fait partie de la même équipe de Génies en Herbe que le personnage principale, Henry. Elle avait fait la même chose dans Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom et ça m'avait fait sourire.
J'aime que Susin Nielsenentrecroise les histoires de ses trois romans. On retrouve Ambroise dans celui-ci, qui fait partie de la même équipe de Génies en Herbe que le personnage principale, Henry. Elle avait fait la même chose dans Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom et ça m'avait fait sourire.
September 6, 2016
I would never know about this book if it wasn't for sale last year-end in one online bookstore. One blind-buy that turns out to be one of my best-buys.
This is a story about Henry whose life seems to ruin after his brother Jesse shot his bully and commited suicide afterwards. Written in a form of a journal, it is both heart-wrenching and heart warming. Henry's writing is cynical and raw (and funny) that it makes us feel broken and guilty knowing how society could be so cruel and life could be so hard for us all but we gotta live on anyway, for better for worse. And mistakes happened for us to learn from them.
It's also a complete package. Nerdy friendship. A not-so-perfect family. A bearable romance. School life that tastes like school life. Neighbors with background stories. All I need in a fictional world are all here. And it took place in Canada, quite a refreshing setting after all-States books I mostly read.
I loved it. Really loved it. And I seriously hope and recommend for adults to read this, just so you realize how bad bullying could happen to your future children. Serious problems are not exclusively ours, a child might have them too.
This is a story about Henry whose life seems to ruin after his brother Jesse shot his bully and commited suicide afterwards. Written in a form of a journal, it is both heart-wrenching and heart warming. Henry's writing is cynical and raw (and funny) that it makes us feel broken and guilty knowing how society could be so cruel and life could be so hard for us all but we gotta live on anyway, for better for worse. And mistakes happened for us to learn from them.
It's also a complete package. Nerdy friendship. A not-so-perfect family. A bearable romance. School life that tastes like school life. Neighbors with background stories. All I need in a fictional world are all here. And it took place in Canada, quite a refreshing setting after all-States books I mostly read.
I loved it. Really loved it. And I seriously hope and recommend for adults to read this, just so you realize how bad bullying could happen to your future children. Serious problems are not exclusively ours, a child might have them too.
November 22, 2016
Henry K Larsen is possibly the cutest character evah! Something terrible has happened to his family and now they are broken as a unit and as individuals. Henry's counsellor suggests he keep a journal as he struggles to come to terms with his life as it is now. Henry does, but reluctantly. Henry has such a genuine voice, he is honest and sometimes hilarious in his observations. I found myself rooting for him right from the beginning, and even when he did some very cruel things I just wanted to give him a hug and let him know that in time things will be okay. A small book with some BIG themes. Go read it, you won't regret it!
October 6, 2015
Livre pris au hasard et quelle belle surprise. Karine, me semble qu'il te plairait.
After the stupid characters of The Rumor, how great it was to have such complex and realistic ones.
Et quelle histoire touchante. J'imaginais mes bébés qui un jour seront grands et devront peut-être vivre des situations semblables et ça me touchait. Susin Nielsen a réussi à donner une vraie voix aux ados.
I'll definitely read her other books
After the stupid characters of The Rumor, how great it was to have such complex and realistic ones.
Et quelle histoire touchante. J'imaginais mes bébés qui un jour seront grands et devront peut-être vivre des situations semblables et ça me touchait. Susin Nielsen a réussi à donner une vraie voix aux ados.
I'll definitely read her other books
December 31, 2015
I enjoyed The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen. Henry is suffering after the incident. I won't say too much for fear of spoiling it for others but it really shows the impact events have on the wider family group and how people deal with the fallout. It also has a lot to say about the impact of bullying again not just on the individual but also on the wider family. I really liked Henry and very much enjoyed his story.
July 31, 2018
Wauw deze vond ik echt mega leuk! Moleculen staat nog steeds boven aan maar deze staat echt op de grote 2de plek van Susin Nielsen haar boeken ❤
June 20, 2012
Wow, I honestly don't have the words right now for how much love I have for this book.
January 20, 2020
Wow! Wat een ontzettend indrukwekkend boek.
Het ongemakkelijke dagboek van Henry K. Larsen gaat over de nasleep HET. Langzaamaan ontdek je wat HET is en wat het gedaan heeft met Henry en zijn ouders. Weinig auteurs krijgen het voor elkaar om me zo met een personage mee te laten leven.
Dit is een boek met een donkere en een lichte kant. Er zitten ontzettend krachtige scenes in, zoals de sessie bij dokter Dumb-Ass, het gesprek tussen Henry en Karen, en Het Andere, maar het laat je ook lachen. Er zitten heerlijke woorden in als bijvoorbeeld ''Tietelleté'' (hulde aan Lydia Meerder en Barbara Zuurbier voor de vertaling). Er zitten heerlijke zinnen in als ''Een condoom kopen om over mijn tuit te rollen zodat er niks uit vliegt'' en ''Ik was opeens blij dat dat de tafel de onderste helft van mijn lichaam bedekte.'' Ook kon ik genieten van de papieroorlog tussen karen en Mr. Atapattu.
Waarom dan toch geen vijf sterren? Omdat het een kinderboek is. Hoe grappig het soms ook is, het boek is heel zwaar, naar mijn smaak te zwaar voor een kinderboek. Ik denk niet dat de meeste kinderen hier blij van zouden worden. Volgens mij is het boek vooral heel goed voor volwassenen die een kinderboek willen lezen.
Het ongemakkelijke dagboek van Henry K. Larsen gaat over de nasleep HET. Langzaamaan ontdek je wat HET is en wat het gedaan heeft met Henry en zijn ouders. Weinig auteurs krijgen het voor elkaar om me zo met een personage mee te laten leven.
Dit is een boek met een donkere en een lichte kant. Er zitten ontzettend krachtige scenes in, zoals de sessie bij dokter Dumb-Ass, het gesprek tussen Henry en Karen, en Het Andere, maar het laat je ook lachen. Er zitten heerlijke woorden in als bijvoorbeeld ''Tietelleté'' (hulde aan Lydia Meerder en Barbara Zuurbier voor de vertaling). Er zitten heerlijke zinnen in als ''Een condoom kopen om over mijn tuit te rollen zodat er niks uit vliegt'' en ''Ik was opeens blij dat dat de tafel de onderste helft van mijn lichaam bedekte.'' Ook kon ik genieten van de papieroorlog tussen karen en Mr. Atapattu.
Waarom dan toch geen vijf sterren? Omdat het een kinderboek is. Hoe grappig het soms ook is, het boek is heel zwaar, naar mijn smaak te zwaar voor een kinderboek. Ik denk niet dat de meeste kinderen hier blij van zouden worden. Volgens mij is het boek vooral heel goed voor volwassenen die een kinderboek willen lezen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2019
Erinomaisen hyvä nuortenkirja kipeästä aiheesta.
Henry on muuttanut isänsä kanssa toiselle paikkakunnalle ja äiti on jäänyt entisen kotikaupungin mielisairaalaan potilaaksi. Henry odottaa koko ajan, että äiti muuttaa kotiin uudelle paikkakunnalle, mutta jo puhelinsoitot ovat täynnä itkua, eikä asiat tunnu paranevan. Isän kanssa elämä sujuu vähän kuin poikamiesboksissa, vessaakaan ei tule siivottua kovin usein ja noutoruokaa löytyy usein iltapalana. Henry käy terapeutilla viikoittain, mutta ei suostu puhumaan "siitä" sanaakaan. Sen sijaan terapeutti on antanut Henrylle vihon, johon hän voi pitää päiväkirjaa. Henryn päiväkirjan kautta meille paljastuu pikku hiljaa karu tarina Henryn isoveljestä, joka teki rankimman mahdollisen ratkaisun ja ampui niin koulukiusaajansa kuin itsensä. Tämän ratkaisun kanssa joutuvat nyt jäljelle jääneet elämään.
Vahva suositus!
Henry on muuttanut isänsä kanssa toiselle paikkakunnalle ja äiti on jäänyt entisen kotikaupungin mielisairaalaan potilaaksi. Henry odottaa koko ajan, että äiti muuttaa kotiin uudelle paikkakunnalle, mutta jo puhelinsoitot ovat täynnä itkua, eikä asiat tunnu paranevan. Isän kanssa elämä sujuu vähän kuin poikamiesboksissa, vessaakaan ei tule siivottua kovin usein ja noutoruokaa löytyy usein iltapalana. Henry käy terapeutilla viikoittain, mutta ei suostu puhumaan "siitä" sanaakaan. Sen sijaan terapeutti on antanut Henrylle vihon, johon hän voi pitää päiväkirjaa. Henryn päiväkirjan kautta meille paljastuu pikku hiljaa karu tarina Henryn isoveljestä, joka teki rankimman mahdollisen ratkaisun ja ampui niin koulukiusaajansa kuin itsensä. Tämän ratkaisun kanssa joutuvat nyt jäljelle jääneet elämään.
Vahva suositus!
September 28, 2017
Un excellent roman jeunesse qui regroupe tout ce que j'aime dans le genre! Derrière l'humour de son jeune héros Henry, Susin Nielsen aborde un événement très douloureux qui a marqué toute la famille. Sans en dire plus, il est question de reconstruction, d'amitié, d'entraide et des jolies rencontres qui se mettent sur votre chemin naturellement. Une très belle découverte!
January 7, 2024
Clever, voice driven, funny, and authentic. Susin Nielsen has done it again. The middle grade boy narrator is so on point as is the treatment of the very serious issues of suicide, grief, and gun violence/murder in schools. These are hallmarks of a Susin Nielsen novel— laughter and tears, almost in equal measure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2017
This turned out to be remarkably well done. I think it could pass as a YA book or an adult book from a younger protagonist's perspective. It's certainly engaging, and vivid. It had strong sense of compassion that was addictive and hard to ignore.
June 28, 2019
The saddest and most emotional book I have ever read. A quality book!!!
September 28, 2018
From the glowing reviews detailing how "darkly humorous" and how it "tackles heavy themes like suicide and bullying", The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen would've sounded like a book I'd enjoy. Sadly, such is not true. This book was covered as a novel study in my English class. I love novel studies, but I've never been able to do one until now due to attending a french school. I was super excited when one was announced. I must admit I was disapointed from the get-go. I have two main problems with this book:
One, the formulaic plot and characters. This, and many other books of similar genre, follows a very "rinse-and-repeat" plot. Here's how it goes:
Introduction to the protagonist, who is experiencing a hardship, and their general life/family/friends. The book will probably fluff around on this for a few chapters, showcasing their difficulties and life. Now enter: a main plot point. Somewhere they want to go, something they have to do, etc. This book's main plot point is the GWF tournament. The book goes on to explain what/how the character is doing what they're doing, while ramping up for a climax. The "climax" of these such books is where everything really goes wrong and the mood starts going downhill. This will often cause rifts in whatever bonds the protagonist has. We'll dwell here for a bit before another event occurs to set the book rolling back uphill. This is often another incident, such as Henry stealing Troy's iPod and getting beat up. The protagonist will more than likely make amends at this point, and the book will wrap up with either:
The main plot point being achieved (if possible), such as Henry going to the GWF tournament after all, or...
The story settling at a point where not everything is tied up, but things have been more or less fixed,
A couple of other books that follow such a plot are The Symptoms of Being Human, George, and Speechless. The characters don't get much development either. The main kids start off as a sort of two-in-one mashed up archetype:
Henry: "The Fat Kid" + "The Redhead"
Farley: "Classic Nerd" + "The Asian Kid"
Alberta: "The Punk YA Love Interest" + "The Weirdly Dressed Outcast Kid"
Except Troy. Troy's just the bully.
The mother and father don't have much going for them either. Alcoholic father and a distant mother, while being very real aspects of many broken families, are very stereotypical assets of a YA broken family. While that's maybe not a huge problem on it's own, if written well, but Nielsen presents us with little to no imaginative, out of the box characters. Taking a generic hippie-like personality and pairing it up with a doctor, while perhaps not as often seen, doesn't make it any less a generic personality. Karen isn't new to me either. The only character I haven't yet seen anywhere else is Mr. Atapattu. Of course, Henry is decked with all these little quirks such as speaking in "robot voice" (more on that later), to make him unique. The side characters, Alberta, Farley, Karen, Mr. Atapattu, and Jodie, all have some info given on them too. Nothing really groundbreaking, Jodie wants to be on a tv show, Alberta has a sister she dislikes and would never pass a health and safety inspection, and Mr. Atapattu buys stuff off a home network thing. Karen is revealed to have had a dad that committed suicide. Maybe at first glance this may be surprising, but it's not unusual to have someone of similar experience pegged onto stories like this. For example, in The Symptoms of Being Human *SPOILERS*
it's shown that Bec had a trans sister. Farley's the only one with a backstory I haven't heard before.
However, the point I feel most strongly about the second one. This is what really ruined the book for me: The writing style. There's an obvious disconnect from the style and theme which very rarely works. The book is written in an uncomfortable, immature voice which resembles a potty-mouthed eight year old more than an eight grader dealing with loss, bullying and a broken family. Such topics demand a level of somberness which the book does not supply. What other reviews describe as "darkly humourous" I can only interpret as "some toilet humour here, some suicide there" rather than the sort of dark jokes one might expect from such prose. Even without the heavy topics this books attempts to showcase, such a style is, in my own opinion, a deeply uncomfortable and unenjoyable variety.
And as my friend points out, for a book that claims to be "all about bullying", the topic feels like the washed over catalyst for a novel about Henry's broken family. While I do recognize that the style might be enjoyed more by a different audience, and that the book might resonate better with those of similar experience, I couldn't possibly apply. Had this book not been mandatory in school, I wouldn't have ever read past the first chapter.
One, the formulaic plot and characters. This, and many other books of similar genre, follows a very "rinse-and-repeat" plot. Here's how it goes:
Introduction to the protagonist, who is experiencing a hardship, and their general life/family/friends. The book will probably fluff around on this for a few chapters, showcasing their difficulties and life. Now enter: a main plot point. Somewhere they want to go, something they have to do, etc. This book's main plot point is the GWF tournament. The book goes on to explain what/how the character is doing what they're doing, while ramping up for a climax. The "climax" of these such books is where everything really goes wrong and the mood starts going downhill. This will often cause rifts in whatever bonds the protagonist has. We'll dwell here for a bit before another event occurs to set the book rolling back uphill. This is often another incident, such as Henry stealing Troy's iPod and getting beat up. The protagonist will more than likely make amends at this point, and the book will wrap up with either:
The main plot point being achieved (if possible), such as Henry going to the GWF tournament after all, or...
The story settling at a point where not everything is tied up, but things have been more or less fixed,
A couple of other books that follow such a plot are The Symptoms of Being Human, George, and Speechless. The characters don't get much development either. The main kids start off as a sort of two-in-one mashed up archetype:
Henry: "The Fat Kid" + "The Redhead"
Farley: "Classic Nerd" + "The Asian Kid"
Alberta: "The Punk YA Love Interest" + "The Weirdly Dressed Outcast Kid"
Except Troy. Troy's just the bully.
The mother and father don't have much going for them either. Alcoholic father and a distant mother, while being very real aspects of many broken families, are very stereotypical assets of a YA broken family. While that's maybe not a huge problem on it's own, if written well, but Nielsen presents us with little to no imaginative, out of the box characters. Taking a generic hippie-like personality and pairing it up with a doctor, while perhaps not as often seen, doesn't make it any less a generic personality. Karen isn't new to me either. The only character I haven't yet seen anywhere else is Mr. Atapattu. Of course, Henry is decked with all these little quirks such as speaking in "robot voice" (more on that later), to make him unique. The side characters, Alberta, Farley, Karen, Mr. Atapattu, and Jodie, all have some info given on them too. Nothing really groundbreaking, Jodie wants to be on a tv show, Alberta has a sister she dislikes and would never pass a health and safety inspection, and Mr. Atapattu buys stuff off a home network thing. Karen is revealed to have had a dad that committed suicide. Maybe at first glance this may be surprising, but it's not unusual to have someone of similar experience pegged onto stories like this. For example, in The Symptoms of Being Human *SPOILERS*
it's shown that Bec had a trans sister. Farley's the only one with a backstory I haven't heard before.
However, the point I feel most strongly about the second one. This is what really ruined the book for me: The writing style. There's an obvious disconnect from the style and theme which very rarely works. The book is written in an uncomfortable, immature voice which resembles a potty-mouthed eight year old more than an eight grader dealing with loss, bullying and a broken family. Such topics demand a level of somberness which the book does not supply. What other reviews describe as "darkly humourous" I can only interpret as "some toilet humour here, some suicide there" rather than the sort of dark jokes one might expect from such prose. Even without the heavy topics this books attempts to showcase, such a style is, in my own opinion, a deeply uncomfortable and unenjoyable variety.
And as my friend points out, for a book that claims to be "all about bullying", the topic feels like the washed over catalyst for a novel about Henry's broken family. While I do recognize that the style might be enjoyed more by a different audience, and that the book might resonate better with those of similar experience, I couldn't possibly apply. Had this book not been mandatory in school, I wouldn't have ever read past the first chapter.
January 15, 2020
Honestly one of my all-time favourite reads.
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