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Grendel's Guide to Love and War
The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Revenge of the Nerds in this tale of a teen misfit who seeks to take down the bro next door, but ends up falling for his enemy’s sister and uncovering difficult truths about his family in the process.
Tom Grendel lives a quiet life—writing in his notebooks, mowing lawns for his elderly neighbors, and pining for Willow, a girl next door who rejects the “manic-pixie-dream” label. But when Willow’s brother, Rex (the bro-iest bro ever to don a jockstrap), starts throwing wild parties, the idyllic senior citizens’ community where they live is transformed into a war zone. Tom is rightfully pissed—his dad is an Iraq vet, and the noise from the parties triggers his PTSD—so he comes up with a plan to end the parties for good. But of course, it’s not that simple.
One retaliation leads to another, and things quickly escalate out of control, driving Tom and Willow apart, even as the parties continue unabated. Add to that an angsty existential crisis born of selectively reading his sister’s Philosophy 101 coursework, a botched break-in at an artisanal pig farm, and ten years of unresolved baggage stemming from his mother’s death…and the question isn’t so much whether Tom Grendel will win the day and get the girl, but whether he’ll survive intact.
Tom Grendel lives a quiet life—writing in his notebooks, mowing lawns for his elderly neighbors, and pining for Willow, a girl next door who rejects the “manic-pixie-dream” label. But when Willow’s brother, Rex (the bro-iest bro ever to don a jockstrap), starts throwing wild parties, the idyllic senior citizens’ community where they live is transformed into a war zone. Tom is rightfully pissed—his dad is an Iraq vet, and the noise from the parties triggers his PTSD—so he comes up with a plan to end the parties for good. But of course, it’s not that simple.
One retaliation leads to another, and things quickly escalate out of control, driving Tom and Willow apart, even as the parties continue unabated. Add to that an angsty existential crisis born of selectively reading his sister’s Philosophy 101 coursework, a botched break-in at an artisanal pig farm, and ten years of unresolved baggage stemming from his mother’s death…and the question isn’t so much whether Tom Grendel will win the day and get the girl, but whether he’ll survive intact.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2017
47 people are currently reading
1683 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
May 1, 2017
This was a quirky fun debut novel. Tom Grendel is spending his summer break mowing lawns to save money for his college fund and interviewing old ladies so he can collect their stories before they are lost forever. Tom and his Dad live in a neighbourhood mostly populated by old ladies, which suits his Dad, an army major suffering for PTSD, just fine. When a new family moves in next door following a marriage breakup and the mother, a journalist is sent interstate to cover a disaster, the teenagers Rex and Willow are left alone which Rex sees as the perfect opportunity to throw a party all night every night. Tom's Dad rapidly takes off for Florida leaving Tom to wage war on his neighbours with the assistance of his best friend Ed Park and occasional help from Willow, on whom he has a crush. Rex's older, wilier cousin Wolf comes to his aid and eventually Tom's sister Zip arrives to lend a hand and mayhem ensues as they plan various pranks to close down the never-ending party.
Loosely based on the tale of Beowulf and Grendel (useful information if you have read Beowulf which I haven't), this can still be enjoyed without that knowledge of that story. The writing is great, sharp and witty and conversations between the teens are often very funny. Ed and Grendel are great characters and I love that Ed's idea of a good time is to use his fake ID to go to wine tastings as he dreams of his Korean parents agreeing to allow him to study winemaking at University. Also that he is a total success at a very unusual cafe. Tom's early loss of his mother due to cancer shadows his life with his father as he is always searching for ways to know more about her and his tenderness in protecting his father and looking after the old folks in his neighbourhood is poignant. I thought Willow was a bit of a flaky character and didn't quite deserve Tom's honesty but I loved his sister Zip who is in the process of realising she's never going to make it as an actress.
Loosely based on the tale of Beowulf and Grendel (useful information if you have read Beowulf which I haven't), this can still be enjoyed without that knowledge of that story. The writing is great, sharp and witty and conversations between the teens are often very funny. Ed and Grendel are great characters and I love that Ed's idea of a good time is to use his fake ID to go to wine tastings as he dreams of his Korean parents agreeing to allow him to study winemaking at University. Also that he is a total success at a very unusual cafe. Tom's early loss of his mother due to cancer shadows his life with his father as he is always searching for ways to know more about her and his tenderness in protecting his father and looking after the old folks in his neighbourhood is poignant. I thought Willow was a bit of a flaky character and didn't quite deserve Tom's honesty but I loved his sister Zip who is in the process of realising she's never going to make it as an actress.
Want to read
October 15, 2016You had me at
existential angst.
June 7, 2017
I’m not sure how to describe “Grendel’s Guide to Love and War.” It isn’t as deep as it could be, considering Tom Grendel has a very difficult life, including a father suffering from severe PTSD. Yet it does evoke quite a few emotions by just skimming the surface of the issues he’s dealing with. It is also hilarious. Laugh out loud hilarious. If you’re looking for a fast read with a bit of an emotional roller coaster, give it a try.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
March 19, 2017
This was such a refreshing read. The narrative was really wonderful and the characters really made this book special.
Grendel's Guide to Love and War started off great. Even from the first few pages, I really loved it. I don't often find books that made me laugh out loud but Grendel's Guide did. The first or second chapter had me laughing like crazy.
The main character, Tom Grendel, was so well written and such a wonderful person. His father is a veteran and suffers from PTSD and Tom was so willing to take care of him. This book had realistic family dynamics and I really appreciated that.
Overall, this was a great read. I loved the characters and the representation of PTSD. It's very well written and the plot was really fun.
Grendel's Guide to Love and War started off great. Even from the first few pages, I really loved it. I don't often find books that made me laugh out loud but Grendel's Guide did. The first or second chapter had me laughing like crazy.
The main character, Tom Grendel, was so well written and such a wonderful person. His father is a veteran and suffers from PTSD and Tom was so willing to take care of him. This book had realistic family dynamics and I really appreciated that.
Overall, this was a great read. I loved the characters and the representation of PTSD. It's very well written and the plot was really fun.
July 22, 2016
This books was so much fun. I laughed out loud several times. If you have ever spent a sleepless night listening to bass pound through the wall and plotting revenge on the neighbors, this book is for you! Grendel and his best friend Ed (my new most favorite best friend in all of YA) come up with the most ingenious ways to stop the late night parties next door, only to have them backfire spectacularly (and hilariously). The relationships between all the quirky characters feel very real, and you will be routing for Grendel from the first page. The homage to Beowulf is an extra cool bonus.
April 19, 2017
If you're a fan of John Hughes and all of the fantastic teenage posses of the 1980's then you're going to want to read this GRENDEL'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND WAR. Set in the present day, Tom Grendel, his best friend Ed, and Tom's crush Willow, get into mischief and mayhem, and I enjoyed every second.
Tom and his dad live in a quiet neighbor that's primarily populated by elderly folk. This works out perfectly for Tom's dad, an Iraqi war vet, whose PTSD is less likely to be triggered in this usually peaceful environment. Tom adds to his college fund by mowing the lawns around the neighborhood, drinking tea so sweet he has to chew it, and taking the time to talk to ladies who don't get many visitors.
But Tom and his dad's peaceful serenity is disrupted when the Rothgar's make next door their new home and turn the neighborhood into party central. Tom is quite acquainted with Rex and Willow Rothgar and their mother due to their summer visits. Rex is a piece of work and is basically Tom's arch-nemesis. Willow is Tom's long-time crush but he doesn't have the nerve to tell her how he feels.
I love it when a character just charms the pants off me. Tom Grendel was that character for me. He was funny, a little self-depreciating, and just so darn endearing. Tom and his friends come up with fun and creative ways to get rid of his annoying new neighbors. Admittedly, some of this was a little exaggerated but I think this was all for the sake of comedic relief and I enjoyed it. This book was a quick read that was full of heart and I'd recommend it if that's what you're looking for.
* Thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending me an early copy for review.
* Thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending me an early copy for review.
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★★UPCOMING BOOK RELEASES★★
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April 29, 2018
"Tom no," Zip said. "Tom," I said, "yes."
* * * * *
5 / 5
This book managed to be a hilarious, witty, endearing and slightly heartbreaking page turner all at once. I was thoroughly impressed. This book had such a solid main cast from Tom Grendel himself, lawn mower and interviewer of old ladies, to his wild actress sister Zip, best friend Ed, and unruly teenagers next door, Willow and Rex (bro-iest bro ever to bro). It also managed to be so lighthearted and genuinely funny whilst touching on some serious topics.
There'd been a raw honesty to that moment. That was what I wanted: the rawness. The perfect distillation of self, with no lies, no clutter. The beautiful clarity of knowing and being known
Kaplan wrote in the Author's Note that this was actually very vaguely based off of Beowulf, which I haven't read so did not recognise the obvious allusion to Grendel, with teenage parties and escalating prank wars instead of sword-waving feuds. Grendel's Guide to Love and War is, in Kaplan's words, a story about loyalty and blood feuds, but also about memory and its intrinsic ties to intimacy, how the memories that get dredged up involuntarily can be even more powerful than those we seek out. I reckon that's pretty accurate.
Tom Grendel lives with his dad, an Iraq veteran, in a suburb entirely populated by retired old ladies. They pay Tom to mow their lawns and never has a party ever been heard until Ellen Rothgar comes to town with Willow and Rex in tow. When she goes away for a few weeks the music starts pumping and the weed is being smoked like there's no tomorrow - only problem is that this is wreaking havoc on Tom's dad's PTSD. So when he leaves town to get some peace, Tom and his friend Ed decide that they're going to get the party shut down. Tom's older sister Zip comes home for a spell, only to find that a misguided romance in the form of Wolf is "babysitting" the Rothgar kids. It starts with signal jammers and short circuiting and somewhere along the way involves the crazy neighbour with a gun, the local pig farmer who feeds his livestock "artisanal weed", and the local OAP with an eyepatch and a probation.
"It means," I said, "that I am about to own Rex Rothgar."
"What do you have in mind?"
Boldness. Brilliance. Manliness. I said, "Guile."
Most of the reason that I loved this book was down to the characters. Tom Grendel is one decent human being. Not only does he mow lawns and weed gardens for his college fund, he also interviews the inhabitants of his neighbourhood, wanting to preserve their stories. He's one of these people that shows you who he is, keeps no secrets, even if it ends in him in a lake full of snakes and his best mate Ed on the phone trying to bail him out. Ed Park's life dream is to become a premier-level vinteer and spends all his time using forged ID to get into wine tasting events. He also has a job at a doll cafe. It's these sorts of little details about the characters that make them real.
I laughed. "I am not your manic pixie dream boy, Willow Rothgar. I serve only myself"
Tom's had a crush on Willow Rothgar, who was in fact his first kiss, for a while. So when she moves next door he finds his chance to exchange some serious eye contact. At least until, you know, her brother Rex starts throwing banging house parties at 3am. So there's a little romance sideplot alongside the pranking, and then there's the Tom and Zip's mother. She died when Tom was younger and his dad doesn't much like to talk about her. He's chasing her memory whilst trying to hang on to a father who is still traumatised but not seeking help. This book threads together a lot of ideas really well. It's about family and memory and friendship and college and dealing with idiots.
The writing is also superb. The dialogue is pretty witty without being over the top and the text can be genuinely funny without making the book too "young". When I read on my Kindle I use the highlighter function for lines that are funny or poignant, and one of the first I underlined was:
I hadn't imagined that would be the last time I'd see Mrs Taylor ensconced in her substantial undergarments, waving a bag of Friskies and screaming
It blends seamlessly between this sort of casual humour and some really nice thoughtful ideas. I would absolutely recommend Grendel's Guide to Love and War as a light but unique read.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * * * *
5 / 5
This book managed to be a hilarious, witty, endearing and slightly heartbreaking page turner all at once. I was thoroughly impressed. This book had such a solid main cast from Tom Grendel himself, lawn mower and interviewer of old ladies, to his wild actress sister Zip, best friend Ed, and unruly teenagers next door, Willow and Rex (bro-iest bro ever to bro). It also managed to be so lighthearted and genuinely funny whilst touching on some serious topics.
There'd been a raw honesty to that moment. That was what I wanted: the rawness. The perfect distillation of self, with no lies, no clutter. The beautiful clarity of knowing and being known
Kaplan wrote in the Author's Note that this was actually very vaguely based off of Beowulf, which I haven't read so did not recognise the obvious allusion to Grendel, with teenage parties and escalating prank wars instead of sword-waving feuds. Grendel's Guide to Love and War is, in Kaplan's words, a story about loyalty and blood feuds, but also about memory and its intrinsic ties to intimacy, how the memories that get dredged up involuntarily can be even more powerful than those we seek out. I reckon that's pretty accurate.
Tom Grendel lives with his dad, an Iraq veteran, in a suburb entirely populated by retired old ladies. They pay Tom to mow their lawns and never has a party ever been heard until Ellen Rothgar comes to town with Willow and Rex in tow. When she goes away for a few weeks the music starts pumping and the weed is being smoked like there's no tomorrow - only problem is that this is wreaking havoc on Tom's dad's PTSD. So when he leaves town to get some peace, Tom and his friend Ed decide that they're going to get the party shut down. Tom's older sister Zip comes home for a spell, only to find that a misguided romance in the form of Wolf is "babysitting" the Rothgar kids. It starts with signal jammers and short circuiting and somewhere along the way involves the crazy neighbour with a gun, the local pig farmer who feeds his livestock "artisanal weed", and the local OAP with an eyepatch and a probation.
"It means," I said, "that I am about to own Rex Rothgar."
"What do you have in mind?"
Boldness. Brilliance. Manliness. I said, "Guile."
Most of the reason that I loved this book was down to the characters. Tom Grendel is one decent human being. Not only does he mow lawns and weed gardens for his college fund, he also interviews the inhabitants of his neighbourhood, wanting to preserve their stories. He's one of these people that shows you who he is, keeps no secrets, even if it ends in him in a lake full of snakes and his best mate Ed on the phone trying to bail him out. Ed Park's life dream is to become a premier-level vinteer and spends all his time using forged ID to get into wine tasting events. He also has a job at a doll cafe. It's these sorts of little details about the characters that make them real.
I laughed. "I am not your manic pixie dream boy, Willow Rothgar. I serve only myself"
Tom's had a crush on Willow Rothgar, who was in fact his first kiss, for a while. So when she moves next door he finds his chance to exchange some serious eye contact. At least until, you know, her brother Rex starts throwing banging house parties at 3am. So there's a little romance sideplot alongside the pranking, and then there's the Tom and Zip's mother. She died when Tom was younger and his dad doesn't much like to talk about her. He's chasing her memory whilst trying to hang on to a father who is still traumatised but not seeking help. This book threads together a lot of ideas really well. It's about family and memory and friendship and college and dealing with idiots.
The writing is also superb. The dialogue is pretty witty without being over the top and the text can be genuinely funny without making the book too "young". When I read on my Kindle I use the highlighter function for lines that are funny or poignant, and one of the first I underlined was:
I hadn't imagined that would be the last time I'd see Mrs Taylor ensconced in her substantial undergarments, waving a bag of Friskies and screaming
It blends seamlessly between this sort of casual humour and some really nice thoughtful ideas. I would absolutely recommend Grendel's Guide to Love and War as a light but unique read.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
May 8, 2017
YAY! Got this from Netgalley!
Cant wait to start it!
Cant wait to start it!
August 23, 2017
Excellent YA novel. Full of Beowulf references. I am not a Beowulf scholar, but I really liked all the characters and the way they dealt with their problems.
February 7, 2017
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
This was such a nice surprise! This is one of those books I requested on Netgalley impulsively because it sounded good and like something I might enjoy. I didn't really expect much of it but I was thrilled when I got approved. So I started reading it and then I ended up loving it quite a bit. I do love it when that happens. Though this might not be a new super-favorite and it didn't really wow me or anything, I still enjoyed it a whole lot. So let's get into it shall we?
Grendel's Guide to Love and War tells the story of Tom Grendel and his dad, who suffers from post-war PTSD. They live a quiet life and everything seems fine until their new neighbors move in and disturb the peace. Literally. Tom has had a crush on the girl, Willow, for quite some time now but can't really get along with her older brother Rex. And now that their mom is out of town a lot, Rex uses it to his advantage by throwing very loud parties that trigger Tom's dad's PTSD. So naturally, Tom goes into war-mode and will try anything to try and stop Rex's parties.
I had so much fun with this story, but there was a lot more to it and I loved that. Because it could've easily been a simple prank-war and gotten very silly very fast. But there was a lot of heart in this story too. It punched me in the feels almost as much as it made me laugh. Which was a lot. It was very balanced to me and even the romance never really controlled the plot, which is nice. It really is. Though, I do think some of the stuff that happens in this book could never happen in real life? Like, they wouldn't get away with this for so long you know? I do think people are capable of doing stuff like that because people are sometimes not very nice. But it just seemed a tad unrealistic that it took so long for the cops to really do something about the problem. But I do love how this book handled PTSD and grief. It was very respectful and romance didn't cure anything. Points for that!
I loved the characters! All of them. Well maybe not Rex or Wolf... they were... not nice. To be polite. Like... they were actually kind of major jerks and very disrespectful. But the sad thing is, that this is actually realistic because there are people like that. I was never completely sure about Willow? I liked her... but I never really connected to her. But she was kind of cool and sweet and the first time we see her in the book she has her hair in a messy bun and is wearing a Ravenclaw shirt, so #win. I LOVED Zipora, Tom's sister. She was sweet and kind of silly and crazy and kind of a mess in some ways but also awesome and yay sibling love! OH and major shout out to the old people living in Tom's neighborhood. They were the best!
My favorite two characters were, of course Tom and his best friend Ed. Their friendship is totally an epic bromance and I LOVED it. They were such great friends to each other. I love friendships like this in books. Ed was such a cool character. He's Korean and he likes wine and wants to dedicate his future to it and everything and he was funny and awesome and a great friend to Tom and I adore him. Tom is a fantastic MC. I rooted for him and I felt for him and I simply want to hug him because he's kind of very precious. He's sweet and funny and kind of a bit dorky and silly and impulsive, but also very smart. He interviews all of the old people in the neighborhood, collecting their life stories because he just likes knowing people very well. And he loves gardening and he's just precious. Because he's also still not over his mother's death and is dealing with his dad's PTSD too. So he just needed a hug, really. I love him. A lot.
So in the end I enjoyed this book a whole lot. It's fun and made me laugh out loud quite a few times but it's also very heartfelt and handles PTSD and grief beautifully. This is definitely a YA Contemporary you should check out if you can.
This was such a nice surprise! This is one of those books I requested on Netgalley impulsively because it sounded good and like something I might enjoy. I didn't really expect much of it but I was thrilled when I got approved. So I started reading it and then I ended up loving it quite a bit. I do love it when that happens. Though this might not be a new super-favorite and it didn't really wow me or anything, I still enjoyed it a whole lot. So let's get into it shall we?
Grendel's Guide to Love and War tells the story of Tom Grendel and his dad, who suffers from post-war PTSD. They live a quiet life and everything seems fine until their new neighbors move in and disturb the peace. Literally. Tom has had a crush on the girl, Willow, for quite some time now but can't really get along with her older brother Rex. And now that their mom is out of town a lot, Rex uses it to his advantage by throwing very loud parties that trigger Tom's dad's PTSD. So naturally, Tom goes into war-mode and will try anything to try and stop Rex's parties.
I had so much fun with this story, but there was a lot more to it and I loved that. Because it could've easily been a simple prank-war and gotten very silly very fast. But there was a lot of heart in this story too. It punched me in the feels almost as much as it made me laugh. Which was a lot. It was very balanced to me and even the romance never really controlled the plot, which is nice. It really is. Though, I do think some of the stuff that happens in this book could never happen in real life? Like, they wouldn't get away with this for so long you know? I do think people are capable of doing stuff like that because people are sometimes not very nice. But it just seemed a tad unrealistic that it took so long for the cops to really do something about the problem. But I do love how this book handled PTSD and grief. It was very respectful and romance didn't cure anything. Points for that!
I loved the characters! All of them. Well maybe not Rex or Wolf... they were... not nice. To be polite. Like... they were actually kind of major jerks and very disrespectful. But the sad thing is, that this is actually realistic because there are people like that. I was never completely sure about Willow? I liked her... but I never really connected to her. But she was kind of cool and sweet and the first time we see her in the book she has her hair in a messy bun and is wearing a Ravenclaw shirt, so #win. I LOVED Zipora, Tom's sister. She was sweet and kind of silly and crazy and kind of a mess in some ways but also awesome and yay sibling love! OH and major shout out to the old people living in Tom's neighborhood. They were the best!
My favorite two characters were, of course Tom and his best friend Ed. Their friendship is totally an epic bromance and I LOVED it. They were such great friends to each other. I love friendships like this in books. Ed was such a cool character. He's Korean and he likes wine and wants to dedicate his future to it and everything and he was funny and awesome and a great friend to Tom and I adore him. Tom is a fantastic MC. I rooted for him and I felt for him and I simply want to hug him because he's kind of very precious. He's sweet and funny and kind of a bit dorky and silly and impulsive, but also very smart. He interviews all of the old people in the neighborhood, collecting their life stories because he just likes knowing people very well. And he loves gardening and he's just precious. Because he's also still not over his mother's death and is dealing with his dad's PTSD too. So he just needed a hug, really. I love him. A lot.
So in the end I enjoyed this book a whole lot. It's fun and made me laugh out loud quite a few times but it's also very heartfelt and handles PTSD and grief beautifully. This is definitely a YA Contemporary you should check out if you can.
November 22, 2017
*4.5/5 stars
sometimes you find some great books from places you don’t expect, and that’s what this book was for me! i noticed it on the shelf of my local library after we had just finished a unit on beowulf & also grendel by john gardner, so i was drawn to the title instantly & picked it up on a whim. i really enjoyed it actually! it was humorous & intelligent, & kind of reminded me of a john green novel which i was definitely in the mood for after recently finishing turtles all the way down (which i loved as well). all the characters were fantastically developed and i genuinely connected to most of them. in sum, this book was a fantastic combination of humor, intelligence, sarcasm, and its fair share of heart-wrenching moments, and i am excited to read more books from this debut author!
- a.c.s.
*p.s. i am starting to write reviews because i have so much more thoughts on the books i read than simply a star rating, also writing reviews will allow me to critically examine books on many levels which i really want to do*
sometimes you find some great books from places you don’t expect, and that’s what this book was for me! i noticed it on the shelf of my local library after we had just finished a unit on beowulf & also grendel by john gardner, so i was drawn to the title instantly & picked it up on a whim. i really enjoyed it actually! it was humorous & intelligent, & kind of reminded me of a john green novel which i was definitely in the mood for after recently finishing turtles all the way down (which i loved as well). all the characters were fantastically developed and i genuinely connected to most of them. in sum, this book was a fantastic combination of humor, intelligence, sarcasm, and its fair share of heart-wrenching moments, and i am excited to read more books from this debut author!
- a.c.s.
*p.s. i am starting to write reviews because i have so much more thoughts on the books i read than simply a star rating, also writing reviews will allow me to critically examine books on many levels which i really want to do*
April 19, 2017
****ARC provided in exchange for an honest review***
A modern adaptation of Beowulf. Grendel's Guide to Love and War was a tough read for me. The description sounded quirky and interesting. Sadly I made it to about 69% and struggled to want to know how it will all end. Written with a younger audience in mind, the well written high jinx and endless pranks would definitely appeal more to an adolescent male audience. Which delights me all the same, since most teen/young adult books seem to be written to appeal more to a female audience.
The story focuses on the main character Grendal, his sister Zipora, and his best friend Ed (Who was my favorite character. What a guy!). The peace of Grendal's neighborhood is severely threatened by the 'new' next door neighbours and their unsupervised loud nightly parties. It is up to Grendal to put a stop to this and win back the thing he desires most. Precious sleep. Through a series of retaliatory pranks, the story is spun.
I did not get a lot of the humor between the three main characters, including their banter and dialogue. I found the lack of parental or adult involvement frustrating, coupled with the over the top pranks ended up making me feel the novel was going nowhere fast. You know, the 'definition of insanity'...and all that.
3 stars, because it was well written, unfortunately the characters fell flat, the plot monotonous. I am hopeful that the reason I feel this way is entirely personal and solely based on the fact that I am perhaps not the targeted audience for this read.
A modern adaptation of Beowulf. Grendel's Guide to Love and War was a tough read for me. The description sounded quirky and interesting. Sadly I made it to about 69% and struggled to want to know how it will all end. Written with a younger audience in mind, the well written high jinx and endless pranks would definitely appeal more to an adolescent male audience. Which delights me all the same, since most teen/young adult books seem to be written to appeal more to a female audience.
The story focuses on the main character Grendal, his sister Zipora, and his best friend Ed (Who was my favorite character. What a guy!). The peace of Grendal's neighborhood is severely threatened by the 'new' next door neighbours and their unsupervised loud nightly parties. It is up to Grendal to put a stop to this and win back the thing he desires most. Precious sleep. Through a series of retaliatory pranks, the story is spun.
I did not get a lot of the humor between the three main characters, including their banter and dialogue. I found the lack of parental or adult involvement frustrating, coupled with the over the top pranks ended up making me feel the novel was going nowhere fast. You know, the 'definition of insanity'...and all that.
3 stars, because it was well written, unfortunately the characters fell flat, the plot monotonous. I am hopeful that the reason I feel this way is entirely personal and solely based on the fact that I am perhaps not the targeted audience for this read.
November 30, 2025
Boring. Not really a plot or interesting characters.
May 5, 2017
This is definitely a unique story! Tom is an interesting character, though what I liked best about him was simply that most of his close friends were just old widows whom he sort of looked after, and he definitely gets up to some strange antics in what has to be the most intense prank war of all time.
What I would have liked to see more of was his relationship with his father - I mean, his dad is one of the most interesting characters in the book, and he disappears for more than half of it - and a deeper storyline for his obsession with his late mother's art. I think that could have played a much more central role in the overall story (This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills does that beautifully, but this book kind of falls short of the mark there for me - it just doesn't pack the same kind of emotional punch).
I really wanted to love this book, but instead I came out feeling like it was a solid read that could have been something truly amazing with just a little more DEPTH. If you're in the mood for something light and funny with just a touch of emotional depth, this is a good choice for your summer reading list.
What I would have liked to see more of was his relationship with his father - I mean, his dad is one of the most interesting characters in the book, and he disappears for more than half of it - and a deeper storyline for his obsession with his late mother's art. I think that could have played a much more central role in the overall story (This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills does that beautifully, but this book kind of falls short of the mark there for me - it just doesn't pack the same kind of emotional punch).
I really wanted to love this book, but instead I came out feeling like it was a solid read that could have been something truly amazing with just a little more DEPTH. If you're in the mood for something light and funny with just a touch of emotional depth, this is a good choice for your summer reading list.
October 9, 2019
Dit boek was alles wat ik wilde, ookal kan ik me nu al amper meer herinneren waar het over ging? Heel spannend dit, haha,
February 11, 2025
I was 3/4 through before I realized this was a retelling of Beowulf. Clearly, I have not read Beowulf. So that made me feel kind of dumb. Ah well.
May 8, 2019
This is another book I read because I will be meeting the author in the near future. I don’t think it’s something I would have gone out of my way to pick up and read otherwise. Despite this, I really enjoyed reading it. After reading the authors note at the end of the book, I learned that the goal was to create a loose retelling of Beowulf. Now, I have never actually read Beowulf but have a general understanding of the topics within. So, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the retelling.
Aside from all of that I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun and exciting read that I didn’t want to put down. I read it in a day or two because it was fun and the characters kept me wanting to come back and see how they defeated the neighbors. I thought Grendel was caring and quirky. I loved how much he loved his dad, his sister, and Ed. I liked how he cared about all the old ladies in his neighborhood. I thought he was sweet and hardworking. I enjoyed him immensely.
I found myself really enjoying Zipora, Grendel’s sister. She was sassy and wild. I thought she brought a slight bit of ‘over the top’ness to the story. The same goes for Ed. He was full of quirks and odd little tidbits. His job made me laugh, and his dream of making wine was interesting for sure.
Overall, this story was fun. The antics these characters got into were amusing and entertaining. I enjoyed learning all about the characters and seeing what kind of chaos would be created in their next plan to end the parties next door. It wasn’t anything that blew me out of the water but it was well written and enjoyable to read.
Aside from all of that I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun and exciting read that I didn’t want to put down. I read it in a day or two because it was fun and the characters kept me wanting to come back and see how they defeated the neighbors. I thought Grendel was caring and quirky. I loved how much he loved his dad, his sister, and Ed. I liked how he cared about all the old ladies in his neighborhood. I thought he was sweet and hardworking. I enjoyed him immensely.
I found myself really enjoying Zipora, Grendel’s sister. She was sassy and wild. I thought she brought a slight bit of ‘over the top’ness to the story. The same goes for Ed. He was full of quirks and odd little tidbits. His job made me laugh, and his dream of making wine was interesting for sure.
Overall, this story was fun. The antics these characters got into were amusing and entertaining. I enjoyed learning all about the characters and seeing what kind of chaos would be created in their next plan to end the parties next door. It wasn’t anything that blew me out of the water but it was well written and enjoyable to read.
December 31, 2017
Quirky and hilarious, though I feel like it got a bit old by the end. Also, I really wasn't a fan of the running gag with Zip and Ed.
June 13, 2018
Plentiful broad humor never gets in the way of this novel's surprising sweetness.
keywords: the return of the Bumpus hounds; wistfully missing mom; hey petunia; Miss Enigmatic lives next door & maybe likes me; don't call me darling, you bastard; I was taught to always be polite to old battle-ax biddies; another American Girl tea party scene; hey illustrator, reel pushmowers don't have engines; IRL we little old ladies are actually a much more diverse lot but why quibble
Four stars on the YA lit scale, three IRL.
Nerdteen nice-guy Tom Grendel just wants peace and quiet, but he'll sink to a running war of creative retaliatory pranks against the party animals next door if he has to.
keywords: the return of the Bumpus hounds; wistfully missing mom; hey petunia; Miss Enigmatic lives next door & maybe likes me; don't call me darling, you bastard; I was taught to always be polite to old battle-ax biddies; another American Girl tea party scene; hey illustrator, reel pushmowers don't have engines; IRL we little old ladies are actually a much more diverse lot but why quibble
Four stars on the YA lit scale, three IRL.
September 12, 2016
(Read as an ARC.)
Aw geez, rip my heart in pieces why don't you? I crushed on Tom Grendel from page 1 and still miss him a few days after reading (is that gross? I'm waaay older than Zip). Such a great (and funny) story about memories and healing- I finished it just before 9/11 and all the newspapers were printing stories about families finding healing several years later, and Kaplan's book was so in-line with those experiences. Nailed it. Brava.
Aw geez, rip my heart in pieces why don't you? I crushed on Tom Grendel from page 1 and still miss him a few days after reading (is that gross? I'm waaay older than Zip). Such a great (and funny) story about memories and healing- I finished it just before 9/11 and all the newspapers were printing stories about families finding healing several years later, and Kaplan's book was so in-line with those experiences. Nailed it. Brava.
September 26, 2016
This book had me laughing out loud - a lot - and feeling a tug at my heart - a lot. Tom Grendel. What a guy. And what a story, with quirky, memorable characters. So much humor and wit and the sadness of loss and memory - Tom's summer and his quest to not only shut down the shenanigans next door but to work his way through his grief will stay with me for a long time.
February 10, 2021
I checked this out thinking it was a literary reimagining of Beowulf. It turned out to be a pretty cute YA novel about high schoolers that I actually enjoyed more than actual Beowulf, a fact that led me to the promised titular existential angst. Is this who I am? Is this what I'm in to? Sigh, guess so.
September 20, 2025
4.5 stars
gosh I do enjoy this book very much and it was a lot of fun to reread it right after I read a new to me translation of Beowulf - noticed even more allusions that way.
gosh I do enjoy this book very much and it was a lot of fun to reread it right after I read a new to me translation of Beowulf - noticed even more allusions that way.
October 25, 2019
overall not really that good but it was exactly what I needed rn soooo
April 12, 2017
**I received this as an egalley from Edelweiss in return for an honest review.**
This book was funny, heart-warming, and all too real at times, making for a great story that was fun to read and made you think all the same. A strongly modernized retelling of Beowulf from Grendel's point-of-view, this book follows Tom Grendel who falls into a prank war with his neighbor in an attempt to stop the music-blaring parties that are triggering his father's post-Iraq PTSD. In fact, I didn't even realize this was a retelling until the author's note at the end (it's been a while since I've read Beowulf, so I didn't really make the connection to be honest.)
The book started off strongly, with an excellent first few chapters, and continued from there. The plot was engaging and interesting, bouncing back and forth between Tom's prank war and his interactions with his neighbors, his best friend, and his sister, as well dealing with his own desire to understand and know his mother who had passed away when he was nine. It moves at an excellent pace, keeping the reader engaged and interested throughout the story. I did, however, feel that the prank plot and the plot dealing with Tom's mother and his own existential crisis were a little separated from each other and did not really connect all that well at times. Other than that, though, it definitely had me captured from the start and kept me interested all the way through to the end.
The characters were interesting and seemingly well-rounded, but I did not feel completely connected to them in any way. Perhaps it was their given circumstances, but while I enjoyed reading about Tom's plight and his desire to know people through their stories and experiences, I did not fully connect to him in any way. I thought Willow, the love interest, was aloof and vague, more of an idea than a character, and despite her claim to not be that "manic pixie dream girl", she still reminded me an awful lot of teenage female characters of the John Green-type, full of her own personal angst that she does not want to share but which makes her all the more appealing for the main character to pine over. I think the two characters I enjoyed the most were Ed Park, Tom's best friend, who is always there to help Tom, has his own issues he is dealing with, and is an all-around enjoyable character, and Zipora, Tom's sister, who greatly shows how many post-grads feel about the world at large as they become more and more disillusioned with it in the struggle to find a job and understand themselves.
Overall, this was a fun read, full of lots of ups and downs, some existential crisis moments, some hilarious prank moments, and characters that are interesting to read about. The prank war brought a fun aspect to it that was engaging and sometimes strange, but made for a read that balanced the hard parts with ones that made me laugh. It also had a lot to say about what it means to know someone, to remember them and understand them, as well as just some great moments between people in many different relationship aspects that felt real and understandable. 4 stars.
*I would like to note that the egalley I received was missing a scene since at one point it jumped between places in the middle of a sentence. It did not seem like I missed too much, though.
This book was funny, heart-warming, and all too real at times, making for a great story that was fun to read and made you think all the same. A strongly modernized retelling of Beowulf from Grendel's point-of-view, this book follows Tom Grendel who falls into a prank war with his neighbor in an attempt to stop the music-blaring parties that are triggering his father's post-Iraq PTSD. In fact, I didn't even realize this was a retelling until the author's note at the end (it's been a while since I've read Beowulf, so I didn't really make the connection to be honest.)
The book started off strongly, with an excellent first few chapters, and continued from there. The plot was engaging and interesting, bouncing back and forth between Tom's prank war and his interactions with his neighbors, his best friend, and his sister, as well dealing with his own desire to understand and know his mother who had passed away when he was nine. It moves at an excellent pace, keeping the reader engaged and interested throughout the story. I did, however, feel that the prank plot and the plot dealing with Tom's mother and his own existential crisis were a little separated from each other and did not really connect all that well at times. Other than that, though, it definitely had me captured from the start and kept me interested all the way through to the end.
The characters were interesting and seemingly well-rounded, but I did not feel completely connected to them in any way. Perhaps it was their given circumstances, but while I enjoyed reading about Tom's plight and his desire to know people through their stories and experiences, I did not fully connect to him in any way. I thought Willow, the love interest, was aloof and vague, more of an idea than a character, and despite her claim to not be that "manic pixie dream girl", she still reminded me an awful lot of teenage female characters of the John Green-type, full of her own personal angst that she does not want to share but which makes her all the more appealing for the main character to pine over. I think the two characters I enjoyed the most were Ed Park, Tom's best friend, who is always there to help Tom, has his own issues he is dealing with, and is an all-around enjoyable character, and Zipora, Tom's sister, who greatly shows how many post-grads feel about the world at large as they become more and more disillusioned with it in the struggle to find a job and understand themselves.
Overall, this was a fun read, full of lots of ups and downs, some existential crisis moments, some hilarious prank moments, and characters that are interesting to read about. The prank war brought a fun aspect to it that was engaging and sometimes strange, but made for a read that balanced the hard parts with ones that made me laugh. It also had a lot to say about what it means to know someone, to remember them and understand them, as well as just some great moments between people in many different relationship aspects that felt real and understandable. 4 stars.
*I would like to note that the egalley I received was missing a scene since at one point it jumped between places in the middle of a sentence. It did not seem like I missed too much, though.
June 20, 2017
"No matter how much I wanted to ignore the situation, I couldn't forget: there were more important things than what I wanted.
'It means,' I said, 'that I am about to own Rex Rothgar.'
'What do you have in mind?'
Boldness. Brilliance. Manliness.
I said, 'Guile.'"
Tom Grendel lives in a neighborhood of senior citizens, where he finds simple pleasure in doing lawn work and interviewing the elderly community about their lives.
Sounds like a blast, I know, but the summer has different plans.
Willow Rothgar, Tom's true love interest, is moving next door, along with her older brother, Rex Rothgar. Sure, this gives Tom room to stalk, but it also opens up something terrible.
Parties. Ragers with an unhealthy mix of alcohol and obnoxious music, every single night.
Tom, living with an Iraq vet with PTSD, is livid. And the old women of the neighborhood are pretty pissed too.
When Tom's Dad leaves for a few weeks, Tom has a mission. Stop Rex Rothgar. This is going to be hard for a few reasons.
1. Rex just naturally hates Tom.
2. Okay, who is just going to stop throwing 'fun' parties with beer and music?
3. Rex doesn't respect the fact that Tom's father has PTSD. In fact, he doesn't care at all.
With the help of Tom's best friend, Ed Park, and his older sister, Zipora Grendel, Tom and his team have to come up with creative and hopefully effective ways to stop Rex and his evil cousin Wolf Gates with their stupid late night parties.
There will be stoner pigs. And sleeping in a graveyard. And plenty of existential angst.
"'Tom, no.' Zip said.
'Tom,' I said, 'yes.'"
Grendel's Guide To Love And War has got it all. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and quirky. The whole package.
I've been waiting for a book like this one. It's got just the right amount of spunky narrative to carry deeper messages. It told the story of how sometimes romances don't work out the way that people believe they should. It told the story of how sometimes, people are real assholes. It doesn't matter what you do, they will always be bad because that's just the kind of person that they are. It told the story of obsession, how sometimes you never really get over loss. It comes back in different ways than just crying about it, and that's okay. Sometimes it's okay to let go, and sometimes it's okay to hold on too.
You must read Grendel's Guide to Love and War. There is no question about it.
"She folded her arms. 'This entire neighborhood is filled with mindless, spineless old biddies. I tell you, if I was in charge... Well, I'm not, am I?' She poked me again. 'You have to fix this.'
I wasn't sure whether to be flattered because she thought I could somehow fix this, or be offended that she thought I was expendable enough to try."
'It means,' I said, 'that I am about to own Rex Rothgar.'
'What do you have in mind?'
Boldness. Brilliance. Manliness.
I said, 'Guile.'"
Tom Grendel lives in a neighborhood of senior citizens, where he finds simple pleasure in doing lawn work and interviewing the elderly community about their lives.
Sounds like a blast, I know, but the summer has different plans.
Willow Rothgar, Tom's true love interest, is moving next door, along with her older brother, Rex Rothgar. Sure, this gives Tom room to stalk, but it also opens up something terrible.
Parties. Ragers with an unhealthy mix of alcohol and obnoxious music, every single night.
Tom, living with an Iraq vet with PTSD, is livid. And the old women of the neighborhood are pretty pissed too.
When Tom's Dad leaves for a few weeks, Tom has a mission. Stop Rex Rothgar. This is going to be hard for a few reasons.
1. Rex just naturally hates Tom.
2. Okay, who is just going to stop throwing 'fun' parties with beer and music?
3. Rex doesn't respect the fact that Tom's father has PTSD. In fact, he doesn't care at all.
With the help of Tom's best friend, Ed Park, and his older sister, Zipora Grendel, Tom and his team have to come up with creative and hopefully effective ways to stop Rex and his evil cousin Wolf Gates with their stupid late night parties.
There will be stoner pigs. And sleeping in a graveyard. And plenty of existential angst.
"'Tom, no.' Zip said.
'Tom,' I said, 'yes.'"
Grendel's Guide To Love And War has got it all. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and quirky. The whole package.
I've been waiting for a book like this one. It's got just the right amount of spunky narrative to carry deeper messages. It told the story of how sometimes romances don't work out the way that people believe they should. It told the story of how sometimes, people are real assholes. It doesn't matter what you do, they will always be bad because that's just the kind of person that they are. It told the story of obsession, how sometimes you never really get over loss. It comes back in different ways than just crying about it, and that's okay. Sometimes it's okay to let go, and sometimes it's okay to hold on too.
You must read Grendel's Guide to Love and War. There is no question about it.
"She folded her arms. 'This entire neighborhood is filled with mindless, spineless old biddies. I tell you, if I was in charge... Well, I'm not, am I?' She poked me again. 'You have to fix this.'
I wasn't sure whether to be flattered because she thought I could somehow fix this, or be offended that she thought I was expendable enough to try."
September 16, 2019
I'm having a hard time deciding how I feel about this book. I love the idea of Grendel being a peculiar kid wanting to shut down his neighbor's parties. I like Grendel's overall characterization. He's significantly different from his peers without the author playing into the outcast loner trope. I like that the author makes a point of having several people invite Grendel to the parties to make it clear that feeling left out isn't his motivation to try to shut the parties down. These feel like strong, deliberate writing decisions. I also think that the writing style is pretty strong, particularly in the beginning of the book, though the quality of the author's voice seems to taper off as the book goes on. I was reading the first few pages during silent reading time in my classroom and had to stop myself from laughing out loud at the description of the family therapy session.
On the other hand, despite loving the premise and characterization, I feel like the novel requires a little more suspension of disbelief that I am will to or capable of giving. There are numerous simple solutions to the problems setting up the action in the book that are explained away with increasingly flimsy explanations. My reading experience was an ongoing battle between "I'm enjoying this and want to see where it goes," and "This is getting a little too contrived."
I was also not crazy about the love interest, Willow's, characterization. She seems to be written as one of those mysterious, unknowable girls that the dude is hung up on even though she is usually dismissive and moody and doesn't have any immediately discernible redeeming qualities. At first I assumed A.E. must be a male author because Willow's characterization felt shallow and cliche. I could see a male author being willing to overlook the roundness of her character because, to be frank, character isn't always the highest priority on the list of well-rounded things a guy is looking for in a woman. For this reason, I was surprised to learn in the author's notes at the end that A.E. is a woman.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and though it had plenty of five-star moments, I couldn't bring myself to give it more than three.
On the other hand, despite loving the premise and characterization, I feel like the novel requires a little more suspension of disbelief that I am will to or capable of giving. There are numerous simple solutions to the problems setting up the action in the book that are explained away with increasingly flimsy explanations. My reading experience was an ongoing battle between "I'm enjoying this and want to see where it goes," and "This is getting a little too contrived."
I was also not crazy about the love interest, Willow's, characterization. She seems to be written as one of those mysterious, unknowable girls that the dude is hung up on even though she is usually dismissive and moody and doesn't have any immediately discernible redeeming qualities. At first I assumed A.E. must be a male author because Willow's characterization felt shallow and cliche. I could see a male author being willing to overlook the roundness of her character because, to be frank, character isn't always the highest priority on the list of well-rounded things a guy is looking for in a woman. For this reason, I was surprised to learn in the author's notes at the end that A.E. is a woman.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and though it had plenty of five-star moments, I couldn't bring myself to give it more than three.
June 17, 2017
This was incredibly fun, thoughtful, energetic and quirky. It's everything you want from a good YA book: hints of Catcher in the Rye with none of the terrible slowness but definitely some of the introspective moments (only with LOTS of humor), diverse and unique characters making and breaking relationships and coming to grips with themselves, their place in the world, and the meaning of love and memory.
Based loosely on Beowolf (something I learned from the author's note, not knowing more than that the names were familiar otherwise); this story covers Tom as he goes through the summer in Virginia, mowing lawns for his elderly neighbors. His Veteran dad suffers from untreated and undiagnosed (but likely PTSD) post-war trauma which is roughly triggered one night when the young new neighbors next door through an ear-shatteringly loud teen party. Dad heads off "for work" for weeks and it is up to Tom and his best friend Ed, the aspiring professional winemaker (whose testing method for whether a girl is acceptable to continue dating involves asking if she would try kimchi), to try to bring peace back to the neighborhood. All while Tom navigates a budding potential romance with Willow; sister of his new nemesis neighbor.
I loved some of the diversity (One set of Tom's neighbors is an elderly lesbian couple and it's just Part of the World without being a "thing" so that was lovely if limited since these are the neighbors who leave early on). Ed is Korean American and one of my favorite characters because he is unique and fun and one of the more deeply explored of the limited cast of side-characters. Tom's sister is also really fascinating and nuanced, something rare in a lot of YA (particularly one which is so mc-focused for so much of the story).
There's lots of humor, some laughable revenge-plots and even some "come-uppence" moments that will feel good to the reader.
Lots is left open-ended though so it would be a good book-club read due to some of the great thought-provoking quotes and how some plots threads aren't really neatly wrapped up.
A quick a recommended read.
Based loosely on Beowolf (something I learned from the author's note, not knowing more than that the names were familiar otherwise); this story covers Tom as he goes through the summer in Virginia, mowing lawns for his elderly neighbors. His Veteran dad suffers from untreated and undiagnosed (but likely PTSD) post-war trauma which is roughly triggered one night when the young new neighbors next door through an ear-shatteringly loud teen party. Dad heads off "for work" for weeks and it is up to Tom and his best friend Ed, the aspiring professional winemaker (whose testing method for whether a girl is acceptable to continue dating involves asking if she would try kimchi), to try to bring peace back to the neighborhood. All while Tom navigates a budding potential romance with Willow; sister of his new nemesis neighbor.
I loved some of the diversity (One set of Tom's neighbors is an elderly lesbian couple and it's just Part of the World without being a "thing" so that was lovely if limited since these are the neighbors who leave early on). Ed is Korean American and one of my favorite characters because he is unique and fun and one of the more deeply explored of the limited cast of side-characters. Tom's sister is also really fascinating and nuanced, something rare in a lot of YA (particularly one which is so mc-focused for so much of the story).
There's lots of humor, some laughable revenge-plots and even some "come-uppence" moments that will feel good to the reader.
Lots is left open-ended though so it would be a good book-club read due to some of the great thought-provoking quotes and how some plots threads aren't really neatly wrapped up.
A quick a recommended read.
April 12, 2017
This book deserves ALL the stars!
First, let's talk about this whole Beowulf thing. I honestly knew NOTHING about this book when I started reading it - I didn't even read the official blurb until after the fact. I requested it from NetGalley because as a school librarian I request every single middle grade and YA title and sample a gazillion of them, only finishing the ones that grab me within the first chapter or so. This one grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I laughed and I cried, sometimes simultaneously, and fell so deeply in love with Tom Grendel. But. I had no idea there was a Beowulf storyline, and to be honest, it wouldn't have mattered because I have never read Beowulf (Oh come on. Have you?). Maybe I would have a completely different opinion of this book if I knew that story? Who knows, but what I do know is that none of my high school students have read Beowulf either, and I know a bunch of kids who I will immediately hand this book to. I'm sure there is added depth for those familiar with that body of work, but for those unashamed of our unfamiliarity with it, there is plenty of material to love. For those who want more information on that part of the storyline, there is back matter describing the author's motivation regarding Beowulf (and which represents my complete knowledge of the topic).
A few of the things about Grendel's Guide to Love and War that I especially loved:
1) Grendel's respect for and kindness toward all of the older women he is surrounded by in his neighborhood. There were so many times I just wanted to hug him for being so sweet.
2) His aching grief for his mother, and his quest to really know who she was. The emotions were so raw and real, and made me cry.
3) His relationship with his father, a man traumatized by his military combat experiences. The fact that his entire feud with his neighbors is based on his attempt to save his father from PTSD episodes is absolutely heartbreaking.
4) Just how extremely FUNNY this book is! I don't want to include spoilers, but some of the pranks were completely ridiculous and I loved the author's descriptions and writing style during these scenes. Was everything believable? Not really, but I didn't care.
Required reading for fans of John Green and Jeff Zentner.
I received a digital ARC of this title for review - all opinions are my own.
First, let's talk about this whole Beowulf thing. I honestly knew NOTHING about this book when I started reading it - I didn't even read the official blurb until after the fact. I requested it from NetGalley because as a school librarian I request every single middle grade and YA title and sample a gazillion of them, only finishing the ones that grab me within the first chapter or so. This one grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I laughed and I cried, sometimes simultaneously, and fell so deeply in love with Tom Grendel. But. I had no idea there was a Beowulf storyline, and to be honest, it wouldn't have mattered because I have never read Beowulf (Oh come on. Have you?). Maybe I would have a completely different opinion of this book if I knew that story? Who knows, but what I do know is that none of my high school students have read Beowulf either, and I know a bunch of kids who I will immediately hand this book to. I'm sure there is added depth for those familiar with that body of work, but for those unashamed of our unfamiliarity with it, there is plenty of material to love. For those who want more information on that part of the storyline, there is back matter describing the author's motivation regarding Beowulf (and which represents my complete knowledge of the topic).
A few of the things about Grendel's Guide to Love and War that I especially loved:
1) Grendel's respect for and kindness toward all of the older women he is surrounded by in his neighborhood. There were so many times I just wanted to hug him for being so sweet.
2) His aching grief for his mother, and his quest to really know who she was. The emotions were so raw and real, and made me cry.
3) His relationship with his father, a man traumatized by his military combat experiences. The fact that his entire feud with his neighbors is based on his attempt to save his father from PTSD episodes is absolutely heartbreaking.
4) Just how extremely FUNNY this book is! I don't want to include spoilers, but some of the pranks were completely ridiculous and I loved the author's descriptions and writing style during these scenes. Was everything believable? Not really, but I didn't care.
Required reading for fans of John Green and Jeff Zentner.
I received a digital ARC of this title for review - all opinions are my own.
March 27, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Revenge of the Nerds in the description intrigued me with this one, but I didn't really get much of either from it honestly. "What is the point of this?" what my thought through most of the book, and I just didn't really enjoy it. Good aspects of the book got buried in the prank business going on, and the book just lost me early on and never caught me. I enjoyed the interactions with the elderly neighbors and some of the conversations between Tom and Ed and Tom and Zipora, so a book that focused more on those relationships along a different storyline maybe would have interested me more. The prank stuff just wasn't for me, I guess. Also, being loosely based on Beowolf definitely isn't for me, as I hated it every time I had to read it for school and had to watch multiple films based off of it. I had to read the thing 3 times between high school and college and watch multiple film adaptions, which is way too much for something I really do not enjoy. I had somehow missed that there was a connection to it until I already committed myself to reading it. So, to sum it up, this one wasn't for me, and I didn't enjoy it all that much overall. It wasn't poorly written, though, so I didn't want to rate it too low. So, 3 stars it is. I do think there is a good audience for the book, and it might be interesting to have high school kids read it along with Beowolf as a modern day adaption. Despite not enjoying it myself so much, I would recommend the book because I think there are definitely readers who will enjoy it, and it is well-written.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Revenge of the Nerds in the description intrigued me with this one, but I didn't really get much of either from it honestly. "What is the point of this?" what my thought through most of the book, and I just didn't really enjoy it. Good aspects of the book got buried in the prank business going on, and the book just lost me early on and never caught me. I enjoyed the interactions with the elderly neighbors and some of the conversations between Tom and Ed and Tom and Zipora, so a book that focused more on those relationships along a different storyline maybe would have interested me more. The prank stuff just wasn't for me, I guess. Also, being loosely based on Beowolf definitely isn't for me, as I hated it every time I had to read it for school and had to watch multiple films based off of it. I had to read the thing 3 times between high school and college and watch multiple film adaptions, which is way too much for something I really do not enjoy. I had somehow missed that there was a connection to it until I already committed myself to reading it. So, to sum it up, this one wasn't for me, and I didn't enjoy it all that much overall. It wasn't poorly written, though, so I didn't want to rate it too low. So, 3 stars it is. I do think there is a good audience for the book, and it might be interesting to have high school kids read it along with Beowolf as a modern day adaption. Despite not enjoying it myself so much, I would recommend the book because I think there are definitely readers who will enjoy it, and it is well-written.
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