Lucky Few

by Kathryn Ormsbee

Stevie, Max, and Sanger: keeping Austin weird.

Stevie Hart is homeschooled, but don’t hold that against her. Sure, she and her best (okay, only) friend, Sanger, will never be prom queens, but that’s just because the Central Austin Homeschool Cooperative doesn’t believe in proms. Or dancing. Still, Stevie and Sanger know how to create their own brand of fun.

Enter Max Garza, the new boy next door. After a near-fatal accident, Max is determined to defy mortality with a checklist: 23 Ways to Fake My Death Without Dying. Dead set on carrying out fabricated demises ranging from impalement to spontaneous combustion, Max charms Stevie and Sanger into helping him with this two-month macabre mission. But as Stevie finds herself falling for Max, it becomes increasingly difficult to draw a line between his make-believe deaths and her real life.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Young Adult Contemporary

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

Kathryn Ormsbee is the author of contemporary novels for children and young adults, including Growing Pangs, Candidly Cline, and Tash Hearts Tolstoy.

Her books have been critically acclaimed, translated into eight languages, selected for the Indie Next List and Junior Library Guild, and made “best of” lists at NPR, Amazon, Kirkus, and the Chicago and New York Public Libraries. She lives with her wife in Texas.

Reviews

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
4.5*

This was a fun book. I didn't really think it was going to be as fun as it was, actually. Of course I thought it would be good or I wouldn't have wanted to read it, but I was not expecting laugh-out-loud funny either. Stevie and Sanger are just delightfully weird, and when Max comes into the picture, well, he and his wacky fake-deaths fit right in somehow. I think I assumed it would be extra tragic? Frankly, I thought that we were going to find out that Max really DID have some terminal illness, or that Stevie's diabetes was going to do her in. I was basically scared of some kind of TFIOS moment.

And sure, faking one's death 23 times is kind of silly (and in hindsight, disrespectful) but... they're kids. And they learn a lot throughout their adventures, which I think makes it worth it. Because look, who among us hasn't done something when we were younger (or even now) that in retrospect was a little flippant? That's how we learn, right?

I really loved all the characters. They were very well done, and I found myself caring for each of them- even some of the more minor ones. I felt like they were the kind of quirky people I'd know in real life. They weren't perfect, either, which I liked. Sanger tried to be tough all the time, even to the point of hurting her friend, Stevie could be judgmental, and she was quite sheltered. And Max... well, he was faking his death 23 times, so there's that. But they were just decent kids trying to navigate their way through changing relationships and growing up.

I think the best part was that each of them learned so much about themselves- and each other- along the way. And the reader was endlessly entertained by their shenanigans, and yes, by some of the more poignant moments as well. Because while it was a fun book, it did tackle a bit of the tougher stuff too, which is kind of my favorite thing in a contemporary novel.

Bottom Line: The writing was fabulous and funny, the story flowed perfectly, and the characters were so much fun to read. A definite win!

**Copy provided by publisher for review

[Destiny Soria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like taking a leisurely stroll through all the best parts of a John Hughes’ film, with a few scenic detours through the cult classic Harold and Maude. The story is from the POV of Stevie, a “Normal Type” homeschooler with no shortage of dry wit and teenage pessimism. She and her best friend Sanger, who (1) drives a lemon-yellow Fiat and (2) is basically my patronus, join forces with Max, the new kid in town, as he attempts to fake his death in 23 ways (without actually dying).

Here are some things I love about this book, in no particular order:

1. Sanger (okay, well slightly particular order, because Sanger is the best). She’s cocky, smart as a whip, and devastatingly clever. So basically, all my favorite things. She also takes a ridiculously long time to text, rocks red aviators, and her favorite composer is Grieg. I could probably start a Sanger fan club. In fact, maybe I will. But moving on…

2. Stevie’s friendship with Sanger. These two have been through a lot together, but their friendship has only grown more flavorful with age. I love their loyalty and honesty with each other, and I felt it was a beautiful, authentic look at what it’s really like to have a best friend—rather than the watered-down version of female friendships that popular media constantly tries to feed us.

3. Stevie’s activism. Stevie’s favorite spot in Austin—Barton Springs—is in danger of being destroyed by a big corporation’s encroaching pollution. For Stevie, Barton Springs is so much more than a public pool—it’s her personal safe haven, tied to precious memories with Sanger.

4. Max’s fake deaths. I mean, they are kind of the driving force of the entire plot. Some of my favorites include Allergic Reaction (Max eats a ghost pepper) and Scared to Death (there are Abraham Lincoln and Prince Charles masks involved). It’s not all fun and games though. The three teens figure out pretty quickly that flirting with morbidity is asking for trouble.

5. The kissing. Kirkus says there’s just the right amount of it, and I wholeheartedly agree. (Well, okay, I wouldn’t complain if there were a little more.)

Overall, this book is clever, genuine, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and brimming with the best kind of gallows humor. It’s impossible to pick any single theme that this book encompasses—there are so many important ideas woven skillfully into the narrative. And really, that impossibility is representative of one of the story’s central questions. At the beginning, Stevie categorizes homeschoolers into four neat groups, but by the end she’s asking herself why it is that we are so eager to pigeonhole our fellow humans, when nothing else in the world can be categorized so easily. It’s something that bears thinking about—whether you’re a teen or an adult.

[Marci Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW...
Loved. this. book.
LOVED.

A beautifully written story of loss and acceptance, of humor and tragedy, of finding yourself by losing yourself.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Stevie, Max, and Sanger: keeping Austin weird."

I always associate Austin with being this quirky place, and so, I feel it was the perfect backdrop for this lovely story of friendship, first love, and accepting that some things are out of our control, while we can fight for others.

As I said, this story covers quite a few things, but for me, the heart of this book was the friendship between Stevie and Sanger. They were super tight, ride-or-die friends, and their affection and dedication to each other was a beautiful thing.

You know I was all over the sweet and endearing romance that was in play, but I also loved the dynamic between all the characters. I found them funny and interesting and couldn't wait to see what they would do next. I also found them very real and honest, and their interactions were always worth witnessing.

Overall: a fun, interesting, and thought provoking story filled with great characters, which both warmed and broke my heart.

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[Zemira Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Lucky Few made me feel like I was a part of this funky trio.

I don't even care some of the people on Goodreads complaining about the depiction of homeschooling. There's no such thing in my country so I was desperate to get any type of info about the whole process. The book had two different homeschoolers so it's not like she only showed us one side of the story.

Forgive me for not writing a better review. I read the book weeks ago so my memory is kind of fuzzy.

I just found out her next book is going to be about an internet famous asexual and I can't wait to read it. I can see why she's at S&S.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: homophobia, needles and medical crises (the protagonist is diabetic), death of a parent (in the past), car accident (in the past), accidents involving circular saws and fingers (in the past but still horrifying ohgod), simulations of death(???), blood.

Well, this was super cute. It's the story of a 16 year old girl who's a) homeschooled and b) diabetic. She basically has one friend, and so when a cute boy moves in next door, she's all "OMG WHAT DO I DOOOOOOOOOO???". Turns out he's on a mission to fake his own death 23 times after losing two fingers to a woodshop accident at school - his own form of immersion therapy. And Stevie's one friend decides that they need to help him in this death-faking exercise.

It sounds a little ridiculous and over the top, but that's really a fairly minor part of the story. Similarly, the romance between Stevie and Max (which can be seen coming a mile away) is also a minor part of the story. The bulk of it is about Stevie standing up for her beliefs (she's part of an activist group protesting the development of a local park and lake), the friendship between Stevie and Sanger growing and changing, and Max learning to live with his anxiety.

So on the whole, it was an engaging and easy read full of great friendships, teen hijinks and a protagonist who's not afraid to speak her mind. And there's a TON of diversity in the story, so...WIN.

My two gripes here are fairly minor:
1. Stevie's cousin, Josh? Yeah, his story was hella interesting and I'd love to see him show up in a standalone book to explore that better because it wasn't nearly as developed as I would have liked; and
2. Sanger's name. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED Sanger as a character. I mean, she's a mixed race daughter of lesbian mothers who's really into coding. Buuuuuut "sanga" is Australian slang for "sandwich" and so I just kept thinking of her as "sandwich" the entire time. Which is unfortunate.

[heysapphie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true to its kind coming-of-age story. I really enjoyed this one a lot. If you’re at a crossroads in your life, or are about to make a life altering decision, definitely read this.

[Peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant in snatching this because the whole idea of "a list of fake deaths" had me on the fritz, but it kinda works.

Stevie Nicks Hart is homeschooled and has been sheltered practically her whole life. Her only friend is an amazing girl with two moms, Sanger. But when a boy covered in blood is found, collapsed in her front lawn, she appropriately freaks the eff out and tries to help him. However, when he simply climbs to his feet and brushes himself off, she's couldn't be less thrown. Mind you, this is not a dystopian.

This freak turns out to be Max Garza. After a tragic accident, which has left him missing a few fingers and traumatized into the next century, he decides on the Fake Death list to help qualm his fear. Sanger is all for it, but Stevie isn't. With good reason, obviously.

Eventually, Stevie stops being such a wuss and joins her friends in their creepy adventure, and I honestly don't have much of a problem with this novel. It's so hilarious and I hadn't even expected it to be. Sanger absolutely makes the novel. I burst into laughter numerous times. So glad I didn't read this in public.

"I took him to a strip club."
I said nothing.
"Kidding," he said. "Kidding. We went to Zilker Park. We walked around. We fed ducks."
"Strip club was more believable."
"I'm serious, Stevie. We fucking fed ducks. I'm not even joking. We brought a loaf at Central Market, and we fed the ducks. Ducks are crazy. Like, vicious, too. One of them nearly took a bite out of the other one's wing trying to get to the bread first. Canniducks."

Something I found odd, though. While they were helping Max achieve his "fake deaths" neighbors never questioned it. No one ran out of their house or called the police. Nothing. And Max and Stevie, who start off as weird friends, jump into a relationship. It's not exactly instalove, but there's no such thing as a "fake kiss."

I was endlessly infatuated with Sanger and Stevie's friendship. A few reviewers made it sound like the book ends tragically, but it doesn't. I think it's predictable. But honestly, I like the ending. I wish Joel and Sanger had a bit of a happier ending. He should've kissed her, at least. Otherwise, it's mostly cute. I think this'll be a favorite of Summer 2016. Texas is shone beautifully, and the cast is diverse and empowering.

[Ashley Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pitch-perfect, a lovely girl-girl best friendship, and really intriguing looks at death, loss, and acceptance. Beautiful book!

[rat! · Rating 5 out of 5]

UTTERLY FANTASTIC

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features a homeschooled main character with type one diabetes. I’m a homeschool graduate with type one diabetes. Take that how you will. I talk about the diabetes portrayal extensively in the second half of this review.

I received an advanced review copy of this book for my birthday (thanks, Mom!). This does not affect my opinion or the integrity of my review.

Story rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The premise of this book is really cute and original. Best friends Stevie and Sanger meet a boy who, after almost dying, has decided to fake his death twenty-three different ways over the summer. (Is that cute or am I nuts? I can’t tell.)

The writing is super fun and engaging. I sped through this book and did not want to put it down. The writing isn’t particularly deep or anything, but it’s really entertaining.

The characters were awesome and all of them were well fleshed out. Stevie, the main character, was fun and likable; Sanger is my precious genius child whom I will protect with my life; Max was probably my least favorite, because he felt like he was supposed to be The Swoony Love Interest when he was only The Cute Love Interest, but he was still fun and wacky and really nice.

I loved the minor characters too! Joel was awesome. I would probably read a book just about him in college. Maribel was super sweet and funny and I wish she had gotten more page time. Stevie’s mom was actually around in the book (kind of a rarity in YA), and she was pretty cool. (Stevie’s dad...not so much.) I also really liked Jessica, even though she didn’t have many parts. They were important parts, and I just liked her a lot—especially at the end.

The romance was slow burn hate-to-like, which I love! It was really adorable, and Stevie and Max balanced each other out really well. But Stevie never let Max come between her and Sanger, which is even better.

The friendship between Stevie and Sanger is what really makes this book shine. Sisters before misters is really important to the girls, and they keep the promise. These two are best friend goals. Seriously. They love each other, they always try to be there for each other, and even though they sometimes make mistakes, they always apologize and make up.

The main theme was strong and important, but I didn’t find it preachy. It’s pretty obvious from the first page that while Stevie hates being judged, she’s always judging people. This hypocrisy was kind of annoying until she realizes what she’s doing, and she does her best to fix it.

There’s also the theme of being scared of death and change, but I thought the judging theme was handled better.

The portrayal of homeschooling in this book is gold. I was homeschooled my entire life until college, and I loved it, but so many people just don’t get it. Stevie spends the first ten pages hilariously debunking the socialization accusation so many people make. (BTW, if you accuse a kid to their face of not being socialized, it’s not the kid who has socialization issues. It’s you.)

A lot of the book is involved with co-op classes. I haven’t taken co-op in years, but I have friends who still go, and the author portrayed the classes really well. Same with the rest of Stevie’s education—it all felt real, and not like homeschoolers were being made fun of. You can definitely tell the author was homeschooled.

The only parts I didn’t like were practically everything to do with Stevie’s diabetes. The only thing I did like about it was that she had it, because this is the first book I have ever read where a character—let alone the main character—has type one diabetes.

Representation of type one diabetes rating: 1 out of 5 stars

First, although Stevie makes a few mentions to her glucose tablets and insulin, she never says she has diabetes, or even a chronic illness, until over a hundred pages into the book. You would think she’s a poster child for physical health. She rarely talks about feeling bad because of fluctuating blood sugars, and I think she talks about bolusing before eating once. She eats several times on page. This does not add up.

Second, when she does finally admit she’s diabetic, she doesn’t explain what it is. She never explains why it’s so irritating to have people tell you, “you can’t be diabetic, you’re not fat!” or, “you’re diabetic, so you can’t eat that.” She never explains why her blood sugar might do things for any reason besides she forgot to give insulin, or forgot to eat. These affect glucose levels, yes, but there are also so many more reasons that they can fluctuate! You expect me to believe Stevie’s stress levels had absolutely nothing to do with her going hyperglycemic? And how would a non-diabetic reader know that?

I really wish the author had given the same importance and portrayal of type one diabetes that she did to homeschooling.

Third, Stevie takes horrible care of herself. She rarely checks her blood sugar, she eats without covering for carbohydrates, she constantly forgets or outright abandons her supplies at home, and she jumps right into action without thinking once about her blood sugar.

There is one moment where she’s barefoot, steps on an earring, and continues running barefoot, literally daring the universe to make her step on another one. Excuse me? Diabetics take longer to heal and get infections easily because we’re immunocompromised. I’m speaking from experience here. This is encouraging REALLY BAD behavior and clueing no one in to how dangerous this is.

Is it really necessary for some of the first representation of type one diabetes in YA fiction to feature someone who couldn’t care less about her health?

Fourth, there’s one scene where Stevie talks about a “phase” she went through when she hated diabetes and wondered why her.

Where do I even start with this?

You start wondering why you when you get sick. You start hating diabetes when you realize it won’t go away. You hate it when you sit on the sidelines of a once-a-year event that you’ve practiced for ages to compete in but now can’t because you’re low. You wonder why you when you have to get up early but stay up until four am unless you don’t want to wake up again. You hate it when you’re hyperglycemic enough to hallucinate and you want to drink a river but water tastes like vomit.

That is not a phase. That’s life.

It doesn’t go away. You mature, you get over it, and when you have a bad day, that hatred and that why-you will come back. You cry, you yell, and you get over it again.

Number Five is kind of a spoiler for the climax. You have been warned. Stevie ends up in the hospital because she didn’t take care of herself, and she comes to a thematically-important realization after almost dying.

1, diabetics almost die pretty dang often. We carefully monitor ourselves to make sure that doesn’t happen, but sometimes it happens anyway. The human body is complex, confusing, and at times unpredictable. Why did she only realize this now?

2, Stevie’s parents start paying extra attention to her diabetes management after this, but I don’t think Stevie does. I’m pretty sure she continues pretending she’s not diabetic and refuses to care for herself without constant supervision. She’s not a child. This is ridiculous and she will end up right back in the hospital again, if she’s lucky.

Overall, I enjoyed it, and it had a terrific view of homeschooling. However, DO NOT read this expecting to learn about type one diabetes or what it’s like to live with it.

Edit: if you’re looking for a YA contemporary romance with good type one diabetes representation, I recommend Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White. It was a little slow for me, but the rep was spot on.

[Ram · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had really mixed feelings about this book from start to finish. I’m just gonna lists the things I did like and then I’m gonna talk things I didn’t like and finally, the message(tm) that ruined it for me.

Things I liked:
- I liked the bittersweet ending. Everything wasn’t wrapped up perfectly which I enjoyed a lot! I also thought the realistic ending with the environmental activism Stevie does was tragic but real and so very good
- the diabetes rep was very strong and some of the best I’ve seen so far
- I liked the moral grayness of the Death List. I was hesitant, and I was glad there was no clear cut emotion to be felt, especially towards the end
- this book talked a lot about homeschooling and it was nice to see stereotypes broken

Things I didn’t like:
- The pacing was rough. It was hard to keep track of time, I couldn’t tell how long this story was supposed to take over, and often found myself getting whiplash from the big time jumps
- the romance was developed way to fast and I think this also has to do with the bad pacing
- some things were very “adult writing for teenagers” and Stevie had massive “not like other girls” energy

The message(tm) that really made me upset:
A conclusion Stevie reaches is that she should not stereotype the other homeschool kids she knows, and start to accept them all. I liked how this tied into the “death is a common ground thing”, however how it was done was bad. Stevie comes around when she makes a homophobic classmate who doesn’t believe in evolution cry, when she yells out of anger when she sees the girl protesting gay marriage, telling her she should just leave people alone. She realizes that we all are similar and not all our views end up defining us. While that is true, a homophobe can be a good person in every other aspect, a gay person should not have to deal with a person who believes they shouldn’t exist for this very weak view of “similarities between eachother”. When someone’s whole person is at stake, they shouldn’t have to suck up to the person who wants them dead to keep this super childish version of peace.

[Lydia Hephzibah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and easy read with great diversity that wasn't at all forced, especially things I rarely/never see in books - Stevie has type 1 diabetes; Max is missing a couple of fingers and dealing with death anxiety; Sanger is half-japanese/half-black with lesbian parents. I loved the characters and the focus on friendship and Stevie's activism, and homeschooling. -1 star for the ending, which was abrupt and out of character.

[Kieli Lapina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met kathryn at a book festival and was super excited to read her book! She did not let me down, this story is exciting and fun, but also has very deep moments. My favorite part was the close friendships and how they were important and that they were never ruined because of a boy.

[Tole]

This book is just completely solid. I really enjoy all the characters and their interactions. Very much a friendship focussed book which is my fav <3

[Evangeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

cuuuuuute.

[Zahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devoured this one in 7 hours and 15 minutes. Although the bashing of North and South was completely unwarranted and what did poor Mr Thornton do to deserve that?

“He also said my decision to join the cause was based solely on the fact that those poolside alliance representatives had been two hot, shirtless college guys.
One can become an activist for various, complex reasons.”

[Averie Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

the story caught me off guard I was not expecting it to go the way it did.
23 ways to fake my death without actually dying was amazing, and stupid, but amazing.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quirky and heartwarming! Really funny and amusing, and its uniqueness is what I loved the most!

[julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why, I really liked this book. At first, I thought it was really boring, but the end made me want to cry...

[Jess at Such a Novel Idea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on Such a Novel Idea

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I skipped right over it. But, it nagged at me and kept coming back to my brain, so I read it again. And the part about Texas overruled everything else. You see, I’m from Texas, and my family lives in San Antonio. We’ve been going to Austin since I was a kid. I have this thing about books that are set in places I’ve been to. I LOVE reading about places I know, they just really help ground me in the book. Plus, it’s fun to say I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, CHARACTER. I don’t know if this is a human thing or a Jessica thing, but it definitely made me want to read this one.

Only a few pages into Lucky Few, I knew I’d made the right decision. These characters are funny and brilliant and have such strong personalities they come across as three-dimensional people before the plot really even has a chance to unfold. And they are fun and cool in an effortless way. This is like a John Green book or a John Hughes movie – it just breezes into your soul and makes an impact before you know what hit you. And forget about the manic-pixie dream girl trope. These characters are cool, but they aren’t unattainable people. They’re just quirky teenagers.

So you’re probably wondering if the whole kitschy fake-your-death list worked. And it did. But really, I wasn’t even focused on that. There are SO MANY other things happening, that the list was just another part of the story. You’re immersed in the setting and the relationships and the plot, so it doesn’t come across as a gimmick. Instead, it’s just a teenager doing something to make sense of the world he’s come to live in.

And let’s talk about the setting. Austin and the Hill Country of Texas are some of the most amazing places I’ve ever been to in real life. The places this author takes you to came alive in my mind. Even the ones I’d never seen, I could visualize with great clarity (a skill I’m definitely NOT known for, mind you!). Ormsbee goes to great lengths to treat the setting with as much care and reverence as she does her characters – it really shines throughout the entire story.

I feel like this is an unassuming book you’ll see on the shelf and think it’s just another cutsy-fluff piece. But Lucky Few had heart and really was hard-hitting. This is a book you’re going to have fun with, but also really remember. It’s got heart and has everything you’d want out of a contemporary novel. This is one I’m going to be pushing on people for the rest of the year. So, I’m starting with you. PICK THIS ONE UP. You won’t be disappointed.
-------------------------------------

Original Thoughts:
I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did. I'm glad I didn't let the weird fake-death-list turn me off this one, because it really stuck in my heart.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a former homeschooler, when someone points out a book or movie that has a homeschooler in it...I kinda grit my teeth and try to smile because usually those characters are made for jokes and laughs at their expense.
So when I heard lucky few had homeschoolers in it, I was more then a little apprehensive.
But the rep for homeschooling is so amazing in this book! They are sassy and smart and understand the world and YAY!! Give me more perfect rep like this!
But Steph, you might be wondering, why isn't it then a 4-5 star book?
Oh man...because even great rep cannot handle what I found glaringly wrong and off putting about this book.

Basically Stevie (which I kinda loved because that's a variant of my name which is all kinda of awesome) is homeschooled and has legit one friend and then a boy moves next door who she pretty much likes. Oh and the boy has the plan to fake his own death 23 times for his own type of immersion therapy.

So...I have a lot of thoughts.
Here's the good:
-girl friendships! Sagar and Stevie were close girl friends who kept the saying "sisters before misters" and almost pretty much kept it
-awesome homeschool rep yo. (I never went to a co-op but I do know several who did growing up)
-the family interactions. So lifelike.
-Stevie has diabetes and the boy Max is missing a few fingers due to an accident so there's some nice rep going on here.

However...this is where it goes down for me:
-the writing style was weird. It felt like we took FOREVER to set up this encounter and do things but then the ending, felt like really rushed. I'm all for ending a book openly, but this one ends like the author got up for a drink of water and her cat hit the send button to her publisher. That's how abrupt it ends which really isn't fair to the readers

-Joel. Her cousin who lives with them and was really quite an interesting character and I felt like he was just there for plot purposes and for random facts. I wish his story would have been more front and center because I wanted to know more about him.

-the death list. Here's the thing, as soon as he told them his plan to pretend to die 23 different ways, I immediately thought he was suicidal and was trying to actually end it. While I'm grateful the author didn't do that, at the same time the only time this behavior is called out is when Stevie asks if he wants to die. Which is towards the end of the book. He finally sees a therapist but again, how he was going about it was not a healthy way.

-there were also a lot of politics involved and I don't know much of them because I began to skim because I was so bored.

Anyways. While I enjoyed certain parts of this book, I also didn't care for much of it. It might just be me as most people really seemed to enjoy this book, so read at your own risk eh?

(Library)

[AquaMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time Stevie encounters Max, he's lying in the neighbor's yard in a pool of (fake) blood. The second time the two bump into each other, Max is (fake) drowning in a local lake. Each time max is in peril, Stevie comes to his rescue. And each time she discovers Max's almost-deaths are nothing more than cleaverly-orchestrated acting. How frustrating!

With a meet-cute like this, how can it NOT be true love?

Stevie soon learns that Max recentely had a near-death experience and lived to tell about it. Ever since then, he's bound and determined to thumb his nose at Death by faking his death in as many ways as possible without... well, without actually dying. Stevie, along with her equally-quirky BFF Sanger, agrees to help Max complete his list, some of which are pretty bizarre (spontaneous combustion, anyone?).

What follows is a morbidly hilarious adventure, as the trio of teens cement their friendship over angry (and possibly rabid) peacock attacks, hypothermia, and deadly allergic reactions.

But as Max's two-month deadline to complete the list approaches, some very serious truths come to the surface. And Stevie realizes that there are things even more important than (fake) death. Like friendship, love, and life.

Lucky Few by Kathryn Ormsbee is the perfect blend of quirky humor, serious life situations, and sweet romance. The characters were well-rounded, likable (but not without faults), and learns (tough) lessons that help them become a better person when everything is said and done. Another thing I liked: The ending wasn't one of those Happily Ever After types that's all wrapped up and tied with a big shiny ribbon. There are things that don't work out. There are loose ends. There are realizations that sometimes you can't erase certain things. But the ending is still satisfying.

I absolutely recommend this one!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

 

See more on my blogThe Book Return BlogI really needed a need an uplifting, funny, and quick read this week.  (It's been a tough week around here). Kathryn Ormbee's  new novel, 'Lucky Few', gave me all that and more.

Although I wasn't sure  what to expect , I knew a few pages in that this was my kind of book. This story is both plot and character driven. Orbmbee gives wonderful descriptive details. I can still envision Sanger's yellow Fiat with the broken door, Stevie's tiny ranch house, and the blinding Texas heat.

Stevie herself is a complicated character. She is preoccupied by being defined as an outcast but doesn't do much to deflect this reputation. Her best friend, Sanger, is a larger than life character. Sanger loves classical music, computer coding, and has two moms. Then there is the new guy, Max. Max moves in with his grandfather after having a near death experience. To help him recover from the accident, Max makes a list of fake ways to die.  Stevie, Sanger, and Max then embark on a crazy quest to act out the list.

One of the things I loved  most about this book was Stevie and Sanger's unique and special friendship. Relationships is the driving element in the story. What I take from this  book  is that someone in your life can be there one minute and gone the next so live life to the fullest and don't forget to appreciate those you love.

[Rabia Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book about a year ago, It was a light summer read which I'm writing about now because as I was washing my hair, I suddenly remembered the easy, uncomplicated friendship between Stevie and Salinger. I remember envying at that time that how great it'd be if I could count on someone like that. And there was this best friend pact in this book that stuck out to me the most! I even offered this to my closest friends which was about asking for a favour anytime, no matter how weird it is, the other has to help in any way, no questions asked.

There were some serious elements involved in it as well, some of those I found ridiculous, but I accept it was a part of showing how sometimes everyone has to face the things they fear, and for Max Garza, it was death. Maybe many people would've found his reasoning bogus but now I do get why he was so adamant about it, I almost drowned once and because of that, I can't go anywhere near deep water without the fear of it happening again. And every once in awhile, I still get recurring nightmares that I'm drowning and wake up gasping for breath.

I'd suggest you read it if you're in a mood to read a light summer contemporary novel, it's not cliched at all.

Cloud: Homeschooling, diabetes, near-death experiences, love, friendship.

[caratastrophe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Do you ever feel like you just read a book at the right time in your life?? This is me with this book and maybe like 5 other books I've read in my life.

Here's a little fact about me guys I'm a sucker for pretentious books, that's how I like my contemporaries. It's something about the psychoanalytical side of pretentious books that just always get me.

I loved the questions this book raised, I'm not going to say it's nothing I've never thought of but its something I try not to dwell to long on lest I get sucked into the all consuming void of an existential crisis, but this book made me think about it. It's confronted me with ideas that I usually don't give the time of day and I'm grateful because I got something out of this. That's all I ever really want from a book; to get something out of it, wether that be a new outlook on a certain situation or group of people, new questions to ask myself, or simply just a sense of enjoyment.

This book was exactly what I didn't know I wanted right now and I loved it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adding this to the pile of "books with a diabetic character who has a dramatic low blood sugar incident purely for plot purposes" (most recent entrant: Top Ten Clues You're Clueless). That said, I liked it fine. Again, some of the writing around her diabetes strikes me as awkward/didn't entirely make sense, but some of it was quite good/actually resonated with me! A big plus. I meant to take note of some of the passages that I liked but forgot to before I had to bring it back to the library, oh well.

The protagonist doesn't wear a pump - but it's addressed. She does actually talk about wearing one for a while and then going back on shots because she didn't like feeling like a robot or something. Personally, I couldn't relate less. Love my robot pancreas so much!!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great contemporary YA fiction read about a teenage homeschooled girl in Austin, Texas. Loved how she described the different types of homeschooled kids and defended her own position as a NORMAL. I was intrigued because she has Type I diabetes, like my daughter, but this isn't the main plotline of the book--it isn't even mentioned until location 312 on my kindle, when she "double-checked my messenger bag to be sure the vitals were there: water bottle, cell phone, chewing gum, glucose tablets, insulin pen."

This is one of those romance, coming of age, friendship, light drama type of story--pretty clean for a YA novel, but still funny and dramatic when it needed to be.

Kudos to the author for creating a main character with Type I!

[Asia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice read, containing things like: homeschooling, religion, sexuality, death and sickness. It wasn't a dark, tough book. It was rather simple but I wouldn't read it if you want cute, ponies and rainbows. I liked the friendship between Stevie and Sanger :) And tbh, I was kind of freaked out with the refrigerator scene!

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠]

I need this book ASAP because everything about it is right up my alley (and was sort-of my life)