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The Best Man
Newbery Medalist Richard Peck brings us this big-hearted novel about gay marriage from a kid’s endearing perspective
When Archer is in sixth grade, his beloved uncle Paul marries another man—Archer’s favorite student teacher. But that’s getting ahead of the story, and a wonderful story it is. In Archer’s sweetly naïve but observant voice, his life through elementary school is recounted: the outspoken, ever-loyal friends he makes, the teachers who blunder or inspire, and the family members who serve as his role models. From one exhilarating, unexpected episode to another, Archer’s story rolls along as he puzzles over the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become…and manages to help his uncle become his best self as well.
When Archer is in sixth grade, his beloved uncle Paul marries another man—Archer’s favorite student teacher. But that’s getting ahead of the story, and a wonderful story it is. In Archer’s sweetly naïve but observant voice, his life through elementary school is recounted: the outspoken, ever-loyal friends he makes, the teachers who blunder or inspire, and the family members who serve as his role models. From one exhilarating, unexpected episode to another, Archer’s story rolls along as he puzzles over the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become…and manages to help his uncle become his best self as well.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2016
140 people are currently reading
3529 people want to read
About the author
Richard Peck
112 books729 followersRichard Peck was an American novelist known for his prolific contributions to modern young adult literature. He was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder. For his cumulative contribution to young-adult literature, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1990.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 992 reviews
May 9, 2021
This book centers around Archer, as he grows from a young boy into a middle school student.
We thought he was weird. He thought we were weird. It was great. It was what multiculturalism ought to be.
We catch snippets - the best part of each year - as Archer navigates through life.
From making a best girl-space-friend to his grandfather slowly getting older to finding out his uncle likes other men.
"When did you decide to be gay, Uncle Paul?"Archer's favorite student teacher just so happens to be the guy that his uncle likes - but will they get married?
"Being gay isn't a decision. How you live your life is a decision."
Will Archer even notice that the two like each other (note: he IS exceptionally unobservant!)
All in all - this was a really cute book.
It was very much slice-of-life, so the pacing might seem a bit odd for kids who are used to a "kill the bad guy" or "solve the unsolvable problem" sort of schtick.
This one was very much just checking in on Archer's life. He was very unobservant but not in a cheesy way. Just in a "well, he's a kid" sort of way.
Which was fun for me (as the audience) because I could pick out many a thing long before Archer noticed.
And I really, really liked how Uncle Paul's relationship was portrayed. It was very age-appropriate and extremely normalizing.
I've read a few books where the tone is just - there's a GAY character but EVERYONE'S okay with it because we are INCLUSIVE and ACCEPTING - aka, they just go so over-the-top trying to rank in inclusivity points that it rings false.
This book was (thank goodness) very chill about it - just inserting it into the life, explaining it at a level that was easily understood by children. Two thumbs up for that.
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January 3, 2018
"When did you decide to be gay, Uncle Paul?"
"Being gay isn't a decision. How you live your life is a decision."
Unlike the Grandma Dowdel trilogy, this Peck novel is a thoroughly modern comedy filled with cell phones, twitter, and viral videos instead of canning jars and privies. We get to spend an eventful five years in the wacky life of Archer Magill, as he he wends his way from elementary to middle school. Luckily, he's got some great role models, and, gasp! - a girl for a best friend.
The book ends with Archer serving as best man at the wedding of two of his mentors - his Uncle Paul, and one of his favorite teachers, Mr. McLeod.
I laughed, I cried. I even went Awwww! at the most insanely romantic "proposal." And that's really all I have to say about this one - yet another fine title by Mr. Peck, who at age 83, still writes a book a year. I hope he continues for another couple of decades.
"Being gay isn't a decision. How you live your life is a decision."
Unlike the Grandma Dowdel trilogy, this Peck novel is a thoroughly modern comedy filled with cell phones, twitter, and viral videos instead of canning jars and privies. We get to spend an eventful five years in the wacky life of Archer Magill, as he he wends his way from elementary to middle school. Luckily, he's got some great role models, and, gasp! - a girl for a best friend.
The book ends with Archer serving as best man at the wedding of two of his mentors - his Uncle Paul, and one of his favorite teachers, Mr. McLeod.
I laughed, I cried. I even went Awwww! at the most insanely romantic "proposal." And that's really all I have to say about this one - yet another fine title by Mr. Peck, who at age 83, still writes a book a year. I hope he continues for another couple of decades.
May 2, 2016
In the post-Wonder world, middle grade characters in school stories are often on their best moral behavior. If not, they often get a chapter or two of the multiple perspective narrative to explain themselves. After all, everyone is doing their best, right?
Richard Peck, on the other hand, does not overestimate the charity of children. His classroom as described by a sixth-grader, is populated by insufferable smarties, criers, the short kid, and the kid who is always asleep. His teachers can be heroic, misguided, or downright hapless. His narrator sees a brief security lockdown as an exciting diversion. Peck works masterfully outside the current rules of kidlit because he wrote the game itself in the 70s.
Not to say his work is crass or cynical -- it's the exact opposite. By strictly adhering to the truth of the world as experienced by elementary school students, he respectfully reveals the depth of their experiences. What a pleasure to read an utterly contemporary book by an author who has been exceeding my expectations of kidlit for my entire reading life!
Richard Peck, on the other hand, does not overestimate the charity of children. His classroom as described by a sixth-grader, is populated by insufferable smarties, criers, the short kid, and the kid who is always asleep. His teachers can be heroic, misguided, or downright hapless. His narrator sees a brief security lockdown as an exciting diversion. Peck works masterfully outside the current rules of kidlit because he wrote the game itself in the 70s.
Not to say his work is crass or cynical -- it's the exact opposite. By strictly adhering to the truth of the world as experienced by elementary school students, he respectfully reveals the depth of their experiences. What a pleasure to read an utterly contemporary book by an author who has been exceeding my expectations of kidlit for my entire reading life!
January 19, 2023
Still reading this, or rather, listening to the e-audiobook. Grabbed me IMMEDIATELY. About 2/3 of the way through. Highly recommend.
Update, 1/18/23: Just finished this; what an amazing and hilarious book! Engaging right from the very first (audio) page, with a wonderful and relatable main character, Archer Magill, who, very thankfully, is not arch at all, or a smarmy 35-year-old in 11 y.o. pants. Kudos also to the delightful narrator, Michael Crouch, who really brought a great book even more vividly to life.
P.S. MANY favorite lines and quips, but my favorite was at the end of Chapter 1, when Archer's mom says of her commanding mother-in-law and that woman's equally daunting friend: "they've been best buds since the Salem Witch Trials."
Update, 1/18/23: Just finished this; what an amazing and hilarious book! Engaging right from the very first (audio) page, with a wonderful and relatable main character, Archer Magill, who, very thankfully, is not arch at all, or a smarmy 35-year-old in 11 y.o. pants. Kudos also to the delightful narrator, Michael Crouch, who really brought a great book even more vividly to life.
P.S. MANY favorite lines and quips, but my favorite was at the end of Chapter 1, when Archer's mom says of her commanding mother-in-law and that woman's equally daunting friend: "they've been best buds since the Salem Witch Trials."
March 23, 2024
In grade school, your best friend better never be a girl unless you are a girl. But there sat Lynette Stanley with hardly any space between us, talking my ear off. And when people began to notice we were best friends, I might just as well put on a dress and throw myself backwards off the monkey bars. (PG 20)
Read in one sitting and it left me disappointed. One of my favorite YA authors does a more modern one and I'm wishing I hadn't read it. It was nothing like his other quirky fun books like his Chicago series. Anyway, it had its learning moments. I really didn't understand the point of the British kid. I was hoping to get more story out of Archer and Lynette.
It was just fine. Luckily it was short.
Read in one sitting and it left me disappointed. One of my favorite YA authors does a more modern one and I'm wishing I hadn't read it. It was nothing like his other quirky fun books like his Chicago series. Anyway, it had its learning moments. I really didn't understand the point of the British kid. I was hoping to get more story out of Archer and Lynette.
It was just fine. Luckily it was short.
June 24, 2016
While I appreciate the message of this book and agree we need good stories about gay marriage, I struggled to imagine what kid I would share it with next. The kids didn't sound like kids and the wit and cultural references seemed a better fit for adults. Disappointing. I know that this book has received starred reviews, but I want to talk to any children who have read it.
December 9, 2016
I was so disappointed in this book and although I was almost done I never finished it. There were so many problems with this book that I am shocked it is getting such high stars! The one thing it did have going for it was the kind and open family Archer lived in and all the great male role models. I like the grandfather, the uncle, the dad, and Mr. Mcleod fine.
What I HATED
Sorry, I typically love Richard Peck books but this one was just too annoying.
What I HATED
Sorry, I typically love Richard Peck books but this one was just too annoying.
July 5, 2016
I LOVE THIS BOOK. It's hard for me to even write a review of this book I loved it so much. So I guess I will just list things I loved about it.
-I loved Archer's voice.
-I loved the plot structure, bookended by weddings, and told as if Archer is talking to the reader, guiding the reader through his 1st grade year to his 6th grade year.
-I loved Archer's family: his cook/mechanic dad, his psychologist mom, his architect grandpa, his Uncle Paul. Even his irritating sister Holly and his witchy grandma.
-I loved that the book is realistic and not. Events are believable, but things like Lynette's overly mature outlook and the character of Little Lord Hilary are larger than life. See also: how often Archer's school makes headlines and Ms. Roebuck's computer incompetence. Stylistically, this enhances the feeling that Archer is trying to tell the reader a good story and perhaps fudging a bit to make it better, which accounts for things not being entirely believable.
-I love, love, loved Mr. McLeod (I had to Google how to pronounce that name - it's "McCloud"). I've complained in the past about too many children's books relying on the magic teacher trope - you know, like Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. But Mr. McLeod, in my opinion, isn't a magic teacher stereotype. Sure, he's young and exciting, but there's way more to him than just being a great teacher.
-I love how funny and joyful this book is. Especially in 2016, which I dubbed the Year of Sad after reading offerings by some of kidlit's most prominent authors (see my review of Maybe a Fox).
I sincerely hope this will be one of our Mock Newbery books this year. Last year we got a little bit of resistance with The Thing About Jellyfish because there was a relatively minor gay character. Being that most of our Mock Newbery participants are in 5th grade and this book is pretty squarely about 5th/6th graders, I feel confident we can put it on the ballot if the rest of the committee agrees that it's really high quality literature for kids.
And, you know, if it won the real Newbery, I wouldn't be upset.
-I loved Archer's voice.
-I loved the plot structure, bookended by weddings, and told as if Archer is talking to the reader, guiding the reader through his 1st grade year to his 6th grade year.
-I loved Archer's family: his cook/mechanic dad, his psychologist mom, his architect grandpa, his Uncle Paul. Even his irritating sister Holly and his witchy grandma.
-I loved that the book is realistic and not. Events are believable, but things like Lynette's overly mature outlook and the character of Little Lord Hilary are larger than life. See also: how often Archer's school makes headlines and Ms. Roebuck's computer incompetence. Stylistically, this enhances the feeling that Archer is trying to tell the reader a good story and perhaps fudging a bit to make it better, which accounts for things not being entirely believable.
-I love, love, loved Mr. McLeod (I had to Google how to pronounce that name - it's "McCloud"). I've complained in the past about too many children's books relying on the magic teacher trope - you know, like Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. But Mr. McLeod, in my opinion, isn't a magic teacher stereotype. Sure, he's young and exciting, but there's way more to him than just being a great teacher.
-I love how funny and joyful this book is. Especially in 2016, which I dubbed the Year of Sad after reading offerings by some of kidlit's most prominent authors (see my review of Maybe a Fox).
I sincerely hope this will be one of our Mock Newbery books this year. Last year we got a little bit of resistance with The Thing About Jellyfish because there was a relatively minor gay character. Being that most of our Mock Newbery participants are in 5th grade and this book is pretty squarely about 5th/6th graders, I feel confident we can put it on the ballot if the rest of the committee agrees that it's really high quality literature for kids.
And, you know, if it won the real Newbery, I wouldn't be upset.
October 30, 2016
I loved this. It's a quick read but I think the author really caught the essence of a young boy growing up in a suburb of Chicago. If I had a child, I would definitely read this together because I think there are some wonderful life lessons in here without being preachy. I read it in two short sittings and I will even say I found it heartwarming. (Hard to grab the heart of a cynic like me, but as my best friend would tease, "It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.")
December 2, 2016
Agghhh!! I'm drowning in a sea of ambivalence!
This book is terrific. The writing, the insight, the characters - all the things that are here are terrific. It's like... like the objects in the curio cabinet in my mother's dining room. Each item: each miniature domino set, porcelain sea urchin, loose semiprecious gemstone, expedition medal and antique fountain pen is a treasure, and each for different reasons. In this book, the parents who work from home, one as a marriage counselor, the other restoring antique automobiles - are treasures. Grandpa the architect, in his seersucker suit and straw hat - a treasure. Uncle Paul, in his bespoke sportcoat and wingtips, who will turn out to be both wise and gay, is a treasure. Archer's house is a treasure. Large, square, situated in a "leafy suburb" of Chicago - I can picture it, I just can't afford it.
Which is not entirely an insignificant point.
Because, like my mom's beautifully lit collection, this book is just about the whitest thing I've come across in a long time. There are things that are *not* here, amid its sparkling array of treasures. There don't seem to be any black people, for one thing. Nor anyone with a Hispanic or Asian surname. And, regardless of the skillful references to Angry Birds and YouTube and Uncle Paul's wedding - it is missing a true feeling of contemporaneity.
Now of course my mom's cabinet doesn't have to represent every facet of the human experience. It would be weird, for example, for her to include a set of manumission papers - to our knowledge, nobody in our family was ever enslaved. And the expedition medal is an object to be proud of - not everybody does the dangerous thing for which it was awarded. But at the time it was given, it was almost exclusively white men who had the opportunity to earn it.
And while Mom may add a new item to that cabinet every few years, it is by its nature disconnected from the present time. That collection (and I consider this a compliment rather than the reverse) reflects her point of view, and her point of view is that of a white woman born in a leafy suburb sometime before the middle of the last century.
In the case of The Best Man, I feel a similar point of view applies. And it's not - it's a valid point of view, and for sure there are kids in Evanston going to one-class-per-grade seemingly all-white elementary schools that are close enough to walk to. But although this may be an increasingly rare point of view, it's not one that is lacking in representation.
I also have something of an issue with the hunky student teacher who shakes up Archer's fifth grade school year. All of a sudden, there are field trips! Something new every day! Mr McLeod takes over for the regular teacher, Mrs. Stanley, when she gets tripped up by improper fractions. Really? Guy teacher shows the ladies How It's Done? Hrrumph.
But my gosh, it just KILLS me to quibble with this book. Uncle Paul's orientation, love story, and wedding are treated so wonderfully - that is, as if being gay were not a big thing, which it isn't. In many families. In many communities. But not all. So that's really nice.
And lord Richard Peck is funny. And his main character learns some things without the reader feeling Taught, which is no mean feat. I personally, a white woman born in a leafy suburb who walked to school until she was 17, very much enjoyed the book.
But I think its time, like the quotidian antiques resting on glass shelves in my mom's dining room, has passed. Now is the time for it to be admired for its form and craft, because we are not likely to need to use it.
This book is terrific. The writing, the insight, the characters - all the things that are here are terrific. It's like... like the objects in the curio cabinet in my mother's dining room. Each item: each miniature domino set, porcelain sea urchin, loose semiprecious gemstone, expedition medal and antique fountain pen is a treasure, and each for different reasons. In this book, the parents who work from home, one as a marriage counselor, the other restoring antique automobiles - are treasures. Grandpa the architect, in his seersucker suit and straw hat - a treasure. Uncle Paul, in his bespoke sportcoat and wingtips, who will turn out to be both wise and gay, is a treasure. Archer's house is a treasure. Large, square, situated in a "leafy suburb" of Chicago - I can picture it, I just can't afford it.
Which is not entirely an insignificant point.
Because, like my mom's beautifully lit collection, this book is just about the whitest thing I've come across in a long time. There are things that are *not* here, amid its sparkling array of treasures. There don't seem to be any black people, for one thing. Nor anyone with a Hispanic or Asian surname. And, regardless of the skillful references to Angry Birds and YouTube and Uncle Paul's wedding - it is missing a true feeling of contemporaneity.
Now of course my mom's cabinet doesn't have to represent every facet of the human experience. It would be weird, for example, for her to include a set of manumission papers - to our knowledge, nobody in our family was ever enslaved. And the expedition medal is an object to be proud of - not everybody does the dangerous thing for which it was awarded. But at the time it was given, it was almost exclusively white men who had the opportunity to earn it.
And while Mom may add a new item to that cabinet every few years, it is by its nature disconnected from the present time. That collection (and I consider this a compliment rather than the reverse) reflects her point of view, and her point of view is that of a white woman born in a leafy suburb sometime before the middle of the last century.
In the case of The Best Man, I feel a similar point of view applies. And it's not - it's a valid point of view, and for sure there are kids in Evanston going to one-class-per-grade seemingly all-white elementary schools that are close enough to walk to. But although this may be an increasingly rare point of view, it's not one that is lacking in representation.
I also have something of an issue with the hunky student teacher who shakes up Archer's fifth grade school year. All of a sudden, there are field trips! Something new every day! Mr McLeod takes over for the regular teacher, Mrs. Stanley, when she gets tripped up by improper fractions. Really? Guy teacher shows the ladies How It's Done? Hrrumph.
But my gosh, it just KILLS me to quibble with this book. Uncle Paul's orientation, love story, and wedding are treated so wonderfully - that is, as if being gay were not a big thing, which it isn't. In many families. In many communities. But not all. So that's really nice.
And lord Richard Peck is funny. And his main character learns some things without the reader feeling Taught, which is no mean feat. I personally, a white woman born in a leafy suburb who walked to school until she was 17, very much enjoyed the book.
But I think its time, like the quotidian antiques resting on glass shelves in my mom's dining room, has passed. Now is the time for it to be admired for its form and craft, because we are not likely to need to use it.
May 13, 2016
Archer Magill is going to be one of the best new voices in kids literature. He's just kind of gloriously naive about all these incredibly important things going on around him in only a way that an 11 year old can be. There's a fair amount of change going on in his life -- a new school, a death in the family and the realization that a favorite family member is gay -- and he has a way of rolling with these changes that is so simple and just makes sense. Is it weird to envy a fictional 11 year old boy? Because I kind of do. There is some gentle humor here, but I think it's more for the adults reading. For everyone reading, the non-issue of gay marriage is handled beautifully and how I hope everyone can come to view it eventually. The underlying message of acceptance and love is sure to make this title a natural choice for middle grade readers.
August 7, 2016
The iconic Richard Peck is back with what I feel is his greatest book to date: "The Best Man." I had the privilege of hearing Peck speak about his latest novel at Day of Dialogue in Chicago in May where I received an ARC of this book (which he so graciously signed!). The book comes out in September of 2016 - next month.
In his Day of Dialogue presentation, Peck said that he became a writer because his mother read to him and because of his 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Cole, who handed him a copy of "Huckleberry Finn" and said, "Here. You might try this." He began as a teacher and then left teaching to "communicate with his students through writing." Teachers and role models play heavily into "The Best Man." Archer Magill, the first person narrator of the story, begins at the end (with the second wedding) and then goes back to tell us the story of the first wedding and his first through sixth grade years. He is a boy looking for role models - and he finds them in the form of his dad, his grandpa, his Uncle Paul, and his student teacher in fifth grade, Mr. McLeod - "Those were the four I wanted to be." (p. 132) The story reads fast. Peck is a master at chapter endings and hooks that make the reader to turn immediately to the next page and read on! "The Best Man" is filled with humor, sorrow, and one touching moment after another. I balled through 75% of the book - happy, sobbing, snot infused crying! I loved every second of it!
The characters, whether they are major players (Archer, Lynette Stanley, Uncle Paul) or have smaller roles (Grandma, Natalie Schuster, Holly, Josh Hunnicutt, Reginald, and Mrs. Dempsey), are all interesting, believable (well...the Honorable Hilary Evelyn Calthorpe is a bit over the top), and compelling. But Archer is really who drives this story. His view of the events that go on around him, and the people in his life, is honest and humorous. The fact that he tells it like it happened, and doesn't over-dramatize, feels real and authentic. He is slow to catch on to things that are obvious to others, and gets tired of "everyone talking around me" (p. 137), which provides some great humor to the story. The diversity of the cast in terms of age and sexual identity is refreshing.
There are so many themes that are relevant to 2016 - and universal at the same time. This is a story about how important is it for young people to have role models in their lives, about the ebb and flow of friendships, about the significance of present and caring adults in the lives of young people, and about growing up. It is also about divorce, loss, sexual identity, bullying, the power of great teachers, and more - though these aren't the major focus of the story. There are so many great lessons for all of us to be found here.
Some lessons to remember (though these are more meaningful in context):
p. 53 - "Kids know most things before their grown-ups know they know. We're older than we look. It's complicated. We're older than we act."
p. 104 - "It was like this was the beginning of being a kid for him."
p. 110 - "'We all need goals...Here's one: Stay away from people who don't know who they are but want you to be just like them. People who'll want to label you. People who'll try to write their fears on your face.'"
p. 112 - "'Gay's not a random word...It's an identity...It's my identity."
p. 122 - That's the end of school for you. You wait and wait. Then it's over before you're ready."
p. 158 - "'You work with what you've got.'"
p. 166 - "'How am I going to mean as much to you as my dad meant to me?' he said. 'Dad, you do,' I said. 'You're there.'"
p. 183 - "'Archer, spell this out for me as simply as you can. Why can't the school protect its own students with its own resources?' "That's easy. Bullies have parents too, and schools don't have diplomatic immunity.'"
p. 194 - "'Then in the dark Uncle Paul said, 'You're growing up, Archer.' "Not fast enough,' I said. 'The voice. Other stuff. Where it it?'...'You're learning to listen,' said Uncle Paul. 'That's more than a start.'"
And Peck's prose is just spot on. I loved passages like, "We rumbled of, into summer." (p. 122), " I braced. There was no seat belt for the middle passenger, and I was scared Holly was going to U-turn. You don't do that in a '92 Lincoln. It's an aircraft carrier. You'd take out a front porch, and I could end up as the hood ornament." (p. 125), the sequence on where Archer asks his Uncle Paul if he might be gay and his uncle asks him about moisturizing and exfoliation and his wardrobe is hilarious (p. 132), and the description of the lighted model of Chicago and the buildings Archer's grandpa had designed is exquisite (while in Chicago in May, I saw the exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry that Archer refers to here) (pp. 88 -9)!!!
"The Best Man" has received stared reviews from "Booklist," "School Library Journal," "Publisher's Weekly," and many others - all richly deserved! We will hear a lot about this one when awards season roles around! I can't recommend a book more highly! This one is for all ages!
In his Day of Dialogue presentation, Peck said that he became a writer because his mother read to him and because of his 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Cole, who handed him a copy of "Huckleberry Finn" and said, "Here. You might try this." He began as a teacher and then left teaching to "communicate with his students through writing." Teachers and role models play heavily into "The Best Man." Archer Magill, the first person narrator of the story, begins at the end (with the second wedding) and then goes back to tell us the story of the first wedding and his first through sixth grade years. He is a boy looking for role models - and he finds them in the form of his dad, his grandpa, his Uncle Paul, and his student teacher in fifth grade, Mr. McLeod - "Those were the four I wanted to be." (p. 132) The story reads fast. Peck is a master at chapter endings and hooks that make the reader to turn immediately to the next page and read on! "The Best Man" is filled with humor, sorrow, and one touching moment after another. I balled through 75% of the book - happy, sobbing, snot infused crying! I loved every second of it!
The characters, whether they are major players (Archer, Lynette Stanley, Uncle Paul) or have smaller roles (Grandma, Natalie Schuster, Holly, Josh Hunnicutt, Reginald, and Mrs. Dempsey), are all interesting, believable (well...the Honorable Hilary Evelyn Calthorpe is a bit over the top), and compelling. But Archer is really who drives this story. His view of the events that go on around him, and the people in his life, is honest and humorous. The fact that he tells it like it happened, and doesn't over-dramatize, feels real and authentic. He is slow to catch on to things that are obvious to others, and gets tired of "everyone talking around me" (p. 137), which provides some great humor to the story. The diversity of the cast in terms of age and sexual identity is refreshing.
There are so many themes that are relevant to 2016 - and universal at the same time. This is a story about how important is it for young people to have role models in their lives, about the ebb and flow of friendships, about the significance of present and caring adults in the lives of young people, and about growing up. It is also about divorce, loss, sexual identity, bullying, the power of great teachers, and more - though these aren't the major focus of the story. There are so many great lessons for all of us to be found here.
Some lessons to remember (though these are more meaningful in context):
p. 53 - "Kids know most things before their grown-ups know they know. We're older than we look. It's complicated. We're older than we act."
p. 104 - "It was like this was the beginning of being a kid for him."
p. 110 - "'We all need goals...Here's one: Stay away from people who don't know who they are but want you to be just like them. People who'll want to label you. People who'll try to write their fears on your face.'"
p. 112 - "'Gay's not a random word...It's an identity...It's my identity."
p. 122 - That's the end of school for you. You wait and wait. Then it's over before you're ready."
p. 158 - "'You work with what you've got.'"
p. 166 - "'How am I going to mean as much to you as my dad meant to me?' he said. 'Dad, you do,' I said. 'You're there.'"
p. 183 - "'Archer, spell this out for me as simply as you can. Why can't the school protect its own students with its own resources?' "That's easy. Bullies have parents too, and schools don't have diplomatic immunity.'"
p. 194 - "'Then in the dark Uncle Paul said, 'You're growing up, Archer.' "Not fast enough,' I said. 'The voice. Other stuff. Where it it?'...'You're learning to listen,' said Uncle Paul. 'That's more than a start.'"
And Peck's prose is just spot on. I loved passages like, "We rumbled of, into summer." (p. 122), " I braced. There was no seat belt for the middle passenger, and I was scared Holly was going to U-turn. You don't do that in a '92 Lincoln. It's an aircraft carrier. You'd take out a front porch, and I could end up as the hood ornament." (p. 125), the sequence on where Archer asks his Uncle Paul if he might be gay and his uncle asks him about moisturizing and exfoliation and his wardrobe is hilarious (p. 132), and the description of the lighted model of Chicago and the buildings Archer's grandpa had designed is exquisite (while in Chicago in May, I saw the exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry that Archer refers to here) (pp. 88 -9)!!!
"The Best Man" has received stared reviews from "Booklist," "School Library Journal," "Publisher's Weekly," and many others - all richly deserved! We will hear a lot about this one when awards season roles around! I can't recommend a book more highly! This one is for all ages!
September 20, 2016
In the introduction to the ARC, author Richard Peck says he wrote this book in order to shed light on the issue of same-sex marriage. Reading this I admittedly had misgivings. Not because I have any negative feelings towards people who identify as homosexual but, rather because I worried the purpose of writing this middle grade novel was to fill some sort of quota, check off the "diversity in literature" box, thus making oneself feel good. Fortunately, the focus of the story was not the sexual orientation of two of the characters, so it does not come off as preachy nor as a lesson in same-sex marriage.
Narrator Archer Magill admires four men in his life; his grandfather, father, uncle, and Illinois National Guardsman turned fifth-grade student teacher, Mr. McLeod. Archer details the adventures and wisdom these men impart on his life along with chronicling his school career from the first through seventh grades. Quirky classmates add spark to the story as does the tender and bittersweet relationship with his beloved grandfather. Would be a good choice for reluctant readers seeking a book about fairly ordinary, easily relatable young boys.
I do want to offer some critiques because, as an elementary school teacher, there were a few elements that just did not jive. For one thing, the knowledge of the kids comes into play. Case in point: six-year-old children remarking on a fellow classmate being "disarmed" by the school security guard. Doubtful most first graders would be familiar with this term. Also unlikely a fifth-grade boy would describe something as a nuclear winter yet not know basic geography. And, standard testing does NOT occur the last three days of school! No biggie, but these minor details nagged at me just a bit.
Overall, worthy of a look for those interested.
Narrator Archer Magill admires four men in his life; his grandfather, father, uncle, and Illinois National Guardsman turned fifth-grade student teacher, Mr. McLeod. Archer details the adventures and wisdom these men impart on his life along with chronicling his school career from the first through seventh grades. Quirky classmates add spark to the story as does the tender and bittersweet relationship with his beloved grandfather. Would be a good choice for reluctant readers seeking a book about fairly ordinary, easily relatable young boys.
I do want to offer some critiques because, as an elementary school teacher, there were a few elements that just did not jive. For one thing, the knowledge of the kids comes into play. Case in point: six-year-old children remarking on a fellow classmate being "disarmed" by the school security guard. Doubtful most first graders would be familiar with this term. Also unlikely a fifth-grade boy would describe something as a nuclear winter yet not know basic geography. And, standard testing does NOT occur the last three days of school! No biggie, but these minor details nagged at me just a bit.
Overall, worthy of a look for those interested.
February 2, 2020
Archer Magill had four role models: his father, his grandpa, his Uncle Paul, and eventually, his fifth-grade student teacher, Mr. McLeod. Beginning with a wedding and ending with one, Archer chronicles his home and school life from the first to the sixth grades in this entertaining tale. His loving relationships with his parents, grandparents, and Uncle Paul, and his friendship with his schoolmate Lynette (sometimes Lynn) form the basis of most of the story in The Best Man, which addresses themes ranging from friendship to hero worship, sexual orientation to the death of loved ones.
Whatever 'issue' is foremost at a given moment in The Best Man, the story never takes second place, always feeling real and authentic. Peck creates a winning voice for Archer, whose narration captured and held my attention from the first page. I appreciated the fact that the author wanted to tell a story about gay marriage for grade schoolers, one in which there was minimal trauma, strife and/or melodrama, and think he succeeded very well. The sense of humor here is often quite sharp, but it is also humane, showing up the foibles and flaws of its characters without holding any of them up to ridicule. I read this with mostly unalloyed pleasure, and probably would have awarded it four stars, if not for the late-in-the-book inclusion of the character of Hilary, a snooty British student whose odious behavior (no doubt meant to be humorous?) added nothing to the story, and felt like an artificial distraction from an otherwise natural-feeling tale. Leaving aside that one flaw, this was an entertaining, thought-provoking, and heartwarming tale, one I would recommend wholeheartedly to any middle-school reader looking for family and/or school stories.
Whatever 'issue' is foremost at a given moment in The Best Man, the story never takes second place, always feeling real and authentic. Peck creates a winning voice for Archer, whose narration captured and held my attention from the first page. I appreciated the fact that the author wanted to tell a story about gay marriage for grade schoolers, one in which there was minimal trauma, strife and/or melodrama, and think he succeeded very well. The sense of humor here is often quite sharp, but it is also humane, showing up the foibles and flaws of its characters without holding any of them up to ridicule. I read this with mostly unalloyed pleasure, and probably would have awarded it four stars, if not for the late-in-the-book inclusion of the character of Hilary, a snooty British student whose odious behavior (no doubt meant to be humorous?) added nothing to the story, and felt like an artificial distraction from an otherwise natural-feeling tale. Leaving aside that one flaw, this was an entertaining, thought-provoking, and heartwarming tale, one I would recommend wholeheartedly to any middle-school reader looking for family and/or school stories.
July 14, 2016
Some favorite quotes I want to hang onto before I pass my copy along:
"Kids know most things before their grown-ups know they know. We're older than we look. It's complicated. We're older than we act." (ARC, 53) -- yes, absolutely
"Lynette's eyes rolled. 'It's not just his dog. Look at the collar on it. It's some kind of official dog, a professional. Maybe it can sniff out narcotics or dead bodies. Maybe it's trained to attack immature students who never notice anything.'" (ARC 76) -- love her snark!
"'We all need goals,' he said. 'Here's one: Stay away from people who don't know who they are but want you to be just like them. People who'll want to label you. People who'll try to write their fears on your face.'" (ARC, 110)
"It was dark when we hit the Illinois line. I was feeling a little older, or something. Trying to talk to Uncle Paul about him and Mr. McLeod was different for me. It was a little bit like being in middle school a year early. You're drop-kicked into new territory. I was wondering how much change you have to go through before your voice does." (ARC, 163)
"'Being gay isn't a decision. How you live your life is a decision.'" (ARC, 196)
"Kids know most things before their grown-ups know they know. We're older than we look. It's complicated. We're older than we act." (ARC, 53) -- yes, absolutely
"Lynette's eyes rolled. 'It's not just his dog. Look at the collar on it. It's some kind of official dog, a professional. Maybe it can sniff out narcotics or dead bodies. Maybe it's trained to attack immature students who never notice anything.'" (ARC 76) -- love her snark!
"'We all need goals,' he said. 'Here's one: Stay away from people who don't know who they are but want you to be just like them. People who'll want to label you. People who'll try to write their fears on your face.'" (ARC, 110)
"It was dark when we hit the Illinois line. I was feeling a little older, or something. Trying to talk to Uncle Paul about him and Mr. McLeod was different for me. It was a little bit like being in middle school a year early. You're drop-kicked into new territory. I was wondering how much change you have to go through before your voice does." (ARC, 163)
"'Being gay isn't a decision. How you live your life is a decision.'" (ARC, 196)
July 16, 2016
I really tried to like this book, but there were several things that completely ruined it for me:
1. The dialogue of the children was not authentic and was too grown up.
2. The story was all over the place and didn't focus on the wedding until the very last chapter.
3. Being the best man was maybe a few pages. So the title doesn't make sense.
4. Being gay took a back seat in this book and other side plots took center stage.
Sorry Richard, but this one for me will stay on the shelf.
1. The dialogue of the children was not authentic and was too grown up.
2. The story was all over the place and didn't focus on the wedding until the very last chapter.
3. Being the best man was maybe a few pages. So the title doesn't make sense.
4. Being gay took a back seat in this book and other side plots took center stage.
Sorry Richard, but this one for me will stay on the shelf.
April 14, 2018
OMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSH THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER!!! It really gives us a laugh, a concerned face, and a hand that continues to want to flip pages continuously! Its different from the others because it has many...........interesting features! I recommeng EVERYONE to read it!!!
Thank you SO MUCH Mr. Peck!
Thank you SO MUCH Mr. Peck!
September 11, 2016
Quirky and droll, with a lot of beautiful moments. Archer has 3 role models - his car-fixing dad, his dapper uncle, and his polished grandpa. He hopes to be like all three men when he grows up.
This book takes you from Archer's experiences in first grade through sixth grade. It includes his long time friendship with Lynette, having an awesome 5the grade teacher named Mr. McLeod, and meeting a posh Brit who's 92nd in line to the throne.
Peck offers many lessons to the reader and for Archer, but none are heavy handed or preachy. It's as refreshing as a glass of lemonade.
This book takes you from Archer's experiences in first grade through sixth grade. It includes his long time friendship with Lynette, having an awesome 5the grade teacher named Mr. McLeod, and meeting a posh Brit who's 92nd in line to the throne.
Peck offers many lessons to the reader and for Archer, but none are heavy handed or preachy. It's as refreshing as a glass of lemonade.
July 13, 2022
It’s hard to see one of my favorite authors write woke.
Not only do I disagree with the twisted themes of the story, but the writing of Peck simply doesn’t hit. He is excellent at creating the underdog, the villain, hilarious sayings, and capturing historic Americana. He uses these same tactics in this book, but they fall flat as they cannot support what is inherently wrong: homosexuality.
The one Peck book I have read that will not be in my house.
Not only do I disagree with the twisted themes of the story, but the writing of Peck simply doesn’t hit. He is excellent at creating the underdog, the villain, hilarious sayings, and capturing historic Americana. He uses these same tactics in this book, but they fall flat as they cannot support what is inherently wrong: homosexuality.
The one Peck book I have read that will not be in my house.
July 13, 2023
May 2023 read. I am a bit disappointed as I expected something else from the blurb but I am glad I read the book.
November 24, 2017
The Best Man is a sweet, lighthearted, matter-of-fact middle-grade novel with lovable characters and positive male role models, some of which happen to be gay.
But although I applaud the book's lack of sentimentality or "issues," nothing about it is particularly memorable.
Also, some parts of the story are so exaggerated that they occasionally seem ridiculous (I have in mind the au pair fan club, the eccentricity of Hilary Evelyn Calthorpe, or Ms. Roebuck's incompetence with computers).
Finally, the portrayal of women is rather stereotypical, as highlighted by this very insightful review.
But although I applaud the book's lack of sentimentality or "issues," nothing about it is particularly memorable.
Also, some parts of the story are so exaggerated that they occasionally seem ridiculous (I have in mind the au pair fan club, the eccentricity of Hilary Evelyn Calthorpe, or Ms. Roebuck's incompetence with computers).
Finally, the portrayal of women is rather stereotypical, as highlighted by this very insightful review.
November 17, 2017
A 10 year old boy's take on love, life, marriage, and role models. Do yourself a favor: read it.
January 10, 2020
A great read that is fun and entertaining. It begins with a wedding and ends with a wedding 6 years later.
January 9, 2017
Richard Peck is a living legend, having defined the last 150 years of American history for children in a way no textbook ever could. And with The Best Man, one of the crowning achievements of a storied writing career, he proves that he is at home in the 2010s as in the 1920s.
I meant to read twenty pages before going to sleep. Instead, I read the entire book in one sitting, in my bed as the sky began to lighten. I could not put it down. I was bursting into laughter all the time. And at one point, in a scene with Archer and his dad (you know the one if you’ve read it!), I felt my eyes well with tears.
The book echoes Peck’s best works, A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder. It’s about children navigating the confusing world of adults, wide-eyed and wondering and observing everything through a unique lens. Peck’s stories are sweet, though stopping just short of schmaltzy. And some things – important family dynamics, the no-nonsense nature of childhood friendships, the weirdness of school, the misfortune of bullies being a thing – are timeless. And the refreshing thing about Peck’s characters is that none of them, whether bullied or from divorced families or differently abled, see themselves as victims and whine about it.
Were that all there was to say about the book – it sweetly and perfectly captures a slice of childhood – that would get five stars already. But this has the bonus of also being a Very Important Book through its inclusion (I’m hesitant to say “focus”) of homosexuality. It’s the reality of the 21st century, and this book captures the questions raised, as well as how easily children can accept things. It captures the different kinds of masculinity one can encounter these days, and makes them all equally valid.
I have a feeling this book will do an awful lot to create a generation with liberal views on LGBT people. Every school and library should immediately stock up on copies. Personally, I can’t wait to give it to my niece in a few years to teach her about differing sexualities.
I meant to read twenty pages before going to sleep. Instead, I read the entire book in one sitting, in my bed as the sky began to lighten. I could not put it down. I was bursting into laughter all the time. And at one point, in a scene with Archer and his dad (you know the one if you’ve read it!), I felt my eyes well with tears.
The book echoes Peck’s best works, A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder. It’s about children navigating the confusing world of adults, wide-eyed and wondering and observing everything through a unique lens. Peck’s stories are sweet, though stopping just short of schmaltzy. And some things – important family dynamics, the no-nonsense nature of childhood friendships, the weirdness of school, the misfortune of bullies being a thing – are timeless. And the refreshing thing about Peck’s characters is that none of them, whether bullied or from divorced families or differently abled, see themselves as victims and whine about it.
Were that all there was to say about the book – it sweetly and perfectly captures a slice of childhood – that would get five stars already. But this has the bonus of also being a Very Important Book through its inclusion (I’m hesitant to say “focus”) of homosexuality. It’s the reality of the 21st century, and this book captures the questions raised, as well as how easily children can accept things. It captures the different kinds of masculinity one can encounter these days, and makes them all equally valid.
I have a feeling this book will do an awful lot to create a generation with liberal views on LGBT people. Every school and library should immediately stock up on copies. Personally, I can’t wait to give it to my niece in a few years to teach her about differing sexualities.
January 22, 2018
Archer comes from a fairly standard family in suburban Chicago. His mom is a marriage counselor (Archer thinks she is a wedding planner for years), his dad restores classic cars, his grandpa lives nearby and is a big part of his life, and his uncle Paul is one of the coolest people Archer knows. Archer's story begins and ends with a wedding. The first wedding occurs when Archer is 6 and he is the ringbearer. It is an unqualified disaster on Archer's part involving split velvet shorts and a muddy behind. He does meet his best friend and protector Lynette there, however, and she becomes an integral part of his life. Things progress fairly normally throughout his elementary years. He is a bit clueless and usually the last to figure things out, but things are pretty normal. Then comes the year of Mr. McLeod. Mr. McLeod is their new student teacher and completely different from any other teacher they have had. He is an army reservist and comes out as gay when defending a bullied student. Then Mr. McLeod and Uncle Paul meet and sparks fly. The book ends with their wedding with Archer as Best Man for both of them.
I loved the realness of this story. There isn't a lot of action or excitement, but it is a beautifully told story that I think will resonate with a lot of kids. The snappy dialogue and interesting characters add a lot to what would have otherwise been a slower story. Archer is a normal, clueless kid who loves his family and wants to be like the men in his life. I thought everything from the declining health and eventual death of grandpa to the realization that both Uncle Paul and Mr. McLeod were gay were handled very well and in a way that made it all seem like just a part of life. There wasn't anything radical or unusual about any of it. I think that was the point that Richard Peck was making and made so well. This is life. This is what happens in life. You don't get all worked up about normal everyday things, but those normal things are what makes us who we are. Excellent work!
I loved the realness of this story. There isn't a lot of action or excitement, but it is a beautifully told story that I think will resonate with a lot of kids. The snappy dialogue and interesting characters add a lot to what would have otherwise been a slower story. Archer is a normal, clueless kid who loves his family and wants to be like the men in his life. I thought everything from the declining health and eventual death of grandpa to the realization that both Uncle Paul and Mr. McLeod were gay were handled very well and in a way that made it all seem like just a part of life. There wasn't anything radical or unusual about any of it. I think that was the point that Richard Peck was making and made so well. This is life. This is what happens in life. You don't get all worked up about normal everyday things, but those normal things are what makes us who we are. Excellent work!
September 15, 2016
Archer recounts the two weddings that he has been in, one really bad and the other really good and all of the time in between. The first was a wedding where he was in first grade and the ring bearer. He tried hiding in the bushes and only managed to get his outfit full of mud and to rip a hole in the too-tight cloth. The best that can be said is that it made a popular YouTube clip. Archer also managed to make a new friend that day, a friendship that would carry through his grade school years. As grade school progresses, Archer tries to figure out what type of person he wants to be. He knows that he wants to be like his grandfather, his father and his uncle. He also wants to be like his fifth-grade student teacher too, a handsome veteran who turns school into a media frenzy. It is the wedding of his uncle to his teacher that is the best wedding ever. As Archer matures, he shows the men around him what means to be the best kind of man too.
Peck is a Newbery Medalist and this one of his best ever. Peck takes the hot topic of gay marriage and makes it immensely approachable and personal. Archer is a wonderfully naive narrator, someone who isn’t the first in the room to figure things out. That gives readers space to see things first and to come to their own opinions on things. Then the book offers insight into being human whether gay or straight. There is no pretense here, just a family living their lives together and inspiring one another to be better than they are.
Peck’s lightness throughout the book is to be applauded. This is not a “problem” novel that grapples with the idea of gay marriage and debates it at length. Instead it is a book filled with laugh-out-loud humor and lots of delight. Alongside that is a great deal of poignancy with aging grandparents, the ins and outs of love, and the growth of characters throughout.
Entirely engaging and immensely readable, this is one of the best of the year. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Peck is a Newbery Medalist and this one of his best ever. Peck takes the hot topic of gay marriage and makes it immensely approachable and personal. Archer is a wonderfully naive narrator, someone who isn’t the first in the room to figure things out. That gives readers space to see things first and to come to their own opinions on things. Then the book offers insight into being human whether gay or straight. There is no pretense here, just a family living their lives together and inspiring one another to be better than they are.
Peck’s lightness throughout the book is to be applauded. This is not a “problem” novel that grapples with the idea of gay marriage and debates it at length. Instead it is a book filled with laugh-out-loud humor and lots of delight. Alongside that is a great deal of poignancy with aging grandparents, the ins and outs of love, and the growth of characters throughout.
Entirely engaging and immensely readable, this is one of the best of the year. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
December 27, 2016
This was all kinds of adorable, and great for both upper-elementary and middle-grade students. Archer has a fantastic and hilarious narrative voice, and he's such a likable character that kids will relate to. I have to admit to being SLIGHTLY annoyed by the short, choppy sentences that are used to tell the story--I don't know if that's a Richard Peck thing or just something that was employed here due to the audience. However, I noticed it less and less as the story went on.
Archer just has such a fantastic way of observing and commenting on the world around him...
On standardized tests:
"Good day?" Dad inquired.
"I didn't have a day, Dad. It was testing."
"What did they test you on?"
"Dad, if I knew, I'd tell you."
On puberty:
I sat up. "Mom, I'm not ready. This isn't the body I wanted to take to middle school. Look at it. I need another year. I'm pre---what?"
"Prepubescent?" Mom offered.
"Probably. You'll have to homeschool me."
On family revelations:
"We talked about...Excalibur?"
Mom pondered. "Excalibur. Isn't that a sword?"
"I think it's something you rub on your face."
"Exfoliant? You talked about exfoliant?"
"We touched on it," I said. "Uncle Paul likes to keep his skin in shape. Also, he's gay."
Hilarious.
Archer just has such a fantastic way of observing and commenting on the world around him...
On standardized tests:
"Good day?" Dad inquired.
"I didn't have a day, Dad. It was testing."
"What did they test you on?"
"Dad, if I knew, I'd tell you."
On puberty:
I sat up. "Mom, I'm not ready. This isn't the body I wanted to take to middle school. Look at it. I need another year. I'm pre---what?"
"Prepubescent?" Mom offered.
"Probably. You'll have to homeschool me."
On family revelations:
"We talked about...Excalibur?"
Mom pondered. "Excalibur. Isn't that a sword?"
"I think it's something you rub on your face."
"Exfoliant? You talked about exfoliant?"
"We touched on it," I said. "Uncle Paul likes to keep his skin in shape. Also, he's gay."
Hilarious.
August 23, 2016
Very charming story of a 6th grade boy with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR positive male role models: his dad, his grandpa, his uncle and his teacher. Archer's Uncle Paul is the coolest: the snappiest dresser with the hottest car AND he has connections to get into Wrigley Field. He also happens to be gay, but that's NBD. The student teacher in Archer's 5th grade class is Mr. McLeod, a military man AND is the handsomest guy in Illinois. He has to sneak into school just to avoid marriage proposals. Turns out he's also gay. Archer's a little slow on the uptake about Uncle Paul and Mr. McLeod's romance, but once he knows what's up he's determined to make sure Uncle Paul doesn't screw this relationship up. Because Mr. McLeod is a keeper.
So much to love here: Chicago, baseball, modern families, typical middle school shenanigans. My only mild criticism: the kids speak like adults. It's funny, but maybe not so realistic. Still, books where a gay marriage is just another normal family event are in need and this one is so endearing. It made me smile during a rough week. Curious to see what kids will think of it, since some of my coworkers think it's written more for adults.
So much to love here: Chicago, baseball, modern families, typical middle school shenanigans. My only mild criticism: the kids speak like adults. It's funny, but maybe not so realistic. Still, books where a gay marriage is just another normal family event are in need and this one is so endearing. It made me smile during a rough week. Curious to see what kids will think of it, since some of my coworkers think it's written more for adults.
July 3, 2016
I am a Richard Peck fan and found this middle grade novel another winner from a great author. There were many passages I read out loud to myself just to enjoy the words - all felt carefully selected and true. Archer attends two weddings for this book - one when he totally embarrasses his very young self and one in which his favorite person, his uncle, gets married. Reading Archer's relationships with great male role models in his father, his grandfather, his teacher, and his uncle felt for this adult that these role models are what we want for all our children. And then when his uncle and his teacher begin a relationship that ends in marriage (not really a spoiler...The Best Man is the title!), this adult reader felt that this is how we understand in story form what it means to say "love is love is love is love." Told with humor and honesty, this book wins with me.
May 18, 2023
Familial relationships provide the backbone of this middle grade novel. The story isn't organized around a central conflict; instead, a wedding at the beginning and the end provide bookends and the middle of the book covers the protagonist's elementary school years, with an emphasis on fifth and sixth grades. This might have resulted in a meandering heap of scenes in the hands of a less accomplished author, but it certainly works here, helped by a lot of heart, a heavy dose of humor, and some sprinkles of wisdom. The Chicago setting is tightly woven into the fabric of the characters' lives. It's especially nice to see a boy with strong family ties in a novel that isn't afraid to show emotion, but without the sap. Also appreciate the family's ready acceptance of the boy's uncle marrying a man.
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