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Plank's Law
Trevor has known since he was ten years old that he has Huntington's disease, but at sixteen he is informed that he has one year to live. One day while he's trying to figure stuff out, an old man named Plank finds him standing at a cliff by the ocean. It's the beginning of an odd but intriguing relationship. Both Trevor and Plank decide to live by Plank's Law, which is -just live.- This means Trevor has to act on the things on his bucket list, like hanging out with real penguins, star in a science fiction movie and actually talk to Sara--the girl at the hospital who smiles at him.
With the aid of Plank and Sara, Trevor revises his bucket list to include more important things and takes charge of his illness and his life.
With the aid of Plank and Sara, Trevor revises his bucket list to include more important things and takes charge of his illness and his life.
179 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2017
33 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Choyce
131 books122 followersLesley Choyce is a novelist and poet living at Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia. He is the author of more than 80 books for adults, teens and children. He teaches in the English Department and Transition Year Program at Dalhousie University. He is a year-round surfer and founding member of the 1990s spoken word rock band, The SurfPoets. Choyce also runs Pottersfield Press, a small literary publishing house and hosted the national TV show, Off The Page, for many years. His books have been translated into Spanish, French, German and Danish and he has been awarded the Dartmouth Book Award and the Ann Connor Brimer Award.
Lesley Choyce was born in New Jersey in 1951 and moved to Canada in 1978 and became a citizen.
His YA novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands.
Lesley Choyce was born in New Jersey in 1951 and moved to Canada in 1978 and became a citizen.
His YA novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 8, 2017
I've really enjoyed this reading, sadly it's quite short and I would really have liked to know more about the characters and their lives, even so the point of the reading is quite clear and I think it tries to emphasize the importance of living every day as if it were the last one appreciating every moment
I want to thank NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review
4/5 Stars
You can see this one and more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought.
The Plank's Law follows Trevor, he's a young man who has a terminal illness, Huntington's disease, which according to doctors will end his life within a year. One day being on the edge of a cliff, thinking about ending his life ,Trevor meets an old man called Plank, and they begin a particular friendship. Plank tells Trevor about a law that he has created called the Plank's Law, in wich he tries to live every day and enjoy the moment so both decide to begin to live under those rules, while Trevor will treat to fulfill his list of wishes before the illness ends with his live.
The idea of this short novel is to put Trevor to test and in the way of trying to fulfill his goals he'll discover what are the things that really matter
This book was very sweet, there is something that characterizes the characters and is that they are generally quite innocent, especially Trevor, and live saying always what they think, which has been super refreshing to read. The meaning of the whole book and what it's trying to convey is very inspiring, it deals with sensitive issues such as cancer and depression, but I think the writer has done everything from a positive side and teaches how of a time so hard and having such a difficult life you still can learn so many amazing things. The characters and the way they relate is great, I really like the relationship between Trevor and Plank, because the age difference here is immense and yet they have absolutely adorable conversations and I love the honesty with which they are handled.
Love and how it is handled here is a bit weird but I think I personally enjoyed it, when I say it was weird I mean it's all very fast but even so, being such a short book I suppose that makes sense, besides we're talking about characters with serious illnesses which makes them live their days in full. The relationship between Sara and Trevor is very sweet and sensitive, Trevor has included in his list to meet this girl who one day smiled at him in the hospital and this girl turns out to be Sara, she has cancer, so you can see very hard times, where they have stayed together no matter what, the way that Trevor comes to her and fall in love is very natural and simple, I really enjoy it, especially seeing the way they support each other, is incredible
It was hard to see how Trevor almost gave up a couple of times, as the disease attacks his mind and makes him weak , feels depressed and feels that living is not worth it, and at the same time it's inspiring, because he surpasses it by himself and for his love for Sara, and for wanting to be there for her he just stops thinking about everything and forces himself to move on, that's my favorite thing about the book.
There is a very punctual thing with which I've felt a little annoying and it's the relationship between Antonio and Trevor, they're childhood friends and then for life stuffs they separate and Antonio moves away, but one day thanks to Sara they meet again, and I don't want to make spoilers, so I'll be brief, butAntonio has serious symptoms of depression and I think that Trevor in his innocence or his ignorance perhaps, doesn't pay the attention that should have given him, and I'm not saying it was because he's a bad person but I think he's been a bit careless at that point, and I think his behavior might have changed how things ended
I would like to have a second book because I would love to know how the characters' lives continues, from everything after all they have lived, but even so it has been a very nice reading and easy to read as wel,l I recommend it a lot
November 21, 2017
I requested this book on Netgalley in return for an honest review
Enjoyed this short story. Plank's Law: just live and don't think too much is a wise lesson I wish I could follow more. Having an illness that cuts your life short drastically can make it easier to do so.
Trevor is learning to follow Plank's Law and it's causing some surprising changes in his life.
I like the story and the idea behind it, but it lacked some depth. Making it a short story was not a bad idea, the message is clear, but I would have liked to learn more about the characters.
Nice read, but not one that would specifically stick in my mind.
Enjoyed this short story. Plank's Law: just live and don't think too much is a wise lesson I wish I could follow more. Having an illness that cuts your life short drastically can make it easier to do so.
Trevor is learning to follow Plank's Law and it's causing some surprising changes in his life.
I like the story and the idea behind it, but it lacked some depth. Making it a short story was not a bad idea, the message is clear, but I would have liked to learn more about the characters.
Nice read, but not one that would specifically stick in my mind.
August 14, 2017
Ok this is the firs time I am conflicted about the rating I want to give to a book... I gave it 4 starts but I really wanted this book to be longer. Full review to come.
September 5, 2017
This ARC was provided to me by Netgally in return for an honest review
Trevor is sick, he has always known this, but ever since he has gotten his death sentence his has decided to life. With the help of some unexpected source he sets out on a real life, something he hasn't had for years.
I really liked this short story. At first i didn't even know that it would be one, but it made sence in the end. It was short and sweet, with a good message for the reader. Life isn't something the wast, you have to enjoy it and life it to the fullest. The way the story was told, like a sort of story the main character was telling you.
I liked the fast past way you flew through the story. Eventhough i liked it, i would have liked it better of i had gotten some more information about the whole situation. From the very beginning you knew you weren't going to get it because the main character told you right away. Like i said, it was short and sweet.. but i would liked to know more. There isn't much more to say about it without giving things away. I tink this story is a good one to learn about the precious gift of life and not wasting it.
Trevor is sick, he has always known this, but ever since he has gotten his death sentence his has decided to life. With the help of some unexpected source he sets out on a real life, something he hasn't had for years.
I really liked this short story. At first i didn't even know that it would be one, but it made sence in the end. It was short and sweet, with a good message for the reader. Life isn't something the wast, you have to enjoy it and life it to the fullest. The way the story was told, like a sort of story the main character was telling you.
I liked the fast past way you flew through the story. Eventhough i liked it, i would have liked it better of i had gotten some more information about the whole situation. From the very beginning you knew you weren't going to get it because the main character told you right away. Like i said, it was short and sweet.. but i would liked to know more. There isn't much more to say about it without giving things away. I tink this story is a good one to learn about the precious gift of life and not wasting it.
July 10, 2018
I must admit that I was first drawn to this title because I’m a physicist and I inadvertently read the title as Planck’s Law, the law of physics involving blackbody radiation. I was curious to see how somebody could make fiction out of this physics principle. Of course, the title is actually Plank’s Law, and has nothing to do with physics. I didn’t realize this until I was reading the plot blurb about the book. When I realized my mistake, I was momentarily annoyed that someone would try to trick physicists in this manner. Until it occurred to me that the ‘fiction for physicists’ market would be so infinitesimal that the author would have to be nuts to seek it out on purpose. By this time, I’d read the blurb and was interested anyway.
The book concerns a teenager, Trevor, dealing with a fatal Huntington’s diagnosis. Given that this is a YA book, this is pretty heavy subject matter. The novel opens with Trevor on the edge of a cliff, beginning to at least imagine what suicide would be like, and if it might be a better option for everyone. This is when Plank shows up, a quirky 93-year-old with a snarky manner that interests Trevor and distracts him from his morbid thoughts. They begin a friend/mentor relationship that advises Trevor throughout the book. Plank’s Law turns out to be a personal philosophy to “stop trying to make sense of things and bloody well live your life.”
Key characters as the story develops are contemporaries Sara and Antonio. Antonio is a reckless best friend who disappears from the story, much to Trevor’s dismay, because of a move far away. Sara is a cancer patient with an easy beauty, both inside and out, who embraces Plank’s Law with Trevor as they deal with their diseases together. She eventually helps Trevor get back in contact with Antonio. The way these relationships develop is engaging and convincing and drew me along through three-quarters of the novel. Near the end, things seem rushed and less convincing. I found myself feeling unsatisfied by the end, probably because I expected a better wrap-up after such an artful build-up. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile novel dealing with very serious subjects.
The book concerns a teenager, Trevor, dealing with a fatal Huntington’s diagnosis. Given that this is a YA book, this is pretty heavy subject matter. The novel opens with Trevor on the edge of a cliff, beginning to at least imagine what suicide would be like, and if it might be a better option for everyone. This is when Plank shows up, a quirky 93-year-old with a snarky manner that interests Trevor and distracts him from his morbid thoughts. They begin a friend/mentor relationship that advises Trevor throughout the book. Plank’s Law turns out to be a personal philosophy to “stop trying to make sense of things and bloody well live your life.”
Key characters as the story develops are contemporaries Sara and Antonio. Antonio is a reckless best friend who disappears from the story, much to Trevor’s dismay, because of a move far away. Sara is a cancer patient with an easy beauty, both inside and out, who embraces Plank’s Law with Trevor as they deal with their diseases together. She eventually helps Trevor get back in contact with Antonio. The way these relationships develop is engaging and convincing and drew me along through three-quarters of the novel. Near the end, things seem rushed and less convincing. I found myself feeling unsatisfied by the end, probably because I expected a better wrap-up after such an artful build-up. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile novel dealing with very serious subjects.
August 17, 2017
3.5 Plank stars
Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for the ARC, provided via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Plank’s Law is one of those books that you would either like or dislike. I liked it but there were moments that I felt that it lacked a certain depth to the story.
I loved Plank’s life philosophy: to just live. It is so simple and so straightforward that anyone can follow it to the best of their ability.
I liked Trevor because despite the prognosis of his Huntington’s disease, he was relatively upbeat and tried to make the best of a very difficult situation. I enjoyed reading all his little lists and how he got down to the details quickly and sarcastically. I loved his interactions with Plank as Plank is a no-bullshit old man who had the best potty mouth. Plank was really an amazing character.
I liked Sara’s attitude, especially in public with regards to her wig. I love the fact that she never made Trevor feel bad about his circumstances and that she encouraged him to keep following Plank’s Law.
I liked Trevor and Sara as friends but yet I didn’t like them as a couple. It felt to me that the relationship lacked depth and the connection between them felt weak at times.
I liked Antonio and his pranks and all the various arguments. But I hated how his storyline was wrapped up as it felt glossed over and rushed. Trevor’s reactions towards everything that happened with Antonio weren’t properly explored and it was just too fast paced. What was even the point of this twist if it didn’t actually affect the main character in a very serious way? This missed opportunity to delve deeper into Trevor’s mind set would have made so much difference to the content of the book.
I liked Trevor’s parents, especially his mom. I liked the way in how she approached religion and the choice for Trevor to decide for himself whether or not he wanted religion and if so, that he could choose which deity to worship. This was honestly such a great modern way of parenting. I wished there were more interactions between Trevor and his dad as I really enjoyed the little bits that occurred. I wish that there was a bit more focus on Trevor and his dad’s relationship on the acceptance of the hereditary nature of Huntington’s disease.
Despite all of these shortcomings, I really enjoyed Plank’s Law as it was a fast read with some interesting life philosophies and approaches. The portrayal of acceptance and the will to survive really stood out.
I recommend this book to anyone who needs a fast moving read which deals with heart-breaking topics, a sound life philosophy and fascinating characters.
Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for the ARC, provided via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Plank’s Law is one of those books that you would either like or dislike. I liked it but there were moments that I felt that it lacked a certain depth to the story.
I loved Plank’s life philosophy: to just live. It is so simple and so straightforward that anyone can follow it to the best of their ability.
I liked Trevor because despite the prognosis of his Huntington’s disease, he was relatively upbeat and tried to make the best of a very difficult situation. I enjoyed reading all his little lists and how he got down to the details quickly and sarcastically. I loved his interactions with Plank as Plank is a no-bullshit old man who had the best potty mouth. Plank was really an amazing character.
I liked Sara’s attitude, especially in public with regards to her wig. I love the fact that she never made Trevor feel bad about his circumstances and that she encouraged him to keep following Plank’s Law.
I liked Trevor and Sara as friends but yet I didn’t like them as a couple. It felt to me that the relationship lacked depth and the connection between them felt weak at times.
I liked Antonio and his pranks and all the various arguments. But I hated how his storyline was wrapped up as it felt glossed over and rushed. Trevor’s reactions towards everything that happened with Antonio weren’t properly explored and it was just too fast paced. What was even the point of this twist if it didn’t actually affect the main character in a very serious way? This missed opportunity to delve deeper into Trevor’s mind set would have made so much difference to the content of the book.
I liked Trevor’s parents, especially his mom. I liked the way in how she approached religion and the choice for Trevor to decide for himself whether or not he wanted religion and if so, that he could choose which deity to worship. This was honestly such a great modern way of parenting. I wished there were more interactions between Trevor and his dad as I really enjoyed the little bits that occurred. I wish that there was a bit more focus on Trevor and his dad’s relationship on the acceptance of the hereditary nature of Huntington’s disease.
Despite all of these shortcomings, I really enjoyed Plank’s Law as it was a fast read with some interesting life philosophies and approaches. The portrayal of acceptance and the will to survive really stood out.
I recommend this book to anyone who needs a fast moving read which deals with heart-breaking topics, a sound life philosophy and fascinating characters.
July 9, 2017
Um rip off wannabe de A Culpa é das Estrelas. O autor joga um monte de informações e subplots que não se desenvolvem em nada. Aparentemente instalove tá me perseguindo esses tempos - esse aqui foi bizarro porque rola uma stalkeada e o casal fica junto porque um sorriu pro outro, os dois tão na merda e é isso aí.
A ideia era interessante, mas foi perda de tempo por total falta de desenvolvimento da história.
A ideia era interessante, mas foi perda de tempo por total falta de desenvolvimento da história.
July 19, 2017
I was drawn to this book because of the promise of self-discovery and the whole "getting my life together despite adversity" theme from the synopsis, but unfortunately, it was disappointing. Plank's Law was bland. That's it. I think the author really tried to be short-and-sweet feels inducing but the book didn't sit all that well with me. I barely processed the words, the plot was a bit of a let-down, and the simplicity in the writing (which, on its own can be good but whew, lack of cohesiveness too?) didn't exactly complement the work.
The characters were all fairly two-dimensional, and I guess that might have to do with the length of Plank's Law, seeing as it isn't the longest book, but everyone, main character included, was about as basic/textbook as can be.
Plot-wise, I wasn't very involved in all that went on, due to general disinterest after trying to get in the characters' mindset, but it was difficult, so laziness got the better of me. Also, I just really wanted to have some conflict of sorts in terms of siding with a mentality or a character, which sounds really vague, I know, but the book itself rested on farmland in terms of peculiarity or thoughtfulness.
All in all, I don't have too much to say about this book, other than the fact that I could've gone better without reading it. Expectations are destructive, I swear, and I really need something to get me out of this slump.
Thanks to Orca Book Publishers and Netgalley for exposing me to this read!
The characters were all fairly two-dimensional, and I guess that might have to do with the length of Plank's Law, seeing as it isn't the longest book, but everyone, main character included, was about as basic/textbook as can be.
Plot-wise, I wasn't very involved in all that went on, due to general disinterest after trying to get in the characters' mindset, but it was difficult, so laziness got the better of me. Also, I just really wanted to have some conflict of sorts in terms of siding with a mentality or a character, which sounds really vague, I know, but the book itself rested on farmland in terms of peculiarity or thoughtfulness.
All in all, I don't have too much to say about this book, other than the fact that I could've gone better without reading it. Expectations are destructive, I swear, and I really need something to get me out of this slump.
Thanks to Orca Book Publishers and Netgalley for exposing me to this read!
October 26, 2017
When l began this read, l wasn't sure what to expect. Told entirely from one viewpoint, it is in the language that a teen would articulate when faced with an uncompromising situation. For myself, l l believe that the theme of embracing one's life and revelling in each moment as gift, as life has no guarantees, is a strong message for the reader.
Highly Recommended!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Highly Recommended!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
June 28, 2017
This review and others posted over at
my blog.
I requested this book from the LibraryThing giveaway because even though the protagonist is sixteen, the book was giving me middle-grade vibes and also I thought it would be moving. Unfortunately, this book was a huge flop for me.
It felt like Fault in Our Stars ultra diet lite. Lighter than that even; it’s more like a first draft or an extremely detailed outline of two teens trying to make sense of their potentially terminal illnesses and live the lives they want while they still have time. The writing itself isn’t bad, just bland and the plot and characters have no real substance.
Trevor doesn’t feel like a teen with a terminal illness. He feels like a character outline of a teen with a terminal illness. Same with Plank, his elderly mentor; he’s old, falls asleep often, lost his wife and thus sometimes doles out sage advice, and occasionally offers Trevor a beer or falls ill to spice up the plot. Sara would likely be a Manic Pixie Dream Girl in a more fleshed out novel, but instead is the ghost of a tough girl with cancer who wants to live, likes taking her wig off at random moments and wants to have a baby at sixteen, while still undergoing chemo (uhhhh wut?)
There simply aren’t enough pages to tell a meaningful story. There’s only one semi-emotional event (or, maybe there were more but they were one sentence so I completely missed them) and it did nothing for me because the character was undeveloped and the scene rushed. I’ve read shorter middle-grade books and even novellas that manage to pack a lot of story and character into a low page count, but I think this book needs serious development.
I can’t say I would recommend this book, but I can say that I like the cover design on the ARC! There’s not enough weight to the characters or the plot but had there been, I think this could have been a solid read. The idea is there, but the execution didn’t do it for me.
I received this book for free from LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review.
I requested this book from the LibraryThing giveaway because even though the protagonist is sixteen, the book was giving me middle-grade vibes and also I thought it would be moving. Unfortunately, this book was a huge flop for me.
It felt like Fault in Our Stars ultra diet lite. Lighter than that even; it’s more like a first draft or an extremely detailed outline of two teens trying to make sense of their potentially terminal illnesses and live the lives they want while they still have time. The writing itself isn’t bad, just bland and the plot and characters have no real substance.
Trevor doesn’t feel like a teen with a terminal illness. He feels like a character outline of a teen with a terminal illness. Same with Plank, his elderly mentor; he’s old, falls asleep often, lost his wife and thus sometimes doles out sage advice, and occasionally offers Trevor a beer or falls ill to spice up the plot. Sara would likely be a Manic Pixie Dream Girl in a more fleshed out novel, but instead is the ghost of a tough girl with cancer who wants to live, likes taking her wig off at random moments and wants to have a baby at sixteen, while still undergoing chemo (uhhhh wut?)
There simply aren’t enough pages to tell a meaningful story. There’s only one semi-emotional event (or, maybe there were more but they were one sentence so I completely missed them) and it did nothing for me because the character was undeveloped and the scene rushed. I’ve read shorter middle-grade books and even novellas that manage to pack a lot of story and character into a low page count, but I think this book needs serious development.
I can’t say I would recommend this book, but I can say that I like the cover design on the ARC! There’s not enough weight to the characters or the plot but had there been, I think this could have been a solid read. The idea is there, but the execution didn’t do it for me.
I received this book for free from LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review.
June 29, 2017
// Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review //
"We'll live our lives minute by minute, make up our own set of rules or decide we don't want any rules at all.
Trevor + Sara = <3
The theme of this book was just amazing.
This book was definitely heartfelt and the consistency of the book was great. I enjoyed the writing style very much and I did not get bored anywhere in the story, which was great. This book was really thought of down to the last details and I don't think I would have changed anything with the plot. It's just good as it is.
The characters were written with depth and for a book that talks about topics that are not usually talked about in contemporary books, it was not corny, nor boring, nor was it something that I found insulting. It had a great representation on the topic in my opinion.
This book talks about living life to the fullest even with the little time you have, and sometimes, it's better to have someone on your side along the way who understand you. And to keep you company.
Every person needs their own person I guess.
"We'll live our lives minute by minute, make up our own set of rules or decide we don't want any rules at all.
Trevor + Sara = <3
The theme of this book was just amazing.
This book was definitely heartfelt and the consistency of the book was great. I enjoyed the writing style very much and I did not get bored anywhere in the story, which was great. This book was really thought of down to the last details and I don't think I would have changed anything with the plot. It's just good as it is.
The characters were written with depth and for a book that talks about topics that are not usually talked about in contemporary books, it was not corny, nor boring, nor was it something that I found insulting. It had a great representation on the topic in my opinion.
This book talks about living life to the fullest even with the little time you have, and sometimes, it's better to have someone on your side along the way who understand you. And to keep you company.
Every person needs their own person I guess.
Read
September 12, 2017Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy!
Sadly this is going in the DNF pile for me. As another review said, the whole story feels like a well developed outline but a poorly developed book. The character voice of the protagonist was just a step below engaging (I liked his cheerfulness and his lists, but somehow he didn't quite pull me in). Plank felt like a bit of a stand-in break-the-mold old guy (I couldn't help comparing him to A Man Called Ove, which might be unfair because that book is Brilliant, but I wished Plank was more of a grumbling, fleshed out old man and less like a swearing caricature).
I got to about page 20 and still didn't feel hooked, so I've decided to set this down. I like the concept, but wish it felt more like a finished novel than an early draft. However, if you want a quick, relatively light read about terminal illness, this could be for you!
Sadly this is going in the DNF pile for me. As another review said, the whole story feels like a well developed outline but a poorly developed book. The character voice of the protagonist was just a step below engaging (I liked his cheerfulness and his lists, but somehow he didn't quite pull me in). Plank felt like a bit of a stand-in break-the-mold old guy (I couldn't help comparing him to A Man Called Ove, which might be unfair because that book is Brilliant, but I wished Plank was more of a grumbling, fleshed out old man and less like a swearing caricature).
I got to about page 20 and still didn't feel hooked, so I've decided to set this down. I like the concept, but wish it felt more like a finished novel than an early draft. However, if you want a quick, relatively light read about terminal illness, this could be for you!
June 23, 2017
I received an early copy from NetGalley
In Plank's Law we follow a teen named Trevor, who has Huntington's Disease, as he sets out to complete the things he wants to do before he dies.
I think my actual rating might be more of a 3.5, I actually liked it more than I thought I would. It's a really fun read and I completed it within one day. It was fast paced and entertaining! I really like Plank, he kind of reminded me of Carl from Up except older and less balloons. I also really liked the message of taking things one day at a time and not worrying about the future, I think that's something a lot of people need to hear sometimes.
Overall I think this was a fun, quick read and would recommend it to most people especially fans of The Fault in Our Stars.
In Plank's Law we follow a teen named Trevor, who has Huntington's Disease, as he sets out to complete the things he wants to do before he dies.
I think my actual rating might be more of a 3.5, I actually liked it more than I thought I would. It's a really fun read and I completed it within one day. It was fast paced and entertaining! I really like Plank, he kind of reminded me of Carl from Up except older and less balloons. I also really liked the message of taking things one day at a time and not worrying about the future, I think that's something a lot of people need to hear sometimes.
Overall I think this was a fun, quick read and would recommend it to most people especially fans of The Fault in Our Stars.
August 13, 2025
Está simple la historia pero los personajes son fuertes. Me da gusto que el final haya sido poco predecible, y que no haya girado realmente alrededor de la muerte de Trevor. Y el personaje de Plank es chistoso.
June 27, 2017
A very solid 4 stars.
Such a heartfelt book!
I just knew I was going to love Plank's Law from the very beginning (page 2, to be exact) because it had me laughing out loud. If a book can get me laughing, I think that's great. But if it can keep me laughing throughout the entire thing, well, that's pretty damn cool.
Choyce did a superb job capturing the innermost thoughts of a well-meaning, confused, and average (Sara's words, not mine. I think Trevor was remarkable, actually) teenage boy.
Trevor is everything you'd want in a main character; he's real and thoughtful and scared of life and how to go about the messy business of living it. He was very endearing. But his honesty is what put it over the top for me and made me like him as much as I did.
And Sara was gutsy and bold, despite having to face her own mortality at such an early age. She was as ready to try living life in a better way as Trevor was, and that's what made them so perfect for each other.
This book is really about more than just mortality, though. It's about living life to the fullest, appreciating who and what you have in your life, and dealing with the really hard stuff day by day--otherwise known as Plank's Law.
And Plank...he was so perfect in this book! He had me in stitches with his matter-of-fact personality and his simplistic take on life and its challenges. He's not your average spiritual advisor, but that's what made him so fitting for this book.
And one of the best quotes of the book:
"As I stared off into the distance, I said, "More than anything, I want to be with you."
There's silence, and then there's silence. And then there was this. When I finally turned to look at her, everything else in the world evaporated. There was just Sara and me and empty everything else. She broke the silence that was either a few seconds or a few years long by saying, "I had you all wrong. There's nothing average about you."
So incredible!! This quote really set the tone for the entire book because it was so perfect and endearing.
Overall, the characters were well-developed, the story was believable, and it was a satisfying read.
My only complaint is that I wish the book was longer. It would have been nice if Choyce had taken more time to delve into the main characters, their personalities, and their lives. In that regard, it seemed a little unfulfilled. Other than that, a great read!
*This ARC was kindly provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Such a heartfelt book!
I just knew I was going to love Plank's Law from the very beginning (page 2, to be exact) because it had me laughing out loud. If a book can get me laughing, I think that's great. But if it can keep me laughing throughout the entire thing, well, that's pretty damn cool.
Choyce did a superb job capturing the innermost thoughts of a well-meaning, confused, and average (Sara's words, not mine. I think Trevor was remarkable, actually) teenage boy.
Trevor is everything you'd want in a main character; he's real and thoughtful and scared of life and how to go about the messy business of living it. He was very endearing. But his honesty is what put it over the top for me and made me like him as much as I did.
And Sara was gutsy and bold, despite having to face her own mortality at such an early age. She was as ready to try living life in a better way as Trevor was, and that's what made them so perfect for each other.
This book is really about more than just mortality, though. It's about living life to the fullest, appreciating who and what you have in your life, and dealing with the really hard stuff day by day--otherwise known as Plank's Law.
And Plank...he was so perfect in this book! He had me in stitches with his matter-of-fact personality and his simplistic take on life and its challenges. He's not your average spiritual advisor, but that's what made him so fitting for this book.
And one of the best quotes of the book:
"As I stared off into the distance, I said, "More than anything, I want to be with you."
There's silence, and then there's silence. And then there was this. When I finally turned to look at her, everything else in the world evaporated. There was just Sara and me and empty everything else. She broke the silence that was either a few seconds or a few years long by saying, "I had you all wrong. There's nothing average about you."
So incredible!! This quote really set the tone for the entire book because it was so perfect and endearing.
Overall, the characters were well-developed, the story was believable, and it was a satisfying read.
My only complaint is that I wish the book was longer. It would have been nice if Choyce had taken more time to delve into the main characters, their personalities, and their lives. In that regard, it seemed a little unfulfilled. Other than that, a great read!
*This ARC was kindly provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
September 15, 2017
This book's review was posted on https://katiejudgesbooks.wordpress.co... as part of a collaboration. Visit my blog: https://literaryteawither.wordpress.com/ for more reviews and bookish gossip!
I was really intrigued by the description of this book. I wanted to see Trevor taking charge of his illness and life, I wanted to see him develop as a character, I wanted to see him become mature and do all the things he wanted to do before his time dies. Unfortunately, the book wasn’t quite what I expected.
Initially I did like the book. I think I liked it even after finishing it. But, the more I think about it, the more it becomes clear to me that this book could have done much better.
The characters weren’t unrealistic; they could have been developed in a better manner. I think the author’s main aim was to just show the significant characters of Trevor’s life. His parents get very little mention. This makes it a bit hard to digest. If his parents were given a bit more page time, it would have added to the reality and grievousness of the situation. This becomes even more important when you know that Trevor’s dad blames himself for Trevor’s condition. It would have been nice to explore their relationship.
This book was more about the character and hence the plot wasn’t of much significance. Though, the plot did look kind of mechanic or robotic since everything Trevor wanted was coming to him very quickly.
What I wish the author included more of was Trevor’s own experiences, his growth. I would have loved to read about other characters too for example, Sara and his friend Antonio. At several points in the story I thought that there will be pages dedicated to Antonio’s story. Sadly that wasn’t the case.
I wouldn’t say that I didn’t enjoy the book. With all the criticism above, I did enjoy it. Plank’s laws are something that will remain with me for a long time.
With that said, I also loved the portrayal or Plank’s and Trevor’s friendship. I liked Plank since he didn’t try to act fatherly to Trevor; instead he behaved like a friend. He talked about his failures without hesitation and gives the roughest advice. I liked Sara’s character too. Her boldness and the way she copes with her illness is incredible. I really wish there was more to read about her.
The book was over a bit quickly. The ending was rushed just like Trevor’s life.
I was really intrigued by the description of this book. I wanted to see Trevor taking charge of his illness and life, I wanted to see him develop as a character, I wanted to see him become mature and do all the things he wanted to do before his time dies. Unfortunately, the book wasn’t quite what I expected.
Initially I did like the book. I think I liked it even after finishing it. But, the more I think about it, the more it becomes clear to me that this book could have done much better.
The characters weren’t unrealistic; they could have been developed in a better manner. I think the author’s main aim was to just show the significant characters of Trevor’s life. His parents get very little mention. This makes it a bit hard to digest. If his parents were given a bit more page time, it would have added to the reality and grievousness of the situation. This becomes even more important when you know that Trevor’s dad blames himself for Trevor’s condition. It would have been nice to explore their relationship.
This book was more about the character and hence the plot wasn’t of much significance. Though, the plot did look kind of mechanic or robotic since everything Trevor wanted was coming to him very quickly.
What I wish the author included more of was Trevor’s own experiences, his growth. I would have loved to read about other characters too for example, Sara and his friend Antonio. At several points in the story I thought that there will be pages dedicated to Antonio’s story. Sadly that wasn’t the case.
I wouldn’t say that I didn’t enjoy the book. With all the criticism above, I did enjoy it. Plank’s laws are something that will remain with me for a long time.
With that said, I also loved the portrayal or Plank’s and Trevor’s friendship. I liked Plank since he didn’t try to act fatherly to Trevor; instead he behaved like a friend. He talked about his failures without hesitation and gives the roughest advice. I liked Sara’s character too. Her boldness and the way she copes with her illness is incredible. I really wish there was more to read about her.
The book was over a bit quickly. The ending was rushed just like Trevor’s life.
June 20, 2017
*I was given an advance copy of this book through LibraryThing's early reviewers program*
There's a lot to love about this little book. The first thing is, in fact, because it's so little: with less than 200 pages, it's a very quick read. It reminds me a lot of the books I used to find in my high school library. They were short and thus full of quick action in order to encourage students to read. I can definitely see this book fitting among them; because it's short, there's not a dull moment. Of course, this can be a problem too. Due to its length, it seems like a lot of major things happen way too fast. I feel like an extra 100 pages could have really helped stagger the events and flesh out characters a bit better. While I loved Trevor and Plank, I felt like a lot of the other characters were rather blank and flat.
Trevor, our protagonist, has a great narrative voice. He feels very much like a teenage boy, and I found myself relating to him and how he feels about his own life. Trevor holds a "brave face" throughout the narrative, but there are moments of sadness, where something much deeper slips through. One of my favourite parts of the book, in fact, is when Trevor talks about religion, and how he selected which religion he wanted to believe in. He mentions how he chose Buddhism because all he wanted was to be born in a body that isn't sick. This hit me in the gut, because it sounds exactly like something a child would want. His exact life, but without the sickness. Moments like this, where some subtle fear, or pain, or sadness seeps through are definitely some of the highlights of the book.
What I really loved was how death appears in the book. Everyone is dying in some way, and I think that's a really smart move to make in a book about death and life and regret and finding that seed of happiness. Death exists in many different forms, and touches us all, but that doesn't mean we have to die: we can follow Plank's Law and search for life in our lives.
The ending I felt was rushed, but I guess that's what happens in short narratives. While I liked this book, I really do believe it could have benefited from being longer so that themes and characters could be better explored, but I do think it's a book that people who aren't big readers will enjoy.
There's a lot to love about this little book. The first thing is, in fact, because it's so little: with less than 200 pages, it's a very quick read. It reminds me a lot of the books I used to find in my high school library. They were short and thus full of quick action in order to encourage students to read. I can definitely see this book fitting among them; because it's short, there's not a dull moment. Of course, this can be a problem too. Due to its length, it seems like a lot of major things happen way too fast. I feel like an extra 100 pages could have really helped stagger the events and flesh out characters a bit better. While I loved Trevor and Plank, I felt like a lot of the other characters were rather blank and flat.
Trevor, our protagonist, has a great narrative voice. He feels very much like a teenage boy, and I found myself relating to him and how he feels about his own life. Trevor holds a "brave face" throughout the narrative, but there are moments of sadness, where something much deeper slips through. One of my favourite parts of the book, in fact, is when Trevor talks about religion, and how he selected which religion he wanted to believe in. He mentions how he chose Buddhism because all he wanted was to be born in a body that isn't sick. This hit me in the gut, because it sounds exactly like something a child would want. His exact life, but without the sickness. Moments like this, where some subtle fear, or pain, or sadness seeps through are definitely some of the highlights of the book.
What I really loved was how death appears in the book. Everyone is dying in some way, and I think that's a really smart move to make in a book about death and life and regret and finding that seed of happiness. Death exists in many different forms, and touches us all, but that doesn't mean we have to die: we can follow Plank's Law and search for life in our lives.
The ending I felt was rushed, but I guess that's what happens in short narratives. While I liked this book, I really do believe it could have benefited from being longer so that themes and characters could be better explored, but I do think it's a book that people who aren't big readers will enjoy.
August 11, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and Orca Books Publishers for providing me with an e-book in exchange for an honest review. This is no way changes my opinion on the book.
This review originally appeared on my blog
I requested this book because of the premise. The book promised a story about self-discovery and “living your life to the fullest”. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me.
Plank's Law was simply too short and simple to leave any sort of impact on me. The characters were all rather two-dimensional. They never felt like anything more than “sick kids” which is a real shame because I feel like that’s what the author tried to show us. That kids who are (terminally) ill are not unlike you and me. We all have hopes and dreams for our lives and we’re all trying to fulfill them and live a good, happy life (no matter how long our life might be). It’s a great message - albeit not the most original one as “sick lit” has been popular for quite a while now - but it never came across due to poor character development. For me, the characters felt like rough drafts--outlines of the fully formed characters in the author’s mind. They felt like ghosts of the characters he wanted them to be.
I think the number one reason why I didn’t connect to the characters was because they weren’t given enough time to grow and develop. There were simply not enough pages (or plot) for them to go from characters in a story to real people you can imagine living and breathing in the real world. I had an additional problem with Sara. I liked her at the start, I really did, but I lost all connection with her when she asked Trevor to have sex with her and possibly get her pregnant. I’m sorry, but I don’t see how anyone at the age of sixteen and battling cancer could possibly have such a thought.
The writing wasn’t bad, but I didn’t feel particularly polished either. Again, the books feels more like a first or second draft that could’ve been a lot better if properly developed.
This review originally appeared on my blog
I requested this book because of the premise. The book promised a story about self-discovery and “living your life to the fullest”. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me.
Plank's Law was simply too short and simple to leave any sort of impact on me. The characters were all rather two-dimensional. They never felt like anything more than “sick kids” which is a real shame because I feel like that’s what the author tried to show us. That kids who are (terminally) ill are not unlike you and me. We all have hopes and dreams for our lives and we’re all trying to fulfill them and live a good, happy life (no matter how long our life might be). It’s a great message - albeit not the most original one as “sick lit” has been popular for quite a while now - but it never came across due to poor character development. For me, the characters felt like rough drafts--outlines of the fully formed characters in the author’s mind. They felt like ghosts of the characters he wanted them to be.
I think the number one reason why I didn’t connect to the characters was because they weren’t given enough time to grow and develop. There were simply not enough pages (or plot) for them to go from characters in a story to real people you can imagine living and breathing in the real world. I had an additional problem with Sara. I liked her at the start, I really did, but I lost all connection with her when she asked Trevor to have sex with her and possibly get her pregnant. I’m sorry, but I don’t see how anyone at the age of sixteen and battling cancer could possibly have such a thought.
The writing wasn’t bad, but I didn’t feel particularly polished either. Again, the books feels more like a first or second draft that could’ve been a lot better if properly developed.
October 25, 2017
A copy of this review can also be found at Book Ink Reivews.
Fans of The Fault in Our Stars and Tuesday's With Morrie will absolutely and utterly enjoy this quirky, real, raw look at a boy becoming a man with an expiration date. He starts out with a very short, and incredibly immature bucket list to get drunk, to get high, to drive a Lamborghini, to get arrested, and to get a girlfriend.
Everything changes when Trevor stands atop a cliff, contemplating ending it all, and meets the wise old man the book is named after. With Plank's guidance, he takes a chance on a girl he met in the hospital and everything in Trevor's world is changed.
Y'all. My heart is so happy with this little gem. It really is little. It rook me all of three hours to read. It's almost short enough for me to consider it a short story. But that doesn't take away from the life lessons to be learned from a terminally ill teenager and a crotchety old man.
We learn to live life every day, a day at a time. There is no reason to get bogged down in worries because it will only steal the joy that today might be offering you. Plank's Law gets into the nitty gritty of life and death and how to live and does it beautifully. Though this certainly will resonate more with teens (and should seriously be on a required reading list), there are lessons for adults sprinkled throughout.
READ THIS ONE. Now. Just... just do it. When life smacks you around, it's gems like this that remind you how to actually, truly, fully live. I never thought anyone would come close to Tuesdays, but Choyce did.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lesley Choyce, and Orca Book Publishers for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fans of The Fault in Our Stars and Tuesday's With Morrie will absolutely and utterly enjoy this quirky, real, raw look at a boy becoming a man with an expiration date. He starts out with a very short, and incredibly immature bucket list to get drunk, to get high, to drive a Lamborghini, to get arrested, and to get a girlfriend.
Everything changes when Trevor stands atop a cliff, contemplating ending it all, and meets the wise old man the book is named after. With Plank's guidance, he takes a chance on a girl he met in the hospital and everything in Trevor's world is changed.
Y'all. My heart is so happy with this little gem. It really is little. It rook me all of three hours to read. It's almost short enough for me to consider it a short story. But that doesn't take away from the life lessons to be learned from a terminally ill teenager and a crotchety old man.
We learn to live life every day, a day at a time. There is no reason to get bogged down in worries because it will only steal the joy that today might be offering you. Plank's Law gets into the nitty gritty of life and death and how to live and does it beautifully. Though this certainly will resonate more with teens (and should seriously be on a required reading list), there are lessons for adults sprinkled throughout.
READ THIS ONE. Now. Just... just do it. When life smacks you around, it's gems like this that remind you how to actually, truly, fully live. I never thought anyone would come close to Tuesdays, but Choyce did.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lesley Choyce, and Orca Book Publishers for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2017
This book started off on a solid foundation for me. The synopsis of it sounded great - young kid, Trevor, with a terminal illness, gaining insight from Plank, a 93-year-old man with lots of wisdom.
Plank warns Trevor "Don't think I'm gonna start unloading a whole lot of philosophical bullshit on you or anything. Movies make it look like old people have some kind of accumulated wisdom. None of that is true. We're as confused and uncertain as young mugs like you. We've just been around long enough to know when to walk around a big pile of dog shit rather than into it."
This quote made me laugh, and I thought, "Okay, we're off to a good start!" And it really did flow well for me for awhile. Once Sara entered the story, though, I feel like things went downhill. The relationship that formed between Trevor and Sara seemed very one-dimensional and unrealistic. Once Antonio entered back into the story, with his psychological issues that were never really explained well or explored, things got even worse for me.
I feel like the book is just waiting for someone to die. Will it be Plank? Will it be Trevor? Will it be Antonio? Will it be Sara? I didn't like the waiting.
I give this book a solid three stars because it's a quick, easy read that flows very freely. The characters are likable, if not believable, and you want them to succeed. The book is very short, though. At just under 200 pages, I feel it could have been longer to add depth to the characters. I feel like the author, Lesley Choyce, may have rushed through it too quickly. When the author synopsis on the back touts that he is "the author of over ninety books," this doesn't impress me, it makes me wonder why he feels the need to write so many books so quickly. I feel if a little more time and focus had been put into Plank's Law, it could have been a five-star book and hit it out of the park.
**Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
Plank warns Trevor "Don't think I'm gonna start unloading a whole lot of philosophical bullshit on you or anything. Movies make it look like old people have some kind of accumulated wisdom. None of that is true. We're as confused and uncertain as young mugs like you. We've just been around long enough to know when to walk around a big pile of dog shit rather than into it."
This quote made me laugh, and I thought, "Okay, we're off to a good start!" And it really did flow well for me for awhile. Once Sara entered the story, though, I feel like things went downhill. The relationship that formed between Trevor and Sara seemed very one-dimensional and unrealistic. Once Antonio entered back into the story, with his psychological issues that were never really explained well or explored, things got even worse for me.
I feel like the book is just waiting for someone to die. Will it be Plank? Will it be Trevor? Will it be Antonio? Will it be Sara? I didn't like the waiting.
I give this book a solid three stars because it's a quick, easy read that flows very freely. The characters are likable, if not believable, and you want them to succeed. The book is very short, though. At just under 200 pages, I feel it could have been longer to add depth to the characters. I feel like the author, Lesley Choyce, may have rushed through it too quickly. When the author synopsis on the back touts that he is "the author of over ninety books," this doesn't impress me, it makes me wonder why he feels the need to write so many books so quickly. I feel if a little more time and focus had been put into Plank's Law, it could have been a five-star book and hit it out of the park.
**Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
July 6, 2017
I had such high hopes for this book, and I hate to say that I was kind of disappointed.
Trevor is a 16-year-old boy living with Huntington's Disease. According to doctors, he has about a year to live, and I thought this book would be about Trevor attempting to make the most of his time by crossing some things off his bucket list. However, although a bucket list is made and shown in the beginning of the book, Trevor crosses next to nothing off of it. Instead, Trevor meets a girl.
Sara is battling cancer, but it is said that she may get better. Trevor spends the majority of this book fawning over her and focusing on her well-being to forget about his own problems. Although they both bond over their mutual situations, I felt little to no chemistry other than that. The story of how they get together is adorable, and I found myself smiling and giggling at Trevor's attempts to locate his mystery girl, but Sara seemed to have no interest in him at all. She seemed to care about him and had a desire to be there for him, but it seemed like anyone else could have come in and swept her away. It seemed like the only reason Trevor and Sara got together was because Trevor was in the right place at the right time.
I also hated how Antonio developed as a character. In the beginning of the story, he was Trevor's one true friend, but the two of them lost contact after Antonio moved. Antonio was funny and loud and always had a trick up his sleeve. That's all well and good, and it gave Trevor a back story that didn't revolve around his illness. However, when Antonio came back, it was discovered that he was depressed. There was not one character in this book in good health, and that just seemed a bit overkill for me. Plus, the solution Trevor had for Antonio's depression was for him to "stop treading water and swim." So basically, he told Antonio to just stop being depressed, which is not how mental illness works. Also, his depression was never addressed as a mental illness. Antonio was just seen as being angry most of the time and complaining about how much life sucks, which isn't all depression entails. I would have liked to see that handled a bit better.
Overall, I was in love with the first half of this book. Trevor seemed to be a lovable character who didn't want people feeling sorry for him, and his little lists throughout the book were cute. Plank was snarky, sarcastic, and provided a necessary humor to this story that balanced the darkness a story of terminal illness tends to bring. However, as the book progressed, all that was discussed was illness and death. Plank's law was to stop thinking about things and just live, but I didn't see much living being done. I still highly recommend this book, and I will still be buying a copy when it is released in September. I'm just a little upset that my expectations were not met.
PS: If you want a book similar to this that I gave a 5-star rating, check out Deadline by Chris Crutcher
Trevor is a 16-year-old boy living with Huntington's Disease. According to doctors, he has about a year to live, and I thought this book would be about Trevor attempting to make the most of his time by crossing some things off his bucket list. However, although a bucket list is made and shown in the beginning of the book, Trevor crosses next to nothing off of it. Instead, Trevor meets a girl.
Sara is battling cancer, but it is said that she may get better. Trevor spends the majority of this book fawning over her and focusing on her well-being to forget about his own problems. Although they both bond over their mutual situations, I felt little to no chemistry other than that. The story of how they get together is adorable, and I found myself smiling and giggling at Trevor's attempts to locate his mystery girl, but Sara seemed to have no interest in him at all. She seemed to care about him and had a desire to be there for him, but it seemed like anyone else could have come in and swept her away. It seemed like the only reason Trevor and Sara got together was because Trevor was in the right place at the right time.
I also hated how Antonio developed as a character. In the beginning of the story, he was Trevor's one true friend, but the two of them lost contact after Antonio moved. Antonio was funny and loud and always had a trick up his sleeve. That's all well and good, and it gave Trevor a back story that didn't revolve around his illness. However, when Antonio came back, it was discovered that he was depressed. There was not one character in this book in good health, and that just seemed a bit overkill for me. Plus, the solution Trevor had for Antonio's depression was for him to "stop treading water and swim." So basically, he told Antonio to just stop being depressed, which is not how mental illness works. Also, his depression was never addressed as a mental illness. Antonio was just seen as being angry most of the time and complaining about how much life sucks, which isn't all depression entails. I would have liked to see that handled a bit better.
Overall, I was in love with the first half of this book. Trevor seemed to be a lovable character who didn't want people feeling sorry for him, and his little lists throughout the book were cute. Plank was snarky, sarcastic, and provided a necessary humor to this story that balanced the darkness a story of terminal illness tends to bring. However, as the book progressed, all that was discussed was illness and death. Plank's law was to stop thinking about things and just live, but I didn't see much living being done. I still highly recommend this book, and I will still be buying a copy when it is released in September. I'm just a little upset that my expectations were not met.
PS: If you want a book similar to this that I gave a 5-star rating, check out Deadline by Chris Crutcher
November 23, 2017
I received a copy of ‘Plank’s Law’ from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Orca Books for the opportunity.
“Most of my story isn’t very interesting, so you’ll be pleased to know I’m going to leave much of it out.” This is the first line of ‘Plank’s Law’ and unfortunately it turned out to be true. For me most of this story wasn’t very interesting and I think that is largely in part because a lot of it was left out.
‘Plank’s Law’ follows Trevor, a sixteen year old with Huntington’s Disease who’s been told he has one year left to live. If I had to pick a favourite character I guess it would be Trevor however he, like all of the other characters in this novel felt under developed which is probably a consequence of how short this book is (around 180 pages) and wasn’t very engaging. All the relationships felt forced, and the romance was just too insta-lovey, a little bit creepy as well (I don’t know if that’s just me though, some may find waiting at a hospital for a stranger who smiled at you one time romantic, who am I to judge?). In short though I felt no connection to any of these characters which made it hard to be interested in this book.
The plot turned out to be uninteresting despite it being what initially drew me to the book. It felt like a watered down Fault in Our Stars, nothing about it felt original and it read like a first draft that hadn’t been developed enough (another thing that could have been solved by increasing it’s length although now I’m thinking about it there probably wasn’t enough plot to make this any longer).
Unfortunately I didn’t like this book very much, it was a quick read though so if you’re looking for something short that can be read in a few hours this’ll do the job but I’m sure there are better books out there.
“Most of my story isn’t very interesting, so you’ll be pleased to know I’m going to leave much of it out.” This is the first line of ‘Plank’s Law’ and unfortunately it turned out to be true. For me most of this story wasn’t very interesting and I think that is largely in part because a lot of it was left out.
‘Plank’s Law’ follows Trevor, a sixteen year old with Huntington’s Disease who’s been told he has one year left to live. If I had to pick a favourite character I guess it would be Trevor however he, like all of the other characters in this novel felt under developed which is probably a consequence of how short this book is (around 180 pages) and wasn’t very engaging. All the relationships felt forced, and the romance was just too insta-lovey, a little bit creepy as well (I don’t know if that’s just me though, some may find waiting at a hospital for a stranger who smiled at you one time romantic, who am I to judge?). In short though I felt no connection to any of these characters which made it hard to be interested in this book.
The plot turned out to be uninteresting despite it being what initially drew me to the book. It felt like a watered down Fault in Our Stars, nothing about it felt original and it read like a first draft that hadn’t been developed enough (another thing that could have been solved by increasing it’s length although now I’m thinking about it there probably wasn’t enough plot to make this any longer).
Unfortunately I didn’t like this book very much, it was a quick read though so if you’re looking for something short that can be read in a few hours this’ll do the job but I’m sure there are better books out there.
July 7, 2017
NOTE: I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
On the surface, it's quite a lovely book. It's got a beautiful cover, the story seems sweet, things seem to be nice. Sure, once you get into things, the writing isn't brilliant but the story remains intriguing. Plank is a character that brings interest to things, so does Sara and Trevor's grandpa.
Somewhere a little over halfway through the book, there's this scene where Trevor realises he's got a bit over a year and flips through the calendar and tears it up and honestly, I loved it.
As with many Netgalley books it seems, I do have quite a few problems with things/feel eh about things.
• I felt like the length was too short to tell the story it needed to tell, to form a connection between the characters.
• Trevors narrative is a very emotionless and numb one. Things just, happen. Girlfriends happen with zero chemistry.
• Plot fillers to make things interesting that could so easily be scratched/worked out a load better (with such a meagre page count, there was room for expansion on Antonio, the grandpa, heck, even Sara). Characters are not nice little plot twists.
• Medical mistakes. So many medical mistakes. Seriously. You write a book focusing 50% on illness/hospitals, you better get it right okay.
On the surface, it's quite a lovely book. It's got a beautiful cover, the story seems sweet, things seem to be nice. Sure, once you get into things, the writing isn't brilliant but the story remains intriguing. Plank is a character that brings interest to things, so does Sara and Trevor's grandpa.
Somewhere a little over halfway through the book, there's this scene where Trevor realises he's got a bit over a year and flips through the calendar and tears it up and honestly, I loved it.
As with many Netgalley books it seems, I do have quite a few problems with things/feel eh about things.
• I felt like the length was too short to tell the story it needed to tell, to form a connection between the characters.
• Trevors narrative is a very emotionless and numb one. Things just, happen. Girlfriends happen with zero chemistry.
• Plot fillers to make things interesting that could so easily be scratched/worked out a load better (with such a meagre page count, there was room for expansion on Antonio, the grandpa, heck, even Sara). Characters are not nice little plot twists.
• Medical mistakes. So many medical mistakes. Seriously. You write a book focusing 50% on illness/hospitals, you better get it right okay.
September 3, 2017
The way Trevor talks about live and death in this book is so different than how i look at things. He just doesn't take everything for granted and tries to make someting of his live. He lives what is left of his live to the fullest and he has even thought about ghe things he still wants to do before he dies. This leads to Sara eventually. I love them together. They really get what it is to not have all the time in the world and that makes them so good together. And then there is Antonio. I love that he just does what he wants and that he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him but it is so sad that this eventually leads to his end.
The thing i didn't so much love about this book is that it doesn't go into detail enough. For example you have the part about Antonio's accident. Trevor starts with the part about their last conversation and than he tells what happened but doesn't go in on it. He just goes on with whatever he did and doesn't really grief about it. And after this happened the book gets wrapped up pretty quikly and you still don't know when Trevor dies and if Sara gets better or not. And that's something i really wanted to know.
And lastly thanks for Netgalley and the publishers for sending this book to me. I loved it and i can't wait for other people to get to read and love this book.
The thing i didn't so much love about this book is that it doesn't go into detail enough. For example you have the part about Antonio's accident. Trevor starts with the part about their last conversation and than he tells what happened but doesn't go in on it. He just goes on with whatever he did and doesn't really grief about it. And after this happened the book gets wrapped up pretty quikly and you still don't know when Trevor dies and if Sara gets better or not. And that's something i really wanted to know.
And lastly thanks for Netgalley and the publishers for sending this book to me. I loved it and i can't wait for other people to get to read and love this book.
June 18, 2017
An insanely fast teen read, I had this bad boy knocked out in no time flat. I feel though for what it was trying to achieve, the book should have been a little longer. Trevor has Huntington's Disease and he knows it's only a matter of time before he kicks the bucket. Unsure of what to do about life he passes time watching sci-fi movies and not doing much of anything. Then one day as he contemplates jumping off a huge cliff he sees an old man telling him to just go on ahead and do it already. This launches their friendship and the old man introduces, Planks Law, which is essentially "just live." Nothing fancy but Trevor takes it to heart and decides he wants to do something about all the items on his bucket list, most importantly, find a girlfriend. He eventually works up the courage to talk to the pretty smiling girl they see at the hospital and eventually they try to check different items on Trevor's list. I felt that the book was a little rushed, things happened too fast and it's hard to care about some of the characters who don't get a lot of time on the page. This is a good book for teens who like "The Fault in our Stars" and other " sick lit."
July 10, 2017
🍂Plank's Law by Lesley Choyce 🍂
I got a Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book to review.
▪️The book is about a sixteen year old boy named Trevor who is diagnosed with huntington's disease. A hereditary, uncurable disease that can creep on him anytime, ending his life. Along comes Plank, a 90 year old man who introduces him to 'Plank's Law' which simply is to stop trying to figure out stuff and just live! Which motivates Trevor to start a bucket list of things he'd like to do before he dies.
▪️Plank's law is like a light and less painful version of A Fault in our Stars. Sadly, It was a very short book. It's a progression of Trevor's growth, discovering love and friendship along the way while overcoming fear of dying and finally living his life one day at a time instead of merely existing under the weight of his diagnosis. It will definitely make you question your outlook on life. I for one would try to complain less and count my blessings twice 🙏🏻
◾️Plank's Law by Lesley Choyce, out September the 12th, 2017.
I got a Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book to review.
▪️The book is about a sixteen year old boy named Trevor who is diagnosed with huntington's disease. A hereditary, uncurable disease that can creep on him anytime, ending his life. Along comes Plank, a 90 year old man who introduces him to 'Plank's Law' which simply is to stop trying to figure out stuff and just live! Which motivates Trevor to start a bucket list of things he'd like to do before he dies.
▪️Plank's law is like a light and less painful version of A Fault in our Stars. Sadly, It was a very short book. It's a progression of Trevor's growth, discovering love and friendship along the way while overcoming fear of dying and finally living his life one day at a time instead of merely existing under the weight of his diagnosis. It will definitely make you question your outlook on life. I for one would try to complain less and count my blessings twice 🙏🏻
◾️Plank's Law by Lesley Choyce, out September the 12th, 2017.
November 27, 2017
I really enjoyed the humor throughout this book. Trevor has spent a good portion of his life knowing that he had Huntington's disease and has spent most of that time going day to day not really living. I liked the relationship that Trevor has with Plank, an older man that he befriends at the beginning of the novel. Plank was one of the best parts of this book with his snarky sense of self.
The overall message of this book is one that has been said before but that did not detract from it. It's to live every single day to the fullest. To make the most out every moment that you have. Trevor starts to try to complete items on his bucket list. With the help of Plank and a girl named Sara, he realizes that there might be more important ways to spend his life.
The only real issue I had with this book is how rushed certain parts seemed throughout. I would have enjoyed getting to know the characters more and I feel that the relationship between Trevor and Sara could have been expanded upon. To me, their relationship, at least a the beginning of it, seemed forced. I would have liked them getting to know each other a bit before "falling in love." This story was very sweet and I loved how they both supported each other.
Plank's Law is a sweet story of living in every moment that you have left and was a story that I liked reading. I just wish that there was more to it and that Trevor and Sara's relationship was fleshed out more.
*I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you.
The overall message of this book is one that has been said before but that did not detract from it. It's to live every single day to the fullest. To make the most out every moment that you have. Trevor starts to try to complete items on his bucket list. With the help of Plank and a girl named Sara, he realizes that there might be more important ways to spend his life.
The only real issue I had with this book is how rushed certain parts seemed throughout. I would have enjoyed getting to know the characters more and I feel that the relationship between Trevor and Sara could have been expanded upon. To me, their relationship, at least a the beginning of it, seemed forced. I would have liked them getting to know each other a bit before "falling in love." This story was very sweet and I loved how they both supported each other.
Plank's Law is a sweet story of living in every moment that you have left and was a story that I liked reading. I just wish that there was more to it and that Trevor and Sara's relationship was fleshed out more.
*I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you.
February 6, 2021
Solid 3 stars
Short and sweet. I'm usually not a fan of the whole sick-boy, sick-girl trope, but I thought this book had a level of wholesomeness (?) and an innocent childhood vibe to it (compared to the usual angsty teen romance stuff). It was definitely a lot shorter than I anticipated (I read the e-book) and because of that, the characters weren't the most fleshed out and deeply developed. There were also moments that felt a lil repetitive/the same info was brought up multiple times. However, that didn't change how much I liked it. It was definitely heartwarming, the characters were lovely (but I would say not complex enough for me to become attached to), and the entire Plank's Law concept was interesting. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it, especially as it is so short so even if you don't end up loving it, at least it won't drag on for too long, lol. Honestly, though, I would consider reading it again.
Short and sweet. I'm usually not a fan of the whole sick-boy, sick-girl trope, but I thought this book had a level of wholesomeness (?) and an innocent childhood vibe to it (compared to the usual angsty teen romance stuff). It was definitely a lot shorter than I anticipated (I read the e-book) and because of that, the characters weren't the most fleshed out and deeply developed. There were also moments that felt a lil repetitive/the same info was brought up multiple times. However, that didn't change how much I liked it. It was definitely heartwarming, the characters were lovely (but I would say not complex enough for me to become attached to), and the entire Plank's Law concept was interesting. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it, especially as it is so short so even if you don't end up loving it, at least it won't drag on for too long, lol. Honestly, though, I would consider reading it again.
July 21, 2017
DNF 50%
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: annoying. Trevor annoyed me to no end and Plank was that cliche old man in a lot of realistic fiction and the romance didn't really enthrall me very much.
Like I said before, Trevor drove me nuts. He was by far my least favorite part of this book. He was really misogynistic and completely unrelatable. The sections when he got heartfelt and sad didn't really feel that real, though that may have been because I wasn't invested in his story very much at all. I usually am interested in books with terminally ill characters but this one just wasn't sitting right with me at all.
I always try to finish ARC's and this one was pretty short but I just couldn't do it for this one. It felt like a John Green knock-off that you would find at an airport or post office.
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: annoying. Trevor annoyed me to no end and Plank was that cliche old man in a lot of realistic fiction and the romance didn't really enthrall me very much.
Like I said before, Trevor drove me nuts. He was by far my least favorite part of this book. He was really misogynistic and completely unrelatable. The sections when he got heartfelt and sad didn't really feel that real, though that may have been because I wasn't invested in his story very much at all. I usually am interested in books with terminally ill characters but this one just wasn't sitting right with me at all.
I always try to finish ARC's and this one was pretty short but I just couldn't do it for this one. It felt like a John Green knock-off that you would find at an airport or post office.
March 17, 2018
I received a free copy of Plank's Law to review.
I absolutely loved the premise of this book. As soon I saw the description I knew I had to read it.
Trevor is average in every way, except for the fact that he's quickly dying due to Huntington's disease. His new friend, Plank, teaches him to live in the moment instead of counting down the days. Sara's confidence and outlook on life helps Trevor imagine his future, and his future with her.
I do wish we had more time to watch the characters grow, and to watch Sara and Trevor's love grow for each other. The character development felt rushed at some points. It felt almost as if we were missing pieces of the story.
The ending made me shed a tear, or two, okay a lot more than just two. I loved how it left just enough unspoken, but gave the reader a nice sense of closure. Overall, I would suggest reading this book.
I absolutely loved the premise of this book. As soon I saw the description I knew I had to read it.
Trevor is average in every way, except for the fact that he's quickly dying due to Huntington's disease. His new friend, Plank, teaches him to live in the moment instead of counting down the days. Sara's confidence and outlook on life helps Trevor imagine his future, and his future with her.
I do wish we had more time to watch the characters grow, and to watch Sara and Trevor's love grow for each other. The character development felt rushed at some points. It felt almost as if we were missing pieces of the story.
The ending made me shed a tear, or two, okay a lot more than just two. I loved how it left just enough unspoken, but gave the reader a nice sense of closure. Overall, I would suggest reading this book.
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