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Carter Finally Gets It #1
Carter Finally Gets It
Meet Will Carter, but feel free to call him Carter. (Yes, he knows it’s a lazy nickname, but he didn’t have much say in the matter.)
Here are five things you should know about
1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons.
2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day…unless he gets distracted.
3. He’s a virgin, mostly because he’s no good at talking to girls (see number 1).
4. He’s about to start high school.
5. He’s totally not ready.
Join Carter for his freshman year, where he’ll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he’ll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself.
Here are five things you should know about
1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons.
2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day…unless he gets distracted.
3. He’s a virgin, mostly because he’s no good at talking to girls (see number 1).
4. He’s about to start high school.
5. He’s totally not ready.
Join Carter for his freshman year, where he’ll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he’ll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
125 people are currently reading
5199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 684 reviews
June 21, 2011
Yes, yes he finally does...at around page 290 out of 300. Up until that point you have to put up with a lot of alternately tedious and offensive scenes. After reading this book, I realize, though, how difficult it is to create this type of teenage boy narrator (think Holden Caulfield, only less interesting). The narrator in this book is such a tool, it's really hard to get through it in one sitting--I had to put the book down several times, and even once walked out of a coffee shop I was so irritated.
So, what's wrong with the book? First, the tedious--there's really nothing new, unique, or specific in its portrayal of freshman year of high school. There's scenes with the football team, parties, a fight...I get that the author is trying to relate some sort of universal male high school experience, but both the humor and conflict feel recycled. There are not 1 but two parties in which the cops show up to chase the narrator, 2 instances of the narrator deeply cutting himself with a razor while trying to shave. Sound exciting yet?
Secondly, the narrator. It's really hard to like this guy...or really easy if one isn't aware of what the author is up to. Yup, this novel's just as deliberate as Twilight--that one's wish fulfillment for girls, this is the same for boys. Carter, the protagonist, is attractive, a star athlete (football and swimming!), and scores the lead in the school play. In other words, he's Mr. Popular, the kind of person everyone hates/hopes to be. But wait, you say--is he perfect? Well, no, he's not great at academics and has ADD--both of which the author exploits to make his protagonist cooler, and neither of which are actually dealt with seriously by the novel. Well, maybe he has a great personality, like the narrator in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, you might wonder? Nope. He's a complete tool (until he matures slightly in the last chapter). He's the type of guy that does mean, manipulative things, but then feels guilty and cries victim. The, 'yeah-I-just-screwed-up, but-now-I-realize-it-and-am-crying-so-it's-okay-that-I-was-a-total-jerk' attitude. The, 'in-fact-you-should-like-me-and-give-me-your-pity' attitude. Mind you, he's also attractive and an extracurricular and athletic star--a real outsider. It's so much easier to like the (minor) villains of the book because at least they don't cry victim. Crying does not equal sensitivity, especially when the same mistakes keep happening--it just means you're a jerk who feels guilty about being one. Maybe those mistakes could be explained as part of learning and growing up, however, if there wasn't...
Finally, the offensive. No, I'm not talking about the sex, drinking, etc. I actually think that those are appropriate topics for a high school novel. No, I'm talking about the frequent use of 'bitch,' 'gay,' and 'retard.' No, not 'bitch' used to refer to women--although that does happen--'bitch' used in the context, of 'I'm crying like a little bitch...' (see previous paragraph). Or, how about when the narrator looks forward to having a 'bros before hos' night. Yup, we're in whiteboylandia, and it's painful. Or, how about this exchange...in the last chapter, no less!:
'He's also gay.' She laughs.
'Oh...What? You mean, he's gay, like, he's a dumbass?' I reply.
'No, I mean he's homosexual, like, he's attracted to boys,' she clarifies. 'You're gay, like, a dumbass.'
Yeah, that's progressive--let's distinguish the different meanings of the word 'gay,' thus validating the meaning of it as 'dumb.' I'm all for realism when it comes to language, but a) You have to go all the way, or not at all. This novel pulls up short--for example, the f-bomb rarely, if at all, shows up, while 'gay' and 'retard' happen over and over; and b) It's always nice to have someone, anyone, but preferably the narrator, questioning those stereotypes at some point in the book. Maybe, for example, at the end when he's supposedly matured, he would question the use of 'gay,' etc. But this protagonist never really does (perhaps that's what makes it more realistic, and sad).
But this novel isn't about questioning stereotypes or presenting high school from the point of view of a true outsider--there are plenty of good books that do that (Speak, the previously mentioned Sherman Alexie novel, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, to name a few). Nope, this book's about giving a white, middle class, heterosexual point of view of high school--and it's a pretty bland journey. If that's what you want, though, here you have it. You might even be waiting with baited breath for 'Carter Pledges a Fraternity' and 'Carter Goes to Law School.'
So, what's wrong with the book? First, the tedious--there's really nothing new, unique, or specific in its portrayal of freshman year of high school. There's scenes with the football team, parties, a fight...I get that the author is trying to relate some sort of universal male high school experience, but both the humor and conflict feel recycled. There are not 1 but two parties in which the cops show up to chase the narrator, 2 instances of the narrator deeply cutting himself with a razor while trying to shave. Sound exciting yet?
Secondly, the narrator. It's really hard to like this guy...or really easy if one isn't aware of what the author is up to. Yup, this novel's just as deliberate as Twilight--that one's wish fulfillment for girls, this is the same for boys. Carter, the protagonist, is attractive, a star athlete (football and swimming!), and scores the lead in the school play. In other words, he's Mr. Popular, the kind of person everyone hates/hopes to be. But wait, you say--is he perfect? Well, no, he's not great at academics and has ADD--both of which the author exploits to make his protagonist cooler, and neither of which are actually dealt with seriously by the novel. Well, maybe he has a great personality, like the narrator in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, you might wonder? Nope. He's a complete tool (until he matures slightly in the last chapter). He's the type of guy that does mean, manipulative things, but then feels guilty and cries victim. The, 'yeah-I-just-screwed-up, but-now-I-realize-it-and-am-crying-so-it's-okay-that-I-was-a-total-jerk' attitude. The, 'in-fact-you-should-like-me-and-give-me-your-pity' attitude. Mind you, he's also attractive and an extracurricular and athletic star--a real outsider. It's so much easier to like the (minor) villains of the book because at least they don't cry victim. Crying does not equal sensitivity, especially when the same mistakes keep happening--it just means you're a jerk who feels guilty about being one. Maybe those mistakes could be explained as part of learning and growing up, however, if there wasn't...
Finally, the offensive. No, I'm not talking about the sex, drinking, etc. I actually think that those are appropriate topics for a high school novel. No, I'm talking about the frequent use of 'bitch,' 'gay,' and 'retard.' No, not 'bitch' used to refer to women--although that does happen--'bitch' used in the context, of 'I'm crying like a little bitch...' (see previous paragraph). Or, how about when the narrator looks forward to having a 'bros before hos' night. Yup, we're in whiteboylandia, and it's painful. Or, how about this exchange...in the last chapter, no less!:
'He's also gay.' She laughs.
'Oh...What? You mean, he's gay, like, he's a dumbass?' I reply.
'No, I mean he's homosexual, like, he's attracted to boys,' she clarifies. 'You're gay, like, a dumbass.'
Yeah, that's progressive--let's distinguish the different meanings of the word 'gay,' thus validating the meaning of it as 'dumb.' I'm all for realism when it comes to language, but a) You have to go all the way, or not at all. This novel pulls up short--for example, the f-bomb rarely, if at all, shows up, while 'gay' and 'retard' happen over and over; and b) It's always nice to have someone, anyone, but preferably the narrator, questioning those stereotypes at some point in the book. Maybe, for example, at the end when he's supposedly matured, he would question the use of 'gay,' etc. But this protagonist never really does (perhaps that's what makes it more realistic, and sad).
But this novel isn't about questioning stereotypes or presenting high school from the point of view of a true outsider--there are plenty of good books that do that (Speak, the previously mentioned Sherman Alexie novel, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, to name a few). Nope, this book's about giving a white, middle class, heterosexual point of view of high school--and it's a pretty bland journey. If that's what you want, though, here you have it. You might even be waiting with baited breath for 'Carter Pledges a Fraternity' and 'Carter Goes to Law School.'
May 28, 2015
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Brent Crawford’s hilarious young adult novel “Carter Finally Gets It,” the first book in the Carter Finally Gets It series, welcomes the reader inside the head of Will Carter, a fourteen-year-old boy with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Carter is about to start his freshman year at high school and he is totally not ready. But who can blame him? Life is not easy when you are constantly distracted by hot chicks who make you stutter, bullies, peer pressure, expectations, alcohol, your hormones and ADD. “Carter Finally Gets It” is a highly entertaining high school comedy full of “lewd humor, underage drinking, illicit fantasizing, and very bad decision-making.”
THUMBS UP:
1) Laugh-out-loud hilarious.
This book is truly funny. Yes, some of the humor is inappropriate, some of it might even be offensive, and almost all of it is quite silly; nevertheless, “Carter Finally Gets It” will get out of you at least a chuckle (but most likely a non-stop guffaw).
2) Convincing portrayal of a mind with ADD.
I don’t have any experience with the disorder myself, but if I imagined what happens in the head of a teenage boy with ADD, it would be something similar to Carter’s train of thought: impulsive, random and crowded with distractions and day dreaming.
3) Fast and light read.
“Carter Finally Gets It” has a nice flow, short chapters and tons of action thus it is a very quick read with a single purpose: to entertain.
COULD BE BETTER:
1) Not very realistic (I hope).
Since this book is a comedy, some of it seems quite exaggerated. Though I do understand that teenagers are at times impulsive, reckless, irresponsible, aggressive, indecisive, mean, adventurous and, above all, horny, not ALL are like that and not ALL the time. I also believe that if they are like that, most of the parents would not be totally OK with it and would do something about it. And finally, I simply refuse to believe that quite a few girls in the same high school by the age of 14 can already have a reputation as “village bicycles” and are eager to “seal the deal” with random guys in the backyard bushes during a high school party.
2) Not much more than a funny brainless read.
This book is a great entertainment but not much else. The characters are rather one-dimensional (except for Carter, maybe) and thus are not very relatable. The plot is action-packed but not very thought-provoking. There is not much to take away from this book either; there is some kind of message at the end, but it is not very unique and rather underdeveloped.
VERDICT: 3 out of 5
“Carter Finally Gets It” is a guffaw-inspiring and action-packed high school comedy, which is entertaining, fast and light but not much else.
Brent Crawford’s hilarious young adult novel “Carter Finally Gets It,” the first book in the Carter Finally Gets It series, welcomes the reader inside the head of Will Carter, a fourteen-year-old boy with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Carter is about to start his freshman year at high school and he is totally not ready. But who can blame him? Life is not easy when you are constantly distracted by hot chicks who make you stutter, bullies, peer pressure, expectations, alcohol, your hormones and ADD. “Carter Finally Gets It” is a highly entertaining high school comedy full of “lewd humor, underage drinking, illicit fantasizing, and very bad decision-making.”
THUMBS UP:
1) Laugh-out-loud hilarious.
This book is truly funny. Yes, some of the humor is inappropriate, some of it might even be offensive, and almost all of it is quite silly; nevertheless, “Carter Finally Gets It” will get out of you at least a chuckle (but most likely a non-stop guffaw).
2) Convincing portrayal of a mind with ADD.
I don’t have any experience with the disorder myself, but if I imagined what happens in the head of a teenage boy with ADD, it would be something similar to Carter’s train of thought: impulsive, random and crowded with distractions and day dreaming.
3) Fast and light read.
“Carter Finally Gets It” has a nice flow, short chapters and tons of action thus it is a very quick read with a single purpose: to entertain.
COULD BE BETTER:
1) Not very realistic (I hope).
Since this book is a comedy, some of it seems quite exaggerated. Though I do understand that teenagers are at times impulsive, reckless, irresponsible, aggressive, indecisive, mean, adventurous and, above all, horny, not ALL are like that and not ALL the time. I also believe that if they are like that, most of the parents would not be totally OK with it and would do something about it. And finally, I simply refuse to believe that quite a few girls in the same high school by the age of 14 can already have a reputation as “village bicycles” and are eager to “seal the deal” with random guys in the backyard bushes during a high school party.
2) Not much more than a funny brainless read.
This book is a great entertainment but not much else. The characters are rather one-dimensional (except for Carter, maybe) and thus are not very relatable. The plot is action-packed but not very thought-provoking. There is not much to take away from this book either; there is some kind of message at the end, but it is not very unique and rather underdeveloped.
VERDICT: 3 out of 5
“Carter Finally Gets It” is a guffaw-inspiring and action-packed high school comedy, which is entertaining, fast and light but not much else.
September 1, 2011
End the R Word Day 2012
Being inside the head of a fourteen-year-old boy is scary! This book was incredibly real, very entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny. It is a book with five star potential, but alas, I could only give it two.
I'm about to get preachy...
Carter Finally Gets It was a good book for so many reasons and I did truly enjoy reading. But, the author chose to use the word "retard" excessively. The author even goes so far as to talk about students in special education as if they are a stupid sub sect of people that are the lowest of the low. I know that the author probably chose this voice for his character in order to reflect how a fourteen year old boy would view students with special needs. Unfortunately, I found it appalling and sickening every time Carter said that word or referred to students with special needs in a derogatory nature.
I am the mother of a child with special needs and I fight everyday for my daughter's acceptance in this world. It's books like this that make light of "R Word", when in reality, it is hurtful and just plain mean and doesn't need to be said. I am also a teacher. I teach thirteen and fourteen-year-olds (just like Carter). As a role model and someone who is trying desperately to educate the next generation of leaders; I want to instill a better sense of values into their lives. I do not allow my students to use that word in reference to anything, because it will 99% of the time have some sort of negative or derogatory comment following it. People use it only to be hurtful and to make fun of those with special needs, like it's a joke to be different. Well, news flash... WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT!!!!
As a society, we should be trying to better ourselves. I'm against the use of any words that negatively portray any group of people. So, the book, Carter Finally Gets It gets two stars. I kept waiting for Carter to get it, but he never did! Hopefully, those of you that read this review will "get it" and choose your words more carefully!
December 9, 2010
What grabs me most about this book is Crawford's rendering of Carter's adolescent, ADD voice. From the first page, I knew this character. In this way, it surpasses Don Calame's Swim the Fly, although there are striking similarities in tone and plot between the two. And unlike several other teen comedies, Carter isn't a loser; he's actually fairly popular. Some of the convenient tropes are a little predictable (the sassy older sister, the befuddled parents, the thuggish bully, the out-of-control parties) but they never feel stale. Several other reviewers have faulted Carter for being such an unrelenting horn-dog, but I believe many readers will recognize this facet of teenage boyhood.
Is there some underage drinking? Yep. Some obsession with 'woman boobs'? Yes. Some - OK, lots - of absurdly flawed decision making? Yes. But I think readers, especially boys, will laugh a lot at this story that has its heart in the right place.
Is there some underage drinking? Yep. Some obsession with 'woman boobs'? Yes. Some - OK, lots - of absurdly flawed decision making? Yes. But I think readers, especially boys, will laugh a lot at this story that has its heart in the right place.
September 4, 2012
A very funny book that I'm sure the majority of boys would enjoy reading, plus girls too. While the book is great and I would love to recommend it to teens at my library I doubt that I will. Mostly because of parents, I think most in my area would freak out at the idea of this book in their kids' hands. Because as we all know, boys don't think about boobs, porn, asses, sex, and all that other stuff. :/
Also, it made me want to watch Guys and Dolls. :)
Also, it made me want to watch Guys and Dolls. :)
November 2, 2010
Carter is a funny, endearing, likeable guy -- think of Joey Pigza (ADD big-time) as a 9th grader whose hormones have gone wild! We get to live in the head of a freshman boy whose main goal is to have sex, but he has to survive football practice, razzing by his friends, belly-flopping at the community pool, lots of parties, being caught by the police, and the intricacies of not making all girls hate him. Very humorous and self-deprecating, you'll love Carter. Big disclaimer, though -- the reason this didn't score a 4 or even a 5 was the offensive language. I don't mean swearing, I mean the prolific use of "gay", "faggot", and "retard" as the banter between Carter and his friends. I know that some teens talk to each other this way, but we work extremely hard to de-normalize this kind of hateful language, and author Crawford could have done without it. As a result, I'll have to be careful when I recommend this book to students. One of the saving graces is that Carter learns to get in touch with his creative side and auditions for the school play, even though he knows he will be ridiculed by his friends and teammates. I'm looking forward to the sequel, "Carter's Big Break", because in spite of the language and his relentless thoughts of girls, he's a really fun character.
September 17, 2011
Recommended Ages: grades 8 - 10
"Meet Will Carter, but feel free to call him Carter. (Yes, he knows it's a lazy nickname, but he didn't have much say in the matter.)
Here are five things you should know about him:
1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons.
2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day...unless he gets distracted.
3. He's a virgin, mostly because he's no good at talking to girls (see number 1).
4. He's about to start high school.
5. He's totally not ready.
Join Carter for his freshman year, where he'll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he'll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself." - product description
This book was hilarious! I couldn't put it down and couldn't stop laughing. It was a bit of a culture shock to realize that yes, this is how 14 year-old boys think.
"Meet Will Carter, but feel free to call him Carter. (Yes, he knows it's a lazy nickname, but he didn't have much say in the matter.)
Here are five things you should know about him:
1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons.
2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day...unless he gets distracted.
3. He's a virgin, mostly because he's no good at talking to girls (see number 1).
4. He's about to start high school.
5. He's totally not ready.
Join Carter for his freshman year, where he'll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he'll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself." - product description
This book was hilarious! I couldn't put it down and couldn't stop laughing. It was a bit of a culture shock to realize that yes, this is how 14 year-old boys think.
December 6, 2009
Carter is a freshmen in high school with a few things on his mind: girls and how to fit in. A year in the life of a 14-year-old, the book is sexual, full of bathroom humor and embarrassing moments, and occasionally funny. More often than not, though, I was just sort of disturbed by the objectification of women, the stereotypes (mean girls, drunk jocks, weird theater kids, etc.), and his stupidity (are teenage boys really that dumb?). Carter's character is sort of endearing and thankfully by the end seems to actually learn something, but I didn't always believe his voice, which sounded a little like the author was trying too hard to capture the teenage boy's inner monologue.
December 3, 2012
4.5 stars. Awesome, hilarious, insightful, poignant, and entertaining exploration of the mind of a teenage boy with ADD who is trying to survive his freshman year of high school.
August 7, 2011
Alright. There are a ton of problems I have with this book... but I have to admit I did think this book was hilarious.
Okay I'm a girl. I get that this book isn't exactly fo me, but it was the first book I saw in the library on the shelf of summer reading so I just picked it up. When I got home I read the back and was MORTIFIED. How can the teachers let such a messed up book like this onto the reading list? What creepers will read this and get ideas? These thoughts and many more acompanied me throughout the perverted mind of Carter. I don't think that starting the book off at the pool with the lifeguard's boobs about to burst through her bathingsuit and all the guys at he pool thanking God for their existence is the way I like to kick off my journey with Carter and his first year of highschool. And believe me, that wasn't the only thing he had to say. He judges people by their butts and how big their chest is... which is pretty gross. Also, when he goes on that date with Abby, I'm not a specialist or anything, but I severly doubt that could happen in a crowded movie. Another thing, all highschool parties don't end in 14-year-olds driving trucks, your unconscious sister rolling around in the back of that truck, running over your mailbox and bushes, demolishing your neighbors fence, being chased by the cops, the cop car swerving off the road and falling into a ditch, the back of your friend's pants ripping off and his butt cheeks hanging out, being arrested and running away handcuffed, your friend who's butt is hanging out of his pants and you being handcuffed then getting into a fight on the sidewalk, being chased by a rabid Pitbull, driving on the wrong side of the road, and all your friends ending up drunk. Guess what?! Your dad is okay with it!
Although this book featured many perverted guys and many slutty girls, it was wicked funny. The comedy that is used isn't "clean", I have to admit that it was, as I would say, a knee slapper. The thought process of Carter is just so comical that I have no choice but to laugh out loud. My favorite laugh was the part before Scarry Terry Moss and Carter get into the fight.
"I'm looking at my left arm to see what's written on my wrist about science class- I took a shower this morning and I cant tell is it says 'quiz' or 'pizza'- when who should pop out of the Behavioral Dissorders classroom like a crazy rabit out of it's cage? None other than Scarry Terry Moss. And guess who runs right into him?
BAM! I drop my health book and slowly look up into his crazy eyes. 'What the hell muthaf*cka?' he screeches.
This is not good.
'S-S-Sor-Sar . . .' I stammer. The word 'sorry' will just not come out. But guess what does fly out of my death-wish mouth?
'You stole my bike, you A-HOLE!'"
Okay I'm a girl. I get that this book isn't exactly fo me, but it was the first book I saw in the library on the shelf of summer reading so I just picked it up. When I got home I read the back and was MORTIFIED. How can the teachers let such a messed up book like this onto the reading list? What creepers will read this and get ideas? These thoughts and many more acompanied me throughout the perverted mind of Carter. I don't think that starting the book off at the pool with the lifeguard's boobs about to burst through her bathingsuit and all the guys at he pool thanking God for their existence is the way I like to kick off my journey with Carter and his first year of highschool. And believe me, that wasn't the only thing he had to say. He judges people by their butts and how big their chest is... which is pretty gross. Also, when he goes on that date with Abby, I'm not a specialist or anything, but I severly doubt that could happen in a crowded movie. Another thing, all highschool parties don't end in 14-year-olds driving trucks, your unconscious sister rolling around in the back of that truck, running over your mailbox and bushes, demolishing your neighbors fence, being chased by the cops, the cop car swerving off the road and falling into a ditch, the back of your friend's pants ripping off and his butt cheeks hanging out, being arrested and running away handcuffed, your friend who's butt is hanging out of his pants and you being handcuffed then getting into a fight on the sidewalk, being chased by a rabid Pitbull, driving on the wrong side of the road, and all your friends ending up drunk. Guess what?! Your dad is okay with it!
Although this book featured many perverted guys and many slutty girls, it was wicked funny. The comedy that is used isn't "clean", I have to admit that it was, as I would say, a knee slapper. The thought process of Carter is just so comical that I have no choice but to laugh out loud. My favorite laugh was the part before Scarry Terry Moss and Carter get into the fight.
"I'm looking at my left arm to see what's written on my wrist about science class- I took a shower this morning and I cant tell is it says 'quiz' or 'pizza'- when who should pop out of the Behavioral Dissorders classroom like a crazy rabit out of it's cage? None other than Scarry Terry Moss. And guess who runs right into him?
BAM! I drop my health book and slowly look up into his crazy eyes. 'What the hell muthaf*cka?' he screeches.
This is not good.
'S-S-Sor-Sar . . .' I stammer. The word 'sorry' will just not come out. But guess what does fly out of my death-wish mouth?
'You stole my bike, you A-HOLE!'"
August 3, 2009
Carter is a typical high school freshman who wants to be considered cool, fit in with the popular crowd, and hook up with girls. He hangs out with friends with nicknames like Bag and Hormone, plays football because it's apparently the thing to do, and is trying to score a cool nickname like "Race Car." He follows his older sister's advice for how to get a girl interested in him, then doesn't know what to do when things get complicated due to his own stupidity.
Covering the entire span of Carter's freshman year, this book honestly feels like it's narrated by a kid his age, and it is laugh-out-loud hilarious! Probably one of the funniest teen books I've read in a long time - similar to Antony John's Busted: Confessions of an Accidental Player, but with a younger narrator in even crazier situations.
The narration flows easily, making it seem like you're actually reading Carter's thoughts as they happen. An example: "(The football coach) draws Xs and Os on the chalkboard and blathers about 'plays' and 'holes,' and I have no idea what he's talking about. I space off and think about that movie Holes and how it would suck to dig holes all day in the desert." He calls mono - the kissing disease - "a pimp-ass problem I wish I had." How can you not root for a guy so earnest yet so incredibly dorky?
On top of the great (though sometimes lewd) humor in this book, it is also sweet. Carter becomes a better person, works hard to succeed when he really wants to, and eventually follows his own interests despite knowing his friends will be less than impressed (of course, he doesn't tell them what he's doing to ward off teasing). Definitely a book that all teens could - and should - enjoy. I am looking forward to reading this author's next book whenever it comes out!
Covering the entire span of Carter's freshman year, this book honestly feels like it's narrated by a kid his age, and it is laugh-out-loud hilarious! Probably one of the funniest teen books I've read in a long time - similar to Antony John's Busted: Confessions of an Accidental Player, but with a younger narrator in even crazier situations.
The narration flows easily, making it seem like you're actually reading Carter's thoughts as they happen. An example: "(The football coach) draws Xs and Os on the chalkboard and blathers about 'plays' and 'holes,' and I have no idea what he's talking about. I space off and think about that movie Holes and how it would suck to dig holes all day in the desert." He calls mono - the kissing disease - "a pimp-ass problem I wish I had." How can you not root for a guy so earnest yet so incredibly dorky?
On top of the great (though sometimes lewd) humor in this book, it is also sweet. Carter becomes a better person, works hard to succeed when he really wants to, and eventually follows his own interests despite knowing his friends will be less than impressed (of course, he doesn't tell them what he's doing to ward off teasing). Definitely a book that all teens could - and should - enjoy. I am looking forward to reading this author's next book whenever it comes out!
June 6, 2013
This book is freaking funny. Carter is freaking funny. You will laugh out loud about the shenanigans this kid gets into and the bad decisions he makes and how clueless he really is.
I loved this coming of age story, if you can call it that, because he's still coming of age and figuring things out.
Carter is a freshman, fourteen, and obsessed with girls (boobs and sex), fitting in, and being good at something. His family is so real and hysterically funny. Some of my favorite scenes involved the dinner table they sat around. Carter does his best to muddle through school and around girls, and after some tips from his sister regarding females, he starts to do okay. But then he veers off course and shoots himself in the foot (and hurts poor Abby's feelings). But I don't care. I love Carter.
I love that he beats his friends up. I love that he says retard. I love that he bought a porno for 35 bucks and it's a copy of a copy on VHS in fast forward. I love that he tries things even though he fails. I love that he can't speak when there's a belly button in sight. And I love that he's honest (sometimes), and that he doesn't think about what he's saying. He is an honest to goodness boy.
If I had to give a one word review of this book it would be AUTHENTIC. This is high school. This is what happens. It is awkward and scary and annoying and hard and no one has a clue what's going on. It's awesome.
This book is not my usual schtick. I love romance and swoon, but the fact that Carter is so real and hilarious, it gets five freaking stars from me. I look forward to more Carter books and anything else Brent Crawford writes. He knows teenagers! Thank you!
Disclaimer: Not sure the romance and swoon labels count here, but I love Carter, so I'm going to give him points for trying.
I loved this coming of age story, if you can call it that, because he's still coming of age and figuring things out.
Carter is a freshman, fourteen, and obsessed with girls (boobs and sex), fitting in, and being good at something. His family is so real and hysterically funny. Some of my favorite scenes involved the dinner table they sat around. Carter does his best to muddle through school and around girls, and after some tips from his sister regarding females, he starts to do okay. But then he veers off course and shoots himself in the foot (and hurts poor Abby's feelings). But I don't care. I love Carter.
I love that he beats his friends up. I love that he says retard. I love that he bought a porno for 35 bucks and it's a copy of a copy on VHS in fast forward. I love that he tries things even though he fails. I love that he can't speak when there's a belly button in sight. And I love that he's honest (sometimes), and that he doesn't think about what he's saying. He is an honest to goodness boy.
If I had to give a one word review of this book it would be AUTHENTIC. This is high school. This is what happens. It is awkward and scary and annoying and hard and no one has a clue what's going on. It's awesome.
This book is not my usual schtick. I love romance and swoon, but the fact that Carter is so real and hilarious, it gets five freaking stars from me. I look forward to more Carter books and anything else Brent Crawford writes. He knows teenagers! Thank you!
Disclaimer: Not sure the romance and swoon labels count here, but I love Carter, so I'm going to give him points for trying.
November 5, 2015
I can't believe I finished this book, but the recommendation came from someone I generally trust, so I kept thinking it had to get better. I will admit--there were parts where I laughed out loud. Some of it was so ridiculous, I could appreciate the humor despite the issues. But oh, the issues.
First issue: the language. I work with teenagers daily, and my students would find the language in this book incredibly offensive. Words like "retard" and "gay" are thrown around as insults on every other page--does that even happen anymore? It certainly doesn't at the high school where I teach. Kids call each other out for that garbage.
Second issue: the objectification of women. I know the book is told from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy, and it's about him and his freshmen friends. I understand that at that age, male bodies are pretty much more hormone-by-volume than water. But given the title (and the fact that it was published to begin with), I kept expecting that the protagonist would eventually grow up a tiny bit, enough to realize that girls are more than sex objects. He doesn't.
I only kept reading this because the person who recommended it compared it to Winger (which is a far superior book in every way). I do appreciate that Carter does learn a valuable life lesson in the end. I just wish he'd learned to be a decent human being in his interactions with others while he was at it.
First issue: the language. I work with teenagers daily, and my students would find the language in this book incredibly offensive. Words like "retard" and "gay" are thrown around as insults on every other page--does that even happen anymore? It certainly doesn't at the high school where I teach. Kids call each other out for that garbage.
Second issue: the objectification of women. I know the book is told from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy, and it's about him and his freshmen friends. I understand that at that age, male bodies are pretty much more hormone-by-volume than water. But given the title (and the fact that it was published to begin with), I kept expecting that the protagonist would eventually grow up a tiny bit, enough to realize that girls are more than sex objects. He doesn't.
I only kept reading this because the person who recommended it compared it to Winger (which is a far superior book in every way). I do appreciate that Carter does learn a valuable life lesson in the end. I just wish he'd learned to be a decent human being in his interactions with others while he was at it.
May 2, 2015
This book read like a 90s teen movie, so I was immediately hooked. It was loaded with laughs and I cracked up all the way through. I haven't read much contemporary YA from a male's perspective, so I found it really refreshing. While this book was with talk of boobs, butts and sluts, it also managed to be poignant and insightful. At first, I didn't get what the book was supposed to be about until I realized it was just a capture of a year; everything it took for Carter to "finally getting it".
Carter himself was a great character. Deep down, he was a decent guy but still managed to act like a clueless jerk most of the time. But changing from a preteen to a teen sucks, and I love how the author captured the good with the bad. He sinks to peer pressure just as much as he sometimes rises about it. I liked learning about ADD and thought it was really interesting to learn a bit about its affects.
The most disturbing part... Carter is only 14/15 when all of these things happen. It seems so young, almost too young. I'm not going to say it's unrealistic just because it wasn't my experience, but shit. It gives some insight into how some people evolved over 8th grade break, for sure! Even though there was a lot of teen drinking, I like that pretty much every drinker made a spectacular ass of themselves. Didn't glorify it in the least.
Carter himself was a great character. Deep down, he was a decent guy but still managed to act like a clueless jerk most of the time. But changing from a preteen to a teen sucks, and I love how the author captured the good with the bad. He sinks to peer pressure just as much as he sometimes rises about it. I liked learning about ADD and thought it was really interesting to learn a bit about its affects.
The most disturbing part... Carter is only 14/15 when all of these things happen. It seems so young, almost too young. I'm not going to say it's unrealistic just because it wasn't my experience, but shit. It gives some insight into how some people evolved over 8th grade break, for sure! Even though there was a lot of teen drinking, I like that pretty much every drinker made a spectacular ass of themselves. Didn't glorify it in the least.
May 1, 2023
Hilarious coming-of-age-during-freshman-year-of-high-school story. This was so funny that I giggled most of the way through, and broke out in actual guffaws at some points. I must have the sense of humor of a 14-year-old boy, because the chapter where the narrator eats Taco Bell before a date and then has to figure out how to deal with the resulting flatulence made me laugh so hard that I had to stop and catch my breath before continuing. The plot moves fast, never dwelling on anything long enough to get dull (but it works, because the narrator has ADD, too). And then the ending! It's pitch-perfect, because it provides satisfying closure with a tone that stays true to the rest of the story and the main character.
Be warned, though - this story is not for the sensitive reader. As the back cover says: "This book contains lewd humor, underage drinking, illicit fantasizing, and very bad decision-making." That's putting it mildly. While the main character is good in his heart of hearts, a lot of people will probably still find him highly offensive.
*re-read 13 years later; sheesh, this does not hold up. I was looking for a laugh, but this time around found it much more offensive than last time. Guess I'm getting older.
Be warned, though - this story is not for the sensitive reader. As the back cover says: "This book contains lewd humor, underage drinking, illicit fantasizing, and very bad decision-making." That's putting it mildly. While the main character is good in his heart of hearts, a lot of people will probably still find him highly offensive.
*re-read 13 years later; sheesh, this does not hold up. I was looking for a laugh, but this time around found it much more offensive than last time. Guess I'm getting older.
July 24, 2009
Rating A+
Review Have you ever read a book that, as soon as you were done with it, you wanted to start right over and read it again? That's what reading Carter Finally Gets It was like for me. I laughed so hard. It was so funny, so real. The characters so perfect that I didn't want it to end. The author's website is http://www.carterbooks.com and I hope (hope, hope, hope) that the "S" on the end of that website address means there are more books to come. I want to read about Carter's sophomore year, his junior year, his senior year, and college. I'd probably read about Carter in his golden years if Brent Crawford would write it.
But take heed: the back of the book warns readers that, "This book contains lewd humor, underage drinking, illicit fantasizing, and very bad decision-making." that it does. And then some. But the hilarity is worth it.
Recommendation Fans of YA fiction with fun and charismatic guys as the protagonist, such as David Yoo's books, will enjoy this.
Review Have you ever read a book that, as soon as you were done with it, you wanted to start right over and read it again? That's what reading Carter Finally Gets It was like for me. I laughed so hard. It was so funny, so real. The characters so perfect that I didn't want it to end. The author's website is http://www.carterbooks.com and I hope (hope, hope, hope) that the "S" on the end of that website address means there are more books to come. I want to read about Carter's sophomore year, his junior year, his senior year, and college. I'd probably read about Carter in his golden years if Brent Crawford would write it.
But take heed: the back of the book warns readers that, "This book contains lewd humor, underage drinking, illicit fantasizing, and very bad decision-making." that it does. And then some. But the hilarity is worth it.
Recommendation Fans of YA fiction with fun and charismatic guys as the protagonist, such as David Yoo's books, will enjoy this.
May 1, 2012
I think this book is hilarious & very accurate on what a freshman boy and his friends would be talking and thinking about, it also shows how much stress a freshman can intake in his first year in highschool but also followed with lots of fun and girls and parties. So i think this book trully does do a good job at stating all facts of a freshman boy and his group of friends. I also love how it dosnt keep things in the dark such as the thoughts about boobs and how bad carter wants to see them or the fact that carter and his boys go to parties, drink, and run away from the cops it gives the book a more realistic feeling I recommend this to anybody that loves to luagh and someone who loves ruanchy teenage humor. But really who doesnt love to luagh or listen to a bunch of teenage boys talk about things that they and everybody else knows is never gonna happen, and thats what I think about this fantastic book no negative comments and cant wait to read the sequal carters big break.
July 31, 2009
This book rings so true, it's like I wrote it...wait a minute!
Pg, 34
I give Andre a “S’up?” and he gives me a nod, looks into the kitchen at Abby and asks “Is that your bitch?”
Now, I may have just punched my best friend in the kidney and he may pee blood tomorrow, but that was a pretty rude response to a “S’up?”
“My bitch?” I ask for clarification.
“Are you hittin’ that or what?” he asks.
I look over at EJ who’s shocked by this guy’s line of questioning too and say, “Uh, only when she starts freakin’ out during emergencies and I have to shake her and whack her across the face, like, ‘Pull yourself together, WOMAN!’”
EJ laughs and Andre shakes his head and says, “I’ll take that as a no,” then walks into the kitchen and starts talking to Abby.
Pg, 34
I give Andre a “S’up?” and he gives me a nod, looks into the kitchen at Abby and asks “Is that your bitch?”
Now, I may have just punched my best friend in the kidney and he may pee blood tomorrow, but that was a pretty rude response to a “S’up?”
“My bitch?” I ask for clarification.
“Are you hittin’ that or what?” he asks.
I look over at EJ who’s shocked by this guy’s line of questioning too and say, “Uh, only when she starts freakin’ out during emergencies and I have to shake her and whack her across the face, like, ‘Pull yourself together, WOMAN!’”
EJ laughs and Andre shakes his head and says, “I’ll take that as a no,” then walks into the kitchen and starts talking to Abby.
April 27, 2015
Full review found here:
http://awesomebooknuts.blogspot.com/2...
http://awesomebooknuts.blogspot.com/2...
April 2, 2019
Carter finally gets it is a book about a kid named William. He has a stuttering problem and hard to understand certain things from what his friends, sister, and “girlfriend” tell him. For years his family and friends has called him by his last name Carter basically for a nickname. Carter is a boy who dreams to be a professional NFL player like most elementy, middle, and high school guys. Carter is just about to start high school in a couple weeks and doesn’t want to start single. So he goes to the pool with some friends on a hot summer day and do diving contests.
As carter and his friends were drying off from the pool a girl that he has known since elementary walks up to them and wants to speak to only Carter. Carter walks away from his friends and the girl tells him all about another girl Carter has known since elementary, her name is Abby. Abby has liked Carter for many of years but Carter never liked her or thought of her attractive because she was a little overweight. The girl who walked up to Carter was inviting him to Abby’s birthday party. Carter didn’t want to go because he remembers her of being a bit overweight, he talks to his buddy’s about it and they told him to go because she has lost weight over the summer and looks “hot” now. Carter and his friend’s all end up going to Abby’s birthday since it was basically a house party and there are going to be girls there.
Carter shows up and sees Abby standing on the poarch with a crop top on and sees she has a belly piercing, that night they talk all night and end up getting very close. When Carter had to leave they met by a tree and they kissed for the first time. It was also Carter's first kiss and he didn’t know what to expect nor do. After that he finds out a high school bad kid steals his bike and doesn’t give it back. Abby and Carter start hanging out more and once high school starts he gets into some trouble within the first week. After that Carter is known as a player and a “bad kid”.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5 because the main character and his friends reminded me of my friends and I. The only part I relate to for my part is going out with friends to the pool and go to house parties. We all do bad things as well and do break the law quite a bit but all kids/teens do. Once my bike did get stolen but it wasn’t that great of a bike anyways so i didn’t really care. But if someone stole one of my long boards I would go to the police and have my own search party out, I treat my boards with 100% respect and spend a lot of money on them.
As carter and his friends were drying off from the pool a girl that he has known since elementary walks up to them and wants to speak to only Carter. Carter walks away from his friends and the girl tells him all about another girl Carter has known since elementary, her name is Abby. Abby has liked Carter for many of years but Carter never liked her or thought of her attractive because she was a little overweight. The girl who walked up to Carter was inviting him to Abby’s birthday party. Carter didn’t want to go because he remembers her of being a bit overweight, he talks to his buddy’s about it and they told him to go because she has lost weight over the summer and looks “hot” now. Carter and his friend’s all end up going to Abby’s birthday since it was basically a house party and there are going to be girls there.
Carter shows up and sees Abby standing on the poarch with a crop top on and sees she has a belly piercing, that night they talk all night and end up getting very close. When Carter had to leave they met by a tree and they kissed for the first time. It was also Carter's first kiss and he didn’t know what to expect nor do. After that he finds out a high school bad kid steals his bike and doesn’t give it back. Abby and Carter start hanging out more and once high school starts he gets into some trouble within the first week. After that Carter is known as a player and a “bad kid”.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5 because the main character and his friends reminded me of my friends and I. The only part I relate to for my part is going out with friends to the pool and go to house parties. We all do bad things as well and do break the law quite a bit but all kids/teens do. Once my bike did get stolen but it wasn’t that great of a bike anyways so i didn’t really care. But if someone stole one of my long boards I would go to the police and have my own search party out, I treat my boards with 100% respect and spend a lot of money on them.
February 11, 2021
i loved this book a lot it was really funny and made me laugh out loud its the first book i have read in a while and it makes me want to start reading again and also the situations he gets himself into are funny and embarassing and you can feel the 2nd hand embaressement
April 5, 2010
Coming of ages stories are one of my favourite kinds. It seems a given that most of these kind of stories are told from a girls perspective. How to fit into a nice niche at school, how to adapt to the high school environment without getting crushed in the stampede, hoe to deal with your first crush. So it was immensely refreshing to see the tale told from a boys perspective. It did wonders for the story, because everyone wants to get inside a teenage boys brain and figure out whether they have a different wiring than us, because really, they sometimes feel like they're from a different plant.
Carter Finally Gets it is one of those stories where you will laugh like a hyena most of the way through, you chuckle at the way he behaces around girls, and more importantly, what he thinks teenage girls really want, which couldn't be much farther from the truth. The sense of humor of a 14 year old boy is something that I cherished, from the way he has to deal with ta bad case of flatulence because he ate something from Taco Bell that was quite obviouslty past its sell by date, to the ritual of opening a girls bra.
The plot is very fast paced and never dwells on anything that seems dull and unecessary, quite like the boys mind, some scenes go by in a whirlwind of embarrassment and some serious social faux pas. His take on the world was hysterical, like how he thought mono was, and I quote "a pimp-ass problem I wish I had". It is full of lewd humor that well, basically made me wish I was back in high school, or more specifically, that I went to a high school that took in boys, because if they were all as funny as Carter, then I would've had a blast. He says stupid things like retard, and you don't judge him for it.
If you want a coming of age story, that is interspersed with ridiculous moments, totally clueless boys and narrative that is so funny, you'll laugh until your sides hurt, then Carter Finally Gets It is the book for you. Teenage girls will love this, because it makes you realise that mostly, teenage boys don't do jerky things to make you feel bad, they sometimes just don't know any better.
I'm gonna list some of my favourite quotes, because really, if you don't plan on reading this book, you need to see into the character that is Carter, because he is endearing in his ridiculousness.
"Nobody likes to get their hair pulled" I say. "Except this one chick in my porno; I think she's into it. I can't really tell, though. I wish they would slow down"
"As the wingman I have to stop my pilot from destroying this girl. She's becoming more of a lesbian with every question."
"I'm supposed to be having sex here, but i'm trembling and giggling my head off in a shed with a girl called the Chopper whose head is stuck in a t-shirt"
Carter Finally Gets it is one of those stories where you will laugh like a hyena most of the way through, you chuckle at the way he behaces around girls, and more importantly, what he thinks teenage girls really want, which couldn't be much farther from the truth. The sense of humor of a 14 year old boy is something that I cherished, from the way he has to deal with ta bad case of flatulence because he ate something from Taco Bell that was quite obviouslty past its sell by date, to the ritual of opening a girls bra.
The plot is very fast paced and never dwells on anything that seems dull and unecessary, quite like the boys mind, some scenes go by in a whirlwind of embarrassment and some serious social faux pas. His take on the world was hysterical, like how he thought mono was, and I quote "a pimp-ass problem I wish I had". It is full of lewd humor that well, basically made me wish I was back in high school, or more specifically, that I went to a high school that took in boys, because if they were all as funny as Carter, then I would've had a blast. He says stupid things like retard, and you don't judge him for it.
If you want a coming of age story, that is interspersed with ridiculous moments, totally clueless boys and narrative that is so funny, you'll laugh until your sides hurt, then Carter Finally Gets It is the book for you. Teenage girls will love this, because it makes you realise that mostly, teenage boys don't do jerky things to make you feel bad, they sometimes just don't know any better.
I'm gonna list some of my favourite quotes, because really, if you don't plan on reading this book, you need to see into the character that is Carter, because he is endearing in his ridiculousness.
"Nobody likes to get their hair pulled" I say. "Except this one chick in my porno; I think she's into it. I can't really tell, though. I wish they would slow down"
"As the wingman I have to stop my pilot from destroying this girl. She's becoming more of a lesbian with every question."
"I'm supposed to be having sex here, but i'm trembling and giggling my head off in a shed with a girl called the Chopper whose head is stuck in a t-shirt"
April 30, 2010
I would have never found this book if it wasn't for my magical skills. I went to the library and picked a random book and it was Carter Finally Gets it. I thought, this looks like a pretty good book. Boy how i was right. This book is great. Carter is a typical high school freshman who wants to be considered cool, fit in with the popular crowd, and hook up with girls. He hangs out with friends with nicknames like Bag, Hormone and EJ, plays football because it's apparently the thing to do, and is trying to score a cool nickname like "Race Car." He follows his older sister's advice for how to get a girl interested in him, then doesn't know what to do when things get complicated due to his own stupidity. His girlfriend Abby broke up with him because he asked another girl to prom. Now he is screwed because all of the girls in the school hate him. Then he starts swimming and wants to quit, but he shares a lane with Andre. Andre is the one who made Carter want to keep swimming. So he did and he made it to state. He got to shave his head and legs. Then when football season had started he wasn't that good but one day, he wanted to kill Andre for stealing his girl. He was hitting him so hard that coach put him in as a starter the next game. Later when baseball starts, Carter gets cut but all of his friends make it. He is sad but his drama teacher gets him to try out for the school play. Him and Abby get the two lead parts. At first Abby hates this but they have to kiss everyday, and Abby gets to slap him. She starts to like Carter again. Before their first play Carter has diaherra. When he gets out of the bathroom, he finds all of his friends standing there. They said Abby told them He was in the play but they didn't believe her. They were about to laugh but held it in. Carter did the play and Abby jumped into his arms. They did there other plays until it was all over. They had a party at the Pizza Barn and Carter and Abby made out for twenty minutes. Then they went to a party at someones house after that. But they got lost and his dad had to pick them up ajnd bring Abby home. So Carter never got to go skinny dipping with Abby but he did get her back.
December 27, 2012
Carter Finally Gets It is a funny book. It's about a freshman struggling to find his way through high school -- sports, ADD, virginity and popularity, the battles every high schooler faces.
I did have some struggles with this book. Carter singleminded focus on losing his virginity wasn't always the most enjoyable thing for me to read. Yes it's funny, but for me it's hard to listen to his continual objectifying comments about women. I get the point! Really I do! Throughout the book Carter has to learn to think about himself and the opposite sex differently. My question is, are high school guys truly this focused on sex? I'm no idiot. I know they think about it. But at times Carter thinks about it SO MUCH that he can barely focus on anything else.
But I really like this book. I just wanted to be upfront about that one issue. Part of me wants to call this book Ruby Oliver for dudes. Not because it's an excellent teenage feminist book hidden behind what seems like a cute fluffy story (Oh E. Lockhart! You are so tricky!). A good chunk of this book is about Carter's quest to lose his virginity, but that's just a clever disguise to the real story. This book is really about Carter accepting himself, not who the world, his friends or his sister tells him to be, but who Carter wants to be.
In the beginning Carter just wants to fit in. He does all the same extracurricular activities and join the same sports team as his friends. By the end of the book Carter is okay with being different, okay with doing his own thing and beginning to realize that girls aren't just walking vaginas and maybe he should care about the girl, not the just the sex potential.
This book is fun, extremely well narrated and very enjoyable. I got a little scared inside the sex-driven mind of a teenage boy but overall I felt like the journey was worth it by the end of the book. It's not as deep as Ruby Oliver, but I feel like the story is a good subliminal message for teenage boys.
I did have some struggles with this book. Carter singleminded focus on losing his virginity wasn't always the most enjoyable thing for me to read. Yes it's funny, but for me it's hard to listen to his continual objectifying comments about women. I get the point! Really I do! Throughout the book Carter has to learn to think about himself and the opposite sex differently. My question is, are high school guys truly this focused on sex? I'm no idiot. I know they think about it. But at times Carter thinks about it SO MUCH that he can barely focus on anything else.
But I really like this book. I just wanted to be upfront about that one issue. Part of me wants to call this book Ruby Oliver for dudes. Not because it's an excellent teenage feminist book hidden behind what seems like a cute fluffy story (Oh E. Lockhart! You are so tricky!). A good chunk of this book is about Carter's quest to lose his virginity, but that's just a clever disguise to the real story. This book is really about Carter accepting himself, not who the world, his friends or his sister tells him to be, but who Carter wants to be.
In the beginning Carter just wants to fit in. He does all the same extracurricular activities and join the same sports team as his friends. By the end of the book Carter is okay with being different, okay with doing his own thing and beginning to realize that girls aren't just walking vaginas and maybe he should care about the girl, not the just the sex potential.
This book is fun, extremely well narrated and very enjoyable. I got a little scared inside the sex-driven mind of a teenage boy but overall I felt like the journey was worth it by the end of the book. It's not as deep as Ruby Oliver, but I feel like the story is a good subliminal message for teenage boys.
August 22, 2010
From page one, I was hating the voice, I thought it was artificial, condescending...then I loosened up a bit, and within a little while, I was loving this book. I just wasn't prepared for it. There really is nothing quite like it. This is a novel told all from a completely uncompromising, rawly honest, unselfconscious "dude" voice. A total dude. A douchey dude at times. This book follows him and his friends, and isn't afraid to show them making gay jokes and throwing around words like "faggot" and "retard", like young dudes too. Yeah, I don't like how names like that are thrown around, and breed intolerance and arrogance and suffering...I can't imagine Carter or the author do either. I also can't imagine a world where they aren't thrown around, and I'm glad this book doesn't shy away from that. It's just a part of what this culture is, and this book captures that culture precisely, while being hopeful and optimistic at the same time, highlighting the likable and admirable and endearing qualities of a type of person we might at othertimes pigeonhole as a meathead or a jock. Carter is much more than that, he's an individual. We see Carter's dawning intelligence, broadening awareness, and journey towards being who he truly is, even if it isn't THAT different from the crowd -- that's okay. That's the point. We are all different, and we arent' at the ame time, so we should just let each other have our subltle differences. We see him realizing he can do the things he wants to do for him, not the things his bros want him to do.
Brent Crawford is an invigoratingly open, honest writer. He doesn't rely on a hook, or a twist, or a gimmick, or any of the other spikes so much contemporary YA get's caught on. He just writes from his heart, and it shows. And it shines. I can't wait to read more from him, and hope he catches on and goes on to great success. We'll all be the better off for it. Young Adult writing needs more people like him to make it.
Brent Crawford is an invigoratingly open, honest writer. He doesn't rely on a hook, or a twist, or a gimmick, or any of the other spikes so much contemporary YA get's caught on. He just writes from his heart, and it shows. And it shines. I can't wait to read more from him, and hope he catches on and goes on to great success. We'll all be the better off for it. Young Adult writing needs more people like him to make it.
August 6, 2016
Carter Finally Gets It is a hilarious account of Carter's freshman year of high school: classes, girls, friends, sports, embarrassing moments, and all. Carter's inner monologue would have you believe that he's on the middle rungs of the freshman class; he's not. Carter's on the freshman football team and the swim team, he goes to parties (that get busted by the cops!), and pretty girls like him (some of the time).
Carter gives the reader (listener, in my case) a candid peek inside the mind of a teenage boy. Carter is as honest as he is clueless, but he has one thing going for him: he's miles ahead of his friend EJ when it comes to girls. This is especially apparent at the arcade one Friday night when EJ attempts to talk to a girl, who ends up in tears after EJ misunderstands Carter's talking-to-girls advice and hits her with a barrage of insulting questions ("Where did you get that shirt, the Salvation Army? What the hell is with your hair?")
Carter, at least, has gotten to second base. At least he thinks he has, not being quite sure where the line is drawn between second and third.
Carter screws up a lot, but who doesn't at that age? He tries to do the right thing. He's not a bad guy. He's stupid and he makes bad choices because he's 14, but he's not a lost cause. He's so easy for me to relate to because Carter reminds me a lot of the guys I knew growing up.
I downloaded Carter Finally Gets It for free through Sync's summer program last summer. I doubt I would have discovered it on my own, so I'm thankful to Sync. I think the fact that I was listening to Carter Finally Gets It as an audiobook made the book for me. Nick Podehl does an excellent job and I can't wait to hear him narrating the next two Carter books.
Carter gives the reader (listener, in my case) a candid peek inside the mind of a teenage boy. Carter is as honest as he is clueless, but he has one thing going for him: he's miles ahead of his friend EJ when it comes to girls. This is especially apparent at the arcade one Friday night when EJ attempts to talk to a girl, who ends up in tears after EJ misunderstands Carter's talking-to-girls advice and hits her with a barrage of insulting questions ("Where did you get that shirt, the Salvation Army? What the hell is with your hair?")
Carter, at least, has gotten to second base. At least he thinks he has, not being quite sure where the line is drawn between second and third.
Carter screws up a lot, but who doesn't at that age? He tries to do the right thing. He's not a bad guy. He's stupid and he makes bad choices because he's 14, but he's not a lost cause. He's so easy for me to relate to because Carter reminds me a lot of the guys I knew growing up.
I downloaded Carter Finally Gets It for free through Sync's summer program last summer. I doubt I would have discovered it on my own, so I'm thankful to Sync. I think the fact that I was listening to Carter Finally Gets It as an audiobook made the book for me. Nick Podehl does an excellent job and I can't wait to hear him narrating the next two Carter books.
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April 21, 2011 this book was definitely one of the most funniest, most dramatic books i have ever read in all of my life. the book is mainly about a boy named carter who is going through some stages in his life looking for sex and other things fourteen year old boys dream about. Carter definitely goes through a lot of different things in this book and i nut say it sucks to be him some crazy things happen to him which i think is pretty unrealistic to happen to a fourteen year old kid. but anyway i think that this book was great i think there was a lot of funny drama and it was actually kind of realistic in a funny way the drama was serious but the way Brent Crawford put it out there was just hilarious i would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in comedy and drama. carter goes through a lot of stuff that i think we can all relate to sort of. i really think that this book was just great Brent Crawford really did do a really good job in making such a great and unique book. however some things i think that Brent Crawford could have done was to take out some of the drama because sometimes there would be too much drama and then it would just become really confusing. i also think he should have focused more on the comedy itself because at some points in the book i wonder if it is a time to be serious or if he is just joking. but other than that i think that Brent Crawford did a really great job with this book making it a great book for teenagers it made me laugh, it made me excited, sometimes it even made me want to scream at carter for being such a idiot sometimes. i think that this is a really good book it is funny and has a great story to it i think it is good for anyone.
October 19, 2011
The best thing about this book is Carter. Carter is the main character of the story and is a very strange individual. It is interesting how many things he has to overcome but yet he keeps on adding more to his list to do. He has to do everything from football to the school play while trying to have fun and understand girls.
The worse thing about this book would have to be the drama part of the book towards the end. It might be just because im not to much into the play and all that stuff. It just seemed you went from exciting and running from the cops to a boring story about play. I like hearing football and sports more.
This is by far one of the best books I have read and would enjoy to read more by this author. He understands high school a little bit and knows what it is like to be a kid in this time. I also would rather read about the sports, and parties then drama or a love story. You never know what is going to happen next in this story.
This story made me excited, interested, and stressed. Excited first because there is always something happening and you never know what is going to happen next. There is action every page and it doesn’t get boring when you start reading it. Next is interested because I always wanted to keep going, there is no jumping around in the story and you never know what is going to happen next. And last is stressed because the thing that happen are so dumb sometimes. I just wouldn’t understand why carter would act in that way.
This book defentaly showed me how not to act in certain situations and that you really need to think before you act. It also showed me that the responsibility and stress things increase when you get older and that kids will be kids.
The worse thing about this book would have to be the drama part of the book towards the end. It might be just because im not to much into the play and all that stuff. It just seemed you went from exciting and running from the cops to a boring story about play. I like hearing football and sports more.
This is by far one of the best books I have read and would enjoy to read more by this author. He understands high school a little bit and knows what it is like to be a kid in this time. I also would rather read about the sports, and parties then drama or a love story. You never know what is going to happen next in this story.
This story made me excited, interested, and stressed. Excited first because there is always something happening and you never know what is going to happen next. There is action every page and it doesn’t get boring when you start reading it. Next is interested because I always wanted to keep going, there is no jumping around in the story and you never know what is going to happen next. And last is stressed because the thing that happen are so dumb sometimes. I just wouldn’t understand why carter would act in that way.
This book defentaly showed me how not to act in certain situations and that you really need to think before you act. It also showed me that the responsibility and stress things increase when you get older and that kids will be kids.
April 2, 2013
Will Carter, a Merriam, Kansas(?) high-school student starts his freshmen year stuttering around girls. Over the course of the book Carter (as he's nick-named) starts to find his place in high-school. Instead of worrying about what his friends and family think he starts to do things for himself and in the end wins the heart of his girlfriend, Abby after doing the school-play with her.
The first chapter was really hard to read given Carter's "A.D.D." which sets the voice for Carter. However, Carter unlike Shakespeare Shapiro in Spanking Shakespeare is a far more likeable horny high-school boy that wants to get into a girls pants; because he constantly screws up in his freshmen year. Over the course of the book Carter does Football and Swimming for Fall and Winter and then does the high-school play when he fails to get on the baseball team (that the rest of his friends get on) for the spring.
The ending (the school play) is when the book starts to REALLY pick-up because Carter finally starts to change his worldview which was really charming. Carter doesn't like drinking, but "does it" (as a Mountain Dew disguised in a beer bottle) so his friends don't "burn him"/insult him. However when the play happens his friends come and find out he's doing the play. They insult him as "doing the play is gay" but he walks past them and does the play anyway. The resolution being: Carter finally wisens up on the fact that his life should be his own and not what everyone else thinks.
I see there's a series going for Carter and while I'm not chomping at the bit to read the second and third book I would probably give them a read in a year or two because Carter was so damn charming.
The first chapter was really hard to read given Carter's "A.D.D." which sets the voice for Carter. However, Carter unlike Shakespeare Shapiro in Spanking Shakespeare is a far more likeable horny high-school boy that wants to get into a girls pants; because he constantly screws up in his freshmen year. Over the course of the book Carter does Football and Swimming for Fall and Winter and then does the high-school play when he fails to get on the baseball team (that the rest of his friends get on) for the spring.
The ending (the school play) is when the book starts to REALLY pick-up because Carter finally starts to change his worldview which was really charming. Carter doesn't like drinking, but "does it" (as a Mountain Dew disguised in a beer bottle) so his friends don't "burn him"/insult him. However when the play happens his friends come and find out he's doing the play. They insult him as "doing the play is gay" but he walks past them and does the play anyway. The resolution being: Carter finally wisens up on the fact that his life should be his own and not what everyone else thinks.
I see there's a series going for Carter and while I'm not chomping at the bit to read the second and third book I would probably give them a read in a year or two because Carter was so damn charming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2016
Made it to the top of page 7. Nope. Not going to waste my time in this sexist mind.
"The chick section is like the pizza: cold as ice, picked over, and not very appetizing."
"Our girls are looking a whole lot better now that I've seen what else will be on the menu at Merrian High."
I've never said "anything smooth [like]..."I like your shirt...I'd like it better on my bedroom floor."
The hottest girl in class who's "usually guarded by her friends Bitchy Nicki and Chubby Abby...starting school with a hottie on my arm would make things a lot easier"
"Her hair spills over her pink tank top, probably just long enough to brush the tops of her boobs. It might be long enough to cover the whole boob, like one of those shampoo ads where the chick is naked but you can't see anything important because her hair..."
"Why does Amber Lee have to wear short shorts, have tanned, shiny legs, and rock Reef flip-flops with pink toenails? Am I not supposed to gawk at her short shorts and wonder why there's no visible panty line? Did she forget to put underwear on this morning? I'm a pretty forgetful guy, but I always remember. Are they a new high-tech underwear that can't be detected by horny fourteen-year-old boys? Or are they the mother of panties, the undergarment surely conceived by a god who loves to torment me: the G-string (Victoria's Secret, fall catalog, pages 12-15) a.k.a. butt floss or crack warmers. "
"The only thing that's standing between her butt checks and me is paper-thin denim and four little words."
That's from the first four 1/3 pages of text. Ugh. Screw this dude and his book. We gotta do better than this.
"The chick section is like the pizza: cold as ice, picked over, and not very appetizing."
"Our girls are looking a whole lot better now that I've seen what else will be on the menu at Merrian High."
I've never said "anything smooth [like]..."I like your shirt...I'd like it better on my bedroom floor."
The hottest girl in class who's "usually guarded by her friends Bitchy Nicki and Chubby Abby...starting school with a hottie on my arm would make things a lot easier"
"Her hair spills over her pink tank top, probably just long enough to brush the tops of her boobs. It might be long enough to cover the whole boob, like one of those shampoo ads where the chick is naked but you can't see anything important because her hair..."
"Why does Amber Lee have to wear short shorts, have tanned, shiny legs, and rock Reef flip-flops with pink toenails? Am I not supposed to gawk at her short shorts and wonder why there's no visible panty line? Did she forget to put underwear on this morning? I'm a pretty forgetful guy, but I always remember. Are they a new high-tech underwear that can't be detected by horny fourteen-year-old boys? Or are they the mother of panties, the undergarment surely conceived by a god who loves to torment me: the G-string (Victoria's Secret, fall catalog, pages 12-15) a.k.a. butt floss or crack warmers. "
"The only thing that's standing between her butt checks and me is paper-thin denim and four little words."
That's from the first four 1/3 pages of text. Ugh. Screw this dude and his book. We gotta do better than this.
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