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XL
Fiercely funny, honest, and poignant, this story of a growth spurt gone wrong is perfect for readers who love Becky Albertalli and Jesse Andrews.
Will Daughtry is a late bloomer--at least, that's what everyone tells him. On his sixteenth birthday, Will is just shy of five feet, and he is bitterly resigned to being tiny forever. His only comforts are his best friend and stepbrother, Drew (6'3"), and their pal Monica (5'10"), the girl Will's been quietly pining for since fifth grade. Everyone else literally overlooks him. But with them, he feels whole. That is, until things take an unexpected turn, and he realizes he's really and truly on his own.
That's when he starts to grow. And grow fast. Astonishingly fast. For the first time, Will's happy with his stature, and the world's at his feet (for a change). People see him differently; more important, he sees himself differently. But the highest heights come with some low, low lows, and his most precious relationships suffer excruciating growing pains. Will has to figure out what to do with himself--and all of this new "himself" he never expected to have.
Will Daughtry is a late bloomer--at least, that's what everyone tells him. On his sixteenth birthday, Will is just shy of five feet, and he is bitterly resigned to being tiny forever. His only comforts are his best friend and stepbrother, Drew (6'3"), and their pal Monica (5'10"), the girl Will's been quietly pining for since fifth grade. Everyone else literally overlooks him. But with them, he feels whole. That is, until things take an unexpected turn, and he realizes he's really and truly on his own.
That's when he starts to grow. And grow fast. Astonishingly fast. For the first time, Will's happy with his stature, and the world's at his feet (for a change). People see him differently; more important, he sees himself differently. But the highest heights come with some low, low lows, and his most precious relationships suffer excruciating growing pains. Will has to figure out what to do with himself--and all of this new "himself" he never expected to have.
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First published March 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 27, 2019
Will Daughtry is just under 5 feet tall and has only two wishes in life: to be taller and to have a girlfriend. He even knows the perfect girl. Monica and since he and his stepbrother have made a perfect trifecta with her throughout the years of growing up. Just when Will thinks he has the courage to ask Monica out, Drew beats him to it. Well, at least Will gets one of his wishes when he starts to grow and eat and grow. There is much drama over this growth and Will's snarky ego grows as well.This was such a fun read, especially since something similar happened to my nephew except he grew at a somewhat quick pace but wanted to be shorter. A lot of those same themes that take place in this book happened in real life. Since Will ends up somewhere near seven feet, there, of course, are basketball jokes. I could see these relationships taking place in real life and the ordeal Will has to deal with does come across realistically. There is limited sexual situations, the normal teen language so nothing too disturbing for those in grades seven and above.
June 14, 2019
Good enough. I'm not the demographic and so honestly my review is not valuable. Moving on.
June 4, 2019
As a general rule, I try to avoid books written by cishet white males. Admittedly, I know nothing about Scott Brown, but the MC of this book is a cishet white male, so probably? I disliked this book strongly for all the reasons why I generally do not read cishet white male-centric books.
What I Liked:
- Brown's writing - it's occasionally pretentious but that works with Will's voice, since he does have a ton of biology knowledge.
- The gorilla stuff - Will works in his dad's zoo in the gorilla area, and all of those sections were interesting. I cared way more about the gorilla drama than the human drama.
- The nerdy references
- Happy step-family situation - Will's dad is adorable, though I think it's weird Will only calls him by name. And the fact that Will and Drew are step-brothers and besties is awesome.
What I Didn't Like:
- Will's obsession with his height - While it's totally realistic that a sixteen year-old boy stuck below 5' would feel inadequate, his obsession with it just made me sad. And, in the end, I really would have preferred a story where he stayed short and learned to love himself, rather than one where he grew super tall and then complained about that. Will ends up feeling like such a whiner.
- Monica: She's Will and Drew's best friend, and Will has a massive crush on her, which he thinks is impossible because she's 5'10". She reads like such a manic pixie, all quirky and unique and out of reach. I hate the way dude pov makes me loathe the manic pixies, because it's not her fault he has this ridiculous view of her but it's what I've got.
- The love triangle: By the end of the book, all three of them have done terrible things to one another and it's all awful. Especially when you learn near the end that This love triangle made me absolutely loathe all three main characters, particularly because of
- The way Will treats Sydney: When he gets all tall, Will gets interest from girls and he ends up dating this sweet, awesome girl Sydney, but he treats her like shit basically. When he's with her, he's always just thinking of Monica, and, in classic MPDG style, it's really hard to understand why the hell he's so hung up on Monica and has absolutely no non-penis interest in Sydney.
- The lack of clarity on why Will grew so much: There's an explanation for what's going on with his height, but I had a couple issues with it. First of all, there's no resolution to it (or the romance actually). Second, there's this scene where Will wishes to be taller, and then he almost immediately starts growing, so, even though they end up coming up with a scientific explanation of sorts, it feels kinda like magical realism or something, especially with the weird way he would rage out. It's weird. I also really didn't understand why they freaked out and took him to the research institute when he was still a "normal" height. He grew fast, sure, but it did take a while, and it didn't seem to merit that level of panic to me, considering that Will wasn't in pain or anything.
So yeah, I didn't like this book, but I didn't think it was bad, assuming you have care about penis feels, enjoy love triangles, and don't mind open endings.
What I Liked:
- Brown's writing - it's occasionally pretentious but that works with Will's voice, since he does have a ton of biology knowledge.
- The gorilla stuff - Will works in his dad's zoo in the gorilla area, and all of those sections were interesting. I cared way more about the gorilla drama than the human drama.
- The nerdy references
- Happy step-family situation - Will's dad is adorable, though I think it's weird Will only calls him by name. And the fact that Will and Drew are step-brothers and besties is awesome.
What I Didn't Like:
- Will's obsession with his height - While it's totally realistic that a sixteen year-old boy stuck below 5' would feel inadequate, his obsession with it just made me sad. And, in the end, I really would have preferred a story where he stayed short and learned to love himself, rather than one where he grew super tall and then complained about that. Will ends up feeling like such a whiner.
- Monica: She's Will and Drew's best friend, and Will has a massive crush on her, which he thinks is impossible because she's 5'10". She reads like such a manic pixie, all quirky and unique and out of reach. I hate the way dude pov makes me loathe the manic pixies, because it's not her fault he has this ridiculous view of her but it's what I've got.
- The love triangle: By the end of the book, all three of them have done terrible things to one another and it's all awful. Especially when you learn near the end that This love triangle made me absolutely loathe all three main characters, particularly because of
- The way Will treats Sydney: When he gets all tall, Will gets interest from girls and he ends up dating this sweet, awesome girl Sydney, but he treats her like shit basically. When he's with her, he's always just thinking of Monica, and, in classic MPDG style, it's really hard to understand why the hell he's so hung up on Monica and has absolutely no non-penis interest in Sydney.
- The lack of clarity on why Will grew so much: There's an explanation for what's going on with his height, but I had a couple issues with it. First of all, there's no resolution to it (or the romance actually). Second, there's this scene where Will wishes to be taller, and then he almost immediately starts growing, so, even though they end up coming up with a scientific explanation of sorts, it feels kinda like magical realism or something, especially with the weird way he would rage out. It's weird. I also really didn't understand why they freaked out and took him to the research institute when he was still a "normal" height. He grew fast, sure, but it did take a while, and it didn't seem to merit that level of panic to me, considering that Will wasn't in pain or anything.
So yeah, I didn't like this book, but I didn't think it was bad, assuming you have care about penis feels, enjoy love triangles, and don't mind open endings.
November 15, 2019
"You know, I never really thought of us this way," I said, "but we are a couple of only children. And they're the worst."
He laughed. I laughed.
"But we weren't the ones who got hurt."
Drew stopped laughing. "No. We weren't."
I thought I was in for another typical contemporary read, but with more sexual-thoughts, toilet humor, and the boob-focused trend most male-MC books tend to have. Instead, I got a funny, thoughtful, and mostly mature-minded story. Will Daughtry was a complete, normal teenage mess who had to learn how to grow up (ha ha ha) while he's literally growing up. Also, not gonna lie that I kept thinking of the band Daughtry every time Will's last name was brought up and, based on how many pop culture references were already in here, methinks this was purposefully done by the author.
And while a lot of the content was surprisingly tasteful and realistic, the only mild issue I had with this book was how many times the f-bomb was dropped. Look, I get it's a word that is used a lot and can't deny the realism surrounding it . . . but sometimes it just seems overused, all right??
'Two hours later, I woke up starving, went to the kitchen, and ate half a chicken.'
Anyways, besides that, the only other thing I was a bit confused by and wish there was more explanation surrounding it, was Will's growth. Sure, I guess it IS possible and it really threw a giant (ha ha ha) twist into his supposed-resignation towards hobbit-ness. But all we got was a bunch of "it's just what's happening and you're not dying, you're just growing cause science, okay."
Other than that, this really was quite a fascinating, well-balanced story. The main trio of characters were people who you wanted to root for, had understandable struggles they all worked through with various failures and successes . . . and through it all I really appreciated how they stuck by each other. There is a LOT of the expected teenage angst and drama, because everything always feels bigger than it is when you're in that transitional time of your life, doesn't it?? Yep. So while the drama was a bit overblown at times, it was still quite realistic and didn't seem too much for me. And once again, even though it is through a lot of struggle first, things still got worked out because the characters sat down and THEY ACTUALLY TALKED TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR ISSUES even when they didn't want to. That's maturity, y'all.
'I remember Jared laughing. I remember him saying, "Peace out, psycho chick," and Monica answering, "Peace out, Neandertool."
Finally, I am a little miffed about that open ending. I like a goodly amount of closure in my books, okay. So except for that, I was happy with how it ended. And while this isn't one of my top reads, it's still one of the rare few contemporaries I actually appreciated and enjoyed.
He laughed. I laughed.
"But we weren't the ones who got hurt."
Drew stopped laughing. "No. We weren't."
I thought I was in for another typical contemporary read, but with more sexual-thoughts, toilet humor, and the boob-focused trend most male-MC books tend to have. Instead, I got a funny, thoughtful, and mostly mature-minded story. Will Daughtry was a complete, normal teenage mess who had to learn how to grow up (ha ha ha) while he's literally growing up. Also, not gonna lie that I kept thinking of the band Daughtry every time Will's last name was brought up and, based on how many pop culture references were already in here, methinks this was purposefully done by the author.
And while a lot of the content was surprisingly tasteful and realistic, the only mild issue I had with this book was how many times the f-bomb was dropped. Look, I get it's a word that is used a lot and can't deny the realism surrounding it . . . but sometimes it just seems overused, all right??
'Two hours later, I woke up starving, went to the kitchen, and ate half a chicken.'
Anyways, besides that, the only other thing I was a bit confused by and wish there was more explanation surrounding it, was Will's growth. Sure, I guess it IS possible and it really threw a giant (ha ha ha) twist into his supposed-resignation towards hobbit-ness. But all we got was a bunch of "it's just what's happening and you're not dying, you're just growing cause science, okay."
Other than that, this really was quite a fascinating, well-balanced story. The main trio of characters were people who you wanted to root for, had understandable struggles they all worked through with various failures and successes . . . and through it all I really appreciated how they stuck by each other. There is a LOT of the expected teenage angst and drama, because everything always feels bigger than it is when you're in that transitional time of your life, doesn't it?? Yep. So while the drama was a bit overblown at times, it was still quite realistic and didn't seem too much for me. And once again, even though it is through a lot of struggle first, things still got worked out because the characters sat down and THEY ACTUALLY TALKED TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR ISSUES even when they didn't want to. That's maturity, y'all.
'I remember Jared laughing. I remember him saying, "Peace out, psycho chick," and Monica answering, "Peace out, Neandertool."
Finally, I am a little miffed about that open ending. I like a goodly amount of closure in my books, okay. So except for that, I was happy with how it ended. And while this isn't one of my top reads, it's still one of the rare few contemporaries I actually appreciated and enjoyed.
February 27, 2019
Advanced copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 1.5/5
Reviewed by: Cassey
I did not like this book. I’m so disappointed that I didn’t like it. It has a super interesting plot and I LOVE the cover art (don’t remind me not to judge a book by it’s cover). In the end, XL just did not live up to its name.
The plot is a superb idea and pulled me in right away. Basically, Will just turned sixteen and is living life stuck under 5 feet, unhappily and self-consciously. However, he soon starts to grow and at a record-breaking pace. Soon he’s sailing over 6 feet and still growing. Not only does this change Will’s view of life but it will change how he views himself.
Sounds great, right? Should be a book to pick up, right?!? WRONG!
The whole book is a giant pity party for Will. He whines when he’s small - I get it he’s unhappy and dealing with self-esteem issues. Then when he’s average height - he whines that he doesn’t have a certain girl (Monica) (even though he has a perfectly nice girlfriend (Sidney) who wants to be with him). Then when he’s tall - he whines about that too! I get it life sucks and there are hindrances at any height of life, but you have to at least have a few moments of happiness intermixed. I also felt like the romance was terrible. Will pines for Monica, his elusive, mysterious, independent, alluring best friend, but she gets with his stepbrother. She was very condescending throughout. I actually really liked Sidney, who Will dumped after cheating on her, and she deserved better.
I will say the writing style wasn’t bad. Brown mixed in a lot of good imagery and metaphors (especially with apes) and I like how at the beginning of every chapter we know what height Will is at when he does all his stupid whiny things. It was very helpful as a timeline. I do wish I could have enjoyed this book, but I just wished it was over. It fell too short for me.
Actual rating: 1.5/5
Reviewed by: Cassey
I did not like this book. I’m so disappointed that I didn’t like it. It has a super interesting plot and I LOVE the cover art (don’t remind me not to judge a book by it’s cover). In the end, XL just did not live up to its name.
The plot is a superb idea and pulled me in right away. Basically, Will just turned sixteen and is living life stuck under 5 feet, unhappily and self-consciously. However, he soon starts to grow and at a record-breaking pace. Soon he’s sailing over 6 feet and still growing. Not only does this change Will’s view of life but it will change how he views himself.
Sounds great, right? Should be a book to pick up, right?!? WRONG!
The whole book is a giant pity party for Will. He whines when he’s small - I get it he’s unhappy and dealing with self-esteem issues. Then when he’s average height - he whines that he doesn’t have a certain girl (Monica) (even though he has a perfectly nice girlfriend (Sidney) who wants to be with him). Then when he’s tall - he whines about that too! I get it life sucks and there are hindrances at any height of life, but you have to at least have a few moments of happiness intermixed. I also felt like the romance was terrible. Will pines for Monica, his elusive, mysterious, independent, alluring best friend, but she gets with his stepbrother. She was very condescending throughout. I actually really liked Sidney, who Will dumped after cheating on her, and she deserved better.
I will say the writing style wasn’t bad. Brown mixed in a lot of good imagery and metaphors (especially with apes) and I like how at the beginning of every chapter we know what height Will is at when he does all his stupid whiny things. It was very helpful as a timeline. I do wish I could have enjoyed this book, but I just wished it was over. It fell too short for me.
March 27, 2019
So funny, so smart. Not one, but THREE compelling protagonists, all of them real and dear and brilliant. Bravo, Scott Brown!
April 22, 2019
This book is difficult to rate, because for the first half or so, I loved it. The writing was witty without feeling like it was trying too hard, Will felt totally authentic (at least to me, a person who has never been a teenage boy), and the story was pretty interesting.
But now that I've finished it, I don't know anymore. It sort of fizzled out. It's not a bad ending, it just...I don't know how I feel about it. To be perfectly honest, I don't really feel anything about it, and that's the problem. It was so nothing to me that it sapped a lot of my love for the rest of the book, as well.
That isn't something that happens to me a whole lot. I can't think of any other books that have had the same effect, off the top of my head. But I think that's mostly because I just plain don't remember anything about them, and unfortunately, I suspect the same will be true for this one. I really enjoyed it while I was reading it, so no regrets or anything, and I'd happily read another book by the same author, but ultimately I was a little disappointed.
But now that I've finished it, I don't know anymore. It sort of fizzled out. It's not a bad ending, it just...I don't know how I feel about it. To be perfectly honest, I don't really feel anything about it, and that's the problem. It was so nothing to me that it sapped a lot of my love for the rest of the book, as well.
That isn't something that happens to me a whole lot. I can't think of any other books that have had the same effect, off the top of my head. But I think that's mostly because I just plain don't remember anything about them, and unfortunately, I suspect the same will be true for this one. I really enjoyed it while I was reading it, so no regrets or anything, and I'd happily read another book by the same author, but ultimately I was a little disappointed.
January 27, 2019
This was very funny, and a perfect guy book, if such a thing is needed. On his sixteenth birthday, Will is still 4'9" and has given up hope of getting any taller. Will is the quintessential "short man" who feels invisible, helpless, and more than a little frustrated by his stature. Then he begins to grow and grow fast - catching up to his secret crush Monica (5'10") and even his best friend and stepbrother Drew (6'3"). Through it all, Will applies heaps of attitude, wit and biological observations. The voice is extremely chuckle-worthy. Here's a short list of haves/ have nots:
Haves:
- A reasonably diverse cast ethnically speaking, though Will and his family are definitely white and middle class
- A fantastic voice
- Great supporting characters
- Lots of jokes. Funny funny jokes
- Sport - basketball mainly, but some surfing and volleyball
- Social media and internet trolls
- Caring family members
- A strong female who should not be underestimated
- "Nice guys" who finally realize that they aren't
- Lots of biology facts and generally a lot of intelligent writing
- Irony and cleverness
- Friendships that fracture and splinter, but also grow and change
- Gorillas
Have-nots:
- LGBTQ characters
- A really satisfying explanation of what is up with Will's continued growth
- A firm resolution to the height thing
- 100% believably. I'm unsure someone could really grow that fast for that long. But it makes for a good story.
- A completely satisfying insight on the main female character. She remains a mystery to me. But then, it is told by a guy, so maybe that is ok?
Overall, lots to recommend. I think it would be fine for grade 7 and up really. There is sex, but it isn't exactly on screen and there is no violence and not too much swearing. Gotta be good for those guys still waiting on their growth spurts, right?
-Kirsten
Haves:
- A reasonably diverse cast ethnically speaking, though Will and his family are definitely white and middle class
- A fantastic voice
- Great supporting characters
- Lots of jokes. Funny funny jokes
- Sport - basketball mainly, but some surfing and volleyball
- Social media and internet trolls
- Caring family members
- A strong female who should not be underestimated
- "Nice guys" who finally realize that they aren't
- Lots of biology facts and generally a lot of intelligent writing
- Irony and cleverness
- Friendships that fracture and splinter, but also grow and change
- Gorillas
Have-nots:
- LGBTQ characters
- A really satisfying explanation of what is up with Will's continued growth
- A firm resolution to the height thing
- 100% believably. I'm unsure someone could really grow that fast for that long. But it makes for a good story.
- A completely satisfying insight on the main female character. She remains a mystery to me. But then, it is told by a guy, so maybe that is ok?
Overall, lots to recommend. I think it would be fine for grade 7 and up really. There is sex, but it isn't exactly on screen and there is no violence and not too much swearing. Gotta be good for those guys still waiting on their growth spurts, right?
-Kirsten
Read
March 3, 2020The story is that there is a boy named Will who is turning 16, and is 4’11”. He hasn’t grown for years, and no one knows why. He seems perfectly healthy. Will lives with his dad, Brian, who is a zookeeper, and his stepmom, Laura, and her son, Drew. Drew is 5’11 ¾” and a basketball star. He practices every available hour. Will and Drew have been friends and brothers since childhood. They are still friends and brothers, although Drew shot up and Will didn’t.
Will and Drew have a best friend named Monica. She is also tall (5’10”), and a surfer. She is unconventional, fearless, fun, but also proud, hot-tempered, and intensely private. It is clear that she has trouble with her alcoholic father, but she doesn’t want to talk about it. Ever. Not even to her two best friends.
Will, Drew, and Monica have a secret hangout they call BoB (short for Belly of the Beach), a cave hidden at the bottom of a rocky cliff they have to climb down to reach. Off the coast is a vicious, roiling wave called the Sawtooth. Monica’s a great surfer, but she hasn’t surfed the Sawtooth. Yet.
The three friends want to stay friends forever. Then go to colleges nearby, and still be friends forever. But Will is secretly in love with Monica, has loved her since the day he met her. But… Drew and Monica end up as a couple, and Will ends up their secretly bitter, yet devoted, friend.
Will is secretly bitter about a lot of things. Mostly he’s bitter about being 4’11’”. He has endured so many slights that he perceives almost everything as a slight. When his parents buy him a Fiat for his birthday, he calls it “a clown car.”
And then Will begins to grow, and he grows faster than anyone else has ever grown (confirmed by the Guiness Book of Records), and captured on a viral video taken by his friend Rafty (5’4”). He grows so fast that he is afraid he has some kind of pituitary cancer (he doesn’t). He grows, and everything in his life begins to change.
This book is witty, smart, sometimes dense, and sometimes difficult to read. My teenage daughter was reading it. She stopped several times to ask me, “What does this word mean? What does this word mean?” Then I began to read it out loud to her, and we finished the book that way. There are lots of clever phrases: “frogtopsy,” for the dissection of a frog in class, “deprazing” for a combination of depressing and amazing, “car mitzvah” for the gifting of a car on Will’s sixteenth birthday, and that’s just from the first few pages.
Will narrates the book, and he includes his interior monologue along with description of who said what and who did what. These asides are sometimes brief, and interspersed with other text, so that the flow can be choppy. Will can keep multiple thought streams going at one time, saying one thing, and thinking something else.
There are literature and pop culture and science references throughout. Will works with his dad at the zoo, caring for the gorillas. Will discusses fetal development, adaptation strategies, and sexual selection as casually as some might discuss movies. The behaviors of the gorillas, marked by dominance and trickery, are both disturbing to Will, and also all too familiar examples of the human desire to be a winner and not a loser.
There are multiple references to monsters. There are the monsters from the fantasy books that Monica used to read, and the Tolkien that Will read. Then Monica switched to reading Leviathan over and over. I assume that to be the Hobbes classic. I have never read it myself, but I understand that it says that it is the nature of humans to always be fighting each other, unless they allow a government to rule over them. There is enough conflict in this book that I am sure it is significant. How can a triangle of three friends govern themselves peaceably? Is it possible?
There are also lessons about the complicating effects of social media, with viral videos and online harassment adding to the difficulty of finding one’s way through the teenage years, which are already tumultuous enough.
There were times when this multilayered book seemed a tad on the depressing side. How on earth are these people going to work things out? There were times when it seemed that everyone was mad at everyone else, and no one was talking. And I won’t say how it ends, but I will say that at no point was the plot predictable. My daughter said that at the end: “I didn’t know where that book was going.”
Will and Drew have a best friend named Monica. She is also tall (5’10”), and a surfer. She is unconventional, fearless, fun, but also proud, hot-tempered, and intensely private. It is clear that she has trouble with her alcoholic father, but she doesn’t want to talk about it. Ever. Not even to her two best friends.
Will, Drew, and Monica have a secret hangout they call BoB (short for Belly of the Beach), a cave hidden at the bottom of a rocky cliff they have to climb down to reach. Off the coast is a vicious, roiling wave called the Sawtooth. Monica’s a great surfer, but she hasn’t surfed the Sawtooth. Yet.
The three friends want to stay friends forever. Then go to colleges nearby, and still be friends forever. But Will is secretly in love with Monica, has loved her since the day he met her. But… Drew and Monica end up as a couple, and Will ends up their secretly bitter, yet devoted, friend.
Will is secretly bitter about a lot of things. Mostly he’s bitter about being 4’11’”. He has endured so many slights that he perceives almost everything as a slight. When his parents buy him a Fiat for his birthday, he calls it “a clown car.”
And then Will begins to grow, and he grows faster than anyone else has ever grown (confirmed by the Guiness Book of Records), and captured on a viral video taken by his friend Rafty (5’4”). He grows so fast that he is afraid he has some kind of pituitary cancer (he doesn’t). He grows, and everything in his life begins to change.
This book is witty, smart, sometimes dense, and sometimes difficult to read. My teenage daughter was reading it. She stopped several times to ask me, “What does this word mean? What does this word mean?” Then I began to read it out loud to her, and we finished the book that way. There are lots of clever phrases: “frogtopsy,” for the dissection of a frog in class, “deprazing” for a combination of depressing and amazing, “car mitzvah” for the gifting of a car on Will’s sixteenth birthday, and that’s just from the first few pages.
Will narrates the book, and he includes his interior monologue along with description of who said what and who did what. These asides are sometimes brief, and interspersed with other text, so that the flow can be choppy. Will can keep multiple thought streams going at one time, saying one thing, and thinking something else.
There are literature and pop culture and science references throughout. Will works with his dad at the zoo, caring for the gorillas. Will discusses fetal development, adaptation strategies, and sexual selection as casually as some might discuss movies. The behaviors of the gorillas, marked by dominance and trickery, are both disturbing to Will, and also all too familiar examples of the human desire to be a winner and not a loser.
There are multiple references to monsters. There are the monsters from the fantasy books that Monica used to read, and the Tolkien that Will read. Then Monica switched to reading Leviathan over and over. I assume that to be the Hobbes classic. I have never read it myself, but I understand that it says that it is the nature of humans to always be fighting each other, unless they allow a government to rule over them. There is enough conflict in this book that I am sure it is significant. How can a triangle of three friends govern themselves peaceably? Is it possible?
There are also lessons about the complicating effects of social media, with viral videos and online harassment adding to the difficulty of finding one’s way through the teenage years, which are already tumultuous enough.
There were times when this multilayered book seemed a tad on the depressing side. How on earth are these people going to work things out? There were times when it seemed that everyone was mad at everyone else, and no one was talking. And I won’t say how it ends, but I will say that at no point was the plot predictable. My daughter said that at the end: “I didn’t know where that book was going.”
July 4, 2020
I was so nervous about how this book was going to deliver on its ending and then said ending delectably and painfully tore me to shreds. I don’t know what to do with myself.
May 8, 2019
I enjoyed this title but not sure about the ending I might have loved it but maybe I hated it I can't decide. Over all a decent read.
May 17, 2019
If you're in the mood for something light-hearted and fun, put this on your summer reading list. It's about Drew, a boy who is resigned to being short for the rest of his life (he even got a tiny car for his birthday). But when he unexpectedly starts to grow, his entire world changes—for better and for worse.
I liked a lot of things about this book. First, I really enjoyed the light, enjoyable "voice" of the story. It's funny and a bit sarcastic and just plain fun. Drew and his stepbrother have a fantastic relationship and I loved the dynamic between those two boys.
While this book probably won't knock your socks off, it's a breath of fresh air in the YA arena. It's told from a boy's POV, which is rare, and it's funny, which is also a rarity. I love that it's an upbeat, contemporary story that teenagers will relate to. It deals with an issue that most teens deal with at one point or another (being too short or too tall).
If you're looking for a quick, easy read with lots of humor, this is your book.
Source: NetGalley.
I liked a lot of things about this book. First, I really enjoyed the light, enjoyable "voice" of the story. It's funny and a bit sarcastic and just plain fun. Drew and his stepbrother have a fantastic relationship and I loved the dynamic between those two boys.
While this book probably won't knock your socks off, it's a breath of fresh air in the YA arena. It's told from a boy's POV, which is rare, and it's funny, which is also a rarity. I love that it's an upbeat, contemporary story that teenagers will relate to. It deals with an issue that most teens deal with at one point or another (being too short or too tall).
If you're looking for a quick, easy read with lots of humor, this is your book.
Source: NetGalley.
September 17, 2019
Whoa, whoever called this a love story of epic proportions was right! But it was so much more than that as well.
This young adult hilariously tragic tale of growing up has so many themes that relate to readers of any age: being an outsider, getting in your own way, letting “success” get the best of you (and change you), that self deprecation truly can be selfish and blindingly all-consuming, those that matter most in the world are those that make you better and complete your world, and much more.
My list of lessons learned (and reminded of) by this tale could go on, but I’ll just let you all read it for yourselves. It was refreshing reading a book where you can relate to the humanity in many characters. I also very much appreciated Scott Brown’s comparison with biological situations. I’d recommend to all.
This young adult hilariously tragic tale of growing up has so many themes that relate to readers of any age: being an outsider, getting in your own way, letting “success” get the best of you (and change you), that self deprecation truly can be selfish and blindingly all-consuming, those that matter most in the world are those that make you better and complete your world, and much more.
My list of lessons learned (and reminded of) by this tale could go on, but I’ll just let you all read it for yourselves. It was refreshing reading a book where you can relate to the humanity in many characters. I also very much appreciated Scott Brown’s comparison with biological situations. I’d recommend to all.
June 2, 2025
I hated. Every. Second. I bought it from a book store for a challenge so I forced myself to finish it but lots of swearing and suggestive language. Don’t recommend, there’s a lot of better romance out there.
May 7, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was by no means perfect, but it was a light, funny, somewhat serious book with a male main character. Didn't love the cover art.
February 18, 2020
it was pretty good, but the ending was weird. That's all I'm saying.
January 5, 2026
YA done right. Scott Brown's tall tale has a great mixture of humor, heart, and social commentary. I really enjoyed this and will be recommending it to many students.
August 24, 2019
Will (4'11") finally gets the courage to tell his best friend (5'10") his true feelings, but she ends up patting him on the head and Frodo-ing/friendzoning him. Then, Will's life begins to change as he starts growing and growing. I think it's a great read-alike for Aristotle and Dante & The Sun is Also a Star-figuring out who you are and where you are going.
April 25, 2019
The author uses the size of the boy, all through the book, to show what growing up is really about. Nicely written.
April 19, 2019
XL is brilliantly relatable to young adults. I loved the character of Will. The emotions he showed were honest. I look forward to sharing XL with my students. I know they will enjoy it.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for my copy of XL.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for my copy of XL.
April 7, 2020
XL by Scott Brown, 310 pages. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2019. $16.
Language: R (282 swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Will is 15, going on 16, and still stands under five feet tall. This vertical challenge is hard on any guy, but especially on a basketball-loving and shorter-than-his-crush guy. Then -- miracle! -- Will starts growing with no sign of slowing. Everything is changing. That’s a good thing, right?
I wasn’t a huge fan of Will’s story (no pun intended). While I appreciated the difficulty I had in predicting what would happen, I also felt a separation from the story; I didn’t relate, and I wasn’t engaged. Readers could learn a couple lessons from this book, like how the grass isn’t greener on the other side or how everyone has issues to deal with, but maybe you should just take my word for it and read something else. Overall, Brown’s story was well written but not fun to read. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, alcoholism, mentions of masturbation and rape, partial nudity, sex between animals, and sex between people. The violence rating is for blood, mentions of suicide, and death.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: R (282 swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Will is 15, going on 16, and still stands under five feet tall. This vertical challenge is hard on any guy, but especially on a basketball-loving and shorter-than-his-crush guy. Then -- miracle! -- Will starts growing with no sign of slowing. Everything is changing. That’s a good thing, right?
I wasn’t a huge fan of Will’s story (no pun intended). While I appreciated the difficulty I had in predicting what would happen, I also felt a separation from the story; I didn’t relate, and I wasn’t engaged. Readers could learn a couple lessons from this book, like how the grass isn’t greener on the other side or how everyone has issues to deal with, but maybe you should just take my word for it and read something else. Overall, Brown’s story was well written but not fun to read. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, alcoholism, mentions of masturbation and rape, partial nudity, sex between animals, and sex between people. The violence rating is for blood, mentions of suicide, and death.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
April 20, 2019
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *
DNF @ 25%
This book is so, so slow. 25% in and we are still just on day one. He hasn't started growing, only complained about his circumstances, which I mean, totally should, but it feels like all that has happened is complaining and being told background information. With this much page-time spent on just one day, it really made me wonder how everything else was going to fit in-- keeping to this pace we'd fit in 3-5 more days, right?? Maybe less because the first day wasn't even over when I put the book down. It did feel like things were finally going to get started, but by then I was too bored to keep going.
Perhaps this one will appeal more to a younger crowd, even though it feels like it might deal with some heavier topics down the line. I definitely think something is going on with Monica's home life.
I probably won't recommend this one to anyone, but the witty writing and premise may be of interest to some, so I won't write this one off entirely.
DNF @ 25%
This book is so, so slow. 25% in and we are still just on day one. He hasn't started growing, only complained about his circumstances, which I mean, totally should, but it feels like all that has happened is complaining and being told background information. With this much page-time spent on just one day, it really made me wonder how everything else was going to fit in-- keeping to this pace we'd fit in 3-5 more days, right?? Maybe less because the first day wasn't even over when I put the book down. It did feel like things were finally going to get started, but by then I was too bored to keep going.
Perhaps this one will appeal more to a younger crowd, even though it feels like it might deal with some heavier topics down the line. I definitely think something is going on with Monica's home life.
I probably won't recommend this one to anyone, but the witty writing and premise may be of interest to some, so I won't write this one off entirely.
January 19, 2020
Everything has always gone according to the Plan. Will, the little guy at 4’11”, his step brother, Drew, premo basketball star, and Monica, surfing goddess. The plan was to stick together, go to colleges nearby, always be around but suddenly things stop going according to plan. Will tries to confess his love to Monica on his 16th birthday and it sorely backfires as she ends up with Drew. Mysteriously Will starts experiencing a growth spurt that shows no signs of stopping and no doctor can figure out why; this makes him and his newfound ego larger than life. It makes his internship at the zoo challenging when the alpha male challenges his new stance. The trio of friends faces tension on all sides until suddenly something breaks and friendship is tested. A story of friendship and growing pains.
July 28, 2020
Great YA-novel with complicated characters and unusual plot. What's good about this book is that it drags only a little bit and ends precisely where it should (although still leaving the reader with an unanswered question), unlike most of the famous YA-novels.
July 11, 2019
XL is about Will Daughtry who on his sixteenth birthday has seemingly topped out at 4'11". While everyone around him has had their fair share of growth spurts, Will has been stuck and it doesn't seem like things will change. Luckily he has his stepbrother and best friend, Drew (6'3") and Monica, his forever crush (5'10") to help him through life. Until, he is ready to admit his love to Monica and she friend zones him in favor of striking up a relationship with Drew. It seems that their trio might be changed forever.
Especially when Will finally starts to grow. He grows so much that they worry it could be a tumor or a disease or something else that will definitely kill him. But for the first time, Will is seeing the rest of the world from a new perspective and he loves the attention that his height brings him instead of the attention he used to get for being short. Unfortunately, his stature seems to have the greatest effect on his relationships with his friends and Will doesn't really like how things are turning out. He, along with everyone around him, has to come to terms with the new reality of things and figure out a way to hang on to the people that they care about.
As a tall girl myself (5'10"), I thought this book sounded like a lot of fun..a 16 year-old boy being self-conscious about his height makes a lot of sense and I can see how other late blooming teenage boys might relate to him. But ultimately this book becomes about relationships and change rather than how tall someone is. As humans we really like the status quo, and when things are thrown off balance we find ourselves grasping for something familiar to hold on to and Will learns this over the course of this novel.
There was a lot of humor in this book as well. Will's, at times, teenage boy stream-of-consciousness narration makes for some good laughs. I found myself wanting to quote a few lines to my husband every once in a while. But obviously, teenage boys aren't always super appropriate so there is some language as well as inappropriate humor. Just a heads up in case that isn't your thing!
Into the plot, Brown also weaves a little bit of a subplot about biology as Will works at the zoo with his dad and helps with the Gorillas. Will constantly is examining their behavior and relating it to the social-emotional issues that he is experiencing. As a lover of science and biology, I found it to be an interesting addition to the basic plot-line.
Sometimes I wish that author's biographies, author's notes, and acknowledgements were included at the beginning of books. I find that I learn a lot about the author from these things and it so often gives me a different perspective on the book than I would have had otherwise. I guess maybe they don't want their own personal stories interfering with the fiction that they write. But what we write is so informed by who were are...so I loved reading that the author, Scott Brown, is only 5'3" himself which I'm sure helped him in writing about Will's own feelings of being short!
Anyway, I recommend this to anyone who loves YA books, humor, short people, and great friendship/romance stories.
Especially when Will finally starts to grow. He grows so much that they worry it could be a tumor or a disease or something else that will definitely kill him. But for the first time, Will is seeing the rest of the world from a new perspective and he loves the attention that his height brings him instead of the attention he used to get for being short. Unfortunately, his stature seems to have the greatest effect on his relationships with his friends and Will doesn't really like how things are turning out. He, along with everyone around him, has to come to terms with the new reality of things and figure out a way to hang on to the people that they care about.
As a tall girl myself (5'10"), I thought this book sounded like a lot of fun..a 16 year-old boy being self-conscious about his height makes a lot of sense and I can see how other late blooming teenage boys might relate to him. But ultimately this book becomes about relationships and change rather than how tall someone is. As humans we really like the status quo, and when things are thrown off balance we find ourselves grasping for something familiar to hold on to and Will learns this over the course of this novel.
There was a lot of humor in this book as well. Will's, at times, teenage boy stream-of-consciousness narration makes for some good laughs. I found myself wanting to quote a few lines to my husband every once in a while. But obviously, teenage boys aren't always super appropriate so there is some language as well as inappropriate humor. Just a heads up in case that isn't your thing!
Into the plot, Brown also weaves a little bit of a subplot about biology as Will works at the zoo with his dad and helps with the Gorillas. Will constantly is examining their behavior and relating it to the social-emotional issues that he is experiencing. As a lover of science and biology, I found it to be an interesting addition to the basic plot-line.
Sometimes I wish that author's biographies, author's notes, and acknowledgements were included at the beginning of books. I find that I learn a lot about the author from these things and it so often gives me a different perspective on the book than I would have had otherwise. I guess maybe they don't want their own personal stories interfering with the fiction that they write. But what we write is so informed by who were are...so I loved reading that the author, Scott Brown, is only 5'3" himself which I'm sure helped him in writing about Will's own feelings of being short!
Anyway, I recommend this to anyone who loves YA books, humor, short people, and great friendship/romance stories.
May 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Let me list the ways...
-Character development: The main character went from an angry little teenager to a huge soft teenager and that development was insane. I really enjoyed the parallel of physical growth and mental growth. I think the side characters were great too. Every person felt real and interesting. None of the characters were just tropes or caricatures, they were living breathing people with real thoughts and emotions.
-Love Aspect: There was a love triangle and despite my weariness of that, it didn't suck. What I loved about this book is that this book was not advertised as a love story, and it actually wasn't at all. Yeah the main character had a crush, and yeah things happened that involved that, but that wasn't what the story was about. I am impressed with how the author handled this part of the story. I tend to prefer stories like that. An adventure/coming of age/ whatever story with a dash of romance. Nothing about this felt overdone, trope-y, boring, or unrealistic.
-Friendship Aspect: The friendship in this story is pretty legit and I appreciated that. I like how the MC felt about his friends because I feel that with my friends and I think that is a special bond that not everyone has a privilege of having. I appreciate the portrayal so much. The older I get, the more I crave reading about friendships in books.
-Technical Terms: This was interesting to me because I did not expect it. This book had a lot of biological and basketball niche vocabulary that I did not understand at all. Instead of being annoyed that I couldn't understand right away, I felt like I was learning. At least with the biological terms. The basketball was super confusing but I admire the author of making those parts authentic and not pandering to people who don't know basketball.
-Fantastical Aspect: I thought his miraculous growing was awesome. It made the story exciting and more interesting. I love a good story where only one thing is off from our world.
-The Story/Ending: This was such a unique story that I won't ever forget. I love how the story was organized and flowed with each chapter. I think this book really captures real life. I don't expect that a whole lot when I go into a YA book, but this book totally was. I haven't read a book in a while that felt like I was reading a person's testimony. I felt seen and that I could understand others with this one. I think this has to one of my favorite endings of all time. I think it was raw and very very real. So real that I had to sit on it for a couple weeks and work it out in my head. It ended just how it would if these were real people.
4.5/5 - I recommend if your looking for a fun/deep read
-Character development: The main character went from an angry little teenager to a huge soft teenager and that development was insane. I really enjoyed the parallel of physical growth and mental growth. I think the side characters were great too. Every person felt real and interesting. None of the characters were just tropes or caricatures, they were living breathing people with real thoughts and emotions.
-Love Aspect: There was a love triangle and despite my weariness of that, it didn't suck. What I loved about this book is that this book was not advertised as a love story, and it actually wasn't at all. Yeah the main character had a crush, and yeah things happened that involved that, but that wasn't what the story was about. I am impressed with how the author handled this part of the story. I tend to prefer stories like that. An adventure/coming of age/ whatever story with a dash of romance. Nothing about this felt overdone, trope-y, boring, or unrealistic.
-Friendship Aspect: The friendship in this story is pretty legit and I appreciated that. I like how the MC felt about his friends because I feel that with my friends and I think that is a special bond that not everyone has a privilege of having. I appreciate the portrayal so much. The older I get, the more I crave reading about friendships in books.
-Technical Terms: This was interesting to me because I did not expect it. This book had a lot of biological and basketball niche vocabulary that I did not understand at all. Instead of being annoyed that I couldn't understand right away, I felt like I was learning. At least with the biological terms. The basketball was super confusing but I admire the author of making those parts authentic and not pandering to people who don't know basketball.
-Fantastical Aspect: I thought his miraculous growing was awesome. It made the story exciting and more interesting. I love a good story where only one thing is off from our world.
-The Story/Ending: This was such a unique story that I won't ever forget. I love how the story was organized and flowed with each chapter. I think this book really captures real life. I don't expect that a whole lot when I go into a YA book, but this book totally was. I haven't read a book in a while that felt like I was reading a person's testimony. I felt seen and that I could understand others with this one. I think this has to one of my favorite endings of all time. I think it was raw and very very real. So real that I had to sit on it for a couple weeks and work it out in my head. It ended just how it would if these were real people.
4.5/5 - I recommend if your looking for a fun/deep read
September 8, 2022
Was really enjoying this book up until the last few chapters. Not sure how I felt about the lack of likable characters, or how the main conflicts are barely solved, or how Will’s relationship with his father never really develops (or is really explained.)
A book with a strong narrative voice and yet with a narrative that didn’t want to address the main flaws of so many characters. Like, I don’t care how sorry we feel for Ethan, he’s a creep and would have deserved it if his face was beaten in. Actually I’m going to go on a rant about that. Ethan spends basically an entire year stalking Will, posting pictures of Will on the internet, sharing Will’s personal life, cyberbullying him, using Will’s DEAD MOM to insult him, all because Will didn’t remember someone who, as far as we are told, hadn’t gone out of his way to talk to Will since middle school? Oh, and because Will had dated a girl Ethan liked? That Ethan had never talked to about his feelings? And the book expects me to feel sorry for Ethan, as if he had some sort of claim over Sidney? Fuck that fuck that fuck that I am removing a star because of Ethan alone. You can’t just say “Ethan is going to therapy now” and expect me to move on with that. Fuck.
And god, Monica. Like girl I get it! I know what it’s like to have a life like that! But that does not give you the right to be horrible to your friends when they ask about your well-being! Why is this never addressed why does this fucking book not want to solve any of the problems with its characters!! Only the drama is resolved (and then, just barely) but if any characters experience any development it’s basically just shoved into the last chapter!! That is not how you resolve a story!! Also I get that the whole point was that Monica was “weird” but my god I was cringing with almost every sentence that left her mouth.
And WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH WILL’S DAD. Why does Will only refer to his father by his first name. You can’t just make a few vague comments about Will’s father not “being around” and expect that to explain everything. I’m assuming it was because Will’s mother died but literally zero details are given about how exactly Brian messed up and it drove me insane!
This book literally makes me so angry. It did not have the right to be as funny as it was. Will’s narrative might be its only saving grace, even if he is incredibly unlikeable.
A book with a strong narrative voice and yet with a narrative that didn’t want to address the main flaws of so many characters. Like, I don’t care how sorry we feel for Ethan, he’s a creep and would have deserved it if his face was beaten in. Actually I’m going to go on a rant about that. Ethan spends basically an entire year stalking Will, posting pictures of Will on the internet, sharing Will’s personal life, cyberbullying him, using Will’s DEAD MOM to insult him, all because Will didn’t remember someone who, as far as we are told, hadn’t gone out of his way to talk to Will since middle school? Oh, and because Will had dated a girl Ethan liked? That Ethan had never talked to about his feelings? And the book expects me to feel sorry for Ethan, as if he had some sort of claim over Sidney? Fuck that fuck that fuck that I am removing a star because of Ethan alone. You can’t just say “Ethan is going to therapy now” and expect me to move on with that. Fuck.
And god, Monica. Like girl I get it! I know what it’s like to have a life like that! But that does not give you the right to be horrible to your friends when they ask about your well-being! Why is this never addressed why does this fucking book not want to solve any of the problems with its characters!! Only the drama is resolved (and then, just barely) but if any characters experience any development it’s basically just shoved into the last chapter!! That is not how you resolve a story!! Also I get that the whole point was that Monica was “weird” but my god I was cringing with almost every sentence that left her mouth.
And WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH WILL’S DAD. Why does Will only refer to his father by his first name. You can’t just make a few vague comments about Will’s father not “being around” and expect that to explain everything. I’m assuming it was because Will’s mother died but literally zero details are given about how exactly Brian messed up and it drove me insane!
This book literally makes me so angry. It did not have the right to be as funny as it was. Will’s narrative might be its only saving grace, even if he is incredibly unlikeable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2019
Will Daughtry is a late bloomer, just shy of 5 feet tall, and both he and his family are losing hope that he’ll ever grow. The one positive in his life are his friendships with stepbrother Will (6’3”) and Monica (5’10”) who he’s loved since age 11. After an especially upsetting 16th birthday, when he’s given a “clown car” as a gift and then catches Will and Monica kissing, he gets really angry. Virtually overnight, he begins to grow…at a rate of 2 inches a month. For the first time in his life, he’s happy and finally “seen,” by girls and by coaches. By the time he tops 7 feet, his “nice guy” persona is dissolving and it’s starting to affect his relationship with Drew and Monica. Add to this mix a social media troll who’s threatening him and stirring up the pot, and a day of reckoning is imminent.
There’s so much to recommend this book. With its humor, focus on sports (primarily basketball and surfing) and the male protagonist POV, it will appeal to teenage boys. Brown’s extensive use of gorilla interaction as a metaphor for the three protagonists’ relationship highlights just how little we’re removed from apes. All characters are well fleshed-out, and Monica is a strong, fearless female. In a YA field populated with themes of death, abuse, parental neglect and suicidal ideation, it’s refreshing to have a story that addresses these issues without them taking center stage. The only minor cons are that there is no answer as to what is causing Will’s growth spurt and whether it will stop, his whining and callous behavior, and Tolkien references that will stump those not familiar with his stories. Ultimately, its messages are “Be careful what you wish for; it might just happen” and that nice guys don’t always finish last. As Will observed while watching the beta male gorilla Mike, “Was Mike nice because that was his nature? Or because that was his context?” and what happens when the context changes?
Recommended for ages 13 and up with minimal swearing and violence (except between gorillas) and sexual references that are alluded to but not described.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Knopf Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
There’s so much to recommend this book. With its humor, focus on sports (primarily basketball and surfing) and the male protagonist POV, it will appeal to teenage boys. Brown’s extensive use of gorilla interaction as a metaphor for the three protagonists’ relationship highlights just how little we’re removed from apes. All characters are well fleshed-out, and Monica is a strong, fearless female. In a YA field populated with themes of death, abuse, parental neglect and suicidal ideation, it’s refreshing to have a story that addresses these issues without them taking center stage. The only minor cons are that there is no answer as to what is causing Will’s growth spurt and whether it will stop, his whining and callous behavior, and Tolkien references that will stump those not familiar with his stories. Ultimately, its messages are “Be careful what you wish for; it might just happen” and that nice guys don’t always finish last. As Will observed while watching the beta male gorilla Mike, “Was Mike nice because that was his nature? Or because that was his context?” and what happens when the context changes?
Recommended for ages 13 and up with minimal swearing and violence (except between gorillas) and sexual references that are alluded to but not described.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Knopf Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
June 18, 2019
XL tells the story of Will Daughtry, just under 5’ tall on his sixteenth birthday, and his two best friends Drew and Monica. Drew is Will’s stepbrother and a star basketball player. Monica is a manic pixie dream surfer who both brothers secretly view as more than a friend. Will’s dad is a zookeeper and Will, an aspiring biologist, has a job working at the Lowlands, the gorilla exhibit at the zoo. Will’s sixteenth birthday starts out OK with the annual family birthday breakfast, but then Will gets his birthday present - a brand new car! Will pretends to be excited, but it secretly disappointed by the fact that it is a Fiat which is just his size (small). Will plans to tell Monica how he feels about her that night, but things take a turn for the worst when he stumbles upon Monica and Drew kissing at a party. It has not been a great start to his sixteenth year, but in the next few weeks, something begins to change. Will is getting taller, and taller, and taller. And this change in appearance brings about changes in his life that Will never could have anticipated and that he must figure out how to handle.
What does it say about this book that my favorite people were Will’s dad and Will’s friend Rafty, both minor characters? They brought some much needed comic relief at times in the book when a break from the teen angst and self-pity of Will (and Drew and Monica to a lesser extent) was needed. Will’s observations of the behavior of the alpha and beta gorillas are an obvious metaphor for what is going between Will and Drew as Will becomes more physically dominant. Unfortunately, Will doesn’t seem to make the connection or if he does it doesn’t change his behavior and desire to depose Drew from his throne and attempt to take possession of Monica. Although Will was not a great person, he was a realistic character. Drew and Monica were not as fully fleshed out, which makes sense since the book is in Will’s first-person point of view. Though the characters were tiresome at times, there were some laugh out loud moments, and I was intrigued enough by the plot to keep turning the pages. The resolution was mostly satisfying but don’t expect every question to be answered.
What does it say about this book that my favorite people were Will’s dad and Will’s friend Rafty, both minor characters? They brought some much needed comic relief at times in the book when a break from the teen angst and self-pity of Will (and Drew and Monica to a lesser extent) was needed. Will’s observations of the behavior of the alpha and beta gorillas are an obvious metaphor for what is going between Will and Drew as Will becomes more physically dominant. Unfortunately, Will doesn’t seem to make the connection or if he does it doesn’t change his behavior and desire to depose Drew from his throne and attempt to take possession of Monica. Although Will was not a great person, he was a realistic character. Drew and Monica were not as fully fleshed out, which makes sense since the book is in Will’s first-person point of view. Though the characters were tiresome at times, there were some laugh out loud moments, and I was intrigued enough by the plot to keep turning the pages. The resolution was mostly satisfying but don’t expect every question to be answered.
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