Me and Carlos

Currency

by Tom Perrotta, Jackson White (Narrator)

A darkly comic reflection on American class divides and coming-of-age regrets by Tom Perrotta, the New York Times bestselling author of Election and The Leftovers.

Henry “Digger” Diller has never been anyone’s MVP—he’s the guy who gets called up from jayvee soccer when the star player gets hurt, and who volunteers to take his crush’s best friend to the prom. But Digger is pretty happy with life in the middle of Warfield High’s pecking order. Then he strikes up a friendship with Carlos, a new student from Honduras, who faces his own set of difficulties beyond the dramas of adolescent life. Everyone loves Carlos: he’s a welcome addition to the team and to Digger’s tight friend group. Digger and Carlos are inseparable—until Digger, who’s focused on his own future, thinks maybe Carlos is getting too popular.




RUNNING TIME ⇒ 49mins.

©2020 Tom Perrotta. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Young Adult, Coming Of Age, Ebooks

Audible Audio

First published July 16, 2020

About the author

Tom Perrotta is the bestselling author of nine works of fiction, including Election and Little Children, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films, and The Leftovers, which was adapted into a critically acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning HBO series. His work has been translated into a multitude of languages. Perrotta grew up in New Jersey and lives outside of Boston.

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

High-schooler Henry (aka Digger) becomes friends with new student Carlos from Honduras, then gets jealous when Carlos becomes popular. This was an enjoyable and very short story told from Digger's point-of-view dealing with usual high school problems. A quick and easy read.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perrotta does a fine job at chronicling the thoughts of a teen age boy in this short story aimed at young adults. Jealousy is a tricky thing to master, and sometimes it gets the better of us. There's also a ripped-from-today's-headlines element that makes for a powerful read.



This was a lucky Goodreads giveaway win for me, but you can pick up a copy for under two bucks - FREE with Kindle Unlimited.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook ....read by Jackson White ....

This is a terrific powerful short story. It’s only 49 minutes long.

I had questions about the ending - including not wanting it to end....
But this was a great book to listen to after finishing “How to Be an Antiracist”...another GREAT BOOK .....( review on that one later)....
I’m in need of pool time and a shower....
So forgive my lazy reviews... ( or not).... lol


If you love author Tom Perrotta....can afford to spend a little over a dollar....
have an account with Audible .... then what else do you need to know?

I promise you’ll feel a couple of the powerful punches!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age story highlighting the petty jealousies and insecurities that lead to bad choices or attitudes.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story about a high school boy and the friendship he strikes with a new student from Honduras. It is part of the CURRENCY collection of Amazon Original Stories, and about friendship, jealousy, class division, immigration issues, and love crushes. It was a quick read and kept me engaged the entire time.

I enjoyed it and recommend it.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story is classic Tom Perrotta, including the combination of honesty and naïveté that one comes to expect from his characters. Here, he touches on the topic of undocumented immigration, through the lens of a presumably white, suburban teen (Digger), who is mostly concerned about soccer and prom. The premise of the story - Digger befriends an undocumented immigrant named Carlos - fails to make any revelations or insights beyond the obvious. Perhaps the simplicity of the story is the point (given the narrator), but in a world of where American undocumented immigrants are under constant threat, I was left yearning for a more nuanced treatment of the issue. Nonetheless, the story is engaging and occasionally witty.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Perrota is one of my favorite authors. The first book I recall reading from him was Little Children. I have not read that book in years but I remember falling in love with the plot and the characters. I have since read most of his novels,my favorite being Bad haircuts:Stories from the seventies!

I love the nostalgia from this book,it reminds me so much of high school. All the teenage angst,first loves and infatuation came rushing back to me! While I did feel that this never had a full in defined plot,the redemptive characters made up for it. It was too short for me and ended on a cliffhanger but it was a satisfying ending.

Highly recommend!

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slight book with familiar material which says a lot in few words. I can understand Tom Perotta's reasons for not fleshing out the story any further -- no more really needs to be said. But everyone has something from their past they wish could be undone, whether or not there were any resultant consequences.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 8 short stories in the Amazon Original collection titled Currency. Friends, trends, and dividends - a compounding collection of stories about wealth, class, competition, and collapse.

#7 of 8. I really should read more Perrotta. I was sucked in from the first line, and was immersed in this tale. High school, soccer, boys, not understanding how good you've got it. I wish these kids well.

I listened to this on audio, which was well narrated by Jackson White.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Kid in Town

Henry, who everyone called Digger because he worked so hard, earned a place on the Varsity soccer team. He was really making waves until the new kid from Honduras joined the team. Carlos was more than good, he was great and a handsome boy.

The girl Digger hoped to take to the prom was hoping for Carlos to take her, and acted like she didn’t know he had planned to ask her. She suggested he take someone else.

This is a story about success and jealousy, things that often seem to go together. Four stars

[Cher 'N Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - It was really good.

An impactful story considering its incredibly short length.
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First Sentence: I’m the hardest-working person I know.

[Khadijah]

I took like, a month-long break in between reading this short story because it felt so random and boring, and immediately after finishing it I was like, damn the protagonist was insufferable and what was the point of any of that, but then I reread the synopsis's first line, A darkly comic reflection on American class divides and coming-of-age regrets, and realized that Henry's self-involvedness and being so far removed from Carlos's reality was the point. Interesting how Henry also was just an obnoxious and sucky personality in general, though. It was like reading from Greg Heffley's POV except he's not in middle school and it's not funny ♥️

Now that I get the point, I can at least appreciate from afar what this story was trying to do. I don't think I was the target audience for this, though; I imagine it's targeted more towards people who experience the same white privilege the main character does.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very happy to win a copy of Me and Carlos in a Goodreads giveaway. I'm a huge Tom Perrotta fan. This is an excellent short story, so my only complaint is I was left wanting more. It's very short and can be read in a single sitting. Tom Perrotta is the master of "suburban coming of age." This story revolves around a teenage boy who plays on his high school soccer team. He welcomes a new kid named Carlos from Honduras into their tight knit group of friends. And that changes the dynamic of their group, their soccer team, and even their town. Perrotta writes about race, class struggle and typical suburban teenage angst and relationships. I would love to read an entire novel based on this story!

[Snakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good short piece that touches on high school life and the current immigrant situation. Waiting on Perrotta’s next novel.

[Gorab · Rating 2 out of 5]

Highlights: Young adult, coming of age, soccer, friendship

Why it was picked?
Part of Amazon original series, which I'm enjoying for exploring popular authors, most of whom can be read in a single sitting.

Whats it about?
Mildly funny high school story. High school soccer. Carlos, a new student, immigrating from Honduras, joins the soccer team. The protagonist "Digger" and Carlos form a friendhsip. Digger gets insecure when his crush Katie is attracted to Carlos.

Overall:
Didn't work for me. I like coming of age narratives. But this was too shallow with high school drama which I generally don't enjoy.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perrotta is a master observer of white middle class suburbia. This quick coming of age story lacks his satiric eye and instead goes for earnest, though muted, social commentary. The problem is that the protagonist really doesn't come of age; he experiences jealousy, has "a moment," brown-skinned characters suffer, and the protagonist moves on, feeling a tinge of guilt, but otherwise unchanged and looking forward to the bright future his white privilege affords. Maybe that's Perrotta's point, that many who experience a challenge to their white privilege don't learn anything that makes the world a better place, but it could have been presented more acerbically to land a stronger observation on the current moment. Contrast with John Updike's classic "A&P," in which the protagonist learns something about the privileges of his positionality, takes what he thinks is a virtuous stand, does not earn the reward he thinks might be his, and ends up recognizing that life is going to be much harder from here on out. So many ways to parse through that one. Not so much here.

[Meek · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first audiobook ever! Because of the ominous cover and description I though this was going to be a thriller, haha. I was very wrong but the story was fine.

The MC, Digger, was a funny narrator since he was pretty unlikable and morally grey. (Author Tom Perrotta writes a very realistic teenager). The content was okay as well.

I liked it, but I probably won’t read it again

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very timely short story about Digger and Carlos, their friendship, their girl problems, and their jealousies. I've read and enjoyed Perrotta's other books so I knew I'd like this one even though I'm not usually a fan of short stories. But there's a lot packed in a short number of pages so it's realistic and very relevant to current events.
Thanks to Goodreads for this giveaway!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m always excited for anything from Tom Perrotta, even a short story, but this was a little too message-y for me. Not that I don’t agree with the message! But it sort of felt like an after school special.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting short story

Interesting short story about a teen and his friendship with the new kid in school. Well written, capturing the self obsessed nature of a teenager.

[Brenden Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

As short as this story is, it still managed to make me evaluate my way of thinking on certain things. Very powerful message in a small package.

[Jon Koebrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me and Carlos is a good short story. Perrotta is always fun to read.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Digger is a soccer player, and a damn good one. He's popular, hard-working, determined, and goal oriented. He's at the top of his game and the best on the team - until Carlos moves from Honduras to attend the same High School.

Carlos ends up being every bit as good, if not better, than Digger and is soon noticed for his skill. Digger gets super jealous of Carlos and refuses to sit back and let everything he wants be taken away from him.

This story annoyed the hell out of me, which was the intention. I read it as a story about the weaponisation of white male privilege and how people like Digger will ALWAYS come out on top no matter who they need to crush on the way. UGH.

You look at any Twitter thread about discrimination and you'll find a hundred Diggers in there, dying to be oppressed. Their warped view of themselves and their perceived struggles would be laughable if it wasn't so utterly toxic and damaging to every other member of society. This is jock culture to the core - it's the "great athlete" first and criminal second. I hated Digger so much - but this story was so well done. Tom Perrotta is an author I will be looking out for.

[Gloria ~ mzglorybe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3+ rating.
This is a novella that can be read quickly in one sitting, as I did. It’s more a coming of age story between two boys in high school. Carlos is one of them, a new student from Honduras. The other is called Digger, who befriends him. A simple story of friends, sports, competition and teen angst.

One impressive idea from a teacher revolved around recognizing depressed and suicidal students who may need intervention. It gave the students the opportunity to anonymously report their peers from potentially acting on their depression, and doing so discreetly. It was brilliant.

Author Tom Perrotta is the New York Times bestselling author of ten works of fiction, including Election and Little Children, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films; The Leftovers, which he adapted into a critically acclaimed, Peabody Award–winning HBO series; and Mrs. Fletcher, which Perrotta also adapted into an HBO series. His other books include Bad Haircut, The Wishbones, Joe College, The Abstinence Teacher, and Nine Inches. His work has been translated into a multitude of languages.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging

Very engaging short read. The audio book was even much better and it was only 49 minutes long. The author's writing is remarkable as if he was writing a memory from his childhood, a memoir of his past. I couldn't help feeling the ambition and determination coming out from the main character. Jealousy is an ugly thing and the main character may somehow seems to be less compassionate to some readers. Yet it is very real. The main character is not perfect and that makes me love the story more. Carlos, oh my Carlos, sometimes I really really wish I can read from his POV. See the world from his eyes and what he went through.

[Dulce Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I was going to read a story but honestly, this felt more like a summary of events. You could even say an essay about a time you regret. The title implies that it is about two boys but really it's just one boy who is telling the story and sharing his feelings of jealousy and regret. I didn't feel like there was much plot or anything deeper than a summary of events. The boy telling the story is jealous and doesn't seem to really learn anything from his actions. I would not read this again. Definitely expected more.

[Mindo'ermatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of Two Boys with Different Futures

This coming-of-age story, is a first-person, late high school narrative of "Digger," an okay member of a high school soccer team. The storyline focuses on Digger's insecurities among his subgroup of team players, all preparing for college and trying to be recognized.

The storytelling describes Digger's friendship and changing perspectives of Carlos, a new soccer-playing student from Honduras. Digger's own self-centered approach to friendships makes him more an observer to the lives of others, making him naively unaware and even an outsider to his own life amid all the tensions of growing up and creating his own identity.

This retrospective tale describes well the unintentional pressures teens experience while trying to keep friends in those highly competitive and unforgiving last years before becoming an adult with its own terrifying uncertainties.

The author creates a stream-of-consciousness self-dialogue of sequential vignettes of Digger's conflicting quest for individuality and belonging. This story demonstrates well why even the best of high school experiences is a mixed journey of missed opportunities and misguided perceptions of others, whom we both love and hate at the same time. Successes are always overshadowed by jealousies and failures.

This short work with its Audible narration is a good thought piece for self-reflection and discussion, while also being a wakeup call to adults still harboring these high school feelings.

Worth reading more than once, but disconcerting enough to raise questions about where the story might have gone had the author kept writing.

[Ramya · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It’s weird sometimes to think about leaving home, moving somewhere new, facing all these tough new challenges. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but like I said, that’s my specialty, so I’m pretty sure I’ll be okay"

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short interlude.
Thought provoking.
Brought up many thoughts but, in less than an hour, didn't have time to deeply delve into many. That left it up to the reader.
Some of the topics of HS, sports, prom (or this year lack thereof), college, immigration, etc. etc. were relatable to me.
It was easy to listen to but some of the content was hard to hear. Narrator + Jackson White
Certainly a well spent 45 minutes!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always begin a book written by Tom Perotta expecting humor. What I often get is a book that makes me wonder what I would do if I was in that particular situation. I read mostly for entertainment so when I find myself feeling a bit sad or a bit worried or mostly uncertain, it’s usually a surprise.

This one was an easy read. A short story about a pretty nice guy, Digger, who gets a leg up on his sports team, is popular enough in school and generally very likable. Along comes a great looking kid, Carlos, with a heavy accent who Is all of the same things as Digger. They become friends and enjoy spending time with each other. Digger begins to be a little jealous and then a lot jealous of Carlos. He really does nothing outwardly about those uneasy feelings even when Carlos’s life changes a lot.

Once again, this author surprises me a bit and I like that a lot.