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Off Trail
A laugh-out-loud coming of age story of one teen’s preposterous experience in a wilderness therapy program. Daniel grew up in the shadow of his older sister, the brash, self-assured, and utterly reckless Jackie, now living with her dirtbag boyfriend and wandering through dead-end jobs. When his parents find her marijuana stash in his closet and decide they do not want him to turn out like his sister, Daniel suffers the “trickle-down parenting” effect and is sent to Quest Trail. Surrounded by other similarly uprooted teens, Daniel endures a series of preposterous self-discovery exercises and gets caught up in a rivalry with Troy, a too-tough poser, as they vie for the attention of Vera, a charismatic California teen who grew up with too much money and not enough emotional connection. Just as Daniel’s confidence begins to grow and things start to look up, the Quest Trail program dissolves into complete chaos. Sometimes humorous, sometimes painful, Off Trail shows an authentic account of all the embarrassing and heart-wrenching moments of being a teen.
- GenresYoung AdultContemporary
300 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2021
11 people are currently reading
703 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 16, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Almost 5 stars!
I enjoyed this book so much! First, the cover is perfect! Apart from that, the writing was fantastic. It was well paced. The plot was charming, emotional, and hilarious. The cast of characters were likable. It was SO close to bei9ng a 5-star read for me. Unfortunately, I felt like the ending was rushed and a little abrupt. I wanted a little more fleshing out in that aspect. The other *tiny* issue I had is that I would have loved a few of the kids to have been more fleshed out. I actually wish that there would have been more than just Daniel's POV. That would have added even more to the story (for me). Even with those tiny niggles this was still a cracking excellent read!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I enjoyed this book so much! First, the cover is perfect! Apart from that, the writing was fantastic. It was well paced. The plot was charming, emotional, and hilarious. The cast of characters were likable. It was SO close to bei9ng a 5-star read for me. Unfortunately, I felt like the ending was rushed and a little abrupt. I wanted a little more fleshing out in that aspect. The other *tiny* issue I had is that I would have loved a few of the kids to have been more fleshed out. I actually wish that there would have been more than just Daniel's POV. That would have added even more to the story (for me). Even with those tiny niggles this was still a cracking excellent read!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
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July 14, 2021Giveaway Win!
April 7, 2021
I was lucky to get an early proof of Off Trail and have it read to me by British Siri on my commute.
British Siri has no sense of irony. Nor does she recognize sarcasm, wit, innuendo, sideways humor, painful realizations, humiliatingly humble admissions or any of the squirming raw emotions of a boy figuring out just how effed up the world is and just what his place in it might be.
I mean, Siri really didn't get this book. At all. I bet she wouldn't give it a single star.
I, on the other hand, looked forward to driving every morning and night to get my next fix of wonderangst and the gloriously uncomfortable way our hero carefully contemplates every inbreath and every exhale through the eyes of his friends and family - culminating in finding his pure voice, his still-vaguish sense of purpose but a sense of purpose nevertheless, and the engraced realization that it does all work out and that's ok.
Once I even drove to work on Saturday just to finish a chapter.
We've all been there (well, not Siri). Polito makes it a guilty pleasure to relive those years and their revelatory experiences. It's funny to be sure, but the characters, scenes and plot lead you to understand your angelic devilish youngish self a little better -- cringe after cringe after cringe.
It's a delight, Siri. Keep reading. Don't make me stop this car.
British Siri has no sense of irony. Nor does she recognize sarcasm, wit, innuendo, sideways humor, painful realizations, humiliatingly humble admissions or any of the squirming raw emotions of a boy figuring out just how effed up the world is and just what his place in it might be.
I mean, Siri really didn't get this book. At all. I bet she wouldn't give it a single star.
I, on the other hand, looked forward to driving every morning and night to get my next fix of wonderangst and the gloriously uncomfortable way our hero carefully contemplates every inbreath and every exhale through the eyes of his friends and family - culminating in finding his pure voice, his still-vaguish sense of purpose but a sense of purpose nevertheless, and the engraced realization that it does all work out and that's ok.
Once I even drove to work on Saturday just to finish a chapter.
We've all been there (well, not Siri). Polito makes it a guilty pleasure to relive those years and their revelatory experiences. It's funny to be sure, but the characters, scenes and plot lead you to understand your angelic devilish youngish self a little better -- cringe after cringe after cringe.
It's a delight, Siri. Keep reading. Don't make me stop this car.
April 5, 2021
Indeed laugh-out-loud funny, at first delivered as snarky teen internal dialogue and eventually as hilarious caper. But it's not ultimately the humor that stuck with me. There's a humanness, and even tenderness, that emerges from each of the characters that I find most memorable about Off Trail. The characters captivate my attention, earn my concern and then entertain through to the end. Well worth the read.
April 6, 2021
It was refreshing to see a YA book written with two of the most common features of teenager language: swearing and sarcasm! Too often I fins YA books sanitise their young people and it can make for a less authentic experience. Polito's choices mean that this is probably at the older end of the YA market but it works well for me. It was also really interesting to see Daniel, the book's protagonist, as such a cynical and sarcastic young man. It allowed for Polito to explore the insecurity that riddles young men at that age.
The plot has echoes of Holes - young boy sent to the desert where he learns plenty about himself- with a nostalgic drug twist. The cultural references make it a little bit 'too American' for international audiences but it was a minor stumbling block. The relationships Daniel builds throughout the novel should hit home with most people who are/were teenagers. And this is the book's real strength.
I would have liked the resolution to be played out a little more patiently (it could've been another 20-30 pages without dragging and offered a more satisfying end) but it was an entertaining and engaging read that should offer broad appeal.
The plot has echoes of Holes - young boy sent to the desert where he learns plenty about himself- with a nostalgic drug twist. The cultural references make it a little bit 'too American' for international audiences but it was a minor stumbling block. The relationships Daniel builds throughout the novel should hit home with most people who are/were teenagers. And this is the book's real strength.
I would have liked the resolution to be played out a little more patiently (it could've been another 20-30 pages without dragging and offered a more satisfying end) but it was an entertaining and engaging read that should offer broad appeal.
May 31, 2021
Straight from the back of the book: “Daniel grew up in the shadow of his older sister, the brash, self-assured, and utterly reckless Jackie, now living with her dirt-bag boyfriend and wandering through dead-end jobs. When his parents find her marijuana stash in his closet and decide they do not want him to turn out like his sister, Daniel suffers the “trickle-down parenting” effect and is sent to Quest Trail…where Daniel endures a series of preposterous self-discovery exercises.”
This is a GREAT young adult novel. Within the first couple of pages, I was hooked. I could see many young people relating to Daniel and the many people he meets at Quest Trail. An A+ read for me!
Thank you to Wise Wolf Books for my advance copy! This book is available June 3rd!
This is a GREAT young adult novel. Within the first couple of pages, I was hooked. I could see many young people relating to Daniel and the many people he meets at Quest Trail. An A+ read for me!
Thank you to Wise Wolf Books for my advance copy! This book is available June 3rd!
April 5, 2021
Funny! Polito managed to pull off two difficult tasks in one book. He crafted a compelling, colorful narrative, one strong enough to keep me turning pages. And he made me laugh - repeatedly. I don't often laugh while reading books. I loved Polito's attention to detail, too. This is an author who took at least mental notes of things while he was growing up. You get a clear sense of a sort of beaten-up suburbia in the '80s. So many details seem universal to the United States, even though Polito's setting is the Tucson desert. Much of it rang true for me, even though my suburbia was far away, near Philadelphia. Finally, the characters are engaging and familiar, and they have depth. These are not cardboard cut-outs. This is a bravura first novel. Eager to read his next books. I'll bet no book will make me laugh until I encounter Polito's next one.
April 6, 2021
From the first sentence, you're immediately intrigued by the characters and the setting. Rick takes the reader on a journey populated with unique, realized individuals with clear voices. The story evolves out of the characters and their interactions, not in an overtly planned way; instead, you're invited along to enjoy the narrative and to see where this trail leads. As I've lived in Arizona, I could easily visualize the landscapes and (ouch) cacti; however, I believe even those who haven't traveled to the hot southwest will appreciate the connection between the setting and the story. Lots of laughs, and certainly recognition of how fortunate we all are to get through adolescence in one piece!
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April 6, 2021Being a teen is hard work, and this story is a testament to that fact. You will feel it all again - the desire to fit in and be ^cool^, the awkwardness and the insecurity, You'll laugh out loud at the situations Daniel and his companions find themselves in, and enjoy watching as the characters develop and mature and decide maybe things aren't as bad as they seem. I thoroughly enjoyed Daniel's story from beginning to end.
April 5, 2021
Rick Polito's new book Off Trail is a hilarious, touching, romantic, rebellious, coming-of-age, page-turning stoner adventure. Each character comes vividly to life under Polito's caring and pitch-perfect dialog; these are kids we all knew in high school. He tells their stories in a way that is filled with emotion and yet it is never sentimental, and paints a picture of the Arizona desert so detailed you can practically feel the heat. Highly recommended.
April 5, 2021
Maybe it's because I came of age in the 70s. More likely it's because this book is delightfully written with laugh-out-loud cultural references from characters you grow to love/relate to/sympathize with or intensively dislike. Young adult readers are sure to get a kick out of this journey story and its archetypes.
April 13, 2021
Rick Polito's "Off Trail" is a spit-out-your-drink, laugh-out-loud riot while also being a heartwarming coming of age journey and a perfect snapshot of the early 1980s. You'll want to go off the beaten path for this one!
April 6, 2021
This was a good quick read for me. A bunch of kids meet up in the desert at a camp, basically for juvenile delinquents, and absolute chaos ensues.
Daniel is sweet, shy teenager who ends up thinking a lot about his recent teenage years and how he has behaved. Vera is a take no nonsense, I’m in charge kind of girl right off the bat and you can’t help but want these two to fall in love.
So what exactly happens in the desert between these two teenagers, and the rest of the group that are with them? You’ll have to read this book and find out. But I can tell you that it involves; sarcasm, trains, a lot of weed, fixed relationships, and a helluva lot of fun along the way. You won’t want to miss it.
Daniel is sweet, shy teenager who ends up thinking a lot about his recent teenage years and how he has behaved. Vera is a take no nonsense, I’m in charge kind of girl right off the bat and you can’t help but want these two to fall in love.
So what exactly happens in the desert between these two teenagers, and the rest of the group that are with them? You’ll have to read this book and find out. But I can tell you that it involves; sarcasm, trains, a lot of weed, fixed relationships, and a helluva lot of fun along the way. You won’t want to miss it.
April 9, 2021
Off Trail falls into the category of what I call "book candy" as a page-turning artistic tapestry of words that you can't put down. A story full of adventure, teenage angst, self-discovery, interpersonal relationships, and heartfelt connection. A story of laugh-out-loud humor, authenticity, and emotional depth that I highly recommend for young and old readers alike. Huge appreciation and props to author, Rick Polito. Looking forward to reading what’s next!
April 21, 2021
Off Trail is the very funny story of a kid named Daniel being sent to a “scared straight” wilderness therapy camp called Quest Trail, after his parents flip out when they find some weed in his closet. Chaos ensues.
Things I Loved:
* The story was set in the 80s.
* The snark factor - Daniel and his friend Greg and his crush Vera are sarcastic and hilarious AF.
* The relationships between the kids felt authentic - they were real snotty to each other one minute and then had a serious emotional moment or two and then went right back to being shit-talking jerks. Perfect.
* The overly enthusiastic group leader, The PTG (ponytail guy), with his “truth wrenches” and “wintentions” was THE BEST. He seemed like a Kids in the Hall character in the best way.
Things I Did Not Love:
* Daniel’s 7th grade dare to ask a girl to dance and then “to grab a little bit of her breast through her shirt” rubbed me the wrong way. I get that it was meant as a joke to illustrate Daniel’s ineptitude with girls, but I would very much like writers (especially men) to stop using boys grabbing/groping/touching/hassling/assaulting girls as a punchline. It’s not fun or funny. That shit sucks.
Anyway.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It was super relatable and funny and would be great for ages 14+.
Thank you so much to Wise Wolf Books for the review ARC.
Available June 3, 2021.
Things I Loved:
* The story was set in the 80s.
* The snark factor - Daniel and his friend Greg and his crush Vera are sarcastic and hilarious AF.
* The relationships between the kids felt authentic - they were real snotty to each other one minute and then had a serious emotional moment or two and then went right back to being shit-talking jerks. Perfect.
* The overly enthusiastic group leader, The PTG (ponytail guy), with his “truth wrenches” and “wintentions” was THE BEST. He seemed like a Kids in the Hall character in the best way.
Things I Did Not Love:
* Daniel’s 7th grade dare to ask a girl to dance and then “to grab a little bit of her breast through her shirt” rubbed me the wrong way. I get that it was meant as a joke to illustrate Daniel’s ineptitude with girls, but I would very much like writers (especially men) to stop using boys grabbing/groping/touching/hassling/assaulting girls as a punchline. It’s not fun or funny. That shit sucks.
Anyway.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It was super relatable and funny and would be great for ages 14+.
Thank you so much to Wise Wolf Books for the review ARC.
Available June 3, 2021.
April 30, 2021
When Daniel’s parents find the weed his older sister stashed in his closet, they decide to send him to a wilderness therapy camp called Quest Trail. It’s basically a group of juvenile delinquents sent in the desert, expected to 'find themselves.’ But obviously when you put a group of troubled teens together out in the desert, chaos is going to ensue
I really enjoyed this! It’s set in the 80’s. This book is packed with sarcasm, swearing, and laughs. So, right up my alley 😂 Daniel, Vera, and Greg are such likeable characters! I find that sometimes when authors write about teenagers, they don’t quite hit the nail on the head, but their conversations, interactions, and thoughts are so realistic!
So prepare for a fun coming-of-age story featuring swearing, sarcasm, yellow jumpsuits, beany linguini, wintentions, trains, lots of weed, friendship, and maybe some love? You’ll have to read to find out! Add Off Trail to your tbr; it releases on June 3, 2021 💛
Thank you to Wise Wolf Books for sending me an advanced copy!
I really enjoyed this! It’s set in the 80’s. This book is packed with sarcasm, swearing, and laughs. So, right up my alley 😂 Daniel, Vera, and Greg are such likeable characters! I find that sometimes when authors write about teenagers, they don’t quite hit the nail on the head, but their conversations, interactions, and thoughts are so realistic!
So prepare for a fun coming-of-age story featuring swearing, sarcasm, yellow jumpsuits, beany linguini, wintentions, trains, lots of weed, friendship, and maybe some love? You’ll have to read to find out! Add Off Trail to your tbr; it releases on June 3, 2021 💛
Thank you to Wise Wolf Books for sending me an advanced copy!
October 8, 2021
A funny book about teens in a wilderness therapy camp. As someone who grew up in Tempe in the '80s, I appreciated many of the references here. As a HS teacher, I can imagine many students enjoying Daniel's humor and insecurity, and Polito's book might work HS students who haven't read much lately.
The pace moves along, and there's some genuine insight. It is vaguely reminiscent of Swim the Fly or Carter Finally Gets It. The teen characters are young-ish sophomores, even though the desert setting makes this largely - though not entirely - unimportant. The adults are universally inept and clownish. Well worth picking up for readers who appreciate a little stoner humor, a little horny teen humor, and a good escape caper. Looking forward to more by this author.
The pace moves along, and there's some genuine insight. It is vaguely reminiscent of Swim the Fly or Carter Finally Gets It. The teen characters are young-ish sophomores, even though the desert setting makes this largely - though not entirely - unimportant. The adults are universally inept and clownish. Well worth picking up for readers who appreciate a little stoner humor, a little horny teen humor, and a good escape caper. Looking forward to more by this author.
April 7, 2021
It's awkward being a teenager. Maybe it's just as awkward admitting you are a grown adult who likes adolescent literature? You know you loved Harry Potter too. I digress... In Off Trail, Rick Polito manages to capture both the awkwardness and irreverence of adolescence and bring it home with a sort of hat tip to On the Road meets Fear and Loathing. That said, the context, content, and style are definitely fun for all ages. I almost never laugh out loud when I read, but the comedy in Off Trail will resonate with anybody who has ever been a teenager, and the ending has a few moments that might bring a few tears to your eyes. I sent my own kid to wilderness therapy and this was still hilarious! I'M KIDDING there's no way I'm going to out my son as wilderness therapy vet. I did give him a copy last week. I haven't heard if he started reading it. I genuinely hope someone grabs this up as a film because it would be really fun to see some of these characters come to life, and I bet the soundtrack would be killer.
May 27, 2021
I’d like to thank Wise Wolf Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review! This book comes out June 3rd!
I’ve also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Off Trail was a quick and fast paced read. Daniel definitely provided an interesting take on the Quest Trail program. I enjoyed his sarcasm and wit. The other camp members all had their own stories which I wish we learned about a little more. I especially would have liked to learn about Vera’s backstory. I thought that the kids making fun of their ridiculous situation made the book go by quickly. I also had fun listening to how the leader was able to spin all of their negative takes into positivity without fail. At times the plot was a bit unrealistic which made reading a little confusing. But it also kept the book interesting and took it in a completely different direction than I originally thought it would.
In the end I this was a quick read but I wished I could learn more about the characters’ backstories.
I’ve also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Off Trail was a quick and fast paced read. Daniel definitely provided an interesting take on the Quest Trail program. I enjoyed his sarcasm and wit. The other camp members all had their own stories which I wish we learned about a little more. I especially would have liked to learn about Vera’s backstory. I thought that the kids making fun of their ridiculous situation made the book go by quickly. I also had fun listening to how the leader was able to spin all of their negative takes into positivity without fail. At times the plot was a bit unrealistic which made reading a little confusing. But it also kept the book interesting and took it in a completely different direction than I originally thought it would.
In the end I this was a quick read but I wished I could learn more about the characters’ backstories.
April 26, 2021
When Daniel’s parents find his sister’s weed in his closet, they send him off to a wilderness camp for delinquent teens to discover themselves. A group of teens in the middle of the desert quickly turns into chaos and drama for everyone.
This coming-of-age book surprised me in so many ways. I quickly grew attached the the characters and I loved their sarcasm. They felt real. I also appreciated the ending and how realistic is was, although it wrapped up a bit quickly and I could have used a little more there. This one gave me Holes vibes and overall I enjoyed it!
Thanks to Wise Wolf and NetGalley for the advanced ebook!
This coming-of-age book surprised me in so many ways. I quickly grew attached the the characters and I loved their sarcasm. They felt real. I also appreciated the ending and how realistic is was, although it wrapped up a bit quickly and I could have used a little more there. This one gave me Holes vibes and overall I enjoyed it!
Thanks to Wise Wolf and NetGalley for the advanced ebook!
June 17, 2021
I won this book on a Goodreads Giveaway for Amazon Kindle. Thank you for the reading opportunity.
This is a very enjoyable, fast paced YA novel. It reminded me a bit of Holes by Louis Sachar, but for an older audience. Daniel’s character is very well done. I was able to completely identify with his emotions, especially his feelings of embarrassment. The story had great “winergy”. I would have liked to know more of the other characters’ backstories.
This is a very enjoyable, fast paced YA novel. It reminded me a bit of Holes by Louis Sachar, but for an older audience. Daniel’s character is very well done. I was able to completely identify with his emotions, especially his feelings of embarrassment. The story had great “winergy”. I would have liked to know more of the other characters’ backstories.
June 28, 2021
Smart, funny, closer to the realities of teen life than most of us might want to admit. It took me back to my own college days at Arizona State where I not only hopped trains to San Francisco and back, but had a very painful encounter with a Cholla cactus in the desert one night. Nice real life ending too.
April 27, 2021
Imma start with Vera. Who wasn't smitten by Vera from the start? Would Daniel find true love—or at least true lust? The ribald and riveting story chugged along, in all its inane teenage wastelandishness, replete with a camp counselor who is decidedly *that guy,* until the ending that you actually did not quite see coming. Good read!
April 10, 2021
I recently received Off Trail as an e-arc and was delighted to have gotten it!
This book was a really fun and easy read for me, it's also quite short and the story moves at a relatively fast pace. Off Trail follows Daniel, who is shipped off to a 'Quest Trail' after his parents find a stash of weed and must be taught a lesson. At the Quest Trail Daniel meets Vera, our love interest, who is looking for a way out of the Trail.
Off Trail felt like it was truly from a teenagers perspective, unlike some YA books. It was funny, sarcastic and filled with swearing.
This book was a really fun and easy read for me, it's also quite short and the story moves at a relatively fast pace. Off Trail follows Daniel, who is shipped off to a 'Quest Trail' after his parents find a stash of weed and must be taught a lesson. At the Quest Trail Daniel meets Vera, our love interest, who is looking for a way out of the Trail.
Off Trail felt like it was truly from a teenagers perspective, unlike some YA books. It was funny, sarcastic and filled with swearing.
June 3, 2021
Off Trail by Rick Polito - 4⭐️
Happy Release Day to Off Trail! Thank you so much to @wisewolfbooks for sending me an ARC 😍
This story is about Daniel, who is forced by his parents to a wilderness youth program in place of his older sister.
It’s funny and exciting, and Rick Polito’s writing is brilliant! If John Green wrote ‘Holes’, it would be this book. Light amounts of romance but not too much that it overwhelmed the overall story of Daniel growing up a bit and becoming a better person. Daniel also definitely reminded me of Holden Caulfield with his smart remarks!
Happy Release Day to Off Trail! Thank you so much to @wisewolfbooks for sending me an ARC 😍
This story is about Daniel, who is forced by his parents to a wilderness youth program in place of his older sister.
It’s funny and exciting, and Rick Polito’s writing is brilliant! If John Green wrote ‘Holes’, it would be this book. Light amounts of romance but not too much that it overwhelmed the overall story of Daniel growing up a bit and becoming a better person. Daniel also definitely reminded me of Holden Caulfield with his smart remarks!
July 21, 2021
Fun YA book, reminded me a bit of Holes (which is also great). Started a bit slow but the ending was very cinematic... I could imagine a movie of it as I was reading.
November 5, 2021
This novel works hard at being hilarious, and achieves it in places. The first-time author has talent with humor, the premise is awesome, the characters with all their angst and attitude are totally authentic and the strong sense of setting (the Arizona desert) is a bonus.
The “wilderness healing” juvie program is preciously funny in its setup, wacky leader and psychobabble: “truth wrench,” “growment,” “greatitude,” “wintentions,” and “delightenment.” (The kids, being sassy teens, refer to these terms as “bullshitism,” and their antics to sabotage the outfit’s efforts make for delightful reading.)
The dialogue is great and the first-person point of view works. But unfortunately, the author’s style of inserting long, drawn-out interior monologues (sarcastic “asides,” explanatory thoughts) in between action and dialogue feels intrusive. It slows the novel down considerably, making almost two thirds of the book telling-not-showing commentary. In short, it keeps explaining what readers could discern for themselves.
Yes, Sue Townsend’s Adrian Albert Mole (1980) and Daniel Handler’s Lemony Snicket books (1999) have pulled off that risky, difficult style; this does not. And yet, the author’s humor helps mitigate the weakness, and some readers may find it less annoying than others as the rollicking plot draws one forward.
“People,” the [leader] announced, “is this how we treat each other? You know, they call it friendship because it’s like a ship that we’re all on and if we’re not all rowing together, we’re all going to drown.”
Sometimes when you hear somebody say something like that, it takes you a few seconds to figure out that it doesn’t make any sense. This was not one of those times. For starters, you don’t “row” a ship and even if you did, and you stopped rowing, it’s not like you’re going to drown. I mean, he could have said something like “They call it friendship because even though it has nothing to do with ships, let’s party like it is a ship and who cares?... But he went on.
This over-propensity for asides, along with a number of grammatical errors (misplaced modifiers, awkward tense changes) and typos had me wondering where the editor was.
Parents might want to be aware there are lots of swear words and a fondness for the term “hard-on.” But it’s YA, after all.
The ending is poignant and well-drawn, realistic without ever succumbing to being over the top. Indeed, Daniel’s relationship with his sister adds sobering depth to an otherwise (almost) hilarious novel.
This review also appears at www.YAdudebooks.ca
The “wilderness healing” juvie program is preciously funny in its setup, wacky leader and psychobabble: “truth wrench,” “growment,” “greatitude,” “wintentions,” and “delightenment.” (The kids, being sassy teens, refer to these terms as “bullshitism,” and their antics to sabotage the outfit’s efforts make for delightful reading.)
The dialogue is great and the first-person point of view works. But unfortunately, the author’s style of inserting long, drawn-out interior monologues (sarcastic “asides,” explanatory thoughts) in between action and dialogue feels intrusive. It slows the novel down considerably, making almost two thirds of the book telling-not-showing commentary. In short, it keeps explaining what readers could discern for themselves.
Yes, Sue Townsend’s Adrian Albert Mole (1980) and Daniel Handler’s Lemony Snicket books (1999) have pulled off that risky, difficult style; this does not. And yet, the author’s humor helps mitigate the weakness, and some readers may find it less annoying than others as the rollicking plot draws one forward.
“People,” the [leader] announced, “is this how we treat each other? You know, they call it friendship because it’s like a ship that we’re all on and if we’re not all rowing together, we’re all going to drown.”
Sometimes when you hear somebody say something like that, it takes you a few seconds to figure out that it doesn’t make any sense. This was not one of those times. For starters, you don’t “row” a ship and even if you did, and you stopped rowing, it’s not like you’re going to drown. I mean, he could have said something like “They call it friendship because even though it has nothing to do with ships, let’s party like it is a ship and who cares?... But he went on.
This over-propensity for asides, along with a number of grammatical errors (misplaced modifiers, awkward tense changes) and typos had me wondering where the editor was.
Parents might want to be aware there are lots of swear words and a fondness for the term “hard-on.” But it’s YA, after all.
The ending is poignant and well-drawn, realistic without ever succumbing to being over the top. Indeed, Daniel’s relationship with his sister adds sobering depth to an otherwise (almost) hilarious novel.
This review also appears at www.YAdudebooks.ca
May 22, 2021
Secretly I was hoping for a "grown up" version of Holes when I received this book and I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. The book is entirely its own creature but it still has enough of that Holes vibe to satisfy a reader who is familiar with the story.
Set in the 1980s, this book has that "modern historical fiction" flare that I enjoy seeing in books. It lent that slightly nostalgic air to the book which was a nice touch. I also liked the setting of the story taking place in the desert of Arizona. As a fellow Desert dweller, albeit not in Arizona, it's refreshing to be able to read something I can actually relate to like 100+ degree Fahrenheit summers and the ever-present sight of tumbleweeds. It gives a true picture of what it's like to live in the climate while being entertaining, kind of that vibe that you're learning new things without realizing you're being educated.
I enjoyed the ragtag group of characters this book had. While some of the side characters weren't very fleshed out, they definitely added some color and humor to the book. The main character, Daniel, was an interesting narrator and I enjoyed the way he liked to compare a lot of things in metaphors. Greg, Daniel's used-to-be-best-friend that gets shipped off to the youth correction camp with him, had me smirking more than once with the out-of-the-box things he said and did for attention or comedic effect. Vera, another member of the camp, was probably my favorite and I enjoyed her confident attitude that wasn't too overbearing and her unique way of seeing the world.
Although I wouldn't call it the fastest-paced book, the flow was still pretty good and it picked up a lot in its second half which I really enjoyed. And I absolutely loved the ending with the way the characters developed. The romance was also pretty cute and I liked that the characters read their age rather than too young or too old. Even though it might sound strange to say about a book featuring troubled youth, it has a lighthearted, humorous vibe which gives the book a great balance.
*Thanks so much to Wise Wolf Books for reaching out to me and giving me an ARC!*
Set in the 1980s, this book has that "modern historical fiction" flare that I enjoy seeing in books. It lent that slightly nostalgic air to the book which was a nice touch. I also liked the setting of the story taking place in the desert of Arizona. As a fellow Desert dweller, albeit not in Arizona, it's refreshing to be able to read something I can actually relate to like 100+ degree Fahrenheit summers and the ever-present sight of tumbleweeds. It gives a true picture of what it's like to live in the climate while being entertaining, kind of that vibe that you're learning new things without realizing you're being educated.
I enjoyed the ragtag group of characters this book had. While some of the side characters weren't very fleshed out, they definitely added some color and humor to the book. The main character, Daniel, was an interesting narrator and I enjoyed the way he liked to compare a lot of things in metaphors. Greg, Daniel's used-to-be-best-friend that gets shipped off to the youth correction camp with him, had me smirking more than once with the out-of-the-box things he said and did for attention or comedic effect. Vera, another member of the camp, was probably my favorite and I enjoyed her confident attitude that wasn't too overbearing and her unique way of seeing the world.
Although I wouldn't call it the fastest-paced book, the flow was still pretty good and it picked up a lot in its second half which I really enjoyed. And I absolutely loved the ending with the way the characters developed. The romance was also pretty cute and I liked that the characters read their age rather than too young or too old. Even though it might sound strange to say about a book featuring troubled youth, it has a lighthearted, humorous vibe which gives the book a great balance.
*Thanks so much to Wise Wolf Books for reaching out to me and giving me an ARC!*
June 1, 2021
3.5/5 This was a quick and funny read with the actual voice of teenagers and not what adults think they sound like, or wish they would. Set in the 80s, the teens spend all of their time interacting - albeit awkwardly most of the time - face to face instead of on mobiles, and there’s a realistic and healthy amount of sarcasm and swearing around every corner.
We were merely walking into the desert and trading our freedom for some learningship and growments, which are, of course, moments when you grow.
‘Friends,’ he announced, the second time he’d used the word in the last 30 seconds. ‘I return today with gifts.’ I’d already taken a half step back. Normally ‘gifts’ would mean something cool, but PTG’s [Ponytail Guy’s] gifts were usually something like ‘delightenment’ or any number of cheery psychobabble bullshitisms from his fixation on gratitude.
The author does a great job of setting up the initial situation and absolutely fills the reader with the injustice felt by our protagonist at being unjustly packed away to some outdoor retreat for troubled teens program. This ‘trickle-down parenting’ move filled me with rage as I read it and I found myself distracted a few times plotting how I would have gotten my revenge were I in Daniel’s shoes (before they were taken away).
Daniel, Vera, and Greg were all easy to like and invest in as we explored in their teenage insecurities and the plethora of mistakes, decisions, and statements they made while trying to survive the supremely inconvenient and embarrassing situation their parents all stuck them in. PTG and Ron were equally easy to hate, and Polito did a great job of making them comically insufferable and the perfect targets for teenage loathing and its accompanied verbal barbs.
With the exception of a couple inappropriate moments used to paint Daniel as a “typical 15 year old boy”the content was good and enjoyable. I’d prefer not to read about teen boys trying to touch girls’ breasts without consent or the other similar non-con type comments in here.
Overall, it was a good read and I think high school readers would enjoy it.
*Thanks to NetGalley and publisher WiseWolf Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We were merely walking into the desert and trading our freedom for some learningship and growments, which are, of course, moments when you grow.
‘Friends,’ he announced, the second time he’d used the word in the last 30 seconds. ‘I return today with gifts.’ I’d already taken a half step back. Normally ‘gifts’ would mean something cool, but PTG’s [Ponytail Guy’s] gifts were usually something like ‘delightenment’ or any number of cheery psychobabble bullshitisms from his fixation on gratitude.
The author does a great job of setting up the initial situation and absolutely fills the reader with the injustice felt by our protagonist at being unjustly packed away to some outdoor retreat for troubled teens program. This ‘trickle-down parenting’ move filled me with rage as I read it and I found myself distracted a few times plotting how I would have gotten my revenge were I in Daniel’s shoes (before they were taken away).
Daniel, Vera, and Greg were all easy to like and invest in as we explored in their teenage insecurities and the plethora of mistakes, decisions, and statements they made while trying to survive the supremely inconvenient and embarrassing situation their parents all stuck them in. PTG and Ron were equally easy to hate, and Polito did a great job of making them comically insufferable and the perfect targets for teenage loathing and its accompanied verbal barbs.
With the exception of a couple inappropriate moments used to paint Daniel as a “typical 15 year old boy”the content was good and enjoyable. I’d prefer not to read about teen boys trying to touch girls’ breasts without consent or the other similar non-con type comments in here.
Overall, it was a good read and I think high school readers would enjoy it.
*Thanks to NetGalley and publisher WiseWolf Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Wise Wolf books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The subject of this book held a lot of interest for me and I was excited to start it. The writing style is great— the teenager dialog rings true and doesn’t seem contrived or like an adult trying to write teens. The book itself is good, but just missed the mark for me personally.
I read a lot of YA, but this one in particular seemed geared towards high school students. Many reviews state it was a quick read, but I did not find it such. I had to push myself to keep reading about the teens and their next outing of swearing and interacting with each other.
I just wasn’t interested in the characters which all seemed predictable to me— the younger brother who is there because his older sibling is a problem, the rich girl who wants to be seen as deeper than everyone thinks she is, the friend who faded away but is really a good guy, and the asshole no one wants to listen to. Add in a good cop/bad cop pair of counselors and that is our story.
I really just think it comes down to not being the intended audience for this book— while many YA books cross the threshold for adults, this is one best left to the younger crowd.
The subject of this book held a lot of interest for me and I was excited to start it. The writing style is great— the teenager dialog rings true and doesn’t seem contrived or like an adult trying to write teens. The book itself is good, but just missed the mark for me personally.
I read a lot of YA, but this one in particular seemed geared towards high school students. Many reviews state it was a quick read, but I did not find it such. I had to push myself to keep reading about the teens and their next outing of swearing and interacting with each other.
I just wasn’t interested in the characters which all seemed predictable to me— the younger brother who is there because his older sibling is a problem, the rich girl who wants to be seen as deeper than everyone thinks she is, the friend who faded away but is really a good guy, and the asshole no one wants to listen to. Add in a good cop/bad cop pair of counselors and that is our story.
I really just think it comes down to not being the intended audience for this book— while many YA books cross the threshold for adults, this is one best left to the younger crowd.
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