Acting Up

by Ted Staunton

Sam Foster is the hero of this YA comic novel by Ted Staunton. He's six foot four, and over his high school years has adopted the Slouch - an attempt to draw less attention to himself in crucial situations. In school, for example, or when walking with friends who are much shorter. Sam's got talent - he's the drummer in a rock band named ADHD, and he's also a sometime assistant to Hope Springs' registered eccentric/blowhard J. Earl Good enough. What Sam has to figure out is how to show sufficient responsibility to finally reach the heights of "maturity" his parents hold out as a measure. Dealing with his anarchistic girlfriend Martha is one challenge - she loves breaking all the rules. In addition there are the normal hazards of drinking too much before the school dance, getting his drivers' permit, deserving the trust of his parents when they leave him and his friend Darryl alone for the weekend, completing all the volunteer hours he needs to acquire before graduation - and stick handling his way by the oppressive Mr. Tegwar, surely one of the least appealing of teachers at the high school. Sam's worst fear is letting people down - which of course means letting himself down as well. By the end of this comic novel, Sam has figured out a number of things - among them that he and his girl friend are not suited to each other, and that adults are not always as mature as they appear to be. He has absorbed some of the rules for achieving maturity, though he has not yet reached that pinnacle.

263 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2010

Reviews

[Morgan Folk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I thought Acting Up was a very good book because it was about a teenager. The book was something I could relate to because he was a teenager.It was about his family and his band. I thought the book was going to be depressing because at first his parents got divorced and everything seemed to go wrong for him.

Plot:
This book was about a boy who loved his band called “ADHD” Sam Foster is the guy who runs the band and loves to play the drum set while his fellow band members play all the other instruments. Sam and his family have a lot of downfalls in the story. One of the downfalls is his parents get divorced so he really needs some support. Sam decides to ask a girl out that's older than him and they start dating. Martha is trouble for Sam she always likes to break the rules and she’s a bad influence. One weekend there is a boat race going on and Sam’s band is in charge of playing the music but something goes wrong again. Sam's parents have left him alone at home for the weekend and Sam is still dating Martha. Sam doesn’t want to let her down so he does some band stuff and Sam's friend Darryl was also there. Martha and Daryll think the same way in a lot of ways. The weekend was horrible for Sam but his friends thought it was great. Sam by the end of the book realizes that him and Martha are not a good fit and end their relationship.

Characterization:
Sam Foster is the main character in the book. Sam is six feet four inches tall and tries to fit in with everyone. Sam has his own band called “ADHD.” Sam is a very good kid but when his parents get a divorce and also when his friends turn on him he gets in trouble with teachers and other students.

Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes music or band. It was a guy book and also a girls book so I think any teen could read this. This book was for kids who have family problems because it's so good.

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

Reviewed by Gillian O’Reilly

It’s always a pleasure to read a new Ted Staunton book and Acting Up is perhaps his best to date. Sixteen-year-old drummer Sam Foster (previously seen in Hope Springs a Leak and Sounding Off) is working very hard at being mature. If he can convince his parents of his maturity, they will let him take driving lessons during March Break and spend a couple of days alone while they go skiing.

Maturity, however, seems harder to exhibit when he accidentally destroys the Family Studies mechanical baby during a performance with his band ADHD, or drastically misjudges the effect of rum and Coke before a school dance. With each transgression, he manages to avoid the worst punishments. Instead, however, he is given more and more “volunteer” hours to perform, forced to commit his drumming talents to the school musical his father is directing and named the youth representative on the local committee to honour the town’s irascible but famous novelist. Added to the mix is a rebellious girlfriend who wants to cause more trouble, the terrifying teacher Mr. Tegwar (known as the Teginator) and the family gossip that tells him far more about the residents of his small town than he wants to know.

Staunton has a marvellous eye for funny situations — whether it’s the Survival Slouch perfected by the 6’4” Sam as he tries to slide inconspicuously into any room full of adults, Sam and his friend Darryl’s inspired use of irons to toast peanut butter sandwiches (the toaster having inexplicably stopped working while in their care) or Sam’s driving lesson which slowly and inexorably builds to a horrifyingly embarrassing climax. Yet Staunton also beautifully conveys Sam’s confusion in handling life, his occasional moments of graceful and cool behaviour, and his growing realization that, while messing up often gets him into trouble, sometimes it also makes him hurt other people in ways he never intended.

Canadian Children's Book News (Summer 2010, Vol. 33, No. 3)

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam has to start acting “mature” if he wants to get his driver’s license and get his parent’s to leave him home alone while they go away for a few days. But being “mature” is harder than it seems. Every time he tries to do the right thing it backfires. His girlfriend, Martha, seems to attract trouble. He works for J. Earl, an odd novelist in town, who attracts trouble in his own way. His teacher, Mr. Tegwar, seems to make life hard for him just for fun. It goes on and on.

This book was a fun look at the mind of a 15 year old kid living in Canada who is really just trying to make things go his way with the best of intentions.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book "Acting Up" By Ted Staunton tells a story about a boy named Sam Foster, his girlfriend Martha, and the rest of his friends. The book takes place in a small town called Hope Springs, where everyone knows everyone. The conflict revolves around Sam's band, his crazy teacher,the towns world-famous novelist, and the chance to be home alone for a week.

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really funny, coming-of-age story, detailing a particularly interesting and unusual grade 11 year for Sam Foster. Reading the first two books might be helpful, but isn't necessary to appreciate this one as it stands on its own.