What do you think?
Rate this book
Spinning Out
High school senior Frenchy has little ambition beyond hanging out at the smoking rock until his best friend, the ever-witty and conniving Stewart, gets him to try out for Man of la Mancha . To everyone's surprise, the guys are a hit. But when Stewart's antics begin to grow more obsessivehe wears his costume 24/7, freaks out about little details, and displays an incessant hatred of the high-tech windmills outside of townFrenchy worries that there's something deeper going on. Is Stewart spiraling into madness, just like Don Quixote? And can Frenchy battle through his own demons in time to save his friend from self-destruction before it's too late?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2011
44 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
David Stahler Jr.
8 books39 followersDavid Stahler Jr. is a fourth-generation Vermonter who, in addition to writing, teaches at his alma mater, Lyndon Institute, in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
An author of YA Fiction across a variety of genres with an emphasis on the strange and supernatural, his books include the TRUESIGHT trilogy (a science fiction series with a dystopian bent), DOPPELGANGER, A GATHERING OF SHADES, and SPINNING OUT.
His work has received several awards and accolades--including a Best Book Award from the American Library Association, Le Prix Farniente, and numerous state reading list selections--and has been translated into French, Italian, and Chinese.
An author of YA Fiction across a variety of genres with an emphasis on the strange and supernatural, his books include the TRUESIGHT trilogy (a science fiction series with a dystopian bent), DOPPELGANGER, A GATHERING OF SHADES, and SPINNING OUT.
His work has received several awards and accolades--including a Best Book Award from the American Library Association, Le Prix Farniente, and numerous state reading list selections--and has been translated into French, Italian, and Chinese.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
August 27, 2013
If I were a high school stoner, who wandered the halls aimlessly, managed to somehow get high every five minutes, pulled every prank imaginable in a pertinent effort to stick it to the man, the principal, and the school board, I would have considered this the crème de la crème, as I laughed giddily for nearly an hour, and then had a serious case of the munchies. But I was a massive nerd in high school, who held a certain amount of respect for the man and authority, probably didn’t even truly comprehend the concept of acting out, actually wanted to excel in my classes because I understood that it would affect my future, and tried real hard not to stand out in a bad way, already grasping that I was a bit different than the majority of my classmates and that I didn’t need to further emphasize the point.
Either way, or even if you fall somewhere in between these two extremes, this novel spins an enjoyable yarn and provides lifelike characters with profuse problems better suited for linoleum floors and locker-lined walls. And it works, all of it. The struggle for an identity, the friend turned love interest, and the rebels trying to sing a different tune could have felt forced in less capable hands, instead these all felt real to me, and I was transported back to simpler times, minus the copious amounts of weed.
SPINNING OUT filled my head with a hazy fog and had me twirling in a multitude of directions, happily soaking up the pages the way a beach bum might soak up the sun’s rays. Despite this read lacking volume, instead becoming easily consumable like Pop-Tarts, it packed plenty of sentiment and brought to mind the phrase stoners with heart. Stewart and Frenchy may have out smoked Cheech & Chong, but these two knuckleheads decided on a plan to leave more of a legacy than a few roaches and a men’s bathroom filled with the lingering effects of the sweet-smelling smoke.
But every dynamic duo needs a Kaela. She was adorable, accomplished, admirable, available, articulate, attentive, adept, approachable, apt, addictive, awesome, and amazing. And if I were to describe this compelling novel, I could use many of the same terms. If you want a deep, thought-provoking, look-up-every-other-word-in-the-dictionary type of read, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for amusement and the opportunity to get high for a few hours, and I mean that both literally and figuratively, you may just find yourself having a smokin' good time.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
Either way, or even if you fall somewhere in between these two extremes, this novel spins an enjoyable yarn and provides lifelike characters with profuse problems better suited for linoleum floors and locker-lined walls. And it works, all of it. The struggle for an identity, the friend turned love interest, and the rebels trying to sing a different tune could have felt forced in less capable hands, instead these all felt real to me, and I was transported back to simpler times, minus the copious amounts of weed.
SPINNING OUT filled my head with a hazy fog and had me twirling in a multitude of directions, happily soaking up the pages the way a beach bum might soak up the sun’s rays. Despite this read lacking volume, instead becoming easily consumable like Pop-Tarts, it packed plenty of sentiment and brought to mind the phrase stoners with heart. Stewart and Frenchy may have out smoked Cheech & Chong, but these two knuckleheads decided on a plan to leave more of a legacy than a few roaches and a men’s bathroom filled with the lingering effects of the sweet-smelling smoke.
But every dynamic duo needs a Kaela. She was adorable, accomplished, admirable, available, articulate, attentive, adept, approachable, apt, addictive, awesome, and amazing. And if I were to describe this compelling novel, I could use many of the same terms. If you want a deep, thought-provoking, look-up-every-other-word-in-the-dictionary type of read, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for amusement and the opportunity to get high for a few hours, and I mean that both literally and figuratively, you may just find yourself having a smokin' good time.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
December 18, 2017
This was so different from what I expected. The beginning seemed slow but it ended up being a wild, fun book that covered some serious mental health topics in an approachable way. Definitley reccomend this one.
November 9, 2011
There are some books that surprise you. You pick them up with low expectations, thinking that this is not the kind of book for you and opening it with a sense of duty. Oh, fine. I really should review this. It was sent to me for free after all. That sort of thing.
But then you read a few pages and although the story has no werewolves, vampires or any supernatural creatures, no murders or corporate secrets being traded to the highest bidder, the book has your full attention.
This was the case with Stahler's Spinning Out, a simple tale of two high school buddies in their senior year of high school. Frenchie and Stewart are the clowns of the school, though they both do well academically, they are the non-joiners, the outcasts. But when Stewart gets it into his quirky head that they should try out for the school musical, Man of La Mancha, the fit hits the shan as they say. Stewart gets the role of Don Quixote and Frenchy gets the role of Sancho Panza, a fitting metaphor for their friendship and personality.
Frenchy (so named because of his French-Canadian background and the fact that he is husky and hirsute- a stereotype I take issue with Mr. Stahler) thinks Stewart is joking, that it is a big lark. But it is soon clear that playing Don Quixote means way more to Stewart than Frenchy could have guessed. Stewart begins to wear his costume all the time, and is rarely out of character. When Frenchy hears Stewart battling the voices in his head, he realises that there is something very wrong with his friend and he doesn't know what to do. Unfortunately, this is just the horrifying scenario he has just lived through with his father. An ex-soldier fresh from Iraq, he suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome and committed suicide, leaving Frenchy and his mother to wonder how they could have stopped him. frenchy is haunted by the "if I had just..." syndrome familiar to the surviving family members.
At first glance, this is a story with a predictable plotline. Disinterested, troubled kid comes of age by taking a chance and finding out he is not such a loser as he supposes. But Stahler has made it so much richer. He deftly weaves themes of mental illness, suicide and depression through out the book without ever getting maudlin.
I think I actually heard the creaking of my heart as it cracked just a little for Stewart and Frenchy.
I suprised the hell out of myself by not being able to put this book down. The characters are rich and nuanced. The plot swift and suspenseful. There are several scenes centered around battling windmills. What's not to like?
I would recommend this to...I don't know who I would recommend this to. It would be a good one for teen boys who don't like to read maybe. But alas, I don't know many of those. I would also recommend this to teen girls who like coming of age stories- fans of Nick Hornby maybe, or Gordon Korman... Hell, I would recommend this to anyone who likes Don Quixote, or even just a good story.
But then you read a few pages and although the story has no werewolves, vampires or any supernatural creatures, no murders or corporate secrets being traded to the highest bidder, the book has your full attention.
This was the case with Stahler's Spinning Out, a simple tale of two high school buddies in their senior year of high school. Frenchie and Stewart are the clowns of the school, though they both do well academically, they are the non-joiners, the outcasts. But when Stewart gets it into his quirky head that they should try out for the school musical, Man of La Mancha, the fit hits the shan as they say. Stewart gets the role of Don Quixote and Frenchy gets the role of Sancho Panza, a fitting metaphor for their friendship and personality.
Frenchy (so named because of his French-Canadian background and the fact that he is husky and hirsute- a stereotype I take issue with Mr. Stahler) thinks Stewart is joking, that it is a big lark. But it is soon clear that playing Don Quixote means way more to Stewart than Frenchy could have guessed. Stewart begins to wear his costume all the time, and is rarely out of character. When Frenchy hears Stewart battling the voices in his head, he realises that there is something very wrong with his friend and he doesn't know what to do. Unfortunately, this is just the horrifying scenario he has just lived through with his father. An ex-soldier fresh from Iraq, he suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome and committed suicide, leaving Frenchy and his mother to wonder how they could have stopped him. frenchy is haunted by the "if I had just..." syndrome familiar to the surviving family members.
At first glance, this is a story with a predictable plotline. Disinterested, troubled kid comes of age by taking a chance and finding out he is not such a loser as he supposes. But Stahler has made it so much richer. He deftly weaves themes of mental illness, suicide and depression through out the book without ever getting maudlin.
I think I actually heard the creaking of my heart as it cracked just a little for Stewart and Frenchy.
I suprised the hell out of myself by not being able to put this book down. The characters are rich and nuanced. The plot swift and suspenseful. There are several scenes centered around battling windmills. What's not to like?
I would recommend this to...I don't know who I would recommend this to. It would be a good one for teen boys who don't like to read maybe. But alas, I don't know many of those. I would also recommend this to teen girls who like coming of age stories- fans of Nick Hornby maybe, or Gordon Korman... Hell, I would recommend this to anyone who likes Don Quixote, or even just a good story.
August 7, 2011
Straight up friendship books don’t happen often enough. This one was a little darker than I was expecting, but I enjoyed it.
Frenchy and his buddy Stewart aren’t really musical theater types. They’re usually more interested in getting enhanced before school than paying attention to what the rest of their class is doing, so it seems like just another prank when Stewart convinces his friend that they need to be in the upcoming play. It messes with Frenchy’s overall vibe when they get parts and have this new responsibility to cast mates, parents, and teachers. Stewart, on the other hand, is a little obsessed with the play. Frenchy’s still waiting for the punch line when it soon becomes clear that Stewart has gone bye-bye.
Frenchy’s perfectly fine being in the background, generally liked, and would rather not get too involved in anything. He’s the sidekick and Stewart is the one planning the pranks. But when Stewart starts acting weird, he’s the first to notice. He’s the only one that sees it’s more than a phase and that Stewart might need some help. When Stewart’s outbursts get more public, everyone expects that Frenchy will handle it. He’s got competitive cast mates, concerned teachers, oblivious parents and a sick friend that he’s now responsible for after years of taking a backseat. It’s a crap position that he’s in and Stewart definitely doesn’t want any ‘help’. Frenchy won’t stand by and make the same mistake he thinks he made last spring when he thought someone else would step in to help his dad. That didn’t end well. It’s hard, but he steps up for Stewart.
Unfortunately, it was well past the first 100 pages before I got into it. After that, I still felt like I was plodding along in places. But Frenchy’s friendship gets five stars. He’s worth them.
Frenchy and his buddy Stewart aren’t really musical theater types. They’re usually more interested in getting enhanced before school than paying attention to what the rest of their class is doing, so it seems like just another prank when Stewart convinces his friend that they need to be in the upcoming play. It messes with Frenchy’s overall vibe when they get parts and have this new responsibility to cast mates, parents, and teachers. Stewart, on the other hand, is a little obsessed with the play. Frenchy’s still waiting for the punch line when it soon becomes clear that Stewart has gone bye-bye.
Frenchy’s perfectly fine being in the background, generally liked, and would rather not get too involved in anything. He’s the sidekick and Stewart is the one planning the pranks. But when Stewart starts acting weird, he’s the first to notice. He’s the only one that sees it’s more than a phase and that Stewart might need some help. When Stewart’s outbursts get more public, everyone expects that Frenchy will handle it. He’s got competitive cast mates, concerned teachers, oblivious parents and a sick friend that he’s now responsible for after years of taking a backseat. It’s a crap position that he’s in and Stewart definitely doesn’t want any ‘help’. Frenchy won’t stand by and make the same mistake he thinks he made last spring when he thought someone else would step in to help his dad. That didn’t end well. It’s hard, but he steps up for Stewart.
Unfortunately, it was well past the first 100 pages before I got into it. After that, I still felt like I was plodding along in places. But Frenchy’s friendship gets five stars. He’s worth them.
January 1, 2022
“The best people in life make the world a bigger place, then help you grow to fit it.”
A much deeper dive than I expected! This novel covers PTSD, survivor’s guilt, toxic and codependent friendships, and a myriad of other things with surprising deftness. Frenchy is a loveable narrator, and one of the things I like most about this novel is that even though he’s constantly putting himself down, his many good qualities are very obvious. He’s funny, kind, loyal, friendly, and smart, and as brave as any medieval knight. I know the constant swearing is probably a turn off for some readers/listeners, but honestly, it made him more realistic and relatable to me. He’s a high school senior, of course he swears up a storm.
Overall, a really great read to wrap up the year. I’m glad I found it!
A much deeper dive than I expected! This novel covers PTSD, survivor’s guilt, toxic and codependent friendships, and a myriad of other things with surprising deftness. Frenchy is a loveable narrator, and one of the things I like most about this novel is that even though he’s constantly putting himself down, his many good qualities are very obvious. He’s funny, kind, loyal, friendly, and smart, and as brave as any medieval knight. I know the constant swearing is probably a turn off for some readers/listeners, but honestly, it made him more realistic and relatable to me. He’s a high school senior, of course he swears up a storm.
Overall, a really great read to wrap up the year. I’m glad I found it!
May 20, 2011
Frenchy's had a hell of a year, and now he just wants to coast through his senior year. But Stewart wants to get involved and, as his best friend, Frenchy backs him up. Their relationship, mirrored in the master-servant/leader-follower relationship of Sancho and the Don, is the driving force of this book. And it's a serious and challenging relationship. Still, Spinning Out is mostly hilarious. It's not laugh-out-loud funny; it's more subtle than that. If this book were literary fiction instead of YA, it would be called "intelligent humor." The banter between Frenchy and Stewart is always snarky, and when you throw Ralph, their pot dealer/Frenchy's mom's boyfriend, into the mix, it's gets a little out of control. In a good way. That's why, when Stewart starts to act a bit...off, Frenchy doesn't think too much of it.
Stewart falls further and further into the role of Don Quixote; it's great for the play, but hard on Frenchy. It's also hard on his budding relationship with stage manager Kaela (who is awesome-sauce). So he steps away, just a little bit. Finally able to claim a little bit of his own limelight in the role of Sancho, Frenchy separates himself just the tiniest bit from Stewart. They're still best friends (and Frenchy is a Great Friend), they're just no longer practically surgically attached.
During all of this changing and growing and relationship stuff, there is still a show to put on! Long rehearsals, music practices, hot chicks with power tools building sets, it's all there. Theater geeks and show choir enthusiasts (and fans of books like My Invented Life) will love this aspect. All readers will be treated to a meaty story in the meantime.
For more information, of the spoilery variety, about what's really going on with Stewart, see my full review:
http://lawral.blogspot.com/2011/05/sp...
Book source: ARC provided by the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Stewart falls further and further into the role of Don Quixote; it's great for the play, but hard on Frenchy. It's also hard on his budding relationship with stage manager Kaela (who is awesome-sauce). So he steps away, just a little bit. Finally able to claim a little bit of his own limelight in the role of Sancho, Frenchy separates himself just the tiniest bit from Stewart. They're still best friends (and Frenchy is a Great Friend), they're just no longer practically surgically attached.
During all of this changing and growing and relationship stuff, there is still a show to put on! Long rehearsals, music practices, hot chicks with power tools building sets, it's all there. Theater geeks and show choir enthusiasts (and fans of books like My Invented Life) will love this aspect. All readers will be treated to a meaty story in the meantime.
For more information, of the spoilery variety, about what's really going on with Stewart, see my full review:
http://lawral.blogspot.com/2011/05/sp...
Book source: ARC provided by the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
April 10, 2011
When is enough enough? When does crazy cross over into certifiably nuts? Stahler does an amazing job of telling a story of two best friends, Frenchy and Stewart, one with every cause to unwind and the other who does, showing readers how mental illness is often hidden from family, or even ignored, until it is too late.
Being a senior in high school is full of pressure, and Frenchy just wants to glide through. Stewart takes AP and honors classes, and is destined for an Ivy League school. Set in a small town, recently divided in attitude toward a wind turbine farm built on a prominent hillside, readers follow the two teens as they go from auditioning for the school play, Man of La Mancha, to winning the leads to the final performances. Frenchy (Sancho) finds himself strangely empowered by being in the play while Stewart (Don Quixote) becomes totally immersed in his part, even wearing his costume to school. Meanwhile, Frenchy and his mother are dealing with the recent death of his father following deployment in Iraq, living in a double-wide, and his mother's boyfriend, Ralph. Stewart's parents are rich and use money as a carrot, and do little to track his actions. When Stewart begins to unravel, it is up to Frenchy to do something, but he feels helpless. With the support of his almost girlfried, Kaela, and the school psychologist, Frenchy is able to get Stewart the help he needs.
Beautifully written, this is an important book that may help other teens dealing with friends' and family members' issues with mental health.
Being a senior in high school is full of pressure, and Frenchy just wants to glide through. Stewart takes AP and honors classes, and is destined for an Ivy League school. Set in a small town, recently divided in attitude toward a wind turbine farm built on a prominent hillside, readers follow the two teens as they go from auditioning for the school play, Man of La Mancha, to winning the leads to the final performances. Frenchy (Sancho) finds himself strangely empowered by being in the play while Stewart (Don Quixote) becomes totally immersed in his part, even wearing his costume to school. Meanwhile, Frenchy and his mother are dealing with the recent death of his father following deployment in Iraq, living in a double-wide, and his mother's boyfriend, Ralph. Stewart's parents are rich and use money as a carrot, and do little to track his actions. When Stewart begins to unravel, it is up to Frenchy to do something, but he feels helpless. With the support of his almost girlfried, Kaela, and the school psychologist, Frenchy is able to get Stewart the help he needs.
Beautifully written, this is an important book that may help other teens dealing with friends' and family members' issues with mental health.
August 8, 2011
I really would prefer to give it 3 and a half stars. Quite good for a YA novel. The writing is sharp and the protagonists are witty and likeable and believable. Our protagonist Frenchy does suffer from that common YA malady of TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES,but the writer overcomes this defect with detail to characters,setting and plot. It is a very original retelling of Don Quixote in a modern high school setting with a staging of Man of La Mancha as the backdrop. Very enjoyable and original with some great background characters like the Mom's stoner boyfriend.
I really liked the intelligence and expressiveness of Frenchy(Sancho) and Stewart (Quixote). I also liked the fact that they realistically and ultimately looked to their parents and an adult figure for for help dealing with an overwhelming problem.
Very fun and highly recommended.
I really liked the intelligence and expressiveness of Frenchy(Sancho) and Stewart (Quixote). I also liked the fact that they realistically and ultimately looked to their parents and an adult figure for for help dealing with an overwhelming problem.
Very fun and highly recommended.
March 12, 2011
Frenchy and his best friend Stewart are your typical "losers" in high school. They aren't popular and they sit around and smoke pot of the time. They get bullied a lot by the "Pokers," a group of mean kids. But Stewart discovers the school play, Man of La Mancha, featuring Don Quixote, and is determined to try out. He convinces Frenchy to do so as well. But when Stewart gets a little too involved in the play, French begins to get scared for his friend. ANd things go downhill from there. Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a deep book filled with interesting and troubled characters who evolve and change. It was a quick but very enjoyable read!
May 4, 2011
I really enjoyed this book because of the story line and the development of the plot. Also, I could connect with the main people in the book because I am around the same age.
I think I might go ahead and read some of David Stahler other works.
Thanks Librarything for having the giveaway.
I think I might go ahead and read some of David Stahler other works.
Thanks Librarything for having the giveaway.
Want to read
June 7, 2011I can't wait to read this book as one of my summer reads !!!!!! Yay :D
August 15, 2012
Good read. Like Glee, but with more mental illness
February 7, 2021
I think I stumbled upon a hidden gem of young adult novels. It's from 2011 so I assume it got swallowed by the bottomless well of dystopian ya titles. I pretty much always love books about theatre, but I highly recommend this book to anyone who's into YA contemporary at all.
I do honestly wish that more happened in it. And I wish the happy moments were a little more in balance with the sad ones. There are moments of Theatre kid happiness....but Frenchy's life hasn't been easy for a lot of reasons.
But this is a great book about friendship and mental illness. I can't believe I'd never heard of it. I'm not sure if anyone's heard of it. Bummer.
Frenchy's dad killed himself after coming back from the war. Now his best friend Stuart seems to be having a mental health crisis, and Frenchy has some trauma. When two formerly low-key stoners suddenly try out for the school musical, it makes a pretty big splash.
The idea that two slacker bros who never showed an interest in anything could suddenly be massively talented triple-threats and that they didn't even know that about each other? That really tickles me.
The saving grace of this book is that Frenchy is a really tolerant person who really puts the work in for the few people in his life. Even if you start out not being sure about Frenchy, he's just a good dude--not like a dogooder--but in the most relatable possible way.
This book has a pretty good balance of getting help from the appropriate people and handling things on your own. As unfair as it is, sometimes it DOES come down to only one person (who didn't ask for it) to keep another person from self destructing.
The end of this book is not a sad one. So don't be scared. Nobody dies or anything. Nothing too bad happens. This is not a tragedy.
Trigger warning for parental suicide/PTSD (in the past, not during the book) and schizophrenia/bipolar disorder (it's not mentioned, but Stuart seems manic to me a lot of the time).
I do honestly wish that more happened in it. And I wish the happy moments were a little more in balance with the sad ones. There are moments of Theatre kid happiness....but Frenchy's life hasn't been easy for a lot of reasons.
But this is a great book about friendship and mental illness. I can't believe I'd never heard of it. I'm not sure if anyone's heard of it. Bummer.
Frenchy's dad killed himself after coming back from the war. Now his best friend Stuart seems to be having a mental health crisis, and Frenchy has some trauma. When two formerly low-key stoners suddenly try out for the school musical, it makes a pretty big splash.
The idea that two slacker bros who never showed an interest in anything could suddenly be massively talented triple-threats and that they didn't even know that about each other? That really tickles me.
The saving grace of this book is that Frenchy is a really tolerant person who really puts the work in for the few people in his life. Even if you start out not being sure about Frenchy, he's just a good dude--not like a dogooder--but in the most relatable possible way.
This book has a pretty good balance of getting help from the appropriate people and handling things on your own. As unfair as it is, sometimes it DOES come down to only one person (who didn't ask for it) to keep another person from self destructing.
The end of this book is not a sad one. So don't be scared. Nobody dies or anything. Nothing too bad happens. This is not a tragedy.
Trigger warning for parental suicide/PTSD (in the past, not during the book) and schizophrenia/bipolar disorder (it's not mentioned, but Stuart seems manic to me a lot of the time).
June 15, 2022
🌟 3.5 stars 🌟
A random book I picked up at a thrift store that dealt with a surprising amount of meaty and heavy subject matter. I identified with Frenchy much more than I expected and the musical theater aspect really brought me back to high school, and my experiences doing school musicals. Very nostalgic in that way.
Engaging, if simple, side characters, strong relationships and an intriguing premise. I was definitely engaged. The writing style was alright, but didn't necessarily inspire, which is fine honestly. A few problematic areas with the representation on mental illness... but I appreciated elements of it for sure. The relationship between Frenchy and Stewart was definitely the strongest part of the book.
A unique read!
A random book I picked up at a thrift store that dealt with a surprising amount of meaty and heavy subject matter. I identified with Frenchy much more than I expected and the musical theater aspect really brought me back to high school, and my experiences doing school musicals. Very nostalgic in that way.
Engaging, if simple, side characters, strong relationships and an intriguing premise. I was definitely engaged. The writing style was alright, but didn't necessarily inspire, which is fine honestly. A few problematic areas with the representation on mental illness... but I appreciated elements of it for sure. The relationship between Frenchy and Stewart was definitely the strongest part of the book.
A unique read!
December 27, 2025
4.5 Stars
I’ve had this book since 2011 and never picked it up and well I put it on my TBR wheel and I’m so glad I did!
This book was a huge surprise with real life emotions and feelings, I had no clue what it was about but it kept me in it all the way. Dealing with high school, bullying and having to push ourselves to do new things and dealing with mental health.
Very good quick read!
I’ve had this book since 2011 and never picked it up and well I put it on my TBR wheel and I’m so glad I did!
This book was a huge surprise with real life emotions and feelings, I had no clue what it was about but it kept me in it all the way. Dealing with high school, bullying and having to push ourselves to do new things and dealing with mental health.
Very good quick read!
November 20, 2019
This was a great book about mental health and how it affects people. However the book did drag along a little too much.
July 7, 2011
There are so many layers to this story, even more so than at first glance. It's being toted as a GLEE-like mashup with a serious look at the bonds of friendship. They are not far off course with that description, but it really is just scratching the surface. First, let me warn you of a few things....for those sensitive to them or younger readers, there is drug use, swearing, suicide and mental illness within this story. It's a fictitious look at something that could happen in real life to you, to me....to your best friend George down the street. In fact, a lot of what occurs is probably happening in one away or another in your neighborhood right now....that's the scary reality of a story like this. It hits "home" whether you have actually experienced the situations first hand or not. Now back to the other story aspects....
It deals with all those off colored items mentioned above, but it also takes a look at family and friendship...with the realization that often they become one in the same. If not for Frenchy, Stewart would have been beside himself....but the same could be said of Frenchy in his times of need and there have been plenty especially with the recent passing of his father (and certainly with how he passed away). Then take the relationship between Stewart and his hippie parents. It serves its purpose for allowing him free reign of his life, but we also see how that lose approach can create other problems (such as trust, and hesitance to step in when it suits the situation verses their needs) that may not be anticipated at first. Move to Frenchy's Mom, a dedicated woman of today that works long hours to provide for her family, but loves them all the same. Enter Ralph, potential love interest and local drug dealer...sorta. Even though he's the supplier for most of the area, you'll find it hard to really dislike him....much as Frenchy chastises himself about from time to time. Suffice it to say that person to person bonds are explored to their fullest.
Aside from the story, readers also get a bit of a culture lesson from the smarty pants side of Stewart and courtesy of Cervantes. Never heard of Man of La Mancha? Don't know who Don Quixote is? Sancho is not ringing a bell? They will be by stories end. It's a great way to expose readers of all ages to the classics and instill that seed of curiosity to investigate the work further. Just try to escape this story without singing the infamous "I, Don Quixote" song....betcha it won't happen. It's the perfect play for the leading men in our story. In fact, the events that occur pretty much play out like a modern day Quixote-type adventure....in its full rainbow of colors.
In short, the characters are easy to relate to, the story believable, the ending unimaginable....all of which add up to a great reading experience waiting for you beyond the greenish haze from the Smoking Rock (which by the way, isn't what you think....you'll have to read it to find out more). Recommended read for older teens through adults for the very reasons mentioned previously (no worries, I won't re-hash it....get it?).
It deals with all those off colored items mentioned above, but it also takes a look at family and friendship...with the realization that often they become one in the same. If not for Frenchy, Stewart would have been beside himself....but the same could be said of Frenchy in his times of need and there have been plenty especially with the recent passing of his father (and certainly with how he passed away). Then take the relationship between Stewart and his hippie parents. It serves its purpose for allowing him free reign of his life, but we also see how that lose approach can create other problems (such as trust, and hesitance to step in when it suits the situation verses their needs) that may not be anticipated at first. Move to Frenchy's Mom, a dedicated woman of today that works long hours to provide for her family, but loves them all the same. Enter Ralph, potential love interest and local drug dealer...sorta. Even though he's the supplier for most of the area, you'll find it hard to really dislike him....much as Frenchy chastises himself about from time to time. Suffice it to say that person to person bonds are explored to their fullest.
Aside from the story, readers also get a bit of a culture lesson from the smarty pants side of Stewart and courtesy of Cervantes. Never heard of Man of La Mancha? Don't know who Don Quixote is? Sancho is not ringing a bell? They will be by stories end. It's a great way to expose readers of all ages to the classics and instill that seed of curiosity to investigate the work further. Just try to escape this story without singing the infamous "I, Don Quixote" song....betcha it won't happen. It's the perfect play for the leading men in our story. In fact, the events that occur pretty much play out like a modern day Quixote-type adventure....in its full rainbow of colors.
In short, the characters are easy to relate to, the story believable, the ending unimaginable....all of which add up to a great reading experience waiting for you beyond the greenish haze from the Smoking Rock (which by the way, isn't what you think....you'll have to read it to find out more). Recommended read for older teens through adults for the very reasons mentioned previously (no worries, I won't re-hash it....get it?).
October 17, 2017
I read this once before a few years ago and enjoyed it, but didn't retain any real details. It was also before I had a good understanding of mental illness representation in literature, especially YA. I saw it on my shelf and I started to wonder - was it as good as I remembered? Or was it a flawed attempt to bring an important subject to light?
I'm happy to say that, as far as I can tell, it's the former. I will admit I may be wrong in how well Schizophrenia is shown here - I don't have it or know anyone who has it. I like to say that I enough enough to know that I don't know much. But I have been learning about it in bits and pieces over the years, and while it may not be perfect, it certainly doesn't appear harmful. The overall message is that people with Schizophrenia and other illnesses that pop culture likes to classify as "maniacs" can truly live and thrive with the disease - provided, of course, that they get the necessary support from friends, family, and mental health professionals. You can try and wait for them to pass or handle them yourself, but in the end it's a group effort.
I used to have this at four stars, I've upped it to five. The main characters are even fresher and better defined than I remember. Even the adults, who don't get the same focus as Frenchy, Stewart, or Kaela, are fully realized beings. Frenchy's father, who committed suicide before the book began and therefore is never really seen, is still clear in my mind because of how well he was described both before and after he was involved in the war.
The teens themselves are also very realistic. They can make bad choices and ignore good advice and they can be selfish, which are all things that I know I did when I was young. The choices aren't always good, but they are true to the characters and so I can't argue with them. When it comes to Stewarts delusions, you could FEEL the awkwardness and growing concern as Frenchy tries to bring him back to reality. It hits you in the feels, hard. And really, I think it was smart to build the book as an outsider looking in rather than as a firsthand experience.
Also, all the descriptions of what it's like being in a high school theatre production are spot on. I was having flash backs to my body warm-ups and blocking and being on both sides of the techie/actor divide. It adds another spirit of realism on top of everything.
There are some things I could nitpick about. There are a few elements that I wish had been introduced earlier on or referenced before their introduction that would've helped them had more impact when they occurred in the final moments. Some moments are drawn out a bit too long, and others rush by too quickly. But those are minor things. It's an overall great book.
I'm happy to say that, as far as I can tell, it's the former. I will admit I may be wrong in how well Schizophrenia is shown here - I don't have it or know anyone who has it. I like to say that I enough enough to know that I don't know much. But I have been learning about it in bits and pieces over the years, and while it may not be perfect, it certainly doesn't appear harmful. The overall message is that people with Schizophrenia and other illnesses that pop culture likes to classify as "maniacs" can truly live and thrive with the disease - provided, of course, that they get the necessary support from friends, family, and mental health professionals. You can try and wait for them to pass or handle them yourself, but in the end it's a group effort.
I used to have this at four stars, I've upped it to five. The main characters are even fresher and better defined than I remember. Even the adults, who don't get the same focus as Frenchy, Stewart, or Kaela, are fully realized beings. Frenchy's father, who committed suicide before the book began and therefore is never really seen, is still clear in my mind because of how well he was described both before and after he was involved in the war.
The teens themselves are also very realistic. They can make bad choices and ignore good advice and they can be selfish, which are all things that I know I did when I was young. The choices aren't always good, but they are true to the characters and so I can't argue with them. When it comes to Stewarts delusions, you could FEEL the awkwardness and growing concern as Frenchy tries to bring him back to reality. It hits you in the feels, hard. And really, I think it was smart to build the book as an outsider looking in rather than as a firsthand experience.
Also, all the descriptions of what it's like being in a high school theatre production are spot on. I was having flash backs to my body warm-ups and blocking and being on both sides of the techie/actor divide. It adds another spirit of realism on top of everything.
There are some things I could nitpick about. There are a few elements that I wish had been introduced earlier on or referenced before their introduction that would've helped them had more impact when they occurred in the final moments. Some moments are drawn out a bit too long, and others rush by too quickly. But those are minor things. It's an overall great book.
July 8, 2011
Frenchy and his friend Stewart are known for being goof-offs who pull pranks at school, and Frenchy expects his senior year to go by just like all the others so far. But Stewart has a different plan, and since Stewart is usually the one to come up with the ideas, Frenchy gets pulled along in his latest scheme: playing Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in the school’s production of Man of La Mancha.
At first Frenchy thinks this is just another elaborate prank Stewart has dreamed up, but as the production continues, Stewart seems to get deeper and deeper into his role and further from reality. He rails against the windmills set up outside of town, vowing to take them down. Frenchy begins to see signs that he is slipping away. Like Sancho, Frenchy has always liked playing the sidekick. Now he must decide whether he can step out of his comfort zone to help his best friend.
Spinning Out by David Stahler Jr. is a gripping story that looks at teen mental illness from several different angles. Frenchy is the best one to recognize what’s happening with Stewart, because his own father committed suicide after returning from fighting in Iraq. Yet, even he is unsure if what he’s seeing is normal stress or something more. Stewart’s parents want to believe everything is okay. The school counselor doesn’t see the issue unless other problems surface.
Frenchy is a down-to-earth character with problems of his own. He’s smart, but he figures if he doesn’t try too hard, it will be easier for him to succeed. And he won’t have to disappoint others if he fails. His dad’s suicide has affected him a lot, but he puts on a happy face so others won’t feel awkward around him. He’s sensitive about his mom and how she’s coping, but he doesn’t say much about it.
Like a play, Spinning Out is divided into acts, starting with the exposition, going on to rising action, climax, falling action and dénouement. The organization helps move the story along while giving the reader clues as to what to expect in the next section. Be aware that the main characters spend a lot of time smoking marijuana for some of the book, and there’s lots of foul language. Even so, those actions are not gratuitous; rather they are an important part of the story. I believe Spinning Out is a compelling story that shines a light on some important issues. I recommend it for guys and mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up.
At first Frenchy thinks this is just another elaborate prank Stewart has dreamed up, but as the production continues, Stewart seems to get deeper and deeper into his role and further from reality. He rails against the windmills set up outside of town, vowing to take them down. Frenchy begins to see signs that he is slipping away. Like Sancho, Frenchy has always liked playing the sidekick. Now he must decide whether he can step out of his comfort zone to help his best friend.
Spinning Out by David Stahler Jr. is a gripping story that looks at teen mental illness from several different angles. Frenchy is the best one to recognize what’s happening with Stewart, because his own father committed suicide after returning from fighting in Iraq. Yet, even he is unsure if what he’s seeing is normal stress or something more. Stewart’s parents want to believe everything is okay. The school counselor doesn’t see the issue unless other problems surface.
Frenchy is a down-to-earth character with problems of his own. He’s smart, but he figures if he doesn’t try too hard, it will be easier for him to succeed. And he won’t have to disappoint others if he fails. His dad’s suicide has affected him a lot, but he puts on a happy face so others won’t feel awkward around him. He’s sensitive about his mom and how she’s coping, but he doesn’t say much about it.
Like a play, Spinning Out is divided into acts, starting with the exposition, going on to rising action, climax, falling action and dénouement. The organization helps move the story along while giving the reader clues as to what to expect in the next section. Be aware that the main characters spend a lot of time smoking marijuana for some of the book, and there’s lots of foul language. Even so, those actions are not gratuitous; rather they are an important part of the story. I believe Spinning Out is a compelling story that shines a light on some important issues. I recommend it for guys and mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up.
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Don Quixote and modern-day wind turbines combine as author David Stahler, Jr. spins his latest tale. Two friends, usually wandering on the fringes of high school society, are suddenly thrust into the limelight.
Frenchy and his quirky friend, Stewart, spend most of their time figuring out how to get high. Fortunately, Frenchy's mother's loser boyfriend is a reliable source of some decent pot and is cool about not letting his mother know. A typical day in the lives of the two boys involves heading out to the woods to smoke some weed, and then heading off to school where they are known as class clowns.
When Stewart proposes the idea of trying out for the school musical, Man of La Mancha, Frenchy is sure he's kidding. Their high school is known for amazing musical productions, and Frenchy can't believe Stewart has serious intentions of really becoming involved. It takes a while, but Stewart finally convinces Frenchy he isn't trying out because he wants to sabotage the play - he actually wants to audition for the lead role, Don Quixote.
In some odd twist of fate, the two friends display some awesome talent and score the two leads in the play. Frenchy plays Sancho, Don Quixote's sidekick, and he discovers that acting can be an incredible "high." However, as rehearsals get underway, Frenchy notices that Stewart is taking his part way too seriously. He begins showing up in full costume long before dress rehearsal, and he even begins wearing it to school and insisting that Frenchy refer to him as Don.
In a strange Quixote-like coincidence, Stewart is angry about a group of controversial wind turbines perched on a ridge above town. As his character begins to take over, his desire to see that the turbines are destroyed intensifies to the point that Frenchy realizes his friend is spinning out of control.
SPINNING OUT shows friendship at its best and at its worst. The desire to be there for his friend nearly ends Frenchy's relationship with Stewart, as he learns that wanting to help doesn't always end with the best results.
Don Quixote and modern-day wind turbines combine as author David Stahler, Jr. spins his latest tale. Two friends, usually wandering on the fringes of high school society, are suddenly thrust into the limelight.
Frenchy and his quirky friend, Stewart, spend most of their time figuring out how to get high. Fortunately, Frenchy's mother's loser boyfriend is a reliable source of some decent pot and is cool about not letting his mother know. A typical day in the lives of the two boys involves heading out to the woods to smoke some weed, and then heading off to school where they are known as class clowns.
When Stewart proposes the idea of trying out for the school musical, Man of La Mancha, Frenchy is sure he's kidding. Their high school is known for amazing musical productions, and Frenchy can't believe Stewart has serious intentions of really becoming involved. It takes a while, but Stewart finally convinces Frenchy he isn't trying out because he wants to sabotage the play - he actually wants to audition for the lead role, Don Quixote.
In some odd twist of fate, the two friends display some awesome talent and score the two leads in the play. Frenchy plays Sancho, Don Quixote's sidekick, and he discovers that acting can be an incredible "high." However, as rehearsals get underway, Frenchy notices that Stewart is taking his part way too seriously. He begins showing up in full costume long before dress rehearsal, and he even begins wearing it to school and insisting that Frenchy refer to him as Don.
In a strange Quixote-like coincidence, Stewart is angry about a group of controversial wind turbines perched on a ridge above town. As his character begins to take over, his desire to see that the turbines are destroyed intensifies to the point that Frenchy realizes his friend is spinning out of control.
SPINNING OUT shows friendship at its best and at its worst. The desire to be there for his friend nearly ends Frenchy's relationship with Stewart, as he learns that wanting to help doesn't always end with the best results.
May 26, 2016
I don't know what to put here, so here's a recipe for sponge cake:
1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans or two 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets. Line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment and flour pans, tapping out excess flour. Whisk together egg yolks and 1 cup granulated sugar in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and thick enough to form a ribbon that dissolves onto itself, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla and salt; transfer to a large bowl.
2)Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes. Fold one third of egg whites into yolks, then gently fold in remaining whites. Sift flour over top and gently start to fold in. When nearly all is folded in, pour melted butter down side of bowl and fold just until incorporated and smooth.
3)Divide batter among pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes for rounds, or 15 minutes for sheets, rotating and switching racks halfway through. If baking in round pans, immediately invert cake and remove parchment, then reinvert and cool right side up. If using baking sheets and making a rolled cake, immediately invert cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioner's sugar. Dust top of cake with confectioner's sugar and roll up in towel. Let cool completely, about 1 hour, before unrolling and spreading with filling.
1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans or two 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets. Line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment and flour pans, tapping out excess flour. Whisk together egg yolks and 1 cup granulated sugar in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and thick enough to form a ribbon that dissolves onto itself, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla and salt; transfer to a large bowl.
2)Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes. Fold one third of egg whites into yolks, then gently fold in remaining whites. Sift flour over top and gently start to fold in. When nearly all is folded in, pour melted butter down side of bowl and fold just until incorporated and smooth.
3)Divide batter among pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes for rounds, or 15 minutes for sheets, rotating and switching racks halfway through. If baking in round pans, immediately invert cake and remove parchment, then reinvert and cool right side up. If using baking sheets and making a rolled cake, immediately invert cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioner's sugar. Dust top of cake with confectioner's sugar and roll up in towel. Let cool completely, about 1 hour, before unrolling and spreading with filling.
May 18, 2014
While David Stahler Jr.'s Truesight bore a disappointing resemblance to Lois Lowry's The Giver, Spinning Out had a refreshingly original plot. The two high school potheads who serve as the main characters (Frenchy and Stewart) transition from being your typical high school pranksters to the stars of the school musical. As Stewart takes on the role of Don Quixote, Frenchy notices his friend's passion for the stage growing out of control, and Stewart's motives become darker and darker. Frenchy must learn to deal with the aftermath of his father's suicide, his loyalties to Stewart, his growing relationship with Kaela, and his part as Sancho to determine what his life will look like after the play.
The thin line between reality and the world of Don Quixote that Stewart saw, particularly in his riveting speech during his dinner with Frenchy's family, was one of the most fascinating parts of this novel. Seeing how Ralph became inspired by his words to become a newer, better man paid tribute to the role of fiction and the importance of the arts in society, which I deeply appreciated. The character development in general was fantastic, and despite Frenchy's apparent Holdenesque personality, his unexpected show of warmth and loyalty to his friend is both heartwarming and endearing. The journey of growth for both characters was one I greatly enjoyed, and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh change of scene from the archetypal realistic fiction novel.
The thin line between reality and the world of Don Quixote that Stewart saw, particularly in his riveting speech during his dinner with Frenchy's family, was one of the most fascinating parts of this novel. Seeing how Ralph became inspired by his words to become a newer, better man paid tribute to the role of fiction and the importance of the arts in society, which I deeply appreciated. The character development in general was fantastic, and despite Frenchy's apparent Holdenesque personality, his unexpected show of warmth and loyalty to his friend is both heartwarming and endearing. The journey of growth for both characters was one I greatly enjoyed, and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh change of scene from the archetypal realistic fiction novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 18, 2015My book was named "Spinning out", and it was written by David stahler. The main characters in the book were two teenage boys named Frenchy and Stewart. The setting of the book was very vague but most of the time it was set at Stewarts house, or at the school. The genre of this book was realistic fiction. The main problem in the book was that Frenchy and Stewart were two different types of people but they are close freinds. Acting was something that Stewart picked up, and dragged Frenchy into also doing it. The play was the thing that stirred up alot of trouble. Frenchy and stewart disagreed alot in things.
There are alot of things about the book that I dislike, and there are alot of things about the book that i like. The main thing about the book that i didnt like was, How vaguely they described Frenchy's character in the beginning of the book. I think if they would have described him more alot more, things would make since to the reader, and things would have been better over all. The main thing about the book that i did like was the structure. The structure of this story was very well put together because every big event led into something else. Every event had a meaning to it.
Over all this was a great book to read. I would definetly recommend this book to someone who likes to read books that deal with real life events. I will definetly be reading more books by this author in the future.
There are alot of things about the book that I dislike, and there are alot of things about the book that i like. The main thing about the book that i didnt like was, How vaguely they described Frenchy's character in the beginning of the book. I think if they would have described him more alot more, things would make since to the reader, and things would have been better over all. The main thing about the book that i did like was the structure. The structure of this story was very well put together because every big event led into something else. Every event had a meaning to it.
Over all this was a great book to read. I would definetly recommend this book to someone who likes to read books that deal with real life events. I will definetly be reading more books by this author in the future.
July 7, 2011
I really didn’t expect Spinning Out to be as good as it was. It was really slow at the beginning, but then after Stewart and Frenchy tried out for the play, something happened. It was one of those somethings’ that kept me reading the rest of the book without stopping.
Frenchy and Stewart, I think, should be in a top ten best friend list. They were like the three amigos except there wasn’t a third. It was refreshing to see because in most books you don’t really see straight guys being close all the time.
Reading about all the characters challenges and accomplishments in Man of La Mancha was very interesting. However, I didn’t think that how everything worked out in the theater was very realistic. My cousin (who used to be in a lot of productions) says that the cast and crew are like a family and in the book almost all of the people are separated into “cliques” like the “techs” and the “drama queens”.
It took me about one hundred pages to get into Spinning Out, but afterwards reading it was a blast. I can’t wait to read another of David Stahler’s books.
Frenchy and Stewart, I think, should be in a top ten best friend list. They were like the three amigos except there wasn’t a third. It was refreshing to see because in most books you don’t really see straight guys being close all the time.
Reading about all the characters challenges and accomplishments in Man of La Mancha was very interesting. However, I didn’t think that how everything worked out in the theater was very realistic. My cousin (who used to be in a lot of productions) says that the cast and crew are like a family and in the book almost all of the people are separated into “cliques” like the “techs” and the “drama queens”.
It took me about one hundred pages to get into Spinning Out, but afterwards reading it was a blast. I can’t wait to read another of David Stahler’s books.
August 18, 2011
Spinning Out was a super fun read that I just devoured. I fell in the love with the characters and loved Stahler's writing style.
Spinning Out was a really well written book. The dialogue especially was a lot of fun. I loved the banter between Kaela and Frenchy. I loved how the windmills tied in so much, I loved that they are on the cover as well.
I'm a huge theater geek, so I loved the plot. I have had my share of days like "Hell Saturday" so it was a lot of fun to see all those things happen for the characters. The characters added so much to the plot. Kaela was definitely my favorite character of the book. I really liked her personality. Stewart got on my nerves from time to time, but I think that is all part of his charm .
I would definitely recommend this one. It was a touching story that was very thought provoking.
Spinning Out was a really well written book. The dialogue especially was a lot of fun. I loved the banter between Kaela and Frenchy. I loved how the windmills tied in so much, I loved that they are on the cover as well.
I'm a huge theater geek, so I loved the plot. I have had my share of days like "Hell Saturday" so it was a lot of fun to see all those things happen for the characters. The characters added so much to the plot. Kaela was definitely my favorite character of the book. I really liked her personality. Stewart got on my nerves from time to time, but I think that is all part of his charm .
I would definitely recommend this one. It was a touching story that was very thought provoking.
February 7, 2017
I originally bought the book because I liked that the students were going to be performing Man of La Mancha. But as I read more of the description, I was hooked. I read it in one day. Every time I had to put it down I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Very important today in terms of talking about mental illness. I didn't like the strong language, but other than that I loved it. I would encourage teens to read it as well.
Want to read
May 26, 2016This book was filled with real possibilities that a younger audience could relate too because most teens have that one friend that's pretty much crazy but in this story both main characters which are best friends are basically crazy in their own individual way with multi personality disorder. As most best friends these young adults get themselves into a lot of trouble just out of curiosity. This book is somewhat hard to keep up with but is quite interesting. Due to this book having portions that are relatively believable this book keeps the reader's attention at all times. I recommend this book for those readers who are looking for adventure.
May 26, 2016
The ending was wow! I mean I am not going to spoil it for those but when I looked at the cover before reading it, I thought it was not that interesting, but I surprised myself at the very end. Trust me some parts were boring... no offense to the author! However the very end was not what I was expecting for sure. I don't know how I feel about it overall but seriously I think I would read this to a family member because it proves never judge a book by it's cover. CAUTION: this book is full of curse words, weird nicknames, smoking, a CRAZY kid that is to much into acting, and not much else that could spoil that.
August 22, 2012
Man of La Mancha, Vermont setting and wind towers -- what could be more timely for high school students to read and enjoy? Well, David, I could have done without some of the f*** vocabulary, but I agree it does make valid vocabulary of today's teens! Just commiserating with an English teacher like yourself that may use this for a class reading. Good excuse to read Don Quixote and then this book for comparisons. Loved the character Frenchy. David gets the characters, the dialogue and the story just right.
May 26, 2016
This book was interesting and unique. The story of how Frenchy tries to find out what is going on with Stewart captures the audience's attention, along with the details of their lives in the past and present. Although the ending wasn't what I expected it to be, I think it was a good book overall. There aren't many stories similar to this that I have read before. The backstory of Frenchy is devastating, and the fact that he tries to deal with situations in his present makes the reader understand his struggles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews