2014 Hub Reading Challenge discussion

I finished this yesterday and am kind of mixed on my review of it. I did enjoy it for its male protagonist and his cheekiness, but some of it did seem a little far fetched. Though I didn't predict the ending, which was nice, I do think the book took too long to get to the climax and then rushed to wrap it up. I think it will have some boy appeal, but limited.

I liked this book, but just so-so. I felt that there was ALOT of stuff going on that got brushed over that might have been able to be discussed more in depth if the author was more focused on the conflict. I didn't predict the ending either, which was very nice.

I read WINGER last year and I absolutely love it. The narration is so entertaining, the drawings are hysterical, the drama is intense and real, and the dynamics between the boys is hardcore and compelling. The ending was such a crazy tearjerker, and it's pretty much the only reason I haven't reread the book yet - I can't handle those feels again! I recommend WINGER to pretty much every teenage boy who is looking for something to read!

I just finished Winger and really liked it. Though they touched on different issues, the voice reminded me of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian". My boyfriend also mentioned "Youth in Revolt" as similar. I thought Ryan Dean was a pretty accurate 14 year old boy, in the way he made me laugh and roll my eyes at the same time.
Also, I read reviews beforehand and wished I didn't!

I was blown away by this book! I loved it but was so unprepared for the ending. Before the ending I would have said Ryan Dean was very humorous, morose, a fighter, a loser (which he mentions every other line)and a good friend. I kept reading the back cover of my book and AS King said it was "heart wrenching" and I wondered where that was coming from and Matt de la Pena said it was "raw" and once I got to the ending I totally knew where that was coming from but I had no idea that some of the boys from that school would be so homophobic!!! It made me very very sad to see how Ryan Dean was affected by it and hopefully every other person who read this book will be haunted by their inhumanity. But I loved learning about the game of rugby, Ryan Dean's feelings, Annie's feelings and before the end of the novel, Ryan's insecurities which were very funny for a 14 yr old in 11th grade!