2020 In Literature discussion

I have mixed feelings about this one. Smith writes a compelling story about the world ending, with so many odd twists and turns - from 15 year old sexual orientation questions, to scientific oddities in jars, to grasshopper-men hatching from infected humans. I loved his sense of humor and the realistic conflicts the main character faced with his best friends.
I read about half of it in one sitting, then got bogged down. He digresses from the main conflict so many times that I got impatient and starting skimming. I just wanted to find out how it would end. And the ending was anti-climactic!

I was not a fan of this particular book at all. I enjoyed Smith's Winger, but this particular book did not resonate with me, and I've felt like a horrible librarian for not enjoying a Printz winner, until I read this article: https://lezbrarian.wordpress.com/2015... Then I felt better because someone else articulated why this book bugs me so much (pun intended).

Ah - yes!!! That definitely articulates it well and I agree. The women WERE all flat, helpless characters. At first I thought there was going to be some reason both mothers were on Xanax. By the end so many other things had happened that I forgot all about them. I was just not engaged by the end.