(The Chapters-Indigo website has been deleting my ratings so: I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars/leaves.)

In general, this was a good book for the adolescent and young adult demographic. The characters were well crafted and their interactions believable. The story focused on a young adolescent, his personal struggles as he established his own identity and principles, and his relationship with his family. It dealt quite well with the consequences of certain negative family dynamics. The author had a good grip on the adolescent male viewpoint.

So overall, a decently written book featuring an honest portrayal of an individual's struggle for self-identity, one which I would not hesitate to recommend to adolescents in particular.

Similar recommended titles (given here because of the weird problems I've been having with the Chapters/Indigo website and which they STILL haven't fixed):

-Perfect Chemistry, by Simone Elkeles
-The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart
-The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Yet another impressive book from Laurie Halse Anderson. I can honestly say that I was impressed at how well she captured the male teen voice. I find that Anderson ends her stories at just the right time. Oh yes, you do want to know more about what's going on with the characters and I'm sure she's heard clamouring for sequels, but the story ends in a really satisfying way. Right when the story should end. And I truly feel respected as a reader to have an author do that to me.

I highly recommend this book.

This book was really good i couldnt put it down!!!!!!!!!!!!

amazing Story great characters

in totall an awsome book in all

I teach teenagers. When I read this, I couldn't put it down. I gave it to a boy in my class and he loved it! He gave it to another boy in the class, who would "sneak read" it during all of his classes, because he couldn't put it down. I then convinced one of my most reluctant male readers to give it a try. At the probing of the other boys, who said he would be addicted, he tried it, and soon asked if he could take it home over March Break! This book is a great read for both male and female teens and adults who enjoy teen fiction. It has superb character development and deals with extremely mature and sensitive matters in a manner that will have readers laughing out loud. Somehow Halse Anderson has captured the inner thoughts of a teenage boy through the narrator Tyler, a Grade 12 student who faces high expectations from parents, a younger sister who tries to get him to "dress cool", a struggling and dysfunctional relationship with his father and the pressures of being a teen in a typical high school. Despite all of this, Tyler learns that one mistake in judgment does not determine a person's character. This book sends a strong message about doing the right thing in the face of adversity and finding hope in dark situations; yet it does so in a manner that will have you in stitches! I can't wait for Anderson's next novel with a male narrator! There is no other teen fiction like this one. It is a unique find and will appeal to the most reluctant male readers, because of it's honesty into the teenage male brain; but female teens will like it too.