"I get by with a little help from friends" - The Beatles
This Beatles quote was in my head a lot
while I read this book. Andrew Smith’s Winger is full of situations where the
main character and narrator, Ryan Dean West, relies on his closest friends to
get him through the most tumultuous year of his young life.
Winger is the memoir-like narrative of Ryan Dean West, a
gifted outcast in a prep school for rich kids. Along with dealing with
the fact that he is the only 14-year-old in the junior class, his roommate is
the biggest bully in school and his best friend Annie (who he is madly love with)
thinks of him as a little kid. In addition to these very normal trials that
most high school students go through, Ryan Dean must also deal with a tragedy
that would throw anyone off course.
Goodreads describes this book as "hilarious and
heartbreaking," and I couldn’t put it any better. Andrew Smith does an
amazing job depicting the everyday thoughts and emotions of a 14-year-old boy,
creating a great balance of humorous and serious material to keep readers engaged.
Even though characters in this book seem archetypal at first, they are each complex
in their own ways. Each one has his/her strengths and faults, just like real
human beings. I highly recommend this
book for readers of all ages!
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