Friday, February 19, 2016

Winger by Andrew Smith




A highly entertaining, witty novel that is extremely hard to put down. It is a highly addicting read that captures your attention about puberty and coming of age.  It is about a 14 year old junior attending a private boarding school.  Ryan Dean is forced to share a room in the dorm for troublemakers with the biggest jerk on the rugby team.  Ryan Dean struggles with learning about what is right, when nothing seems to be going his way. Ryan Dean learns a lot about himself as he faces teenage experiences and complications, he even finds some happiness with his best friend Annie. Ryan Dean has to figure out how to hold on to what important when he is forced to face the unthinkable.



2 comments:

  1. The first person narrator with the double first name ("Ryan Dean") seemed like a real person to me after just a few pages. I felt sorry for the poor guy for being two years younger than the rest of his class and trying to gain respect or just acceptance from the other students.

    It would be a good read for males or females, but especially for any boy who has ever played rugby.

    There are some hilarious sections that made me laugh out loud (Screaming Ned, the cartoons RD draws, the silent conversations RD has with himself) but there are some thoughtful parts, too.

    In the end, it all comes down to WORDS, such as "younger," and RD realizes that no one should be characterized or labeled by a word.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! This is a powerful book!

    I also enjoyed the cartoons and the scripts of conversations Ryan Dean has with himself.

    Ryan Dean struggles with being younger than the other students in his grade and his raging hormones, the teen angst of the relationship with Annie, or is it Megan, or his true love Annie. He is looking for acceptance from his rugby team mates and the guys in O-hall. His new best friend in O-hall teaches him some very good life lessons about being the best person he can be.

    I read a bit of the ending when I was only part way into the book (big mistake) and it haunted me...and still does.

    This is a very well written coming of age story that is a great read for a male or a female.

    ReplyDelete