Winger

//Winger// by Andrew Smith

This was a favorite of mine this year. There is a lot of truth in this novel. There were a lot of different topics touched upon in this novel, but it didn't feel like the book was trying to flood as many issues as possible into it. The ending really took me by surprise. This book should definitely be in the top 10. There is probably a higher appeal for boys with this one, although I think strong female readers will enjoy it also. -Brittany - HML

I really enjoyed this book and feel like it will appeal to a variety of readers. I liked the visual components in the story as well. The characters are well-drawn and likeable. Sophie Smith, Nashua Public Library.

Very well written. I enjoyed the book very much. I don't think the cover actually draws readers in, esp girls. But it is a great book and if we can get the book in their hands, I think it will be well received. I would recommend this title for the Flume nominees. Barb Ballou, Whipple Free Library

I wholeheartedly agree with all of the above reviewers. This is a great choice for the list. Heidi Grant, Nashua High School North

I guess I am the dissenter. I didn't hate this book, I think that there are a lot of readers for this book: there is a lot of humor in here, many LOL lines and sections. There are some truths and I love the evolution of Winger. However, the ending was pretty transparent, I saw it coming pretty early in the book and wasn't surprised at all and a bit disappointed that of all the issues that were raised and dealt with in this story, that the author had to use homosexuality as the climatic event - especially as it was such a secondary theme. It just seems that we need to get beyond that. Sharon Flesher, Nashua High South

Like Sharon, I saw the ending coming, which is usually a turn-off for me, but I found that the structure of the book and delivery of the climactic event completely devastating and effective. I think it was actually the awesome set-up Smith created by continuously leading the reader into thinking the "unthinkable" event mentioned in the book blurb was finally about to happen. Winger keeps setting us up that "and then the worst thing that could possibly happened happened" but each time it's usually something laughable or embarrassing. As the end of the book kept shrinking I kept thinking "Is this thing actually happening??" The delivery of it left me hollow, and I think that was the point. It was a punch in the face, just like the cover (which I happen to think is awesome - it's an funny and ugly cover to a funny, ugly story). I do think it's weird that a lot of teen books these days deliver these crazy climaxes with very little denouement at the end... but that didn't ruin it for me. I don't think it's flawless - I didn't find that the comics added anything to the story other than it being a thing that Winger does, and I found his five-out-of-five run-on comparisons about a five-out-of-five-Wailing-Babies-at-Storytime-on-the-Liz-Gotauco-List-of-Things-I'm-Over (see what I did there?) BUT despite those quibbles, I think it's a good contender for final list. - Liz, Merrimack PL