There are 55 days until the release of Stick.
Plan on it.
Yesterday, there came a most gratifying announcement from Publishers Weekly: A STARRED review for Stick. Here's what they said:
Andrew Smith. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-312-61341-9
In Smith’s intense third novel, 13-year-old Stark McClellan—“Stick” to his friends—has been dealt a very rough hand, having been born without an ear and suffering horrific abuse at the hands of his parents, on top of everyday middle-school hell. Lacking confidence, Stick and his older brother, Bosten, don’t realize that other kids live lives free from constant beatings and crazy house rules. Stick is a good kid, but he’s at an age when sexual arousal is embarrassingly frequent, girls are mysterious, and nothing in his life makes sense. Then he discovers in rapid succession that his brother is gay, his parents are divorcing, and his brutal father has custody. When Bosten disappears after a violent confrontation with their father, Stick steals the family car in an attempt to find him. Smith (The Marbury Lens) revs up the emotions and the violence in this realistic and powerful tale, bringing in sexual abuse, hard drugs, and homelessness, while including enough positive characters to give Stick the support he desperately needs, providing for an imperfect but believable happy ending. Age 14–up. (Oct.)
17 comments:
I popped today's comment cherry! (Sorry, I couldn't resist that.) This starred review--excellently written, I must say--only makes me fiend for STICK that much more!
Drew, I love your books! :D
Great review! :o)
This is completely deserved and not at all unexpected. Congratulations.
Hey! The author did a great job of nailing STICK without giving that much away. And yes, the accuracy is refreshing. Kudos on the review, Andrew. I need to read STICK again just because I need more "happy" endings.
Congratulations! That was very nice, indeed. I hate that they gave away that it was an "imperfect happy ending."
Great review and I couldn't agree more!
No offense to William, but Andrew is known for his imperfect happy endings. Nothing given away, you'll see.
This review just boosted my enthusiasm for a book I'm already craving to read. Very much looking forward to October 11, Andrew!
I am terribly pleased but not at all surprised. Wait, that sounds smug. I am thrilled. And also glad that you don't need to send a parent letter out on this one. I am happy to say that my copy is pre-ordered. I have slated the trailer for one of my "cultural literacy/stop the madness" classroom interventions.
May the Stick Ball begin.
Yeah... regarding the ending, I don't read the comment as meaning the ending is imperfect, I read the comment (as, I think readers of Stick will agree with) as meaning the ending, like all endings, leaves the characters in an imperfect place, but, at the same time, it is a happy ending.
I know.
Alert the media.
I've written a book with a happy ending.
Anyway, thanks for all the comments, and, especially thank you to PW for being so supportive of my work.
It is work, after all.
Hey, I thought In the Path of Falling Objects had a fairly happy ending. Imperfect, or rather uncomfortable, moment in the characters' lives, sure. But nicely and realistically resolved.
Third novel? I wonder which one they're missing out on.
Andrew,
Congratulations! This is a terriffic book and well deserving of the review. And yes, as everyone has said above, it's well written too! I loved Stick and it's going to be big.
It's 5:30 there, and I'm missing you, Andy.
Had to take a day off today. Too much stuff got in the way. I'll be back tomorrow. I promise.
I can't help but notice that you've left this starred review up here for two days. A man with a decent respect for the feelings of others might have pushed it down the page by now, but oh no, you leave it up there bracketed (at least in my imagination) by two raised middle fingers and topped by a word balloon that reads, "Suck on that, bitchez!"
Yeah, that's right: I'm saying you would go with a "z" on the end of bitches.
You and Michael are a couple of old gangsterz.
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