Rick Detorie

Very funny account of Larkin Pace's freshman year in high school, a la "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," but with more introspection and less snark. Larkin is sensitive, a bit gifted, and flies under the high school radar. Like "Wimpy Kid," there are comic illustrations throughout (Detorie does a comic strip called "One Big Happy").

Context - I didn't realize it was by the author of one of the comic strips I like until I saw the artwork. I don't read the wimpy kid books - I tried the first and was not impressed.

I like that this had a lot of tropes we're familiar and comfortable with, like the bully with his own problems, and the classroom hijinks, and the lessons learned... but that it also had interesting new details like the fact that the boy's family, having moved to a non-working farm on the edge of town, has wound show more up being an unofficial rescue agency. I also liked that it didn't take place in middle school, but in freshman year of high school, which is a year not often written about.

Maybe not great literature, but perfect for the audience, and I actually loved it, too.

(Except for the deal with his sister. I tried to see her pov, but couldn't... she really is that spoiled and evil.) show less

This journal style book gives an episodic look at the freshman year of Larkin Pace. Its two major threads are Larkin's love and encyclopedic knowledge of old movies, and the trajectory of his relationship with his childhood girl friend, Brooke. It is advertised for older Wimpy readers. I am not a Wimpy fan (and have only read the first one) but this is a more realistic slice of school year - nothing really to the extreme. Regular kids dealing. Quite enjoyable.

There are quite a few Wimpy Kid imitations out there. Personally, I didn't like Wimpy Kid at all - the main character is insufferably annoying and the kind of kid I would kick out of the library after about five minutes. However, some of the author/illustrators jumping on the bandwagon have produced some fun stories with much more likable characters, in my opinion.

Although there were a few confusing points in the story, for the most part I really liked Detorie's story of a hapless fourteen show more year old filmophile. Larkin desperately wants a new camcorder so he can get started on his way to becoming a world famous filmmaker. But his dad won't lend him the money to get one, citing the two bikes he carelessly left out to get stolen. Then he gets a part-time job working for an old lady, he loses the girlfriend he never had, he's got problems with a bully, and...could life get any worse?

Larkin is a completely believable 14 year old. His daydreams, fantasies, frustrations, and his whole voice are vibrant and sympathetic. He's not always a perfect guy, but he's pretty nice most of the time. He works hard to get what he wants, but sometimes he loses focus. I didn't care as much for Larkin's best friend, Freddie. He was too quirky to be believable and I didn't get why Larkin and Freddie were still friends, other than Larkin's reluctance to deal with people changing. Larkin's sister was extremely annoying, albeit a realistic character. I've mentioned before I have no patience with the "let the older teenager be nasty because he/she is going through a phase". Even allowing for Larkin's one-sided point of view, she takes unfair advantage of everyone and doesn't contribute anything to the family. I'm strongly in favor of teens contributing, adolescent angst or not.

This book is aimed at an older audience than Diary of a Wimpy Kid, although Larkin has some of the same worries and problems - like his height, annoying siblings, and trying to talk to girls. I liked the more organized illustrations - many of them in comic strip format. There isn't "inappropriate" material for younger readers, just a generally older feel. This would be a perfect book for 6th grade and up.

Verdict: Strongly recommended. I suggest this title and Emond's Happyface for kids who started Wimpy Kid in middle school and now want something older.

ISBN: 9781606841495; Published April 2011; ARC received from publisher at ALA Midwinter 2011; Added to order list to hopefully purchase for my library, but the teen budget being what it is... show less