Preston Norton

Very engaging YA novel with a memorable narrator and numerous interesting secondary characters. I can already see the movie version (although they probably will make Cliff more handsome than he is supposed to be in the book). Suffers a little bit from the John Green syndrome (do teenagers really speak with such articulate wit?) but its well-intentioned messages about kindness and acceptance are enough to overcome the artifice. I'm surprised to say this, as a die-hard romance lover, but the show more most interesting relationships in the story are the friendships that develop between Cliff and the classmates he formerly hated or kept at a distance, and the changing dynamic among Cliff, his abusive father and his passive mother.

Debut author Preston Norton impressively nails the right balance of humor, drama, comedy and tragedy. I hope he has more stories like this to tell. show less

Preston Norton's newest book, Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe, releases Tuesday June 5/18.

Now, you might be saying to yourself - with a title like that, what could this book possibly be about? No, it's not a time travelling cave man. Instead, we meet high school student Cliff Hubbard, AKA Neanderthal, based on his 6'6", 250 lb. frame. Neanderthal is not one of the popular kids at Happy Valley High School. And he's not happy - his brother committed suicide, his father is an show more alcoholic and his mother seems to be simply existing and turning a blind eye. And school is no better. Aaron is the cool kid at school. But, when he suffers a head injury at football, he wakes up saying he saw God and God gave him a list of things to do to make Happy Valley High School a better place. God also said that Neanderthal is the one to help him with the list. This unlikely pair do team up to tackle the list - and much more.

I have to say up front that I really enjoyed Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe. I liked the premise and I was really drawn to the characters, especially Cliff. Norton gives us a large and varying cast of supporting players that pretty much illustrate a high school and the social strata. You'll have no problem deciding who you're behind - and who you can't stand. (Esther is especially despicable)

Norton captures the thoughts, angst, hopes, dreams and disappointments of teens through all of his characters, but Cliff's are especially poignant. I loved the voice Norton has given him. Those currently in school will identify and those of us long past school will remember those days through Cliff's trials and triumphs.

"Some of us are barely swimming, some of us are drowning, and there are some of us still who are being tossed in waves and dashed upon the rocks. And often we feel that we won’t survive. Maybe that ocean is school, and we’re struggling to get descent grades, or to fit in, or maybe we’re just trying to survive the hurtful words and actions of people who don’t understand their own cruelty."

The journey to fulfill the list takes Cliff and company on a journey that touches on and explores friendship, families, relationships, love, hate, grief, drugs, drinking, sex, mental health, bullying, homophobia and more. Some of it may not be for the younger end of the teen set.

Norton tells his story with lots of humour - some of it is a bit over the top, as are some situations, but it suits Norton's writing style. Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe moves along very quickly and is an infectious read. (It will also break your heart in places.) Cliff's revelations and resolutions are relatable for anyone, regardless of age.

An excellent read - one that found me - and I'm glad it did. show less

Okay, so it's not about the sunshine and roses version of HS, but the raw reality of being on the fringe, trying to survive the day to day servings of craptastisticness life has to offer, and finding meaning in it all to pull us through another day. It's about hard times, ruthless cliques, and drug use. It's about suicide, beat downs, and cruelty. You know what though? It's also about HOPE. It's about the person hiding behind the mask (thank you HAL for that well turned borrowed quote). It's show more about the way in which we CHOOSE to see the world, and what we're willing to do about it to affect change. It's about not simply letting life happen, but being a part of life. It's about making a difference in our own lives, but also in the lives of others. It's about taking chances, chasing dreams, and finding out what our meaning of life is because let's face it, it's not a one size fits all world out there.

With a cast of characters that are as memorable as the hard hitting dialogue, this book has so much going for it in a somewhat warped sense of wonderful way, you won't know what hit you. Just try to forget Neanderthal, aka Cliff, with his larger than average presence that only rivals his larger than average heart...and yes, that sounds incredibly sappy, but once you read his story, see his life through his eyes, you'll see what I mean. Moving on....proving size doesn't matter, we've got Tegan, a spitfire who takes nothing from no one, no how, and yet carries the weight of a heartbreak so deep, it may push her towards a costly misstep. Seriously though, LOVED THIS GIRL! Then there's Aaron, the other male lead, in all his former jock dream glory, taking a curious turn in his High School ruling thanks to an accident (or was it fate?) shaking more than a few screws loose in his well-coiffed head. His "mission" from the big guy upstairs certainly seems like a stretch, but then again, anything worth doing is gonna take time, calculated risk, and turn a few heads. I admit, I guessed who HAL was pretty early on...something just struck me about the character and when two and two came together, BOOM, my hunch was confirmed...though it did take a little time for me to see the other connection that was certainly well hidden.

All in all, a surprising read from start to finish. I found it equally heart wrenching and hilarious, in a dark, sometimes twisted way, and both aspects made me keep stopping to share a little bit with someone, ANYONE close at hand. Though fiction, it deals with some BIG issues that may hit home for some readers, but it also offers up some sound advice and a reminder that you are not alone.


**copy received for review show less

This was a great mystery for young readers. I love how the mystery unfolded and the ties that present characters had to the house's past.

I love that Aidan did not give up on the mystery and that his friend group grew closer after his notebook was stolen.

Michael Crouch did a great job narrating this story.