Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in broken-down Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish mob, drugs, violence, and racially cha...
read full description
reviews
Feb 19, 2012
Barbara
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jul 01, 2011
Claire
rated it:
Set in a small town oppressed by two mobs; the Blacks and the Irish. Finley is a high school senior who has coped with his lifetime of sorrows by shooting hoops and running dribble drills, losing himself in the repetition. His family is completely silent about his mom’s death, his pop’s amputations and his dad’s grief. Erin is his best friend; they are partners in plans to use basketball scholarships to get far, far away from town. A notion supported by both their families. Erin’s brother is cl
More...
2 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 17, 2011
Reader
rated it: 
Finley McManus loves being a starter on the varsity basketball team, even though he knows there's no chance to go pro. Basketball gets him away from the Irish gangs, the racial tensions, and the dullness of his family life. When Russ Washington comes to town, Finley gets a bit worried, both for his place on the team and for Russ himself. Russ's family was recently murdered, and Russ is now going by Boy21, claiming to be an extraterrestrial waiting for his parents to claim him when their tour of
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 17, 2011
Rane
rated it: 
I received a signed copy of this book through the goodreads First-read program.
Boy21 is a coming of age story about a boy, Finley, who has a deep passion for basketball, without much talent. He develops an unexpected friendship with another boy, Russ aka "Boy21," who has a lot of talent, but little interest in the sport. The two are very similar and, at the same time, very different within their similarities.
The relationship between these two is interesting, More...
Boy21 is a coming of age story about a boy, Finley, who has a deep passion for basketball, without much talent. He develops an unexpected friendship with another boy, Russ aka "Boy21," who has a lot of talent, but little interest in the sport. The two are very similar and, at the same time, very different within their similarities.
The relationship between these two is interesting, More...
Sep 27, 2011
Crowinator
rated it:
I think I have some sort of crying disorder. Seriously. The characters in this book have their tragedies and vulnerable emotional moments, both big and small, and it's all very authentic, but c'mon.
Next thing I know, I will be crying at heartwarming television commercials.
Oh wait, that's already happened. I need to read something funny, like NOW.
Real review later. This will be a good one for reluctant teen readers who want something both unusual and serious t More...
Next thing I know, I will be crying at heartwarming television commercials.
Oh wait, that's already happened. I need to read something funny, like NOW.
Real review later. This will be a good one for reluctant teen readers who want something both unusual and serious t More...
5 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Aug 22, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
Wow. Oh. Wow.
I did not know what to expect from this book. The cover didn't really appeal to me, but the gal at the Little Brown booth at IRA 2011 told me I HAD TO read it.
Wow. Oh. Wow.
She was right. This is a gorgeous book. A strange, wonderful, heartbreaking book. I read this in less than a day, I couldn't put it down. Once you start reading about Finley, and Erin, and Russ (who might be from space) you will not be able to stop.
This book More...
I did not know what to expect from this book. The cover didn't really appeal to me, but the gal at the Little Brown booth at IRA 2011 told me I HAD TO read it.
Wow. Oh. Wow.
She was right. This is a gorgeous book. A strange, wonderful, heartbreaking book. I read this in less than a day, I couldn't put it down. Once you start reading about Finley, and Erin, and Russ (who might be from space) you will not be able to stop.
This book More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 29, 2011
Laura
rated it:
"Boy21" (aka "Russell") and Finley (aka "White Rabbit") are in some ways mirror images of each other: they stand out at their schools and on their basketball teams, basketball is their lives, and they share a loss. When Boy21 moves to Finley's town and Coach asks Finley to befriend the new student, little to they expect to become friends.
Loss - tragic loss - can lead people to shut down in different ways; they can retreat from reality, they can channel More...
Loss - tragic loss - can lead people to shut down in different ways; they can retreat from reality, they can channel More...
Feb 01, 2012
Kelly
rated it:
I had a hunch as soon as I started this one, it'd end with me shedding a few tears, and I wasn't wrong. Quick writes some of the best good kid characters, and Finley is no exception. This book tackles a wealth of big deal issues (race, poverty, loss, grief) but does so with innocence and just the right level of naivety to make a huge impact at the end.
One of the things that made me smile AND cry at the same time was how magical the weaving of Harry Potter into the narrative was. < More...
One of the things that made me smile AND cry at the same time was how magical the weaving of Harry Potter into the narrative was. < More...
Dec 31, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
I read an ARC of this book as it doesn't come out until March 2012. The book started out a little slow for me, leaving me wondering where it was going. The second half of the book kept me wrapped up as it took me to that destination. If the first half had kept me as interested as the second half did, I would have given this book 5 stars. I think this would be a great book for boys especially, as almost all of the action centers around basketball.
Nov 21, 2011
Katrina
rated it:
Loved Sorta Like a Rock Star by Quick and hoped Boy21 would meet or exceed it. Boy21: friendship, family, quirky characters, basketball, poverty, gangs, longing, loss, grief, and romance. I'm convinced that throwing many seemingly disjointed elements together and making them work symphonically is Matthew Quick's gift to young adult lit. I'm a fan and can't wait to see what he comes up with next!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 25, 2011
Kim
rated it:
Finley's a reserved kid who loves his girlfriend, basketball, and keeps mum about the rest until his Coach asks him to befriend a basketball phenom with a tragic past. A story of friendship, dealing with heartbreak and the power of sport to help one organize a life. May just make it to my favorites shelf. . . 'nuff said.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 11, 2012
The
rated it:
As an educator, this is such a great book to help scaffold student reading (as required in the new Common Core Standards). There is so much to work with in this book: friendship, love, family, hope, redemption, etc. I see so many male students connecting with Finley and his desire for something more in his life. Female students will connect with Erin as she gets to experience the wonderful world of teenage love. I am beyond excited about what this book is going to do for my students. Matth
More...
Dec 29, 2011
Minli
rated it:
Great book about two boys, an unlikely friendship, and fighting to get out of a troublesome town full of drugs, violence and racial strife--but it didn't touch me the same way as Sorta Like A Rock Star. I suppose I'm still holding Matthew Quick to bawling-on-a-subway-car standard.
Dec 05, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I'm always looking for a good book for high school age boys and this definately fits that description. I really could not put it down. The characters are well developed and the plot fast moving and entertaining. The down side is I felt the ending was not as good as the beginning.
Feb 17, 2012
Michael
rated it:
Everybody has secrets. Nobody talks. So when Boy21, the greatest basketball prospect since Koby Bryant shows up in a mob infested New Jersey slum, claiming to be from outer space, all you really know for sure is that the truth is more explosive than the lies.
Brush off the Prince Award folks.
Brush off the Prince Award folks.
Aug 09, 2011
Julie
rated it:
Great YA novel about friendship, family loyalty, recovery and basketball. The story moves along and the characters are quirky and believable. I'd say both boys and girls will like this one.
Dec 12, 2011
Tulip
rated it:
Boy21 is an inspiring novel that will have readers staying up late just to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone- especially those who like basketball.
Aug 16, 2011
Tiff
rated it:
The things that happen to the teen characters in this book broke my heart...and yet, the story is woven throughout with hope. I think Quick is a master of this type of story, as well as of authentic, unique characters. I wanted the characters in this book to persevere more than I have wanted any character in any book to do so since Amber Appleton in Quick's previous book Sorta Like a Rock Star. I feel like I can't really do this book justice with my babbling review. Just know that I highly recom
More...
Nov 25, 2011
Kim
rated it:
Loved this book-twists and turns throughout-think students will fight over this one!
Feb 11, 2012
Lea
rated it:
Amazing. Basketball, the Irish mob, a boy from outer space, family secrets, and Harry Potter are just the start of this excellent new novel from Matthew Quick.
Dec 13, 2011
EL
rated it:
Intriguing story. A quick read. A great story of friendship, loss, grief and picking up the pieces.
Feb 22, 2012
Feb 22, 2012
Feb 22, 2012
Feb 21, 2012
Feb 21, 2012
Feb 19, 2012
Feb 18, 2012
Feb 17, 2012
