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Boy21

by Matthew Quick (Goodreads Author)

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 798 ratings · 236 reviews

Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in gray, broken Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish Mob, drugs, violence, and racially charged rivalries. At home, he takes care of his disabled grandfather, and at school he’s called “White Rabbit”, the only white kid on the varsity basketball team. He’s always dreamed of getting out somehow with his girlfriend, Er...more

Hardcover, 250 pages

Published March 5th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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Lists with This Book

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2012 Young Adult Standalone Challenge

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Community Reviews

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Mar 14, 2012 Tatiana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Tatiana by: Kirkus

Shelves: 2012, ala-ya-2013, ya, b

As seen on The Readventurer

There is not nearly enough YA books about friendships. For some strange reason, romantic relationships are promoted as more important. While I agree that at some point in life you do meet that special person who becomes your partner in everything, up until that point it is friends that help you out, support you, accompany you through life.

Friendship, the healing, supporting, non-judgmental type of friendship, is what Boy21 is about. Or is supposed to be about.

I love th...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: male-protagonist, 2012, sports, realistic-fiction, to-re-read, whoa-that-s-heavy

What a peculiar book. I'm not saying it was necessarily too offbeat but it was different in a way I didn't expect it to be. In a good way. In an excellent way actually.

Finley is heading into his senior year. Things look good for the most part. As good as things can be with living in Belmont--a town run by the Irish mob. He's been training all summer with his girlfriend Erin for basketball season. They both are on basketball teams. Erin is a star on the girls’ team and is pinning her hopes on ge...more What a peculiar book. I'm not saying it was necessarily too offbeat but it was different in a way I didn't expect it to be. In a good way. In an excellent way actually.

Finley is heading into his senior year. Things look good for the most part. As good as things can be with living in Belmont--a town run by the Irish mob. He's been training all summer with his girlfriend Erin for basketball season. They both are on basketball teams. Erin is a star on the girls’ team and is pinning her hopes on getting a basketball scholarship. Finley would follow her anywhere. He is the point guard on the boys’ team, and though he's not good enough to get into a college team, he needs basketball like air. One day his coach asks him a favor, to become friends from a boy out of state. Finley always listen to the coach so he does what he says. The new guy only goes by Boy21. Boy21 used to play basketball but his parents have been murdered and real life is too hard for him right now. Together Finley and Boy21 slowly but surely become friends, and this friendship changes both of them for the better.

Quick did, quite frankly, fantastic with the characterization of each character in this story. It's a short book but I grew to love the characters fast. What also is done well is the setting. It's told through Finley's point of view so he sees his surroundings as something normal. I can only describe it as gritty but not in your face gritty. Finley has come to accept his situation and doesn't moan and groan about it. He is a quiet character and it's cool to see how much he is thinking about while everyone else is talking. Boy21 has such a great character arc in this story. He goes from being fragile to strong, and becomes an important person in Finley’s life. It was interesting to see the correlation between Finley and Boy21 characters. Their friendship is odd but it works for them. The writing style is so unique and gives the perfect atmosphere for this story.

I can see how the cover could be off putting to some people because it's not that appealing, but I would have to say it fits the story. I wouldn't change it. I was sure this book was going to become a new favorite, but the book took a turn I didn't expect. It wasn't bad but I wish I had seen if the story had panned out another way. I know I'm being ambiguous but I don't want to give anything away.

I think I need to re-read this, scratch that I know I should re-read this. It's a book about unlikely friendships, overcoming obstacles, and seizing hope. Most of all it’s about how the most important thing you need to hold on to is people.(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Sarah (YA Love) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, young-adult-lit, contemporary-ya, diversity, march-2012-release, read-in-2012, realistic-fiction, favorites, grief, recommended-summer-reading-2012, ncte-alan12

**I just finished reading this again as a read aloud. I love this book. 10/17/12**

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

Plain and simple, Boy21 is a GREAT book. I was on the search for a quality read aloud for my freshmen English classes, so I picked up Boy21 on a whim. I wanted to read it anyway, but I kept thinking about my 3rd hour freshmen class that’s primarily boys who don’t enjoy reading. Boy21 seemed like the perfect fit for them, so I went with my hunch and started reading it. As soon as...more **I just finished reading this again as a read aloud. I love this book. 10/17/12**

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

Plain and simple, Boy21 is a GREAT book. I was on the search for a quality read aloud for my freshmen English classes, so I picked up Boy21 on a whim. I wanted to read it anyway, but I kept thinking about my 3rd hour freshmen class that’s primarily boys who don’t enjoy reading. Boy21 seemed like the perfect fit for them, so I went with my hunch and started reading it. As soon as I read the first couple chapters I knew I made the right decision.

Finley’s voice really stands out on the page, which is ironic considering he doesn’t like to talk much. He actually reminds me a little bit of Lucky Linderman from Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King. Both Lucky and Finley have a sort of innocence about them. They both have trouble speaking up for themselves, and they also want what’s best for those around them. Just like Lucky, Finley is an admirable character.

One of the reasons I like Finley is because he’s so loyal to his friends, coach, and family. When his coach approaches him about helping Boy21 (Russ), Finley doesn’t hesitate to offer his help. He trusts his coach, so even though he worries that Russ could take his starting position on the basketball team, he still tries to make friends with Russ. Russ has an obsession with space and refers to himself as Boy21, but he and Finley pair up well. They’re both amazing basketball players, even though Russ doesn’t show this right away, and they both deal with unfair treatment. They’re both treated poorly for different reasons, much of which is based on race and rivalry, but it still serves as a bond. After a startling and tragic turn of events, Finley really grows as a character. His loyalties are tested and he begins to doubt what’s truly important in his life. He begins to question his life, where it’s going–if anywhere–and what really happened years ago that caused him to be such a quiet, good kid. I love being able to witness this kind of characterization, which is one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed Matthew Quick’s novel so much.

Boy21 by Matthew Quick is a novel that appeals to a variety of readers. My basketball players and sports fiction fans will enjoy the basketball scenes and references in Boy21. My fans of great contemporary realistic fiction will recognize what a superb example this is of that genre. Readers will connect with Finley, Erin, and Russ. They’ll feel the tension and suspense, they’ll laugh out loud, and they might even cry (I did).(less)

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Mar 02, 2013 Owen rated it 2 of 5 stars

(2/1/13) My school’s book club chose this book because the author is coming to be a speaker at the annual writing conference. It was chosen I guess so we can ask him questions about it at the conference. I also have to write a small review for the school newspaper so I’m not quite sure how I’m going to do that…

Here’s the thing. I don’t like basketball. I don’t like playing it, watching it; I think it’s pretty boring. But it is a huge deal at my school. The basketball team is doing really well (s...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Cayce rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

5 stars

What made me pick Boy21 up? I've been trying to come up with the answer for about an hour now, but it's just not something I can explain, not in objective terms. It was like my spider sense was tingling or something. I only knew that this book would be something different, in a good way. I hadn't read anything by Matthew Quick before, or even heard of him. Yet everything about this book called to me. The title, the cover, the blurb - everything.

When I started the book, other than it's g...more

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Apr 26, 2012 J rated it 2 of 5 stars

A slice of life about how one violent act has the power to change our perception of ourselves, the people we love, our environment, our priorities, and the measure of kindness we show others. There is a quote in the book by Scottie Pippin that says, "Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team."

The characters in this story have a tough time coming to grips with their past and their future as they learn that who they are meant to be in life may be differen...more

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May 10, 2013 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

I put off reading this forever. From the blurbs I thought: boys, basketball, drugs, violence, ugh. But there were competing pressures: (1) the author is Matthew Quick, who wrote Silver Linings Playbook; (2) I keep seeing rave reviews for this one; and finally (3) the cover kept calling out to me, with its promise that something really, really good was somehow in this book. And it was!

Finley McManus is a high-school senior who lives in a working class Irish and Black mob-dominated town outside of...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: peach-consideration

Overall, this book has some really cool elements sorely lacking in a lot of YA fiction: solid friendship, nice basketball action, and positive romantic relationships, even positive family relationships.

Like Quick's Sorta Like a Rockstar, it also has a whole lot of unabashed quirkiness, which I really enjoy.

Not the title character who goes by his jersey number 21, but Finley is the protagonist of the tale. Finley has grown up as a white minority in his high school, his neighborhood, and definitel...more Overall, this book has some really cool elements sorely lacking in a lot of YA fiction: solid friendship, nice basketball action, and positive romantic relationships, even positive family relationships.

Like Quick's Sorta Like a Rockstar, it also has a whole lot of unabashed quirkiness, which I really enjoy.

Not the title character who goes by his jersey number 21, but Finley is the protagonist of the tale. Finley has grown up as a white minority in his high school, his neighborhood, and definitely his high school basketball team. Though the town is mostly black, the white residents live in fear and intimidation by the Irish mob, the same people responsible, so it is intimated for Finley's grandfather being in a wheelchair and for his father being completely beaten down.

Besides his complete devotion to basketball and his training for it year round, his other great joy is in his girlfriend Erin, a more gifted b-ball player than he is and a complete sweetheart--funny, loving, good to his family. All seems poised for the perfect senior year, starting guard on the team and an attempt to follow Erin to where she can get a scholarship, getting them the heck out of Bellmont.

That's when Coach shows up with an odd request: make friends with the star-obsessed (literally) NBA-ready player from California who is walking wounded after the murder of his parents come to live with his grandparents. Boy 21 has come out of the mental hospital with a thin grip on reality and the full-on delusion that he is from outer space and his parents will be back to get him soon.

Finley himself is quiet, so soft-spoken from some vaguely referenced early trauma, that Russ, aka Boy21 finds his company restful. He faces a catch-22: if he helps to heal his new friend and constant companion, he will lose his spot on the basketball team. If he doesn't help, he refuses his coach--something he has never done.

The book loses a little steam at this point for me, but just a little, when Erin is injured, Irish mob elements become dangerous to Finley's family again, and Finley is faced with all his dreams for senior year being flushed away and facing real danger to boot. Boy 21 becoming Russ has been the goal all along, but at what price?

Still overall, wonderful basketball, trademark eccentric characters and quiet wit, and the simple beauty possible in the uncertainty of the human condition.(less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Sally Kruger added it

When Finley's basketball coach pulled him aside and asked him to take the new kid under his wing, Finley could never have imagined what was in store. He never would have guessed that the oddest friendship he had ever experienced would benefit him in any helpful way.

Finley lives in a rundown town controlled on one side by black thugs and on the other side by the Irish mob. He lives with his dad and his wheelchair-bound pop, where talking about his mother's death is off limits. Two things make lif...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Tracy B. (personal account) Babiasz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having recently discovered that I am in love with Matthew Quick and his writing, I was distressed to learn that I had missed one of his novels and set out to immediately rectify this (thank you WRL staff!). While I found lots of similarities between Quick's other two novels, this one was a little different.

Finley lives in a rough area of Philadelphia ruled by the Irish mob. He takes care of his grandfather and tries to make his father proud. He loves basketball, despite the fact that, as point g...more Having recently discovered that I am in love with Matthew Quick and his writing, I was distressed to learn that I had missed one of his novels and set out to immediately rectify this (thank you WRL staff!). While I found lots of similarities between Quick's other two novels, this one was a little different.

Finley lives in a rough area of Philadelphia ruled by the Irish mob. He takes care of his grandfather and tries to make his father proud. He loves basketball, despite the fact that, as point guard, he knows he's never going to be a star. Before his senior year begins, his coach asks him to take on a more difficult position, that of friend to a new student who was a basketball phenom out west but is now trying to deal with the aftermath of a recent tragedy. Finley and Russ seem to have nothing in common, but as the year goes on, each manages to give the other something he needs.

I really like how Quick's characters continue to look for the good in people and situations no matter how many reasons they might have for not doing so. Finley lives with a father who does nothing but work, a mother who was killed when he was young, a grandfather with no legs, and little chance of ever getting out of a dying town taken over by mobsters. Yet, he accepts his situation, does what he can to change it, and tries to make the best of what he can't. His relationship with Russ (AKA Boy 21) offers a source of hope. His relationship with is girlfriend is genuine. I so wanted to pick up all these people and put them down in a better place.

I had two small issues with this novel, and they really are small. The conclusion and resolution to some of the questions that have risen during the book distracted me a bit from what I felt was the theme, which was Finley and Russ's friendship and healing. I was also incredibly disappointed in Finley's coach, who seemed to so genuinely care for him enough to ask him to help Russ return to real life, but then basically deserted him. Some of that is just because I liked the character and was disappointed in him, but it also felt like it didn't fit Quick's overall goal of instilling a belief in the good of those around you.

A beautiful study of a friendship and the fallout of personal tragedy.(less)

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Jan 23, 2013 Jo Sorrell marked it as to-read

From LMNet

8th grade boy came in this morning to tell me that Boy 21 (by Matthew Quick) was the best book he's ever read, and he made me promise to recommend it to others, so here you go! The boy who recommended it is a middle child in a huge family, and has
older siblings with heavy issues. The book has been popular here with boys of different races and reading abilities and interests. I haven't read it myself, but here's the Kirkus review:

In a town partially controlled by the Irish mob, a quie...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Ashton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book review

The title of my book is Boy 21 . The book is written by Matthew Quick . The genre of the book is Spots and fiction . Most of the content in the book is about basketball and Finley and his girl friend Erin , also his basketball team and family. The over view of the book is like to describe Finley and Erin's life basically. The intended audience is people who like basketball books and or love books also maybe crime.
Plot summary

Well here are 2 events I remember in the book in order. T...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Liana rated it 5 of 5 stars

I feel like I was sleeping on this book. I'm not sure what kept me away for so long. Maybe the cover. It's a bit busy and not that appealing, although it really captures the book perfectly so I'm not sure why. Maybe the vague description? I'm not sure but I'd seen this book around and just let it pass me by. It wasn't until I read a blog post that really caught my attention so I had to pick it up. After reading the sample on my Kindle I was hooked and I finished it quickly.

Finley is a quiet kid....more

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Nov 04, 2012 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Description: Finley is the only white boy on his basketball team, and basketball is at the center of his life, along with his girlfriend Erin (who he breaks up with every basketball season so he can concentrate). One night, his coach—who he always obeys without question—asks him to mentor a new kid, a phenomenal basketball player whose parents have been murdered. Although Finley knows this new boy could take his starting spot on the team, he becomes friends with him; he calls himself Boy 21 and...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the cover of this book doesn't do it justice; in fact, I put off reading the novel just because the cover looks too SFish. Turns out I was wrong (yes, I know, 'Don't judge a book by its cover), and I have to admit that after reading the book, its cover makes sense. But still.

This reminded me of Bruce Brooks' Newbery Honor Book, THE MOVES MAKE THE MAN, in that basketball plays a key role in the lives of the characters without being the center of the plot---and, as with Brooks...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Claudia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-book-challenge-160-books, ya-books, lad-lit

Even a couple of days after having finished this book, I'm still chewing it...unsure what I really think and feel.

Finley -- I love him. He's smart, observant. He sees people true, if that makes sense. He sees his beaten-down father, his disabled grandfather. He sees his girlfriend Erin, for who they are. And he loves them.

He sees the ugliness of his hometown, Bellmont -- a town ruled by the Irish Mob with swift violence and vengeance. He sees that he'll have to get out of town to really begin h...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Mrs. Tongate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sports, romance, teen

Boy21 is a GREAT book. Finley’s voice stands out even though he doesn't like to talk. I really liked Finley because he’s loyal to his friends, coach, and family. When Coach asks him to help Boy21 (Russ), Finley doesn’t hesitate. He trusts his coach, even though he worries that Russ could take his starting position on the basketball team. Russ has an obsession with space and refers to himself as Boy21. He's out there! They’re both amazing basketball players, even though Russ doesn’t show this rig...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Beverly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 14-16 year olds

Recommended to Beverly by: indiebound.org/nextlist

Shelves: good-reads-for-reluctant-readers, young-adult-books

Boy21 is a strong and memorable story of true friendship between two high school seniors who have nothing in common (well almost nothing,but the reader doesn't find out what it is until the end). Finley is from a hard working poor white family in a rapidly disintegrating neighborhood run by black drug dealers and Irish mob thugs. Between basketball and caring for his invalid grandfather, Finley has never had time for friends or a social life. Being the only white kid on his basketball team gives...more

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May 15, 2012 Courtney Johnston rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, fiction

So, at high school I hung out with jocks. I didn't meet a really smart boy until I went away to university. But I met a lot of well-built physically talented young men, and you know - those fleeting times are fleeting.

Anyway. All this has left me with a serious weakness for sports novels and movies. Don't even get me started on Friday Night Lights. 'Boy21' is a bit of a twist on the traditional sports novel though: the focus is on friendship, but not friendship that leads to the championship pla...more So, at high school I hung out with jocks. I didn't meet a really smart boy until I went away to university. But I met a lot of well-built physically talented young men, and you know - those fleeting times are fleeting.

Anyway. All this has left me with a serious weakness for sports novels and movies. Don't even get me started on Friday Night Lights. 'Boy21' is a bit of a twist on the traditional sports novel though: the focus is on friendship, but not friendship that leads to the championship play-off. Rather, friendship that requires sacrifice and leads to healing.

I could recount the plot, but that seems pointless - try this instead. The thing that really touched me about the book was the relationship between Finley (the book's protagonist, the only white boy on his high school's basketball team, a kid with little natural talent but all the determination in the world) and his girlfriend Erin, the star player on the girl's team, and their hope - via a scholarship for Erin - to get out of their Irish-mob dominated neighbourhood on the outskirts of Philadelphia.

While for much of the book I felt like Quick was overreaching, in his descriptions of Finley and Erin together I felt a thrill of recognition. Here's Finley doing the classic think of your Mom, think of your Mom:

Sitting there on the grass, looking at her beautiful stomach, I start to think about making out with Erin, running my hands up and down her abs. So I have to think about where my pop's legs end just below the thigh -- his stumps, because that always wipes the sexy thoughts from my mind -- and, just like that, my head's right by the time the custodian opens the gym door and says we can come in.

Every year at the start of the basketball season, Finley and Erin break up so they can focus on their game. Every year, Erin asks if they can stay together. And Quick captures the beautiful bit of teenage boy reasoning, which I so remember from my youth (and, let's admit, my not-so-youth):

Erin and I have this conversation every year.
She argues that our schedules will keep us so busy that it won't even matter if we are together or not, but I believe that during basketball season, a romantic relationship is a distraction, and there's no way I can simply be friends with Erin. If I see her at lunch or before school or at my locker every day, I'll get horny, and I won't be able to focus one hundred percent on the season. I love Erin as much as I love basketball, which is a conflict of interest. And if we kiss on the roof or hold hands -- these things will most definitely take my mind off my goals. With schoolwork and Pop to take care of already, I can't mentally afford to have a girlfriend during basketball season.

As someone who was once pre-emptively dumped, I feel for Erin here. That 'conflict of interest' is a clincher - I can completely imagine a 17 year-old tossing that one out. The next paragraph though feels remarkably unrealistic, and captures the unevenness of this book for me:

I love making out with Erin, and holding her hand, and the peachy smell of her hair after she showers -- almost as much as I love the sweaty leather smell of a gym in winter, being part of a team, and working out with the guys. And while having a girlfriend and being on the team aren't mutually exclusive, both fill a need -- maybe the same need. Basketball and Erin make the rest of the world go away -- focus me, make me forget, and get the endorphins flowing. It's best to be addicted to one or the other. This will be the fourth season Erin and I have taken a break, and we've always gotten back together in the past, so why do I have such a strange, dreadful feeling tonight?

Because you're a dick, Finley, that's why. But I forgive you, because you're just a boy. And a authentic, confused, secretive, quiet teenage boy protagonist is a rare thing, and one to be grateful for, even in a slightly overworked setting. (less)

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Mar 13, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
I really liked Matthew Quick's last book, Sorta Like a Rock Star so I was eager to read this one. Themes are similar although protagonist and storyline is different. The story endears the reader to Finley, a minimal talker and even to Russ, Boy21. He is purported to be an amazing basketball player and, it will surprise nobody, that he turns out to be an amazing basketball player. The bare bones of it is that the book is about priorities, friendship, and family.

Finley has his life plann...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: death-and-dying, coming-of-age, relationships, sports, young-adult-literature

"I know I'm probably not going to play college ball anywhere, not even at the division-three level. I'm a role player on my team, not a star. I'm okay with that. But Erin has a real chance to make a good college team and earn a scholarship, which is another reason I love training and playing off-season b-ball so much: It's a chance to help Erin.

We just want to get the hell out of this town somehow - together - and Erin's basketball career might be our best shot. We talk about leaving Bellmont al...more "I know I'm probably not going to play college ball anywhere, not even at the division-three level. I'm a role player on my team, not a star. I'm okay with that. But Erin has a real chance to make a good college team and earn a scholarship, which is another reason I love training and playing off-season b-ball so much: It's a chance to help Erin.

We just want to get the hell out of this town somehow - together - and Erin's basketball career might be our best shot. We talk about leaving Bellmont all the time, moving past the history of our families, breaking free. We've seen too many people make mistakes and get stuck here - like Erin's brother, Rod, and my pop did."

Finley and his girlfriend, Erin, are entering their senior year in Bellmont, a once-better town near Philadelphia, that has become a power center for the Irish mob. Finley and Erin both start for their respective teams, and they both completely dedicate themselves to their sport, to the point that they even "break up" each time basketball season begins, so that they can focus solely on their games. Before the season begins, Finley's coach (whom he deeply respects, and always listens to) asks Finley if he can keep a secret, and do him a favor. A new student will be arriving at Bellmont, a highly-recruited basketball superstar from LA, whose parents were murdered the previous year. Since that tragedy, Russ has been in group homes, therapy, and is coming to live with his grandparents in Bellmont, under a new name, so that the national media won't locate him. Coach wants Finley to look out for Russ, but also to encourage him to come back to basketball, because Coach thinks it will help him readjust better. Finley wonders if it's also because Russ can help the team win state.

When Finley meets Russ, it's apparent that Russ will need significant help adjusting to Bellmont, and to reality. Russ suffers from severe post-traumatic stress, and his coping mechanism is to adopt an emotionless personality, claiming that he is an extraterrestrial sent to Earth to study emotions, and wait for his parents to bring him back to outer space with them. While Finley can't imagine how he's helping Russ, if at all, the fact that Finley gives Russ space, listens to him, and is generally a very good and kind person, allows Russ to feel more comfortable with this new friendship. Finley thinks that the alien guise that Russ has adopted is just a front, but he's not going to push the issue with Russ. As basketball season draws closer, though, Coach begins to pressure Finley to make sure Russ comes out for the team. And once Russ reveals his true basketball skills in a game, his cover is blown, and the relationship between he and Finley is seriously tested.

This is only about half the plot of this book, and I don't want to reveal spoilers. Suffice it to say that Finley's own past is dark, and the relationship with his family and Erin's reveals the history and strain of Bellmont's past. Finley's narrative voice is simple, clear and exceptionally honest; there is no way you can genuinely not like this kid, and you will find yourself desperately rooting for him to get out of that bleak town, along with Erin. But the town's history will make that difficult. And for me, the way the families' histories came to play into the storyline, while interesting, prevented me from giving this a higher rating. The plot becomes a little crowded in the book's second half, and while it's clear that Russ and Finley both have their own personal journeys to travel, I felt that if Quick had revealed a little more context earlier in the novel, the second half wouldn't have felt as jumbled for me. In addition, the way in which Finley's coach effectively coerces him to watch out for Russ in the first place bothered me a lot. That being said, these are relatively minor points, and this is an incredible book - full of emotion, well-drawn characters, and sharp basketball scenes that will appeal to the most reluctant reading sports fan. I'm still thinking about these characters days after finishing the book, which says a lot to me. (less)

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Mar 06, 2012 Fred marked it as to-read

Shelves: srsly-tbr-asap

I gotta admit, this doesn't look like my kind of book. I don't like sports, books about boys or dark intimations of looming gang violence. Also the cover looks creepy. Having said all that, Sorta Like A Rock Star was just all kinds of *AWESOME*, so I trust and have faith that Matthew Quick will be doing something similarly great with this, since on first blush SLARS didn't look like it would rock my socks either. If you haven't read Sorta Like A Rock Star, please do yourself a favor and get it....more

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Mar 06, 2012 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars

Finley's whole world is basketball. He lives in a poor town with his father and grandfather (who's in a wheelchair; taking care of him is one of Finley's main responsibilities). He loves his family but really, he just wants to get out of Bellmont with his girlfriend, Erin. And basketball is the way out for both of them (Erin is also really good). And then his coach gives him an assignment: there's going to be a new student, Russ. His parents were murdered, and he's currently going through a hard...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullies

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Brains and athletic prowess have long been touted as avenues for social and economic mobility. For Finley McManus, basketball promises to help him leave behind the neighborhood where he grew up. Divided between the Irish mob and African-American drug-runners, Bellmont is not a pretty place, and Finley and his basket-playing girlfriend dream of escaping its violence and poverty. When his basketball coach enlists Finley's help in supporting a transfer student from California, the athlete does as h...more Brains and athletic prowess have long been touted as avenues for social and economic mobility. For Finley McManus, basketball promises to help him leave behind the neighborhood where he grew up. Divided between the Irish mob and African-American drug-runners, Bellmont is not a pretty place, and Finley and his basket-playing girlfriend dream of escaping its violence and poverty. When his basketball coach enlists Finley's help in supporting a transfer student from California, the athlete does as his coach asks, even though it may mean that he will lose his own starting position on the team. Russ, who prefers to be called Boy21, is recovering from the murder of his parents, and claims to be an extraterrestrial. As the boys grow closer, the similarities in their lives become more readily apparent. While Russ spins elaborate an elaborate space fantasy, Finley remains silent, failing to stand up even when classmates pile carrots on his plate at lunch because his nickname is White Rabbit and when his girlfriend is disrespected by others. A tragedy involving Erin causes Finley to lose interest in everything else in his life. The author's exploration of love, loss, and second chances will remind readers of the power of hope and the coping mechanisms used by the human mind and heart as they heal. For me, the first two-thirds of the book are exceptionally strong, but the title uses steam once Erin disappears. While the long-reaching arms of kingpins who rule over communities frozen by fear that extends over generations and guarantees silence is described clearly here, I was saddened once Finley realizes the price his own family has paid for their mistakes. Although I hope for the best for Erin and Finley, I'm not sure how safe they will be in the end or how realistic it is to hope for a happy ending in their case. As Finley makes his escape, thanks to mob money, I wonder how long it will be before someone comes to collect what is owed. This provocative title is sure to inspire much debate about the choices each of the characters makes. Wow! The book's layers allow the characters to be drawn in a complex fashion as readers--and characters--discover small and large truths throughout the pages. (less)

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Jul 01, 2011 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 14 and up

Shelves: adults-reading-ya-lit, guys-read, high-school-and-beyond, grief

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 cle...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Reader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-april-2011

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

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Mar 18, 2013 Terri rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Boy21" by Matthew Quick has been on my radar for quite some time. I picked up an ARC of the book at the International Reading Association Conference (I think) almost two years ago. It's been in my ever-growing pile for quite some time. When it was nominated for a 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, I knew I needed to read it. Last year "A Monster Calls," my vote for the book of the year, was nominated for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize - when the Printz committee didn't even give it a nod - and...more "Boy21" by Matthew Quick has been on my radar for quite some time. I picked up an ARC of the book at the International Reading Association Conference (I think) almost two years ago. It's been in my ever-growing pile for quite some time. When it was nominated for a 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, I knew I needed to read it. Last year "A Monster Calls," my vote for the book of the year, was nominated for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize - when the Printz committee didn't even give it a nod - and then went on to win the Carnegie Medal. The Los Angeles Times gets it right, in my estimation. Their nominations also led me to reading "My Book of Life by Angel" by Martine Leavitt. Another stellar book.

Set in an urban area in Pennsylvania, "Boy21" focuses on the life of the protagonist, Finley (called "White Rabbit" by his classmates). Finley is the only white (and Irish) boy on the school's basketball team in a school that is largely black. He lives with his father and cares for his ailing grandfather who is missing both legs. During the summer before his senior year, Finley's basketball coach comes to him and confidentially tells him the story of Russell Allen, a basketball phenom from a private school in Los Angeles where he was the only black boy on an all white basketball team. His parents were recently murdered. He has moved to Pennsylvania to live with his grandparents and will be attending Finley's school in the fall. The coach asks Finley to take Russell, AKA Russ Washington, under his wings. He is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and says he's an extra-terrestrial from outer space who has come here to study human emotions. He claims that his parents will be coming to claim him soon. Finley agrees, though he knows that his own starting position on the team is at risk should Russel eventually agree to play basketball again. He loves basketball as much as his Irish girlfriend, Erin, who is a basketball phenom in her own right. We find that Russell and Finley have much in common.

"Boy21" is a character driven story, which will appeal to girls, with enough action to appeal to boys as well. I felt the ending needed more time and resolution, especially with the introduction of the Irish mob thing. It probably would have been helpful to have more herrings throughout the book to get the reader to this point. The ending may not have felt so abrupt. I also would have liked more in terms of the resolution of Russell/Boy21 and his issues (the book is named after him after all).

Themes include the issue of urban decline, racism, drug abuse, urban conflict and violence, coming of age, self-sacrifice, hard work (though hard work doesn't always get you what you want), family bonds, love, gangs, and loss. It can be read through many lenses. As a librarian, I know this book would appeal to teens - and can't wait to booktalk it. I imagine black and white young men would read the story differently. I imagine that females and males would read it differently. As a parent, the ending, the letting go of a child, was particularly moving to me.

"Boy21" is an unusual, beautiful book worthy of its recognition. It is a quick read, devoid of language, sex, and on screen violence. It will appeal to many readers. As a result, I think it would be a fantastic read aloud. Highly, highly recommended.(less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Greta is Erikasbuddy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Every boy in the world !

Shelves: favorites, teardrop-award, book-publisher-sent-me-to-review

Praise for "Boy 21"!!

It is by far the best contemporary book for boys that I have ever read!!

Imagine if you will someone like Bruce Wayne. His parents get murdered and he decides to become Batman to protect the greater good.

Now flip it and imagine that Bruce Wayne is still a boy, his parents are still murdered, but Bruce isn't Batman.... he just wants everyone to believe that he is. He's just an average kid that starts talking crazy.

That's how I took Russel.

His parents were murdered in Californ...more

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May 10, 2013 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-or-new-adult

This review said EVERYTHING I wanted to say.

While I mostly thought it was a good concept of friendship, as well as personal conflict of love and basketball, alas, I was disappointed to feel that the conflict (and the idea) never really fully developed. The friendship was overshadowed. I never really got to see Finley and Russ connecting over basketball. Plus the Irish mob plot was a bit too much for me to completely enjoyed this book. Too many things at once. I am sure I will be happier if the...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Wally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: boy-hero, boylit, coming-of-age, death, doorway-character, families, friendship, mental-illness, sports, teen

4.5 stars. A quick, intense read about two boys who have both dealt with personal loss - or rather, they've both suffered, and neither one has dealt with it very well, until their basketball coach asks the white kid to befriend the black kid and get him to play on the team. The black kid, Russ, or Boy21, lost his parents to murder and has responded by obsessing on outer space, changing his name, and speaking without emotion. The white kid, Finley, lost his mother and lives with his dad and pop (...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
2013 Hub Reading ...: Boy21	1	7	Feb 25, 2013 01:33pm
AFS Summer readin...: How Finley and Boy21 were treated	2	4	Sep 03, 2012 01:15pm
AFS Summer readin...: Finley and Erin's relationship	1	3	Sep 01, 2012 08:46am
Boy21 = Boy 21	3	10	Aug 28, 2012 12:59pm
Taking a Break	1	6	Aug 22, 2012 12:38pm
Mock Printz 2014: Boy21 by Matthew Quick	5	43	Jun 29, 2012 06:41pm

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About Matthew Quick

Matthew Quick (aka Q) is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, which was made into an Oscar-winning film. His work has been translated into more than twenty languages and has received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, among other accolades. Q lives in Massachusetts with his wife, novelist/pianist Alicia Bessette.

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Quotes from Boy21

“Someday an opportunity will come. Think about Harry Potter. His life is terrible, but then a letter arrives, he gets on a train, and everything is different for him afterward. Better. Magical."
"That's just a story."
"So are we- we're stories too.” — 24 people liked it

“You can lose yourself in repetition—quiet your thoughts; I learned the value of this at a very young age.” — 8 people liked it

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