After creating a controversial and hugely popular website, teenager Josh Swensen becomes trapped inside his brilliant creation and must find a way ...
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Aug 27, 2008
Jackie "the Librarian"
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The kids in my teen book group loved this, it really captured their imaginations. Josh is a high school kid posting editorials under the guise of his alterego, Larry. Josh loves to hike and spend days outdoors alone. His favorite book is Walden. He rails against consumerism and our shallow infotainment culture, and finds himself a cult hit in his high school.
He teases his readers with clues to his identity. For example, he keeps his possessions at 75 items, so if he gets something n More...
He teases his readers with clues to his identity. For example, he keeps his possessions at 75 items, so if he gets something n More...
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Dec 22, 2011
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com
Josh is a bored seventeen-year-old genius. That is just a recipe for disaster!
Just for something to do, he creates a website where he posts all of his rants about our celebrity-obsessed culture, anti-communism, and any other random thing that he thinks of. Josh names his site "The Gospel According To Larry" because that is the most unreligious name he could possibly think of. He's getting two or three hits a day, un More...
Josh is a bored seventeen-year-old genius. That is just a recipe for disaster!
Just for something to do, he creates a website where he posts all of his rants about our celebrity-obsessed culture, anti-communism, and any other random thing that he thinks of. Josh names his site "The Gospel According To Larry" because that is the most unreligious name he could possibly think of. He's getting two or three hits a day, un More...
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Feb 10, 2009
Deborah
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TEEN LIT. ---Loved it.
All Josh wants to do is make a difference in the world, and he does this by starting a website called the Gospel According to Larry. As Larry, he can rant all he wants about the ills of society...mainly consumerism, materialism, celebrity worship, etc. He soon becomes so popular, that he has become everything he hates...a brand name. I think what I loved most about this book was his relationship with his dead mother, whom he talks to frequently at the Bloomingdal More...
All Josh wants to do is make a difference in the world, and he does this by starting a website called the Gospel According to Larry. As Larry, he can rant all he wants about the ills of society...mainly consumerism, materialism, celebrity worship, etc. He soon becomes so popular, that he has become everything he hates...a brand name. I think what I loved most about this book was his relationship with his dead mother, whom he talks to frequently at the Bloomingdal More...
Dec 20, 2007
Jennie
rated it: 
Initially I was amused by the layout of the book- the typewritten manuscript, the pictures and the wrap around story. Tashjian sells a convincing tale with these elements. However, I was rather dissapointed in the ending. Also I felt Josh’s rants were too unoriginal to fuel the amount of fame and hype that he received from his website.
Most teenagers would probably enjoy Josh’s story. Also the dark side of Internet fame is a modern reality. The book’s strongest message regards the r More...
Most teenagers would probably enjoy Josh’s story. Also the dark side of Internet fame is a modern reality. The book’s strongest message regards the r More...
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Sep 28, 2007
Mr.G
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Josh Swensen starts a blog called "the Gospel According to Larry" in which he shares his thoughts about high school, relationships, commercials, and God. His website rapidly becomes the most popular at his school, in his city, and in the world. Bands like U2 participate in "Larryfest", politicians opine on it, cable news shows debate it, and the true identity of Larry becomes the obsession of people everywhere.
How will the world react when Josh's secret gets out. A More...
How will the world react when Josh's secret gets out. A More...
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Apr 20, 2011
Tessa
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I thought this was going to be a lighter story than it was, and was glad that it wasn't. There are a lot of parallels between this and Destroy All Cars, but not so many that one could replace the other, and I wish I'd known a ranty, environmentally-minded but sweet and funny boy in my adolescence so he could be secretly or not-so-secretly in love with me. But I digress.
Although Josh's voice has a little too much Janet T. behind it, he's definitely a type that is around, so even though More...
Although Josh's voice has a little too much Janet T. behind it, he's definitely a type that is around, so even though More...
Feb 08, 2011
Cassandra
rated it:
The Gospel According to Larry was a book that I found in seventh grade and I constantly return to it, especially when I feel stressed from the constant consumerism that goes on all around me and when I feel like a hermit. It's a book that gives me a sense of people always being able to take back some control in their lives if they are willing to make the choice and the idea that we can't always prevent our secrets from blowing up in our faces. It was also the book that inspired me to read Thorea
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Dec 13, 2010
Pam
rated it:
Teens love this book. I completely understand why after almost 10 years this book still flies off the shelf at the school library. Tashjian captures the teen psyche and the way kids are trying to figure out their views and beliefs in life during this time with "rules for life" and "the best way to..." sort of thoughts that preoccupy teens.
Josh is a geeky over the top bright senior who creates an alter ego that helps him express his views on the world, his philosop More...
Josh is a geeky over the top bright senior who creates an alter ego that helps him express his views on the world, his philosop More...
Sep 14, 2010
Scarlett
rated it:
This book was... disappointing. I picked it up at a thrift store after hearing a classmate book-talk it. It sounded like a contemporary version of Valentine and Ender's brother... I forget his name... hang on, Wiki-ing... Peter... yes so it sounded sort of like a contemporary YA version of what they did.
For the first half of the book, I really didn't like it. It had a very blatant anti-consumerism message. I don't necessarily have a problem with the message, it was just very Anvi More...
For the first half of the book, I really didn't like it. It had a very blatant anti-consumerism message. I don't necessarily have a problem with the message, it was just very Anvi More...
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Nov 13, 2009
Robin
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Inspired by Thoreau's messages of simplicity and anti-materialism, Larry is an Internet sensation with millions of followers. His "gospel" rails against the cult of celebrity and our consumer culture, and it resonates with people around the world who form clubs and discussion groups to more fully explore Larry's ideas. There is a manic fascination as to the true identity of Larry with reporters sniffing out every clue in a race to "out" this spiritual guru of contemporary cu
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Sep 13, 2009
Emma
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 22, 2011
Kathryn
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Super easy read (finished in two days?! unheard of!), with a fun and interesting plot. I actually picked the book off of the Summer Reading shelf at the library (yes, I deprived some poor student of checking it out from the library for free, but I didn't need to borrow it for long!), and I thought it was a great book for students.
Evaluating it from an educational perspective (not that I'm a professional educator or anything), I thought it had a lot of great themes for youth to discus More...
Evaluating it from an educational perspective (not that I'm a professional educator or anything), I thought it had a lot of great themes for youth to discus More...
Jan 17, 2011
Gorfo
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This book is an attack on consumerism and how shallow the world has become, it's about how most of us would die before we even ate a breakfast cereal without a label. Sadly it's true. How many times have you scoffed at something because it was obscure of foreign? Why do we choose labels instead of the unknown? We choose them because they make us feel safe, they make us feel like we fit in, like we're a part of our society, they make us feel important. We're glued to the media stuck on the latest
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Dec 30, 2011
Jeremy
rated it: 
I'm afraid I found it tedious. The characters behaved according to the plot, and not like real people. There was not a single three-dimensional character to be found, not even the ones that thought they were. It was hard to say when any of them behaved out of character, since their characters were very unestablished.
It made me hate teenagers, and I usually like teenagers. I was frustrated with the way Josh felt and acted toward the lady who was dating his step-dad, because I though More...
It made me hate teenagers, and I usually like teenagers. I was frustrated with the way Josh felt and acted toward the lady who was dating his step-dad, because I though More...
Nov 07, 2009
Maggie
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I didn't know anything about this book when I started reading it, but I'm glad I picked it up. At times it became a little preachy and redundant, but the message was good. I wish the author had spent time explaining why Betagold wants to unmask "Larry." Readers know about Josh's motivation and even some of Beth's actions are explained, but never this character who changes the entire plot.
One major problem I had with the audio is the "Author's note" and "Ep More...
One major problem I had with the audio is the "Author's note" and "Ep More...
Apr 25, 2010
Alicia
rated it:
This book is hysterical and I think kids would get a kick out if, especially since the world revolves around the Internet. Larry creates a character which people stand up and listen to, create music fests for, and always want to listen to-- his message is going to change the way commercialism is seen. But, when he gets caught, does his stepfather feel like he's done the right thing?
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Jul 05, 2009
Megan
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I was interested to see how a book written in 2000 and dependent on the internet as a major plot device would shake out. I have a theory about the shelf life of YA fiction -- in many cases, it's no better than dairy. This book falls victim to that. The idea of someone posting anonymous manifestos is foreign now, in a world where almost everyone has some kind of web presence. People who "hide" online aren't seen as mysterious -- they're creepy. Regardless, I had a difficult time swallow
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Dec 23, 2008
Susan
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Though it's not a new-new book, it's just as on-the-button relevant now as ever. Josh is just a boy with a blog, until the blog takes off (and along with it, Larry--his online persona) and suddenly he has to deal with all the pros and cons of sudden fame and living in the spotlight, and what this will mean to his friendships. In that sense, you could almost see this book as an </i>Audrey, Wait!</i> from the male perspective. The message that "Larry" promotes in his humorous
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Nov 20, 2011
Ellen
rated it:
A brilliant, but socially awkward teenager wants to honor his mother's memory by doing something to change the world. He creates a blog in which, under the pseudonym of Larry, he preaches against rife consumerism/materialism. Larry's sermons become topics of conversation for high school students around the world (including at his own school). Soon there are Larry clubs and Larry gatherings and Larry concerts.
I was intrigued by the premise, and loved the message, but in the end, I More...
I was intrigued by the premise, and loved the message, but in the end, I More...
Jul 02, 2009
Abby
rated it:
Josh and his best friend (and secret love interest) Beth are obsessed with a mysterious online prophet who calls himself Larry. Little does Beth know that Josh is the mastermind behind the website. When "Larry" explodes in popularity, Josh will find that making a difference in the world isn't as easy as he'd thought.
I really, really enjoyed this audiobook. It's expertly narrated by an actor who sounds a little bit like John Green (*swoon*). If it hadn't been a bit overprod More...
I really, really enjoyed this audiobook. It's expertly narrated by an actor who sounds a little bit like John Green (*swoon*). If it hadn't been a bit overprod More...
Jan 28, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Okay, it was really well written. I can see the author has skills. I found it when I was browsing the YA section of our library and I can see why it's a YA read. The Larry character is a mysterious blogger who changes the words with his anti-commercialism posts. It was written in the early days of blogging, and now, 10 years later, the likelihood of the impact of a single blog seems a little low. Hindsight, unfortunately, dulls the concept. Also, the diet of liberal tirade wears a little thin
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Jul 31, 2008
Jen
rated it:
The title teen is disgusted with the rampant materialism he sees in society and goes about critiquing it with a subversive and controversial website. I think 8th and 9th graders who embrace their uniqueness might identify with this one.
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Feb 11, 2012
Amelia
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I read this book for school, I had about 3 weeks to read it, I read it in one day. I could not put it down! It really teaches you a lot. The boy in the story, josh, has a website in which he posts sermons about things like brands, wasting money, and celebs. Yet, he does this annonomosly by the name of Larry. Larry suddenly grows really big, and people threaten to track him down. There is another character called Beth, who is Larry's best friend who he is secretly in love with (Beth doesn't know
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Oct 04, 2008
Angela
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This book has a special way of writing; footnotes at the end of pages that explain a certain word or topic more clearly. As in getting the point across in a completely different way. I wish the ending was different though.
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May 04, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
Great book -- The whole concept of a person who rallies against consumerism and commercialism uncontrollably becoming a commercial/consumptive product was thought provoking and a little heartbreaking. The journey that Josh/Larry goes through certainly gave me pause to think about my own philosophies and personal convictions. Also, BetaGold's need to "unmask" and "out" Josh's online persona was sickening: as the book posed, I kept asking myself, "Why is it so important
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Nov 30, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
I'd say this book was one that was easy to get into, but seemed to get slower, and slower and slower. Near the middle of the book, it almost feels like you've just been reading the same page over and over again. It has a great start, and a great ending, but the middle is quite the bore. To put it easily, it's like a valley. It starts off at a high point, and quickly becomes something you're just trying to get over with. You keep going and eventually you reach the end of it, the top, and its gott
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Oct 14, 2009
Rachael
rated it:
Very relevant and timely, even though it was written eight years ago. It's a very fast-paced and enjoyable read. Although it didn't have the satisfying conclusion I wanted, the ending is probably more realistic.
What I learned from this book: fame is NOT for me. I can be happy with only eight people reading my blog on their Google reader. When I was in high school, I had a dream of becoming a famous columnist but in today's contentious political and social climate I'll take my an More...
What I learned from this book: fame is NOT for me. I can be happy with only eight people reading my blog on their Google reader. When I was in high school, I had a dream of becoming a famous columnist but in today's contentious political and social climate I'll take my an More...
Mar 22, 2009
Pat
rated it:
A gift from an educator guest speaker. He thinks it's a great school read,-- we'll see.
Larry/Josh definitely kept my interest but I have mixed feelings about the book. The frame of the story is clever but I wonder if it is a little gimmicky. It could be a great class read as it introduces anti- consumerism and it is a great segway into Walt Whitman's writings. I think it would hold students' interests. Yet, the resolution bothered me-greatly. A little too conniving for a HS senior-wi More...
Larry/Josh definitely kept my interest but I have mixed feelings about the book. The frame of the story is clever but I wonder if it is a little gimmicky. It could be a great class read as it introduces anti- consumerism and it is a great segway into Walt Whitman's writings. I think it would hold students' interests. Yet, the resolution bothered me-greatly. A little too conniving for a HS senior-wi More...
Nov 24, 2008
TheSaint
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Larry has an agenda: he wants to change the world. Or is it Josh's agenda? Either way, The Gospel According to Larry, does change the world. When Larry's anonymous website devoted to anti-consumerism and anti-commercialism hits the bandwidth, a lot of people listen to his message, including some who want him to reveal himself. When Larry's identity is discovered to be Josh, the media have a frenzy, depriving him of his personal liberty, and leaving him with only one drastic solution. Author Jane
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Apr 20, 2009
Emma
rated it:
We had to read this for school and I really enjoyed it. In fact, I liked it so much that I read ahead (even though I wasn't suppose to!). Anyways, the plot is good, and (if you're into this) the whole trying-to-foreshadow-events thing gets crazy if you don't read the text carefully. However, I was able to guess what would happen quite accurately, so the ending wasn't too much of a surprise. But, this thing between Josh and his best girl friend gets crazy...
Also, I didn't like the fact that More...
Also, I didn't like the fact that More...
