My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park

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My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park

by Steve Kluger (Goodreads Author)

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 3,675 ratings · 755 reviews

Best friends and unofficial brothers since they were six, ninth-graders T.C. and Augie have got the world figured out. But that all changes when both friends fall in love for the first time. Enter Al‚. She's pretty, sassy, and on her way to Harvard. T.C. falls hard, but Al‚ is playing hard to get. Meanwhile, Augie realizes that he's got a crush on a boy. It's not so clear...more

Paperback, 403 pages

Published February 19th 2009 by Speak (first published March 13th 2008)

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Apr 28, 2011 Flannery rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone whose heart is feeling a little iced over

Recommended to Flannery by: Teccc

Shelves: tbr-scb-2011, young-adult-teen, i-want-to-go-to-there, read-in-2011, reviewed-2011, wishlist-for-dtbs-to-keep

I miss Boston. I miss walking through the Commons in the fall, drinking on roof decks in the summertime, riding the T and just getting off at random stops, shoveling my car out, pumpkin ale, my book club besties, Fenway franks, that feeling that a bar gets when a Dropkick Murphys song comes on, and perusing the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Hell, I even miss the frakking BU students who ride the green line and the 57 TWO STOPS instead of just walking. This book almost made me physicall...more I miss Boston. I miss walking through the Commons in the fall, drinking on roof decks in the summertime, riding the T and just getting off at random stops, shoveling my car out, pumpkin ale, my book club besties, Fenway franks, that feeling that a bar gets when a Dropkick Murphys song comes on, and perusing the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Hell, I even miss the frakking BU students who ride the green line and the 57 TWO STOPS instead of just walking. This book almost made me physically sick with nostalgia. That’s the kind of hold Boston can exert over a person--and I only lived there for a few years. I loved this book. It filled the Boston-shaped hole in my heart.

The author blurb on Goodreads does not tell me where Steve Kluger grew up, but if it isn’t Boston/Brookline, I’ll eat my own hand. Alright, don’t worry too much about me, I’m back from visiting his website and he lives in Boston. I’m glad I checked him out because it confirms something else I'd been thinking—this book is very close to Kluger’s heart. He wrote what he knows and is passionate about and did a fabulous job of it. I read a lot of science fiction, fantasy, romance, and speculative/dystopian fiction. All of these genres are fun to read but I rarely connect with them on an emotional level. Young adult books often get a bad rap but I honestly can't think of an adult book that has moved me the way that several YA books (most recently this one and The Piper's Son, which I can't recommend highly enough) have--especially lately.

What do an Asian gay teenager, a (view spoiler) orphan, a single dad, the Hispanic daughter of a diplomat, Julie Andrews, and a same-sex couple, one of whom is a Congresswoman have in common? That's right, they are all characters in this book. People on the lookout for absolute realism should probably give this one a skip but I truly think they would be missing out. This book is about the little magical moments in life and it would be a shame if a reader couldn't just run with the story on this one. After all, we're supposed to be the dreamers, aren't we? Back to the story: TC Keller (Anthony Conigliaro Keller) is named for a famous Red Sox player, as are many other members of his extended family, including his father, Teddy. (after Ted Williams of baseball AND tunnel fame in Beantown) After losing his mother at age six, TC became best friends and brothers (of a sort) with Augie Hwong. Fast forward to high school and the two are now writing a school essay about their "most excellent year." (freshman year) Still best friends, the two are joined in their essay-writing by Alejandra Perez, TC's crush who recently moved to Brookline when her father accepted a position at Harvard.

The story is told in epistolary fashion and I think it is the better for it. Because we not only have sections of Augie, TC, and Alé's essays, but also snippets of news articles, IM coversations, parent/teacher conference transcripts,and letters, we get a feel for so many side characters. One of the best things about this book, if not THE best part, is how you get a feel for the community--not only the family members but also the school, the neighborhood and Red Sox Nation. Boston has a very community feel to it to begin with and I loved how the book really hit home (pun intended) on that note. I've lived all over the place but there aren't many cities where it is totally normal to go to little league or pick-up baseball games if you aren't a kid and don't have a kid on the team. And Kluger takes readers all over the city on dates and adventures. He just gets it.

This book is a wonderful example of getting relationships right. Parental relationships, lifelong friendships. sibling relationships (whether blood or otherwise), and I think the most moving relationship was that of mentor/big brother. I think Hucky Harper might be one of my favorite characters ever. TC first sees Hucky, a six-year old boy, watching his baseball game. After Hucky gives TC the pitch calls when TC is at bat with stunning accuracy, TC befriends him and they form an adorable relationship. Hucky, for the depressing reason in the spoiler above, is orphaned. (not at all depressing in itself but only because he was in the foster system because of it) He hasn't spoken to anyone in over a year and spends most of his time watching Mary Poppins. While the book is about what made that specific year the most excellent for TC, Augie, and Alé, I know it will be far up there in Hucky's life as well. The extent to which everyone in TC's life went to bring Hucky into their fold was heartwarming.

The blurb about this book indicates that it is about young love. I mean, I guess it is. Both Augie and TC spend most of their year developing meaningful relationships with classmates. When it comes down to it, I cared much more about the secondary storylines in this one. But don't get me wrong--I loved every bit of it.

The bottom line is that this book made me want to move back to Boston, find a cool house in Brookline, and start procreating.

SCB TBR Challenge; April - Teccc. Thanks!

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Oct 29, 2012 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Maggie by: Flannery

Shelves: 2012, dawson-leery-cried, crushworthy-guys, i-ve-just-read-you-and-i-love-you, notable-asian-character

When Flannery first recommended this book to me with the promise of Boston and baseball, my exact reaction was, "........" The opening paragraph of her review cracks me up because what I remember most about Boston is: rats. Lots and lots of rats. Since "everywhere" is too general, let me tell you 3 specific places where I saw a rat.

1. Subway (as in Eat Fresh®)
2. California Pizza Kitchen, Prudential Center
3. My dorm room

My friends refused to walk on my left because whenever I saw a rat charging o...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya

3 1/2 stars

I am just not cut out for this kind of book. I am that kid that, at age six, figured out that Santa does not exist and then pressured my mom into confessing all. No, I was not upset. I was triumphant. It’s not that I don’t have a heart or an imagination; it’s just that both of these things have always been firmly rooted in reality. If I were in Mary Poppins having a tea party, that table would be made of solid granite and would be heavily anchored to the ground. No amount of pun fille...more 3 1/2 stars

I am just not cut out for this kind of book. I am that kid that, at age six, figured out that Santa does not exist and then pressured my mom into confessing all. No, I was not upset. I was triumphant. It’s not that I don’t have a heart or an imagination; it’s just that both of these things have always been firmly rooted in reality. If I were in Mary Poppins having a tea party, that table would be made of solid granite and would be heavily anchored to the ground. No amount of pun filled joking would lift that sucker. However, if I dig deep, and tell my cynical, realistic neurons to just shut the hell up for a minute, I can enjoy myself. This book is very charming and sweet, not to mention quite funny.

This book is hard to summarize. It’s about re-discovering childhood and magic, and having new experiences, and getting out of the shadows and into the spotlight. The story is told with journal entries, emails, chat sessions, and letters. There are three major narrators: T.C. and Augie, who decided to be brothers at age six and have been inseparable ever since, and Alejandra (Ale), who is the privileged daughter of diplomats and new on the scene. At the beginning of their freshman year of high school, T.C. is falling for Ale (who detests his very presence), and Augie is just realizing that he’s gay. When T.C. meets a six year old deaf boy named Hucky, he finds himself remembering the magic that his own mother brought into his life. All three of these kids are trying to figure out who they are, and this book chronicles a very formative, heartwarming, adventurous year in their lives.

This book is witty and at times laugh out loud funny, but one of my main complaints is that none of these characters sound at all like teenagers. In fact, they all sound a bit similar (even the parents!). They all have a snappy, clever sense of humor and they all come across vaguely middle aged. Augie, Ale, Augie’s mother, and sometimes even T.C. all reference 1950’s and 1960’s musicals quite frequently. T.C. and his father are obsessed with the Boston Red Sox. Since I am neither a fan of baseball (hate it!) nor musicals (there’s really only one kind that I like), this book lost me quite a bit. I probably didn’t understand at least 75% of the references.

There is no doubt, when reading this book, that it’s pretty much a guaranteed super happy ending. So, this is where the scrooge in me comes out and says…it’s too happy! There’s no worry or tension or build-up. With every problem that arises, there is a nice, neat solution. I think that this takes away a lot of the potential lure of the plot – with such a foregone conclusion, why do I need to keep reading?

Okay, so I am willing to consider that the major draw of this book is not in fact the story. I think that the best thing about this book is the sheer positivity of it all. As much as it sort of sickens me, I do feel that it’s very fitting for a book that’s all about believing in magic. So, if you are a much more positive person than I am, and you also happen to love baseball and musicals, I say this book is a great choice!

Perfect Musical Pairing

Augie, Augie, Augie. You really need to get out of the 1950’s! Did you know that there’s a whole category of musicals that you don’t seem to know anything about? Let me just whet your appetite with this world celebrated hit song: Chaiyya Chaiyya, from the movie Dil Se…

I guarantee, once you see the amazing dance moves of “King Kahn,” you will no longer covet the girls’ parts in the musicals you adore so much. I say you and Ale re-enact this little number next year, complete with train car. Hey, you guys managed to learn ASL in like 2 months right? I’m sure Hindi will be no problem. Also, did you know that Bollywood romances tend to be sweet and clean, just like your book? For some reason, though, when I am watching a 4 ½ hour movie with flashy musical numbers that’s only about 10% in English, my scrooge pathways are bypassed. So maybe that’s the key for your next book!
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Jul 10, 2012 oliviasbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, love-story-romance, young-adult-fiction, ya-contemporary, stays-with-me, read-2008, multiple-povs-letters, laugh-a-little, cry-a-little, male-point-of-view, re-read-2012, read-2012, yabc-quarterly-challenge-6

Review in German (01.11.2008) : My most excellent young adult novel. Bitte mehr davon! My Most Excellent Year ist einer dieser Romane, bei denen alle Fäden am Ende zu meiner Zufriedenheit verknüpft worden sind und Story und Charaktere mir so sympathisch waren, dass ich sie sofort nach dem Zuklappen des Buches bereits vermisste. Der Klappentext sagt eigenlich schon viel - obwohl sie kurz ist. Ich führe etwas aus: Hauptaktionspunkt der vielschichtigen, mehrere Jahre abdeckenden Geschichte ist eine...more Review in German (01.11.2008) : My most excellent young adult novel. Bitte mehr davon! My Most Excellent Year ist einer dieser Romane, bei denen alle Fäden am Ende zu meiner Zufriedenheit verknüpft worden sind und Story und Charaktere mir so sympathisch waren, dass ich sie sofort nach dem Zuklappen des Buches bereits vermisste. Der Klappentext sagt eigenlich schon viel - obwohl sie kurz ist. Ich führe etwas aus: Hauptaktionspunkt der vielschichtigen, mehrere Jahre abdeckenden Geschichte ist eine High School in Boston (In der Nähe des Fenway Park, dem Stadion der Red Sox). Sie setzt sich zusammen aus für die Schule geschriebenen Berichten (z.B. mit dem TItel "My most excellent year"), Tagebucheinträgen, Listen, Lexikonartikeln, Chatprotokollen, Briefen und E-Mails.

Die Hauptfiguren sind:
* T.C. Keller, der bewusst seine Noten auf einem niedrigen Level hält, mit Leidenschaft Baseball spielt, mit seinen Vater (Witwer) zusammenlebt, nach Außen als ein oberflächlicher Jock wirkt und große Anstrengungen unternimmt, die kühle, intelligente Alejandra Perez für sich zu gewinnen.

* Augie Wong, seit der Grunddschule T.C.s selbsterwählter Bruder. Sein Vater hat ein Buchladencafé, seine Mutter ist eine feministische Theaterkritikerin. Augie liebt Broadway-Musicals und Musical-Verfilmungen. Er kann alle weiblichen Parts auswendig und weiß nicht, dass er schwul ist (alle anderen wissen es), bis er sich in Andy Wrexler, Mädchenheld, verliebt. Augie bekommt die Leitung des jährlichen Theaterstücks der Schule zugesprochen.

* Alejandra Perez, Diplomatentochter, fühlt sich schon etwas zu T.C. hingezogen, schämt sich aber dafür, einen oberflächlichen Hohlkopf zu mögen. Ale geht offiziell zum Französisch-Unterricht, nimmt aber heimlich Stunden im Tanzen und Singen.

* Teddy Keller, T.C.s Vater, freut sich, dass sein Sohn wegen mangelnden Einsatzes so oft zu seiner Beratungslehrerin Lori muss, die er seit Jahren erfolglos zu einem Date überreden versucht.

* Hucky Harper, Heimkind, gehöhrlos und fünfjährig, beobachtet immer das Baseball-Training im Fenway Park zu. Dort lernt er T.C. kennen. Er schaut jeden Tag die Mary-Poppins-Verfilmung mit Julie Andrews an und wartet darauf, dass Mary Poppins kommt, um ihn zu retten.

Die Art, wie jede dieser Personen sich um die Probleme der anderen Personen sorgt, sich dabei positiv verändert, selbstkritisch und humorvoll ihre Situation und ihre Vergangenheit betrachtet, ist einfach nur schön gemacht. Ich konnte kaum fassen, dass dieses Buch von einem Mann geschrieben wurde. Seit Liebste Abby vom Autorenduo Hadley Irwin habe ich kein so gutes Buch über männliche Teenager mehr gelesen.

First read first in 2008. I need multiple reading dates, Godoreads!(less)

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Nov 14, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

T.C., originally Anthony Conigliaro Keller, was born into a family who loves baseball, and speaks with a very distinct accent. Like his family, T.C. loves the sport and practically knows all there is to know about baseball. It certainly helps him with his grades; if only it could help him get the girl of his dreams. With quite an odd family, a knack at frustrating those around him, making sure he only gets a B+ on everything (e...more Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

T.C., originally Anthony Conigliaro Keller, was born into a family who loves baseball, and speaks with a very distinct accent. Like his family, T.C. loves the sport and practically knows all there is to know about baseball. It certainly helps him with his grades; if only it could help him get the girl of his dreams. With quite an odd family, a knack at frustrating those around him, making sure he only gets a B+ on everything (except for algebra, since he isn't a poser), and being a trendsetter, T.C.'s life completely changed when his mother passed away.

Augie, T.C.'s non-biological, Chinese brother, became his best friend after his mother died, helping him cope. With a love for theater, movies, and everything dramatic, Augie definitely hasn't found his true identity yet, even though everyone around him, especially the ones he loves, has. Besides theatrics, Augie is a pretty good soccer player, especially when he is playing with T.C. Of course, these distractions can't possibly pull his mind away from how his heart is pulling him in a very different direction.

Alejandra, a.k.a. T.C.'s dream girl, has never fit in, both at school or home. With a father who was the ambassador to Mexico, her dream was never with politics like her brother but more towards dance, which she must keep a secret. Because of her father, Alejandra has been able to meet some very famous politicians and celebrities. Of course, all of the famous people she met didn't help her status in school, since she was automatically considered stuck-up. But T.C. still loves her, except she doesn't love him back, or so she thinks. Not one to hide her opinions, who wouldn't be scared of her?

Beginning in their late junior year, the three flash back to their freshmen year... their most excellent year.

The year where love, sexuality, identity, friendship, and strength were discovered. Each one writing in the diaries for their English class, all addressed to an important person: T.C. to his mama, Augie to the diva of the week, and Alejandra to Jacqueline, the wife of her favorite president, JFK.

Laughter, tears, and relief will be felt by not only the characters but also the readers. MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR takes three very distinct, honest teens who all have problems of their own, and who need each other desperately in the end. Steve Kluger allows the reader to have a close interaction with the characters, who are all very well-developed and defined, making the story all the more enjoyable. (less)

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Jul 19, 2009 GraceAnne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-teach

My favorite YA novel of the year so far. It pulls every single heartstring and makes you glad it did. I really did laugh and cry, and sometimes both at once. Completely over the top, and yet somehow utterly believable.

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Aug 26, 2008 Jaime rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was not going to buy this book. I already had two perfectly good paperbacks in hand. But then I read the first sentence, and I couldn't put it down. [Note to Ms. LaFontaine: I didn't meant to give you a hard time about this assignment, but "My Totally Excellent Year" would have been like so 1995, we'dhave been laughed out of Brookline if anybody found out.] The subtitle's also a gem- 'a novel of love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park.' That's right, this book was written for you, Kelly and Dr. B...more

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Jun 23, 2010 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, read-2010, lib

This is an incredible story!!

This book is written entirely in assignment form, e-mails, texts, diary entries and journals, so at first I thought this would be distracting since I'm not use to this style and usually don't prefer it. But, I liked it and thought the way this book was delivered was very well put together and only added to it's appeal.

My Most Excellent Year tells the tale of three people, TC, Alejandra, and Augie (and then later on Hucky) as they tell about there most excellent year...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Mimi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I give the rating of two stars in its truest sense of "it's okay." This was a difficult novel to rate. I thought the writing was really good, and it was funny. But the main characters were all so incredible. They were all wealthy (or at least not poor), they all were really smart/got good grades, they were all really talented in different ways, they were all very attractive, etc. And I guess it is quite possible that three people like them would all be friends, so I don't know why I'm complainin...more I give the rating of two stars in its truest sense of "it's okay." This was a difficult novel to rate. I thought the writing was really good, and it was funny. But the main characters were all so incredible. They were all wealthy (or at least not poor), they all were really smart/got good grades, they were all really talented in different ways, they were all very attractive, etc. And I guess it is quite possible that three people like them would all be friends, so I don't know why I'm complaining about that. But I mean, both main male characters lettered in three sports, got straight As, were really nice to people, and did either comedy or musical theater. Are there that many guys like that running around high school? Jocks, nerds, and thespians all rolled into one?

And then you find out that one of them is gay, and the only reaction his best friend/brother has is "oh, I'm so glad you finally figured out that you were gay." It just seems like if I were a boy who had a best friend who was more like a brother, who I had a bed for in my bedroom and a bed of my own in his bedroom at his house that finding out he is gay would change the dynamic of the relationship a bit, at least a little. But no one seemed to mind. His best friends, his parents, etc. It was all taken in stride. The only mention of gay not being completely mainstream and normal was one sentence where the non-gay friend said that sometimes he was called a "fag" by people who assumed he was gay because they were such good friends. But he said he didn't mind that misconception, because girls seemed to take that as a challenge and chase him all the more. (I don't know if "fag" is a swear word or just a rude word, so I didn't know whether to type it out or asterisk it, but know that it is a not a word I ever say.) And I am not trying to imply that it should be a problem or come between them; I simply thought it might be something that would require more of a discussion between them.

The story line between Ale and Anthony is really sweet. And I loved the story line involving Hucky. He's just amazing. It is so sad that some parents with disabled children really can do things like that. I loved the sweet miracle of Mary Poppins and wish we could all keep more of the childhood magic alive in our lives. American Sign Language keeps popping up everywhere in my life (books, shows, seeing people sign when I'm out). I'm starting to wonder if I should try learning it. But I don't actually know any deaf people.

I found the parts very interesting that talked about how TC dealt with losing his mother when he was only six. And I really liked the close relationship that he shared with his father. Actually, all of these teenagers had good relationships with their parents. Their parents were all pretty involved in their lives, which seems to be rare in media portrayals of teenagers. Granted, Ale did hide from her parents that she was taking singing and dancing classes instead of French classes, but she did eventually come clean. And that is much smaller than some secrets teens have from their parents!

I really liked that these were high schoolers in a contemporary novel, but their relationships never went further than kissing.

There were a few comments that were anatomical in nature.

And I really think that it is not fair that boys don't get to have shower curtains in their locker rooms at schools. Girls get them. Boys should have them, too.

I picked up the book, because it was a YA book written by a male with two male protagonists, and I really was curious to see what they would be thinking and how it would turn out. And then I kept reading it, because I was interested what their view of the gay issue would be.

There was one completely unnecessary "F" word. And not even spoken. Just a character sketch in Anthony's journal about Bucky F. Dent. (But the F was not abbreviated.) Anthony is very much a Boston Red Sox fan.

I did like this quote. "Did you ever take modern dance . . .? Did you know that your body can say more with eight bars of music than you could possibly write in a fifteen-page essay?"

Augie's feminist journalist mother brought out some points regarding musicals that I had never thought of before.

Most of the baseball references and music references were over my head.(less)

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Nov 22, 2011 K rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, i-bought-it

THIS is the definition of a feel good book.

TC, Augie, and Ale are juniors writing about their Most Excellent Year, which happens to be their freshman year for all three. That was the year TC fell in love and had his world changed by a six-year-old, Augie fell in love and surprised himself (but no one else) when it turned out to be with a boy, and Ale went from being a world-traveler diplomat’s daughter with a Secret Service agent best friend to being the seemingly-snooty new girl with irrelevan...more

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Feb 24, 2011 Minli rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who has a heart

Recommended to Minli by: Allison

Shelves: young-adult, favourites, contemporary, made-me-laugh, boy-interest, made-me-cry, inked-2011, yay-diversity

“If you don’t like it, just lie.”

A friend lent me her copy of Steve Kluger’s My Most Excellent Year after I said I wished there were more novels that just happened to feature characters of diversity, instead of having their diversity carry the whole book. This is not to devalue books that specifically highlight a certain experience, but so few of them are equally entertaining as they are important. When was the last time I read about a black Mia Thermopolis or a gay Percy Jackson? I’m not intere...more “If you don’t like it, just lie.”

A friend lent me her copy of Steve Kluger’s My Most Excellent Year after I said I wished there were more novels that just happened to feature characters of diversity, instead of having their diversity carry the whole book. This is not to devalue books that specifically highlight a certain experience, but so few of them are equally entertaining as they are important. When was the last time I read about a black Mia Thermopolis or a gay Percy Jackson? I’m not interested in hearing that a character of colour will deter the majority of readers; as an Asian, I grew up identifying with white characters just fine. And if it is true, then doesn’t it just highlight some of the problems in educating children (and adults) about cultural or gender sensitivity?

Enter My Most Excellent Year, cheekily subtitled A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park. While it might not be ‘serious,’ I dare you to say this book isn’t important. It does so many amazing things, all with a jazzy smile (or a well-placed ‘um’). Told in instant messages, English homework assignments, memos and press clippings, My Most Excellent Year is from the point of view three main characters: T.C., Augie and Alejandra. As the title suggests, it chronicles their most excellent year—the ninth grade.

T.C. and Augie decided to be “brothers” when they were eight, in every sense of the term but actual blood-relation. That means that even their parents get looped in on this, eventually realizing that they’ve each gained an extra son. In the beginning of ninth grade, Alejandra moves to their school. As an ambassador’s daughter, her family is frighteningly educated and well-connected. T.C. develops a crush on her, and she and Augie share some interests—but I don’t want to spoil the rest of the book because you should really read it!

It’s funny, because I didn’t even notice the diversity among the characters until I was past half-way and thought: oh, wow, this book features a guy with a dead parent, a gay Asian boy, a girl of Mexican descent, and a deaf kid. Kluger made me think about them as characters first, characters that inspire each other and inspire me. I love all of them. I would let Augie pick out my clothes, I would invite Alejandra to my book club, and I would even suffer a baseball game if T.C. were coming with me. Even the parents (and one hilarious guidance counselor) were adults I’d totally want on my PTA.

In addition, there are two romances in the novel, one gay and one straight. And both were equally adorable and tingly. TINGLY.

As for how realistic it is… how often is real life entertaining? Or more entertaining than the son of Zeus or the just-discovered princess of a European country? I’m not sure how realistic it is for the CIA to get a couple of teenagers seats to the World Series, or Liza Minelli asking to speak to your best friend. Also, two random boys getting past security at a Julie Andrews benefit? Why not. If an umbrella can help a nanny fly, anything can happen.(less)

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May 27, 2008 Chelsea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: youngadult, fiction, epistolary, 2008, covers, own

I'm in love!

I'm trying to come up with a way this book could have been more perfectly tailored to my interests, and I'm failing miserably.

It's a brilliant combination of Jaclyn Moriarty's banter, wacky characters, and epistolary flair, a fully appropriate level of loathing for all things Yankee (specifically Mr. Bucky Bleepin' Dent) to complement the Carlton Fisk adoration (brilliantly discussed in The Greatest Game, for those who are interested), an absolute adoration of Julie Andrews and all s...more

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Aug 17, 2008 Kristi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, glbt, romance

My feelings are kind of torn about this one. There's no doubt that the book is full of hilarious moments. But sometimes the funny felt a little forced. All of the characters are so clever and amusing and witty that sometimes I wanted to scream that real people aren't like this! (At least not where I'm from - maybe Boston is a whole 'nother world.) All of the characters of course had the exact same sense of humor, and their voices started to sound an awful lot alike after a while. And some of the...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jim by: Flannery

Shelves: young-adult, humor, romance, favorites

4.5 Stars

Wonderful! Funny, insightful, obsessive but in a good way... and unashamedly, universally romantic.

Should I admit that I knew all the movie stars mentioned, and all of their movies? Oh, and Mary Poppins is still one of my favs (true for everyone in this house).

P.S. I learned about this book from Flannery's wonderful review, which I strongly recommend (along with the book!).

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Aug 07, 2008 Laura Gardner rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-a-class, ya, funny, epistolary, many-voices, romance

I laughed, cried and loved this book! Told completely in letters, IM transcripts, emails and memos, My Most Excellent Year is a story of magic, love and still more magic. And it all takes place in Boston! I loved all the characters even down to the minor characters of Mom, Dad, Pop and Lori. T.C. and Augie are best friends and even brothers since age 7, the year after T.C.'s mom died of cancer. Ale is new in town and is somehow immune to T.C.'s charms (but not for long). Hucky, a 6 year old deaf...more

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Jul 14, 2008 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those who need entertaining

Shelves: favorites, ya-fiction

WHY ISN'T EVERYONE READING THIS BOOK? It was great! First of all, there are three characters who are well written, well developed, and not too angsty. They are mostly happy, with adults involved in their lives (adults who think their kids are cool and smart), and it is an INTERESTING storyline, complete with Julie Andrews.
On a side note, I am interested in the people who qualify this as a "LGBT" YA book, instead of just a great YA book. I have read goodreads readers who said it was unrealistic....more

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Feb 07, 2010 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

This is an incredible book about life and how magic can come true. There is really no other book like it: it is really somoething special.

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Dec 13, 2008 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Most Excellent Year tells the story of three students- now seniors-most excellent year (their freshman year) and how their lives all changed for the better. First, there’s T.C.( Anthony), who’s obsessed with all things related to baseball, his best friend Augie, and Alejeandra, the girl he’s in love with, but who doesn’t return his feelings. Augie loves all things that have to do with Broadway and his best friend T.C. Also, everyone knows Augie‘s gay, but he just hasn‘t realized his true feel...more

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May 25, 2013 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

Rating: 5/5

Title: My Most Excellent Year

Author: Steve Kluger

Genre: YA fiction

Review: This wonderful and inspiring novel is told from the point of view of three main characters: TC, Augie and Alejandra (also known as Alé, not Allie). Each character have their very own and unique personality. TC is a true Bostonian baseball fanatic who just can't seem to stay out of trouble. For Augie, it's all about the drama--the world is the stage and he is the main actor. And Alé is something else altogether--...more

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Apr 02, 2013 The Twins Read rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: michelle-s-shelf

Original rating: 3.5/5

This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.

T.C. Keller is a goner for Ale Perez, the only girl who doesn't seem to be interested in him. Being the daughter of the Mexican ambassador, Ale has mastered the art of keeping her real emotions and feelings inside, but not without a bit of the snark she's so good at. When Augie enlists the help of Ale for a production, it doesn't take long before Ale is thrust into a world where she slowly lets love, life, theatre (and...more Original rating: 3.5/5

This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.

T.C. Keller is a goner for Ale Perez, the only girl who doesn't seem to be interested in him. Being the daughter of the Mexican ambassador, Ale has mastered the art of keeping her real emotions and feelings inside, but not without a bit of the snark she's so good at. When Augie enlists the help of Ale for a production, it doesn't take long before Ale is thrust into a world where she slowly lets love, life, theatre (and baseball?!) into her life.

My Most Excellent Year is definitely a refreshing book filled with animated characters. Is it a bad thing when the only complaint you could come up with these people is that they're too annoyingly perfect? Heck, even I can't help but be charmed by the adults in the book! If I could name a book that made me want to pinch everyone's cheeks, this would undoubtedly be it. Aside from the expert handling with small-scale issues, My Most Excellent Year also encourages its readers to take charge of what they want instead of what society dictates.

However, I couldn't let some parts of it go. T.C. and his friends live in such a perfect and accepting world that I couldn't help but be a little concerned. Everybody gets along and everyone is accepted for who he/she is. Of course, this is not a bad thing. Kluger creates a world so free from racist and anti-gay slurs it would make any reader envious. t's just that I found the whole thing a bit hard to swallow. The fact that most of the parents depicted in this book can actually - GASP! - understand their kids pretty well was a bit unnerving as well. When Ale was being dragged to belong into their group, the novel pretty much made me feel like it was a huge song and dance number where everyone is guaranteed a happy ending. Another thing that I had a hard time believing was the fact that everyone didn't really seem to act their age. Since the whole novel basically uses letters and journals to tell its story, I had a hard time taking into account the actual age of the people who "wrote" them. I didn't exactly feel like T.C. and his crew were teenagers. I honestly thought that they were middle schoolers all throughout the novel, despite the journals labeling the age transitions.

Since I know zilch about baseball - and almost any other sport, save for tennis - I wasn't particularly enthused about the fact that it plays a big part in the actual story. But if you find yourself looking for a cute, fluffy contemporary read with funny and annoyingly cute characters, you might want to give My Most Excellent Year a go.(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Kate Sherry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-my-future-classroom, oh-the-struggles-of-the-teenage-yea, unexpected-gem, favorites

For the first half of "My Most Excellent Year," I was not convinced that I was going to enjoy the book. At first, the overwhelmingly happy undertones felt a little, trite? However, about the time a certain, endearing and just absolutely precious character entered, I could feel my heart move toward the characters. I began to adore the way TC loved this little boy, the way Augie began questioning himself, the falling of the walls of Ale and the development playful, fun nature of TC's dad. I began...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: absolutely-fabulous-hero, absolutely-fabulous-heroine, books-that-changed-me, creatively-original, damn-i-wish-i-could-write-like-that, favorites, fucking-amazing, kick-ass-heroines, i-hate-you-boom-im-in-love, made-me-cry, oh-my-god-he-has-dimples, please-have-my-babies, stand-alone, strong-heroines, that-boy-is-sex-on-a-stick, take-your-sexism-and-gtfo, the-shelf-of-awesomness

To be honest with you, dear Reader, I picked up this novel at a second-hand bookstore for only a dollar. That is the sole reason that this marvelously amazing book has entered into my life. I happened to be feeling generous with my book-buying one day, and so I added it to my stack after a brief internal debate as to whether or not such a "frilly, girly-looking, froo-froo type of book" was worth my time in reading. Not only that, but I also allowed it to sit on my bookshelves at home for not one...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Kaitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: visual-novel, childrens-novels

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 14, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is extremely good and well written. I love how it is written in the voice of the three different characters and the way the author writes them is really great. I love how mature they are for their age. Ale's story line is fantastic and really give her a great voice that I can relate to. I like how for once in a book that their is character that is gay, but it really isn't a problem. There is no conflict with him really as far as coming out, it just kind of happens and his parents are n...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Heather H rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Visual Novel

Spoiler!!

first of all, i am a romantic so,

My Most Excellent Year is an amazing well written book. It is a romantic comedy that takes me back to when i was in high school, having my first love and realizing the dumb things that i used to say and do. It is an easy book for anyone to read, i think it is very entertaining and if you have been in high school, you can easily relate if you had a first love back then. The three main characters in the book are all freshman at a high school in...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought that My Most Excellent Year was so creatively written and very well done! I really love books that shift perspectives to different characters throughout the course of the story. It makes me feel like I really get to know and connect with each character, and gives great depth to the plot. And specifically in this novel, I loved all of the different styles of writing the author incorporates: emails, dairy entries, instant messenger, letters, signs, etc. It made the tone of the book feel...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Penny Linsenmayer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the epitome of a "Feel Good" book, and it gets 5 stars from me for that reason (despite its flaws - see below).

The characters are larger-than-life in many respects, but they are all fantastically complex and well-drawn and irresistibly appealing. The book is a hodge-podge of diary entries (in the form of letters), chat session logs, emails, notes and so forth, and this narrative structure (which alternates between each of the 3 major characters) will appeal to many readers, particularly...more This is the epitome of a "Feel Good" book, and it gets 5 stars from me for that reason (despite its flaws - see below).

The characters are larger-than-life in many respects, but they are all fantastically complex and well-drawn and irresistibly appealing. The book is a hodge-podge of diary entries (in the form of letters), chat session logs, emails, notes and so forth, and this narrative structure (which alternates between each of the 3 major characters) will appeal to many readers, particularly teens. The email exchanges between some of the adult characters were among the most amusing to me. The stories of each of the 3 teen characters intertwine delightfully throughout the novel, and you will find yourself smiling in a very Glee-inspired way by the heartwarming ending.

HOWEVER, that said, I should caution that the happy feel-good vibe is a bit over-the-top in some respects, and it took me awhile to warm to the author's snarky wit and writing style. While each of the 3 teens are very recognizable and unique characters, some of their thoughts and dialogue sounded more like Kluger than themselves. I didn't think they all consistently had a unique voice in other words. I also think many people might find the ending tie-up to be unrealistic and/or saccharine. If you are a fan of Glee and similar showy larger-than-life feel-good endings, you will love this one. If you are more cynical in general, it may not work so well for you. The Julie Andrews subplot in particular seemed to stretch things too much.

This novel is completely appropriate for all teens in terms of content. Augie comes out and finds a boyfriend, but his progressive parents (and adopted other father) all had anticipated this for a long time, so there was no real issue associated with the coming-out process. Augie's sexuality is just one more facet of his quirky and fabulous personality. Tony C and Alejandro have a delightfully sweet and amusing road to romance. Augie's personality jumps off the page, but Tony C steals the show on many other levels, particularly through his relationship with Hucky.

In sum, I LOVED this book completely, but I think it would definitely not be for everyone. (less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

I had really high hopes for this book, since it got starred reviews. And it is good--it's just not great.

I was a little disappointed that the main gay character Augie was such a stereotype. I'm looking forward to a YA book about two guys that seem like average guys you meet every day falling in love (because, let's face it, most gay people ARE the average guys you meet every day). Plus TC's love interest (can't remember her name) was a little over the top--I mean, she's met and insulted every wo...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Xan West rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was charmed by the fantasy of this book, psrticularly all the straight parents embracing alternative family structures without blinking. I loved imagining this world where young gay teens can be obsessed with musicals and have that celebrated by all including peers, where a gay teen boy and a straight teen boy can be best friends, adopt each other as brothers, sleep in the same room, and where the straight teen boy is cool with being assumed gay. There was no bullying in this depiction of high...more

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May 24, 2012 My Sister's Bookshelf rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I must reiterate that I adore this book! I think it is quite possibly my favorite book in fact. The story is told in journal entries, IM conversations, memos and more between a whole slew of characters documenting the 9th grade year of T.C, Keller Augie Hwong, and Alejandra Perez, also known at Alé. T.C. and Augie have been best friends since first grade to the point that they actually consider themselves brothers and refer to their parents as Pop, Mom, and Dad (T.C.’s mother died when he was fo...more

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About Steve Kluger

Steve Kluger is an author and playwright, born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1952, who grew up with only two heroes: Tom Seaver and Ethel Merman. Few were able to grasp the concept. A veteran of "Casablanca" and a graduate of "The Graduate," he has written extensively on subjects as far ranging as World War II, rock and roll, and the Titanic, and as close to the heart as baseball and the Boston Red S...more

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Quotes from My Most Excellent Year

“Never, ever stop believing in magic, no matter how old you get. Because if you keep looking long enough and don't give up, sooner or later you're going to find Mary Poppins.” — 75 people liked it

“Even though I didn't notice it while it was happening, I got reminded in ninth grade of a few things I guess I should have known all along.

1. A first kiss after five months means more than a first kiss after five minutes.

2. Always remember what it was like to be six.

3. Never, ever stop believing in magic, no matter how old you get. Because if you keep looking long enough and don't give up, sooner or later you're going to find Mary Poppins. And if you're reall lucky, maybe even a purple balloon.” — 25 people liked it

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title link	preview: My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park
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My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park

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