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

4.13 · rating details · 2,043 ratings · 579 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

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

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 physical...moreI 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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May 10, 2008

KT rated it

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Shelves: lgbtq

I know I'm in the minority on this book. Lots of people I know and admire love it, and I wanted to like it, but I had a hard time believing anything that happened in it, and it didn't work as a fantasy for me in the way "Boy Meets Boy." did.

I found the voices of the three teen characters to be the same (I was constantly having to look up at the chapter heading to see who was talking), and they all sounded like middle-aged gay men to me. The whole subplot with the deaf six...more

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Apr 27, 2011

Catie rated it

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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 a...more3 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 19, 2009

GraceAnne rated it

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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 27, 2008

Jennifer Wardrip rated it

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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...moreReviewed 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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Aug 26, 2008

Jaime rated it

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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...more

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Jun 23, 2010

~Tina~ rated it

· 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 th...more

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Feb 24, 2011

Minli rated it

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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’...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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Mar 21, 2010

Monica rated it

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You know, I love YA novels and I love Boston. I have a good feeling about this book.

Now, having devoured it in a day, I can confirm that my good feeling was accurate. But I would like to add to the subtitle of the book, making it "A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, Fenway Park, Musical Theatre, Self-Discovery, Determination, Family, Friends, Magic, Belief, and Most Especially Love." It has all the pieces of the sort of YA novel I adore: teenagers figuring out themselves and the...more

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May 27, 2008

Chelsea rated it

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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...more

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Aug 17, 2008

Kristi rated it

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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 th...more

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Feb 05, 2012

Jim rated it

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Recommended to Jim by: Flannery

Shelves: young-adult, humor, romance

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

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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

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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 sa...more

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Feb 07, 2010

Marianne rated it

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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

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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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Feb 03, 2012

Tiffany rated it

Shelves: 2012, favorites

This book is magic. I'm serious. Publishers try to sell it off as a alternating-perspective book about three friends and "their most excellent year," but we should all know better than that. My Most Excellent Year is the best bits of every romantic comedy I've ever witnessed with a whole lot of other glittery mix-ins that I couldn't find anywhere else.

Usually swapping perspectives in a book results in a train wreck. Not in this book. My belief is that Steve Kluger is magi...more

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Jan 10, 2012

Nick rated it

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Shelves: young-adult-fiction

I very rarely give a book five stars. While starting a tiny bit slowly, this book built into something truly marvelous over the course of the story.
The book's structure is that it is alternating chapters from three different school reports, one by each of the three main characters. While this makes the shifting viewpoints more natural, the framing story is not important after the first few pages. The letters back and forth between the other characters are both great comic relief and strong...more

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Dec 10, 2011

Ella rated it

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This is my comfort book. I first got it from my public library, and read it four times end-to-end. Then, I recently bought it on Amazon, and did the same thing. Steve Kluger makes all of his characters so real, and there were several times in the book where I wanted to reach in and hug them, or hold their hand, or laugh with them, or just walk down a snowy street with them.

Alè is exactly the kind of person I want to be. I want her life, minus the famous parents and all that. I want the...moreThis is my comfort book. I first got it from my public library, and read it four times end-to-end. Then, I recently bought it on Amazon, and did the same thing. Steve Kluger makes all of his characters so real, and there were several times in the book where I wanted to reach in and hug them, or hold their hand, or laugh with them, or just walk down a snowy street with them.

Alè is exactly the kind of person I want to be. I want her life, minus the famous parents and all that. I want the sweet and slightly idiotic guy, I want the amazing dancing and singing talent, I want the hilarious best friend who's boy obsessed (oh, wait... I already have plenty of those), and I want the gay guy who loves me like a sister.

T.C. (or Anthony, which I personally like better) is fantastic. As I'm sitting here, I can't think of any other word to describe him. I could use amazing or any of that other blah which is in Twilight waaaaay too much, but fantastic seemed the best word to me. He had a hard childhood, and he knows how to use that well. Why couldn't I be the one to go and meet Mary Poppins? Oh, and thinking back to my use of fantastic, I'm beginning to think that "special" would be a better word.

Augie is like Anthony. He's not as much of your stereotypical 'guy', but I like him a lot better as a musical obsessed, singing, dancing, guy. Because of him, I am now going to watch every single old musical that he mentioned, just because I can and I want to. And, I want the dad that owns the bookstore. That is a dream of mine.

Hucky is the definition of cuteness. For a long time, I didn't think that little kids could get much cuter than my cousin, and then I met Hucky. He would probably hate being called cute, and then make his mad face, but that would only make him cuter. :)

To be perfectly honest, this book makes me want to move to Boston, simply because I think that maybe I'll get to meet a guy like Anthony, make a friend like Augie, help somebody like Hucky, and be Alè. I want to go to NY and meet Mary Poppins, and I want a mom like Nikki (there isn't anything wrong with the one I have now, but I would love to have grown up with Nikki as my mama). Whenever I read this book, I always want to cry happy tears, and it's one of those books where you just sit and hold it for ten minutes after you're done with it, because you can't decide whether or not you should read it again. You'll end up reading it again, believe me.(less)

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Nov 22, 2011

K rated it

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Shelves: pb-wishlist, library

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 wi...moreTHIS 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 irrelevant stories about Hillary Clinton.

TC (short for Tony Conigliaro) knows all there is to know about Red Sox history. He lives with his builder father and it’s been just the two of them since TC’s mother died when he was six. That was the year he and Augie adopted each other. The two of them have beds, closets, and parents in two houses—Pop at TC’s and Mom and Dad at Augie’s. They’ve been brothers ever since. Ale is the opinionated black sheep of her family (after telling North Korea what she thought of them at a dinner party) and shares Augie’s love of dance and the stage. When TC lets it be known that he’d like her for his girlfriend, she shoots down that idea and keeps him on his toes the harder he tries to woo her. These three are smart and funny and keep each other honest. It was great spending time with them.

The story is told in three alternating POVs with diary entries, emails, and instant messages. It’s Jaclyn Moriarty’s The Year of Secret Assignments with baseball, musicals, and politics. And as adorable as this book was, it was never syrupy or obnoxious. I want to know these kids with their huge hearts and their amazing and involved parents—I’d even put up with Red Sox and Broadway factoids.

It’s the book equivalent of Mary Poppins with the ability turn a bad day good. I’m just bummed that I waited so long to pull it from my TBR. I’ll be buying my own copy on my next trip to the bookstore to have on hand when I need cheering up.(less)

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Feb 01, 2011

Gaabriel rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: ya

Took me a while to get to this book. My boyfriend got it for me for December Gift Giving. The person in the Rose Room at Powells recomended it to him because he told her I was a Nerdfighter and ~~like~~ love John Green. I can see why the recommendation was in place having also recently read Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

This is the interestingly interwoven tale of the T.C., Ale and Augie's Freshman year of High School. TC Felt like the main character because his narrative was the strongest....more

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Jan 26, 2011

Debbie rated it

Shelves: modern-teen

This is a book to read when you're feeling down or sad or generally hopeless about the state of humanity. It will cheer you up, make you laugh and restore your faith in the goodness of people. I liked all of the characters in this book, the three leads and their supporting cast. And Mary Poppins/Julie Andrews gives a moving performance in a guest role.

The story is told from the perspectives of TC, a boy whose family has been in Boston since they came over with the Red Sox (his words); ...more

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Dec 28, 2010

Corinne rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Our cast of characters:

TC: a Red Sox loving baseball fanatic with a penchant for social activism

Augie: a fan of female stars from classic movies, doesn't know he's gay yet, best friend of TC

Ale: recently moved to Boston from DC, daughter of a former ambassador, has hidden musical theater skills and tries her darnedest to avoid the advances of the darling TC

I don't want to tell you whole lot more than that - I want you to discover it on your own. Through ho...more

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May 18, 2010

Bianca rated it

· review of another edition

UM. I believe this book is now going on my 'favorite books of all time list!' It was just that wicked good. I feel as if this book could've have been written for me. I swear. There is not a thing that I didn't like about this book, except, of course, I wished it could have been longer.

In a school english project, the three main characters tell their stories through letters, emails, instant messaging, and regular format. I loved the three POVs! T.C. Keller, born Anthony Conigliaro Ke...moreUM. I believe this book is now going on my 'favorite books of all time list!' It was just that wicked good. I feel as if this book could've have been written for me. I swear. There is not a thing that I didn't like about this book, except, of course, I wished it could have been longer.

In a school english project, the three main characters tell their stories through letters, emails, instant messaging, and regular format. I loved the three POVs! T.C. Keller, born Anthony Conigliaro Keller and Augie Hwong are not blood related but might as well be. When TC's mom died when he was 6 years old and Augie was there for him and ever since they have been brothers. I LOVE, LOVED reading about the relationship between the two. They called TC father, Pop and Augies parents Mom and Dad. It was really cute. Even, TC's aunts became surrogate aunts for Augie; they were that close.

There is a way to my heart and is easy to accomplish; talk about the Red Sox with me and you're in. In a matter of seconds, T.C. introduces the us to the wonderful world of Boston and The Red Sox. (Yes, I am obsessed.) I say that this book could've been written for me because not only do they live in Boston, there is the Broadway musicals and theatre elements.

Augie was SO fun to read about! From the start of the book, TC and their parents know that he is gay but . I'm so glad to read a LGBT book! Definitely a great addition. Augie was a Broadway junkie! And I absolutely loved it (sorry, that I'm being repetitive with the 'love it's'!) He would write letters to people like Liza Minnelli. He was also did many sports, which I found awesome. 2 more of my favorite things! Alejandra is the other main character. Her father is an Ambassador and so she knows many people with power. When she gets to the high school, TC knows he wants her. I thought all of the romance was really cute!

If you are looking for a humorous, diverse (of the 3 POV, one of them is Asian and one is Hispanic,) romantic, or if you like any of the different things I talked about, you will LOVE this book! I am now in love with Steve Kluger's writing and I love that he is a Boston fan. I am sad that he doesn't have a lot of YA books but I'll be checking out Almost Like Being In Love!
(less)

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Nov 23, 2009

Lori rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: yal

What a great book! I enjoyed the way the book was laid out as a journal assignment, but the entries went much deeper than for a school assignment. Though the characters were not completely believable, well at least I don't personally know anybody who create change the way these characters do, it was a general fun book that did talk about issues related to what students are going through today. For example, going against the life your parents have laid out for you and doing what you really lov...more

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Nov 08, 2009

Beth rated it

· review of another edition

Three juniors assigned to write about their "most excellent" year all choose the freshman year they became friends in this coming out/coming of age story that blends baseball, theatre, international politics, activism and Japanese interment. Told in a round robin style, motherless Anthony (a.k.a. Tick) is the lynchpin of the story - he and best friend Augie, a musical theatre fan, consider themselves to be non-biological brothers. Augie directs the Freshman Follies and falls hard for ...moreThree juniors assigned to write about their "most excellent" year all choose the freshman year they became friends in this coming out/coming of age story that blends baseball, theatre, international politics, activism and Japanese interment. Told in a round robin style, motherless Anthony (a.k.a. Tick) is the lynchpin of the story - he and best friend Augie, a musical theatre fan, consider themselves to be non-biological brothers. Augie directs the Freshman Follies and falls hard for a jock, who falls back while Tick crushes on Alejandra, who, ordained by her parents to attend Harvard and become an ambassador or diplomat, aspires to be a musical theatre star. The trio not only pull off a phenomenal stage shows, they also get a park at Manazanar dedicated to the teams that played there. Motherless Tick befriends a deaf orphan named Hucky who is convinced Mary Poppins is going to come and take care of him, and it is through the relationship he develops with Hucky that Ale sees him as something more than an impertinent Bostonian.

Kluger magnificently weaves together multiple storylines in this epistolary novel told in emails, instant messages, essays, conversations, and ephemera such as playbills, expertly revealing plot and character through these documents. It is evident that he has affection for his characters, as their personalities emerge strongly, revealing each teen in turn as clever, sensitive, introspective, passionate, confident, scared, and caring. Supporting adults are well-drawn -- Pop doles out advice to his son that only backfires, but his own romance brewing with Tick's school advisor is endearing and subtle. The suburbs of Boston and streets of New York take on a life of their own, through dialect and landmarks, that culminates in Tick's climatic trip to NYC to bring Hucky to meet his idol, Julie Andrews. Humor abounds, and balances out more serious issues. Augie's homosexuality is refreshingly viewed with nothing but support - in fact, all the characters "know" long before he officially comes out -- perhaps the obsession with divas of stage and screen gives it away.

A promotional website, http://www.augiehwong.com/, includes excerpts from the book and pages dedicated to clearing Buck Weaver's name from the White Sox's World Series fix, and bringing baseball back to Manzanar, two pet projects of Tick's. Although it is farfetched that plot events fall into place so perfectly, My Most Excellent Year is a story with so many moments of magic, it somehow works. My Most Excellent Year is sure to satisfy fans of Kluger's most excellent novel, Last Days of Summer, and please new readers across many ages.(less)

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Oct 30, 2009

Pam rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: ya, beach-reads, fiction

If you don't get the mystique of Boston - the cult of the Red Sox (Rico Petrocelli, Fred Lynn, Nomar Garciaparra, etc.), Boston intellectualism (think Matt Damon's portrayal in Good Will Hunting), Boston's accents ("I sway-ah"), the T, the Boston Globe (being the only newspaper that could be quirky enough to combine political activism with its theater reviews), and how High School Musical done with a Boston twist could be genuine - then this book won't be magical. However, for someone...more

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Oct 17, 2009

Michael rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: reading-bowl-high-school

Really really boring. The only reason that I didn't give it one star was because of Alejandra and Hucky, who were the only characters in the book that I actually liked. So let's start talking about what was wrong with this book.

1) You can't write a book in emails, English assignments, and letters! It's juvenile and really detracts from the book. Not to mention that the POV is changing every few minutes and it's almost impossible to keep track of who is narrating.

2) Th...more

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Jul 13, 2009

jess rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, fiction, yaf

I read this book several weeks ago, and somehow never got around to writing my review. I guess that speaks for itself. This is YAF about a group of kids navigating their adolescence in Boston. There's TC, who loves baseball, lives with his dad, has a dead mom, and is very cute. Augie is TC's best friend, in the process of coming out as gay, loves the old grand divas of hollywood & musical theater. Ale is the daughter of a Mexican ambassador or something. She's smart, stuck-up and secretly a tale...more

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May 12, 2009

Duane rated it

· review of another edition

Wow, to begin with, I really have no idea where to even begin how to review this book. I have to say first, I think this is a awesome book! It follows the lives of three teenage friends who have a spectacular year together. During this one year, they each discover who they really are. They find where they fit into the world and discover that even little things effect the world. Augie (a gay theater lover) is discovering that first love is heartwrenching but fun. TC is finding that the girl he li...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 ...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.” — 39 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.” — 18 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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