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19th out of 40 books
—
27 voters
Will
by
Maria Boyd
THE CRIME
It all started when Will mooned the girls' school bus. It wasn't his finest moment. And it's the last time William Armstrong will sully the St. Andrew's community, says Principal Waddlehead-er, Waverton.
THE PUNISHMENT
That's when a teacher worried about Will's home situation comes up with an idea. Why not let Will, a talented guitarist, give back to the school in a...more
It all started when Will mooned the girls' school bus. It wasn't his finest moment. And it's the last time William Armstrong will sully the St. Andrew's community, says Principal Waddlehead-er, Waverton.
THE PUNISHMENT
That's when a teacher worried about Will's home situation comes up with an idea. Why not let Will, a talented guitarist, give back to the school in a...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
July 13th 2010
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
(first published June 30th 2010)
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That’s it. I’m moving to Australia and becoming a high school teacher! These writers! I swear. First Melina Marchetta and now Maria Boyd. The moment I saw the Marchetta blurb on the back cover, I knew I was in for a treat and just as she promised the protagonist was awesome. I love love LOVED Will (the character) and really liked Will (the book). Will's voice was so good. It was clear, strong, hilarious and utterly charming. Maria Boyd did a fantastic job. Not only was Will amazing but I just lo...more
view all 7 comments
Apr 18, 2013
★ Jess
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-i-own,
1-star-awful
Reading for Year 12 SACE English Communications
Why is this on the booklist? Oh man, I was reading better written books in year 8. Having to read this as part of a year 12 subject is embarrassing. I should have done Studies.
I would have enjoyed this more if I was an illiterate 12 year old.
Why is this on the booklist? Oh man, I was reading better written books in year 8. Having to read this as part of a year 12 subject is embarrassing. I should have done Studies.
I would have enjoyed this more if I was an illiterate 12 year old.
Will is a book i never thought would really be named after the protagonist, i thought the meaning of Will before reading the book was about a person willing to do something or unwilling to do so or so. It ends up having the protagonist's name Will from William Armstrong to be the title. Even though i didn't expected that, i liked the book. It was overall very cute, because even though in the beginning it was kind of inapproriate when Will wanted to catch attention and he showed his behind to ev...more
This is light, entertaining read for teenagers is from Australia. Readers in the U.S. might benefit from both a glossary of Australian slang/idiom and perhaps a brief explanation of the differences in nomenclature between American and Australian schools. Interestingly, the author did provide a two-page explanation of the different football codes in Australia, though that illuminated only some minor detail in the story.
A young man, Will, who recently lost his father to a construction site acciden...more
A young man, Will, who recently lost his father to a construction site acciden...more
This book is about a boy named Will who didn't have the common sense not to moon the girls' school bus and got in even bigger trouble. Here's the front-flap summary:
The Crime - It all started when Will mooned the girls' school bus. It wasn't his finest moment. And it's the last time William Armstrong will sully the St. Andrew's community, says Principal Waddlehead--- er, Waverton.
The Punishment - That's when a teacher worried about Will's home situation comes up with an idea. Why not let Will...more
The Crime - It all started when Will mooned the girls' school bus. It wasn't his finest moment. And it's the last time William Armstrong will sully the St. Andrew's community, says Principal Waddlehead--- er, Waverton.
The Punishment - That's when a teacher worried about Will's home situation comes up with an idea. Why not let Will...more
Maria Boyd has taught high school and knows the world of she writes of in "Will" when she takes on the matter of "choir nerds" and "band nerds" (think "Glee"). Will Armstrong commits an act of adolescent foolishness (saving this from being a spoiler by not divulging) at his prep school in Australia. His English teacher and the deputy principal "Waddlehead" (hilarious nickname and so appropriate for the age group) develop a punishment just for Will: join the band and help with the high school's m...more
I took my sweet time reading Will, never finding the need to rush through the pages to see what was going to happen at the very end and just simply enjoying the story.
Will is an amusing novel that somehow gets readers to understand the many misconceptions and stereotypes that teenagers (and adults!) make when taking others only for their face value.
Take the main lead, Will, a year 11 student at an all-male Australian boarding school whose spur-of-the-moment mooning of a neighbouring all girls' s...more
Will is an amusing novel that somehow gets readers to understand the many misconceptions and stereotypes that teenagers (and adults!) make when taking others only for their face value.
Take the main lead, Will, a year 11 student at an all-male Australian boarding school whose spur-of-the-moment mooning of a neighbouring all girls' s...more
I adore this book.
Will is an absolutely fantastic narrator and man, did I love being inside of his head. He was sarcastic, tough, occasionally embarrassed,
and often sweet. He was a fully fleshed out main character: he has his faults and obvious flaws, but if anything that only made him authentic and endearing.
Elizabeth was wickedly fiesty and strong. It's refreshing to read a male-POV and have the love interest be someone strong, smart, and witty. She's not just the unattainable girl that lives...more
Will is an absolutely fantastic narrator and man, did I love being inside of his head. He was sarcastic, tough, occasionally embarrassed,
and often sweet. He was a fully fleshed out main character: he has his faults and obvious flaws, but if anything that only made him authentic and endearing.
Elizabeth was wickedly fiesty and strong. It's refreshing to read a male-POV and have the love interest be someone strong, smart, and witty. She's not just the unattainable girl that lives...more
I read this because the author is visiting my school next week. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have approached it.
Now, while I didn't have particularly high expectations (the cover makes me shudder, as does the nondescript nature of the title), I thought the musical aspect of the story would at least earn it some respect in my eyes. Well, it doesn't. Other than vaguely touching on the premise of The Boyfriend, the idea is basically never brought up. Not the songs. Not the real meat of rehearsals...more
Now, while I didn't have particularly high expectations (the cover makes me shudder, as does the nondescript nature of the title), I thought the musical aspect of the story would at least earn it some respect in my eyes. Well, it doesn't. Other than vaguely touching on the premise of The Boyfriend, the idea is basically never brought up. Not the songs. Not the real meat of rehearsals...more
There are some really great aspects of this book, but there are also some not-so-great parts too. I'll start with the good:
1. This book is told from the POV of an average teenage boy. He gets decent grades, and he's accepted by all, but he's by no mean the superhero of the school.
2. There's a gay teen boy as a secondary character, which I think is really important to include in YA lit.
3. The book focuses on stereotypes and how death and loss affects teens, two big issues, without being too heavy...more
1. This book is told from the POV of an average teenage boy. He gets decent grades, and he's accepted by all, but he's by no mean the superhero of the school.
2. There's a gay teen boy as a secondary character, which I think is really important to include in YA lit.
3. The book focuses on stereotypes and how death and loss affects teens, two big issues, without being too heavy...more
Year 11 Aussie Will Armstrong has been through something awful that causes him to keep acting out. For his latest prank he mooned the bus filled with the girls from Lakeside. Rather than getting expelled for one misdeed too many, the headmaster and one of his favorite teachers came up with the perfect punishment for him. Will must perform in the band for the joint school musical between St. Andrews Boys and Lakeside. Will wishes they had expelled him because now he’ll have to associate with the...more
In retrospect, mooning the Lakeside Girls' bus was probably not the smartest thing to do.
But, at the time, seventeen-year-old Will Armstrong thought it was a brilliant idea. So did all of his mates.
Unfortunately the principal was not as impressed.
To make up for (once again) sullying the reputation of St. Andrew's College, Will is sentenced to two months hard labor as a man of all work . . .
For the high school musical.
Will can play guitar fine, so it isn't the music that's the problem. It's more...more
But, at the time, seventeen-year-old Will Armstrong thought it was a brilliant idea. So did all of his mates.
Unfortunately the principal was not as impressed.
To make up for (once again) sullying the reputation of St. Andrew's College, Will is sentenced to two months hard labor as a man of all work . . .
For the high school musical.
Will can play guitar fine, so it isn't the music that's the problem. It's more...more
There's an awful lot going on here (dead dad, grief sticken teens, gay bashing, bad/wannabe bad boys' clubs, cliques, fear of having "fag" friends...Serious teen angst in other words, so much so, in fact that it ought to be over the top. It's not though, and overall, it's pretty darn awesome. Plus, it reminded me that the WANKER is one seriously under utilzied word; a fact I aim to personally remedy. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, & telling it like it is is liable to keep the WANKER a...more
Will is a good light read. I finished it very quickly and although I didn't hate it, I couldn't really love it either. It's a decent enough Australian Young Adult fiction, especially one where the main character is male.
At first I could barely get through this and then I kind of fell for it so I think three stars is a fair rating. Sure! No one's forcing me to walk them through my rating criteria but I just like to keep you in the loop, okay.
I reeeeally hated the style the book was written in, bold instead of quotation marks for dialogue, just, whyyyy would you do that to us, Boyd. But it stopped mattering less. A little less.
I loved the Freak, and I loved Will's constant growing need to not be an asshole. I li...more
I reeeeally hated the style the book was written in, bold instead of quotation marks for dialogue, just, whyyyy would you do that to us, Boyd. But it stopped mattering less. A little less.
I loved the Freak, and I loved Will's constant growing need to not be an asshole. I li...more
Light and entertaining YA read, aimed at lower high school boys. It's a little like "Saving Francesca" for a male audience. Sweet and easy.
Recommended for gr. 7-12, probably more suited towards the high school end of things. The main character is a year 11 student at an Australian boys school, which I understand is equivalent to grade 10 in the US. Because of n impulsive prank he pulled, he is assigned to help with the school musical. Apparently at his school this is a badge of ultra geekdom, and to make matters worse, it will be a joint production with the local girls school.
The writing was entertaining, the characters were likabl...more
The writing was entertaining, the characters were likabl...more
another good book about finding your identity, the setting was in Australia with trouble thrown in
will is a classic book to read, funny and being a teenager who can relate to it, you can get a fair few laughs from it.
312 pgs.
312 pgs.
As with King of the Screw Ups by K.L. Going, I think this is a good one for teachers to read.
So predictable and boring. Won't be recommending to my teen readers.
FIRST IMPRESSION:
Entertaining and written in a boy's point of view (judging by the blurb.) I didn't like the title, though. Was too plain.
WRITING STYLE:
One thing which annoyed me was the dialogue. It was bold and hard to read.
PLOT:
Surprisingly darker than I expected it to be.
CHARACTERS:
All the characters didn't fit into stereotypes. They're all unique. And I loved Will. Best male character ever.
OVERALL:
A wacky yet heartfelt story about a boy discovering himself in the unexpected of ways.
AMOUNT...more
Entertaining and written in a boy's point of view (judging by the blurb.) I didn't like the title, though. Was too plain.
WRITING STYLE:
One thing which annoyed me was the dialogue. It was bold and hard to read.
PLOT:
Surprisingly darker than I expected it to be.
CHARACTERS:
All the characters didn't fit into stereotypes. They're all unique. And I loved Will. Best male character ever.
OVERALL:
A wacky yet heartfelt story about a boy discovering himself in the unexpected of ways.
AMOUNT...more
good story could have had a better ending
The beginning was good, slow at times. I did start to love this book. The ending. I didn't care for it. I mean what happened?
Read for professional review.
this book has so much interresting things because i am a fan of mysteryband teenage drama books and if you read this book...YOU WILL NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!!!!!
One of the best books for young adults I've ever read. Don't be put off by the bolded dialogue (I was at first), the book is definitely worth a read. Maria Boyd has captured the voice of year eleven student Will so perfectly, you really just want to know him in real life.
I absolutely recommend it.
I absolutely recommend it.
Funny, emotional and an unforgettable protagonist!
May 17, 2013
Stella Pingel
marked it as to-read
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Maria Boyd has spent the better part of the past seven years working as a teacher in two Sydney boys’ high schools, a job that ensured her, among other things, at least four belly laughs a day. Before that she was completing her Masters in Cultural Studies, and before that, she was travelling the world from her base in London.�She has explored many different types of opportunities in her working l...more
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