Steve's review
King Dork
by Frank Portman
Steve's review
King Dork by Frank Portman
Steve's review
rating:
I need to revise my remarks. A few hours ago, I added this and wrote simply, "I don't care if they call it YA. This is more smart, sophisticated, and engaging than the vast majority of novels not carrying that tag."
Upon reflection, though, despite my considerable enjoyment of the book, it doesn't feel true in an important way. The central conceit of the novel is that the narrator, Tom, occupies the lowest, most miserable social status in his high school, but, speaking as someone who was a wretched social misfit in junior high and high school, I find the his experiences both worse and better than is plausible.
Worse than is plausible because, given that the readers' perspective of Tom comes principally from his own constantly clever, witty, and insightful first-person narrative, it's difficult not to perceive him as cool. Unpopular, sure, but outcast status only compounds coolness, doesn't it, once you show us he's cool? Meanwhile, Portman (as Tom) mostly only...more
Upon reflection, though, despite my considerable enjoyment of the book, it doesn't feel true in an important way. The central conceit of the novel is that the narrator, Tom, occupies the lowest, most miserable social status in his high school, but, speaking as someone who was a wretched social misfit in junior high and high school, I find the his experiences both worse and better than is plausible.
Worse than is plausible because, given that the readers' perspective of Tom comes principally from his own constantly clever, witty, and insightful first-person narrative, it's difficult not to perceive him as cool. Unpopular, sure, but outcast status only compounds coolness, doesn't it, once you show us he's cool? Meanwhile, Portman (as Tom) mostly only...more
