Harry and Hortense at Hormone High

by Paul Zindel

Sophomores Harry and Hortense are convinced they're the only enlightened people in their messed-up, miserable high school, which Harry's nicknamed Hormone High. When Harry and Hartense meet Jason Rohr, he confides in them that he is the last hero who can save the world, and he asks them to help him achieve his mission. Then Harry and Hortense discover some horrifying information about Jason's past. Should Harry and Hortense believe what they've learned, or should they continue to help the Jason who may be the last real-life hero?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

150 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1984

About the author

Paul Zindel was an American author, playwright and educator.

In 1964, he wrote The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, his first and most successful play. The play ran off-Broadway in 1970, and on Broadway in 1971. It won the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was also made into a 1972 movie by 20th Century Fox. Charlotte Zolotow, then a vice-president at Harper & Row (now Harper-Collins) contacted him to writing for her book label. Zindel wrote 39 books, all of them aimed at children or young adults. Many of these were set in his home town of Staten Island, New York. They tended to be semi-autobiographical, focusing on teenage misfits with abusive or neglectful parents. Despite the often dark subject matter of his books, which deal with loneliness, loss, and the effects of abuse, they are also filled with humor. Many of his novels have wacky titles, such as My Darling, My Hamburger, or Confessions of A Teenage Baboon.

The Pigman, first published in 1968, is widely taught in American schools, and also made it on to the list of most frequently banned books in America in the 1990s, because of what some deem offensive language.

Reviews

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated and almost campy (in fact, I decided to read it because it was the library discard with the strangest cover and excerpts) but also funny and intelligent and a little sad. Descriptions like "the most dynamic and exciting teenage schizophrenic" and "one of the most fascinating and striking girls" had me rolling my eyes and laughing, but some sentences were actually pretty great ("She had revved up as much pulchritude as she could muster.") One statement that just might enter daily usage in my family is "You're both fine students who do not need a banana for a friend." Weird but fun.

While the narration tended towards lightness and humor and the plot was adventurous, the themes were serious and sad. Schizophrenia and poverty are the backbone of the story - never discussed seriously but impossible to ignore.

[Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my GOD, this book was so totally completely one of my favorites.

Packs a punch on every page & I can still hear the dogs barking.

My friend Erika who I was crushing on (little 11-yo baby me) and I would lie on my bed and read it silently together, turning pages. It was too much! It was heaven!

Ah........

And it seemed, whenever I'd get a bit older, I'd pull it out again... to check and see if more stuff in the book now made sense... and if the book now made the new stuff in my life make sense... Perfect.

[Ahmed Moalim]

oh my god this book was really interesting...its about these strangers who meet another stranger n its totally gets even more mysterious along the way...i jsut cant wait for this to happen in my high school but only one problemo-i live in malaysia!!!lol jsut for another 6 months hopefully

[Lisa Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Paul Zindel's THE PIGMAN in many ways (structure, style, themes, story arc), Harry and Hortense at Hormone High is a quick, bittersweet read that left me in quiet tears. Zindel seems to have a knack for writing straightforward, but heartfelt tales with honest characters and understated depth and is becoming one of my favorite authors, as well as an excellent example of a writer who understands voice.

[Taya · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall light-hearted and comical story given the mentally ill character of Jason and the end of the book.

I think this book could have even been a 5 star had I read this book in early high school, as that’s the main target audience.

Note to self: I read this book solely via a physical copy of the book

[Marius Piedallu van Wyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and sad. But he also told his stories with a sense of humor.

[Jerry]

review text for 804

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underrated Zindel. RIP.

[V.S. Carnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zindel was so awesome.

[Nichole · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a weird find in a neighborhood little library. Absurdly 80s in ways that are both uncomfortable and intriguing. Signed Icarus, a god.