Getting Sideways

by Lisa Nowak

Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody’s making every effort to get his life back on track—writing for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers’ license—but there’s no escaping the nightmares that haunt him.

A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes he’ll have to live up to Race’s legendary status. But that’s the least of his worries, considering he doesn’t have his dad’s permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing’s safe.

Yeah, sure. That’ll be easy.

Genres: Young Adult

Paperback

First published December 4, 2011

About the author

In addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are.

Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she’d use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two giant sequoias.

Reviews

[Darby Karchut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, and I though Running Wide Open was good. This next book in the Full Throttle series had me staying up waaaay too late.

In Getting Sideways, Cody Everett makes a bad decision, one that could ruin his wonderful relationship with his ultra-cool uncle, Race. Without giving away the plot, let me just say I spent the entire time, as I read the book, yelling out loud for Cody to just tell his uncle the truth! Kids – they’ll drive you nuts.

Anyway, Lisa Nowak continues the sometime antagonistic, often hilarious, always heartwarming story of an out-of-luck teen and the stalwart mentor who saves him from himself. The entire series is set against the back drop of car racing, which I found had much more to it than just driving in a circle really fast. Teen boys, and not just motor heads, will enjoy this book, but girls will like it, too.

One of the best things about Getting Sideways is that I got to see the creative side of Cody as he begins to write for the school newspaper. Nice to read about a male teen protagonist that enjoys books and writing.

Side note: I recently sent a gushing fan girl e-mail to her, and she so sweetly answered me back. This, once again, proves that the YA world has the nicest people in it.

I highly recommend this book to teens, adults, and think every high school should own a copy or two!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Sideways is just as good a read as Running Wide Open. I highly recommend both of these stories for anybody who likes to see kids succeed even when they've got the deck stacked against them.

[Melissa Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent follow-up to the previous book, Running Wide Open.

[Arla (Leave Mommy Alone) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Lisa Nowak for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought these could be used as alternate titles for this book:

Two Sides to Every Story
The Arduous Task of Forgiving Oneself
Chicks Be Cray-Cray
Denial, Not Just A River
Take Care What You Wish For, You Just Might Get It

Okay, those are silly. Still, they should shed a little light on some of the ground covered in this book. Cody has some very new experiences in this installment and it's an exciting time for him. Girls are now in the picture, he gets his license, starts writing for the school paper and is thinking about racing cars like his uncle. Does that mean things are looking up for him? Well, yes and no.

Getting Sideways begins with an exciting new development - Cody has a girlfriend. At least that's what he refers to her as. I'm not sure she qualifies. He spends a lot of time wondering what Megan could possibly see in him, when she's obviously the total package, and he's a short, non-jock with baggage. It's entertaining to watch him discover why men find women to be such an enigma.

Thanks to Race and Kasey, he's made great progress with his issues on trust, self-confidence and self-control. But, who's able to overcome all their issues in less than a year? Letting the adults take the wheel and opening up about his feelings are still a work in progress. No doubt this can be traced back to his lack of parental guidance and support. What can't be blamed on his parents, are the regular nightmares of the crash that almost took Race's life.

Although book 1, Running Wide Open, was able to invoke my inner "angry teen" (that's right, she's still around), Getting Sideways appealed more to my maternal side. Explain that one. I spent most of the book worried that poor Cody was gonna give himself an ulcer, as he's such a worrier. He's so concerned with everyone's thoughts and feelings and wastes a lot of energy tip toeing around the people he cares about. Then there are the grudges he still holds towards his parents and Jim (the guy who crashed into Race). I don't think they're unfounded, but we all know how taxing it is to hold a grudge. Add to that the guilt of making a bad decision, plus the resulting damage to his relationships and you've got one depressed kid. Luckily, he's surrounded by people who are in need of forgiveness themselves and are not about to give up on him. But, can Cody forgive himself?

My favorite parts in the book are when he has some real ground breaking moments with his dad. The flood gates are opened and Cody reveals his true feelings about his disappointment in his dad. Harsh words are exchanged, but a weight is lifted. Also a favorite, Race and Kasey's relationship. Can Race get past his hang-ups? Will Kasey continue to wait for him until he does? You've got to read the book to find out!

I enjoy the steady pace in which Lisa Nowak's characters mature and develop. It's so realistic and true to life. We don't wake up one day and have it all figured out - we stumble and falter and then right ourselves. As Race puts it, "It's like learning how to drive. Every once in a while, you'll find yourself getting sideways."

The epilogue was a fantastic way to end this book and left me wanting more. I can't wait to see what's in store for all these wonderful characters in the next book, Driven, due to be released in Spring 2012.

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[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have truely enjoyed this series! Like I said in my review for "Running Wide Open", I am not a racing fan. So I was a bit skeptical. But these books are about so much more than racing. They are about family. And not your typical every day family either. But this family extends beyond blood, and includes family from the track. Cody and Race have come such a long way in this book. They have truely become a family. Yes, they have their ups and downs and Cody has a major set back in this book. But it only brings them closer. Its so great to see this family coming together. I'm even starting to enjoy the thrill of the races. Getting Sideways has been more than entertainment for me, but has actually opened my eyes to things that I may not have even ever given a second chance before. Hmmmm. Maybe I should catch a race this summer! If its a fun as this book makes it out to be, I just might get hooked!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read much fiction from a male perspective. I enjoyed it. It was fun to see the behavior I have seen from guys all my life and 'hear' the reasoning behind it. And in my opinion, she got it right on.
These are definately stories that are not just for guys or someone that likes racing. (Though I think these are great books for guys, which there are not enough of) But there is so much more to them than just racing. They are about family, forgiveness, acceptance. With lots of humor & excitement thrown in throughout.
I also liked how Cody was growing at a realistic rate. There wasn't a magical event that he 'got it' and was now as mature as any adult. He was stepping forward in some things, stepping back in others & piecing it all together in that crazy way of adolescence where you actually are moving forward & hopefully learning who you really want to be.
Looking forward to seeing what Lisa Nowak writes in the future.

[Alice Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nowak brings Cody Everett back as the Full Throttle series continues. Cody's just beginning to enjoy his new life with his uncle Race. He's learned to trust and manage his temper, but things don't seem to be working out with his uncle's offer of a dream project; building his own race car. Cody's supposed to get this okayed by his dad, but when the answer isn't what he expected, he lets Race believe he's gotten the go ahead. With his powers of persuasion, Cody's sure he can persuade his father to see that stock car racing is really a safe sport, despite Race's accident the previous season. But that argument isn't going to fly with his dad. Now Cody is caught between admitting his deception to Race or hanging onto the faint hope that dad will relent. Not an easy prospect. Cody's trademark humor still sparkles among the tension, and it's a treat to revisit the characters introduced in Running Wide Open.

[Leticia Bench · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid I was a bit let down by this book, especially after enjoying book 1 so much. The conflict wasn't nearly as interesting, the characters not as believable, and the highs and lows superficial.

[M.R. Bode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow up to Cody's story. Finally Race got it together.

[Jabz_barca]

I'm new on this and I just wanted to know how do u read the book I'm dying to read this book