What do you think?
Rate this book
I'm Exploding Now
It promises to be a less-than-thrilling summer for 16-year-old Manhattanite Max Whooten. He doesn’t have a job. His parents are annoying. His younger sister is even more annoying. His buddy Trevor just got out of a mental institution and the hottest girl he knows is Leila, his best friend, who he’ll never get with. All he’s got to keep him company is his own anger. An anger he seemingly has no control over and which is increasingly taking over his life.
But an unexpected turn of events (well, not so unexpected— the family cat, Mozart, aka Crappy, was sure to choke on a hairball sometime) leads him to his aunt’s place in Woodstock. After Crappy is safely laid to rest next to his sister Madame Chow, Max decides to stick around Woodstock for a few weeks. Sure, his Aunt Ginny might be a bit eccentric, but she does introduce Max to Zini, a young artist who turns out to be his muse. This just might be the recipe for finding love, and most definitely finding himself .
Max lets us into his frustrated, highly hormonal, comical, and sometimes inspired world through a series of diary entries in this coming-of-age story about an ordinary boy becoming an extraordinary person and writer.
But an unexpected turn of events (well, not so unexpected— the family cat, Mozart, aka Crappy, was sure to choke on a hairball sometime) leads him to his aunt’s place in Woodstock. After Crappy is safely laid to rest next to his sister Madame Chow, Max decides to stick around Woodstock for a few weeks. Sure, his Aunt Ginny might be a bit eccentric, but she does introduce Max to Zini, a young artist who turns out to be his muse. This just might be the recipe for finding love, and most definitely finding himself .
Max lets us into his frustrated, highly hormonal, comical, and sometimes inspired world through a series of diary entries in this coming-of-age story about an ordinary boy becoming an extraordinary person and writer.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2007
10 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Sid Hite
23 books9 followers“For me, writing books for a living is a grand privilege. I often feel as if I've won some sort of prize.”
Sid grew up in a family of seven in the small town of Bowling Green, Virginia. Sid says that when he was young he “had more energy than brains.” And further states that he “[wishes] it was still that way.”
Sid discovered his passion for novels in his teenage years and decided right then and there to become a fiction writer. He says that he is grateful now that he didn't know how much work was involved in being a writer then.
After high school he traveled for several years through more than twenty countries. Upon returning to the U.S., he worked at several jobs, including farming, bartending, and construction, before his first novel was published. He feels that writing for a living is a privilege.
Sid was named a Publisher's Weekly “Flying Start” for his first novel, Dither Farm. He currently lives in upstate New York.
Sid is a decent amateur juggler.
Sid grew up in a family of seven in the small town of Bowling Green, Virginia. Sid says that when he was young he “had more energy than brains.” And further states that he “[wishes] it was still that way.”
Sid discovered his passion for novels in his teenage years and decided right then and there to become a fiction writer. He says that he is grateful now that he didn't know how much work was involved in being a writer then.
After high school he traveled for several years through more than twenty countries. Upon returning to the U.S., he worked at several jobs, including farming, bartending, and construction, before his first novel was published. He feels that writing for a living is a privilege.
Sid was named a Publisher's Weekly “Flying Start” for his first novel, Dither Farm. He currently lives in upstate New York.
Sid is a decent amateur juggler.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 28, 2007
Although this sounded like an ordinary teenager’s diary, and I can see all the events happening to somebody in real life, this book was a disappointment. It was not nearly as funny as the dust jacket blurb suggested it would be. In fact, it was kind of boring. I spent the whole book wondering whether anything was actually going to happen.
January 5, 2019
Although I enjoy this type of books and its relaxing mood and storyline, I did not find this book to be intriguing as previous ones in the same genera. The writing seemed to be a bit too simple and the character was not well-built enough to gain full love from the readers. However, with the relatable storyline and amusing storyline, I gave it a rating of 3 out of 5. I would prefer this type of books again, but maybe I would choose ones with more complexity next time.
February 11, 2016
One of my favorite YA books of the year, but I never would have guessed it at first, even with the flying cat on the cover. The first few dozen pages read like a bunch of similarly goofy/bitter sketches, in two and three page chapter slices. 16-year-old Max doesn 19t give himself much time to think as he jots down his New York City summer journal entries and copes with anger management issues.
His thoughts don 19t initially extend beyond his boredom, his cynicism, and of course girls. Here 19s how describes a visit to Riverside Park.
1CIn the last fifteen minutes I 19ve seen five kids fall on their butts, two kids bang their heads together, and one little girl slip off the swing. Made me laugh out loud. I 19d forgotten how clumsy little kids are. Wake up. Cute chick coming this way. Never mind. She 19s with that guy. 1D
Max is big on documenting pain. This is what he had to say about an open mic poetry night. 1COne guy was so bad, people booed to get him to stop, but he didn 19t. He went on and on and on. Listening to him was sort of like sitting in the waiting room for hell. 1D The image isn 19t funny. It 19s confrontational, and believable; and even if Max doesn 19t think so much, he gives me something to think about.
And then I read the poem Max was inspired to write.
i have a friend
she 19s really wow
went away to see a cow
met some guy
i don 19t know how
kissing me she won 19t allow
oou ouch ow
my fuse is lit
i 19m exploding now
I agree, ouch.
Max writes his poem during Part Two, when he travels to stay with an aunt in Woodstock. At this point, girls take on a much more concrete presence in his life. The result is unexpectedly cute, and touching. Max still seems immature, but his reactions feel right 13 just the way a normally awkward teenager should react.
By Part Three, I was completely sold on Max 19s quick-fix philosophy, and his very recognizable approach to girls. I love the anxiety, and the emotion. Great final uptick to a great book.
His thoughts don 19t initially extend beyond his boredom, his cynicism, and of course girls. Here 19s how describes a visit to Riverside Park.
1CIn the last fifteen minutes I 19ve seen five kids fall on their butts, two kids bang their heads together, and one little girl slip off the swing. Made me laugh out loud. I 19d forgotten how clumsy little kids are. Wake up. Cute chick coming this way. Never mind. She 19s with that guy. 1D
Max is big on documenting pain. This is what he had to say about an open mic poetry night. 1COne guy was so bad, people booed to get him to stop, but he didn 19t. He went on and on and on. Listening to him was sort of like sitting in the waiting room for hell. 1D The image isn 19t funny. It 19s confrontational, and believable; and even if Max doesn 19t think so much, he gives me something to think about.
And then I read the poem Max was inspired to write.
i have a friend
she 19s really wow
went away to see a cow
met some guy
i don 19t know how
kissing me she won 19t allow
oou ouch ow
my fuse is lit
i 19m exploding now
I agree, ouch.
Max writes his poem during Part Two, when he travels to stay with an aunt in Woodstock. At this point, girls take on a much more concrete presence in his life. The result is unexpectedly cute, and touching. Max still seems immature, but his reactions feel right 13 just the way a normally awkward teenager should react.
By Part Three, I was completely sold on Max 19s quick-fix philosophy, and his very recognizable approach to girls. I love the anxiety, and the emotion. Great final uptick to a great book.
September 30, 2014
One of my favorite YA books of the year, but I never would have guessed it at first, even with the flying cat on the cover. The first few dozen pages read like a bunch of similarly goofy/bitter sketches, in two and three page chapter slices. 16-year-old Max doesn’t give himself much time to think as he jots down his New York City summer journal entries and copes with anger management issues.
His thoughts don’t initially extend beyond his boredom, his cynicism, and of course girls. Here’s how he describes a visit to Riverside Park.
“In the last fifteen minutes I’ve seen five kids fall on their butts, two kids bang their heads together, and one little girl slip off the swing. Made me laugh out loud. I’d forgotten how clumsy little kids are. Wake up. Cute chick coming this way. Never mind. She’s with that guy.”
Max is big on documenting pain. This is what he had to say about an open mic poetry night. “One guy was so bad, people booed to get him to stop, but he didn’t. He went on and on and on. Listening to him was sort of like sitting in the waiting room for hell.” The image isn’t funny. It’s confrontational, and believable; and even if Max doesn’t think so much, he gives me something to think about.
And then I read the poem Max was inspired to write.
i have a friend
she’s really wow
went away to see a cow
met some guy
i don’t know how
kissing me she won’t allow
oou ouch ow
my fuse is lit
i’m exploding now
I agree, ouch.
Max writes his poem during Part Two, when he travels to stay with an aunt in Woodstock. At this point, girls take on a much more concrete presence in his life. The result is unexpectedly cute, and touching. Max still seems immature, but his reactions feel right – just the way a normally awkward teenager should react.
By Part Three, I was completely sold on Max’s quick-fix philosophy, and his very recognizable approach to girls. I love the anxiety, and the emotion. Great final uptick to a great book.
His thoughts don’t initially extend beyond his boredom, his cynicism, and of course girls. Here’s how he describes a visit to Riverside Park.
“In the last fifteen minutes I’ve seen five kids fall on their butts, two kids bang their heads together, and one little girl slip off the swing. Made me laugh out loud. I’d forgotten how clumsy little kids are. Wake up. Cute chick coming this way. Never mind. She’s with that guy.”
Max is big on documenting pain. This is what he had to say about an open mic poetry night. “One guy was so bad, people booed to get him to stop, but he didn’t. He went on and on and on. Listening to him was sort of like sitting in the waiting room for hell.” The image isn’t funny. It’s confrontational, and believable; and even if Max doesn’t think so much, he gives me something to think about.
And then I read the poem Max was inspired to write.
i have a friend
she’s really wow
went away to see a cow
met some guy
i don’t know how
kissing me she won’t allow
oou ouch ow
my fuse is lit
i’m exploding now
I agree, ouch.
Max writes his poem during Part Two, when he travels to stay with an aunt in Woodstock. At this point, girls take on a much more concrete presence in his life. The result is unexpectedly cute, and touching. Max still seems immature, but his reactions feel right – just the way a normally awkward teenager should react.
By Part Three, I was completely sold on Max’s quick-fix philosophy, and his very recognizable approach to girls. I love the anxiety, and the emotion. Great final uptick to a great book.
May 10, 2011
The copy I read has a blue cover with a flying cat and The Thinker statue and some legs in fishnet stockings. It's a better cover and what got me interested to read the book. :)
Anyway, I liked this one. It was really a story about nothing, written as journal entries, just random thoughts from 16-year old Max. He has some good days, he has some bad days. It is written with humor and had me smiling through most of it just in his point of view. Fast read, too.
Product Description
It promises to be a less-than-thrilling summer for 16-year-old Manhattanite Max Whooten. He doesn't have a job. His parents are annoying. His younger sister is even more annoying. His buddy Trevor just got out of a mental institution and the hottest girl he knows is Leila, his best friend, who he'll never get with. All he's got to keep him company is his own anger. An anger he seemingly has no control over and which is increasingly taking over his life.
But an unexpected turn of events (well, not so unexpected-- the family cat, Mozart, aka Crappy, was sure to choke on a hairball sometime) leads him to his aunt's place in Woodstock. After Crappy is safely laid to rest next to his sister Madame Chow, Max decides to stick around Woodstock for a few weeks. Sure, his Aunt Ginny might be a bit eccentric, but she does introduce Max to Zini, a young artist who turns out to be his muse. This just might be the recipe for finding love, and most definitely finding himself.
Max lets us into his frustrated, highly hormonal, comical, and sometimes inspired world through a series of diary entries in this coming-of-age story about an ordinary boy becoming an extraordinary person and writer.
Anyway, I liked this one. It was really a story about nothing, written as journal entries, just random thoughts from 16-year old Max. He has some good days, he has some bad days. It is written with humor and had me smiling through most of it just in his point of view. Fast read, too.
Product Description
It promises to be a less-than-thrilling summer for 16-year-old Manhattanite Max Whooten. He doesn't have a job. His parents are annoying. His younger sister is even more annoying. His buddy Trevor just got out of a mental institution and the hottest girl he knows is Leila, his best friend, who he'll never get with. All he's got to keep him company is his own anger. An anger he seemingly has no control over and which is increasingly taking over his life.
But an unexpected turn of events (well, not so unexpected-- the family cat, Mozart, aka Crappy, was sure to choke on a hairball sometime) leads him to his aunt's place in Woodstock. After Crappy is safely laid to rest next to his sister Madame Chow, Max decides to stick around Woodstock for a few weeks. Sure, his Aunt Ginny might be a bit eccentric, but she does introduce Max to Zini, a young artist who turns out to be his muse. This just might be the recipe for finding love, and most definitely finding himself.
Max lets us into his frustrated, highly hormonal, comical, and sometimes inspired world through a series of diary entries in this coming-of-age story about an ordinary boy becoming an extraordinary person and writer.
November 15, 2018
the book was good. but a little confusing
Read
May 26, 2009I'm exploding now is a bizzare book. Max Whooten, a typical 16 year old living in Manhattan, is about to be let out for summer vacation. Like many students, he doesn't know what do do but wants to make an attempt to not die or boredom. In I'm Exploding Now, we follow Max throughout his summer. Overall i think this book is somewhat boring, just like Max Whootens life. I would say the climax was when he took a trip to see his aunt in an upstate town called Woodstock. In Woodstock, all he does is sit around at his aunt's house until he meets a girl named Zini. Basically, the whole book is us following Max throughout a boring, hot sticky summer vacation. I have to say that i got tricked by this book. When i first picked this book up i thought it would be a great read because of the interesting cover and bright colors. But now I have really learned not to judge a book by it's cover! But as i got into the middle of the book, i began to realize how boring it is.
Usually the first few pages of a book are boring because the action hasn't started yet. But in "I'm Exploding Now" the action never started. I don't think I would recommend this book to the average person. It is a very simple book, and very mildly funny at times. Basically i would say to read
this book only in an emergency situation when you have nothing else to read! I have definitely read many more exiting books.
Usually the first few pages of a book are boring because the action hasn't started yet. But in "I'm Exploding Now" the action never started. I don't think I would recommend this book to the average person. It is a very simple book, and very mildly funny at times. Basically i would say to read
this book only in an emergency situation when you have nothing else to read! I have definitely read many more exiting books.
November 9, 2012
I thought the book I’m Exploding Now by Sid Hite is a fiction book. I thought this was a great book about Max Whooten. The story takes place were Max lives in an interesting life in the city of New York during summer. He lives in an apartment with his sister, mother, and, father plus his cat named Mozart.
Max is having a bad summer because he is off his game. His best friend Leila likes to go outside and go people watching. They have grown up together all there life.
Max summer doesn’t start out well but then travels to his aunts who live in the country. His grandmother has a party with everyone in town, because it is a very small town and everyone went. At the party Max is sitting by a tree then a girl named Zinna comes over to him and start talking. Then when the party is over max goes back home and decides he likes this girl. But the next day max goes and sits on a bench and waits for the girl to show up in the town for four hours, and she doesn’t come in town at all. Meanwhile in New York his parents wanted him to come back if he wanted but he said he will stay at his aunts only one more day. Then the next day he waits at the beach again and finally after a long time when max was about to leave she finally shows up in town.
Max is having a bad summer because he is off his game. His best friend Leila likes to go outside and go people watching. They have grown up together all there life.
Max summer doesn’t start out well but then travels to his aunts who live in the country. His grandmother has a party with everyone in town, because it is a very small town and everyone went. At the party Max is sitting by a tree then a girl named Zinna comes over to him and start talking. Then when the party is over max goes back home and decides he likes this girl. But the next day max goes and sits on a bench and waits for the girl to show up in the town for four hours, and she doesn’t come in town at all. Meanwhile in New York his parents wanted him to come back if he wanted but he said he will stay at his aunts only one more day. Then the next day he waits at the beach again and finally after a long time when max was about to leave she finally shows up in town.
May 19, 2015
The book that i read was I'm Exploding Now by Side Hite. The main character of this story is Max who lives in New York with his family. Max think is parents are annoying and that his sister is worse. Max is like any ordinary urban teen. His friends are Leila and Trevor. Leila is basically Max's best friends and he really likes her. Trevor was in a mental institution for a while and they haven't hung out or talked in a while. Max has many troubles during the story like he tries to get girl or be on his cool, but just can't focus. At the same time his dad doesn't have a job because he's an struggling actor. In the middle of the story Max is reading and learning about philosophy and thinks about making his own philosophy. Later the family cat Mozart or how Max calls him, Crappy, dies. So he goes to Woodstock where his aunt is to bury Crappy.He stays in Woodstock for a while and meets a pretty girl named Zini. Max really like to be with Zini and really likes her. Once he is back in the city, he starts to help without he family more and gets back on his game. Then he finds out Zini is going to visit and he gets nervous about her visiting. In my opinion I'm Exploding Now is a great book that teens and young adults would love and connect to.It's really funny and interesting as you read and it will make you want to read more to find out what will happen next.
April 21, 2010
Max is 16, lives in New York, and annoyed by his family. He doesn't like his pet cat named Crappy. Max has anger issues and his aunt reccomended that he write out the problems he is having. It turns out that writing helps him express his anger and calms him down, he writes in a journal that his aunt sends him. When spring break comes he is sent out to his aunt's place for vacation. When his little sister goes to camp and his parents get the week to themselves.
Max ends up meeting this girl as he goes to visit his aunt. Max then gets tangled up when this girl ends up reading his journal about someone he already liked. Max will have to get out of this predicament as he leaves back to New York.
Max ends up meeting this girl as he goes to visit his aunt. Max then gets tangled up when this girl ends up reading his journal about someone he already liked. Max will have to get out of this predicament as he leaves back to New York.
May 24, 2016
I really enjoyed this book about Max Whooten who is a sixteen year old boy, unemployed, and desperate for a girlfriend. Max try's to find the meaning of life and meets up with a Buddhist friend. He crashes a party and has a cat named crappy. Max keeps a notebook and that is how he writes to the reader throughout the book.
I would recommend this book to young readers that are into realistic fiction. It was a short book and didn't take long to read. I really liked the writing style because he doesn't write everyday he can skip over the days where he doesn't do anything. Also I thought that I could relate to Max because I could understand what he was talking about because I am practically the same age. The author did a nice job of writing from the perspective of a sixteen year old boy.
I would recommend this book to young readers that are into realistic fiction. It was a short book and didn't take long to read. I really liked the writing style because he doesn't write everyday he can skip over the days where he doesn't do anything. Also I thought that I could relate to Max because I could understand what he was talking about because I am practically the same age. The author did a nice job of writing from the perspective of a sixteen year old boy.
December 13, 2014
This book explains what it is like to be a kid! The perspective of this book makes me feel like I'm the one living the story.This book shows how stressful and hard life can be as a teenager. Being as soon-to-be teen,I can relate to the narrator of the book.I especially enjoy that the book is written as if it was a teenage boys diary,filled with every-day things.It makes the book unique in many ways
May 17, 2013
this book was helarious this boys life is to boring he talkes about living in abox its funny how he gets a lot of girl and the wons he likes dont like him back and come back to his life having boyfreinds. this book gives a major concept of life live it now not later this kid wasent really funny the stuff that happend to him were
Read
February 8, 2016The protagonist is 17 and very confused about life. He is unsure of his status at school and home. He does not know what he wants from life or what he should add to life. He is dealing with anger issues. His Aunt Ginny suggests he should write about his feelings - this helps him track his anger problems. A trip to see his Aunt in the country helps him sort out his life. Good coming-of-age story.
November 9, 2016
i thought this actually was a pretty a pretty good book. I could relate to the main character max is ver relatable. Like when i first started i just like oh its just another loser in high school who likes a girl who he's scared to talk too. But then as i got more into to it the more i could relate to the more max started to sound like my self.
August 18, 2008
Max, disaffected teen, struggles to get 'back on his game'. He's felt off; not funny, not right, and he's not sure how to get back on track. This is a comical, less intense, story about finding oneself, and growing up.
March 9, 2010
This book introduces you to charming protagonist with a low-key quirky, realistic voice, but doesn't do much else. It's more of a light-weight character study than a plot-driven narrative, which manages to work because of the book's short length.
June 19, 2008
This was a cute, quirky book. It didn't have such a hugely gripping plot, and it was only 182 pages, so it was an easy read all together. I would recommend it to people who don't particularly enjoy reading, or to someone who's looking for something quick and simple to read to pass the time.
November 6, 2014
This is the story of Max Whooten, an ennui-filled sixteen-year-old with a long, open summer calendar ahead of him. I loved this story. Craving a quick read populated with unextraordinary characters who make you feel good because you can recognize yourself in them? Read this book now.
April 17, 2008
this was a really lame book. I was expecting a much better storyline than what was provided. Nothing happened in the whole thing!
September 19, 2008
The journal of a teenage boy. There is a little love story in there and bit annoyance of family, like any teenager. Pretty good book, a little slow throughout the whole story.
September 17, 2008
Sometimes what you're looking for is either closer of farther than where you expect it to be.
October 2, 2009
this is a awsome book for people who are creative and in a weird way for people who talk to themselves!!!! HA HA HA!
December 19, 2009
Greatest book i have read this whole year. This book should be read by teenagers, because they will be able to relate to it by alto and most males might just feel the same.
August 3, 2011
This books was so slight that I read it a few months ago and can't remember what it was about, except for a bunch of dithering and navel gazing.
August 11, 2013
this was a cute read. typical teenage internal drama. i liked having it written in a journal entry form.
September 13, 2016
Read the proof copy. This is a common book; there are deeper versions of this narrative in the YA market. "Playing with Matches" is a pretty good one.
January 22, 2016
Silly, cute book for preteens. Someone gave it to me & I'll read just about anything.
Currently reading
May 18, 2018the book is good, go teen read
May 23, 2008
Clever and heartwarming.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews