What do you think?
Rate this book
Being Badger: A Coming Of Age Story
Hey there! Great that you’re looking at my blurb. I’m Badger, and I know I’ve gotta write some lines to make you want to buy it. So I’ll try my best.
You see, I was finally on my way up, just hanging with the cool kids, when I was forced to take a Literature class at my school. Being a 16-year-old is hard enough already, without being forced to read too. When I became friends with the nerdy girl Adia, I got caught between two worlds. Will I write the chapter of my life I’m hoping for, or will I be stuck trying to be the main character in someone else’s?
This is a story about growing bookshelves and growing up, about making choices and dealing with the consequences. It’s about love, betrayal, and friendship. And if that didn’t strike your fancy, there’s drugs and sex and a lot of wannabe cool teenage stuff too.
Being Badger is the debut novel by Nadine Steiner-Schütz. A beautiful Coming of Age story that covers topics such as peer-pressure, romance, love, grief, self-esteem and friendship. A book not just for teens but everyone who enjoys being taken back to their adolescence, a time of novelty and insecurity, and often blissful unawareness of the latter.
You see, I was finally on my way up, just hanging with the cool kids, when I was forced to take a Literature class at my school. Being a 16-year-old is hard enough already, without being forced to read too. When I became friends with the nerdy girl Adia, I got caught between two worlds. Will I write the chapter of my life I’m hoping for, or will I be stuck trying to be the main character in someone else’s?
This is a story about growing bookshelves and growing up, about making choices and dealing with the consequences. It’s about love, betrayal, and friendship. And if that didn’t strike your fancy, there’s drugs and sex and a lot of wannabe cool teenage stuff too.
Being Badger is the debut novel by Nadine Steiner-Schütz. A beautiful Coming of Age story that covers topics such as peer-pressure, romance, love, grief, self-esteem and friendship. A book not just for teens but everyone who enjoys being taken back to their adolescence, a time of novelty and insecurity, and often blissful unawareness of the latter.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2023
9 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 12, 2023
I just want to start off by saying that I am not a YA girly. I love fantasy. But WOW did I truly love this book.
I truly didn’t feel like I was reading a YA novel. This book filled me with such nostalgia, taking me back to high school and the importance we all feel at that time to fit in, suppress our true selves in order to keep up reputations.
I loved the way this book was written. You feel like you’re hearing a story from a friend. With this perspective, you feel what the narrator feels. I was angry with Badger, I cried with Badger, I felt anxious with him.
By the end, I was in tears. The ending, while I felt was a bit abrupt was so beautiful. I actually felt sad to see this story end.
In my opinion, I see this book becoming a novel being taught in high school, much like how we read the Catcher in the Rye, Gatsby, and the other books the author mentions and drew themes from.
I highly recommend this book for a touching read.
Please support this author!
I truly didn’t feel like I was reading a YA novel. This book filled me with such nostalgia, taking me back to high school and the importance we all feel at that time to fit in, suppress our true selves in order to keep up reputations.
I loved the way this book was written. You feel like you’re hearing a story from a friend. With this perspective, you feel what the narrator feels. I was angry with Badger, I cried with Badger, I felt anxious with him.
By the end, I was in tears. The ending, while I felt was a bit abrupt was so beautiful. I actually felt sad to see this story end.
In my opinion, I see this book becoming a novel being taught in high school, much like how we read the Catcher in the Rye, Gatsby, and the other books the author mentions and drew themes from.
I highly recommend this book for a touching read.
Please support this author!
December 3, 2023
this book is about badger and badger is telling us his story. It was very well written and it was unique writing style that I don’t think I’ve experienced before but there was something about this story that grabbed me.
it’s a YA novel and I do like the YA genre so when found this book I couldn’t wait to read it, the title also stuck out to me “Being Badger” made me ask “who’s badger? What’s a badger?” this book had me from the very beginning, there are only 4? Chapters that are quite long, I didn’t mind that at all.
it’s a YA novel and I do like the YA genre so when found this book I couldn’t wait to read it, the title also stuck out to me “Being Badger” made me ask “who’s badger? What’s a badger?” this book had me from the very beginning, there are only 4? Chapters that are quite long, I didn’t mind that at all.
September 27, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. I thought this was a great read. Loved the way it was written. This definitely brought me back to my high schools days ( which it has been a really long time ago lol) …. About the importance we feel to try and fit in and hide ourselves so we can keep up the reputation… it wasn’t hard to relate to this book.
If you want a good read, a touching book. This is the one to read
If you want a good read, a touching book. This is the one to read
September 13, 2024
Such a cute YA story! It only has 4 chapter but they were long. I’m not a long chapter type of girly but it was entertaining throughout the whole book. Some parts I found it funny while other times I wanted to cry. I really recommend this book!
June 4, 2023
First of all, I just want to say thank you so much to Nadine for reaching out to me and telling me all about her debut book! So pleased for you and humbled that you asked me if I wanted to have a read☺️
I don’t usually read YA novels so no star review is needed for this one. All I want to say is, if you get the opportunity to read it, you definitely should!
I really enjoyed how personable this book felt. It’s not very often that I’ve read something that literally took me back to my own adolescence. I think it perfectly emphasises the struggles during that turbulent period of feeling like you don’t fit in or belong, punching your fist in the air and cursing the world when things don’t go your way, trying to find love and trying to find yourself and your purpose in life.
A fun little addition that I thought was really clever was Badger breaking the fourth wall, it made the story seem more personal and it’s rare, (as the reader), to feel like the main character is actively addressing you in their own story! I really liked the occasional instances where Badger would tell you how a situation panned out and then would immediately backtrack and tell you that it didn’t happen like that at all😂 it was a fun touch that reminded me that as teenagers, we often try to embellish a story!
I initially shipped Aadiya and Badger, (how wrong was I😂), but upon reflection, I realised that Badger really needed a solid friend. Someone who truly saw him for who he was, but also wasn’t afraid to put him in his place! I also really enjoyed the queer representation💗
Overall, I found this story really insightful. I’d definitely recommend for those who fancy taking a trip down memory lane to their own adolescence!
I don’t usually read YA novels so no star review is needed for this one. All I want to say is, if you get the opportunity to read it, you definitely should!
I really enjoyed how personable this book felt. It’s not very often that I’ve read something that literally took me back to my own adolescence. I think it perfectly emphasises the struggles during that turbulent period of feeling like you don’t fit in or belong, punching your fist in the air and cursing the world when things don’t go your way, trying to find love and trying to find yourself and your purpose in life.
A fun little addition that I thought was really clever was Badger breaking the fourth wall, it made the story seem more personal and it’s rare, (as the reader), to feel like the main character is actively addressing you in their own story! I really liked the occasional instances where Badger would tell you how a situation panned out and then would immediately backtrack and tell you that it didn’t happen like that at all😂 it was a fun touch that reminded me that as teenagers, we often try to embellish a story!
I initially shipped Aadiya and Badger, (how wrong was I😂), but upon reflection, I realised that Badger really needed a solid friend. Someone who truly saw him for who he was, but also wasn’t afraid to put him in his place! I also really enjoyed the queer representation💗
Overall, I found this story really insightful. I’d definitely recommend for those who fancy taking a trip down memory lane to their own adolescence!
October 8, 2023
I rarely read YA, but loved this one – has good characters, relationships and interplay.
The story revolves around Badger Gland, a 16-year-old learning from his every day experiences and trying to form relationships. He stays with his divorced mom, grandfather and dog Toast. He has an uneasy relation with his dad and his new partner Sandra. After a silly acrid acid bomb prank which he played with his friend Jacob, he is assigned to Mrs Brown’s literature class. He hates the class to start with but becomes friends with a fellow student of Indian origin Adia. It is an unusual friendship as Adia is very intellectual and committed to her classes, which at least initially Badger is not. The girl he really has a crush on is Audrey, and he is looking for ways to speak to her and spend more time with her. There is also Jessica, who is friendly with him and also gives him a challenge. There are a number of reckless acts Badger indulges in through the course of the story, but reflects on his actions. So, can Badger curb his wild side (reinforced by some bad company) and be the best version of himself at important times?
I read this book after the author asked if I would be interested in it on Instagram. For what I understand is her first book, the story has excellent character development with complex characters: Badger – for his imperfections but ability to reflect; Adia & Audrey are lovely characters - for their values & strength; Jacob - as Badger’s close friend, is a good complimentary character and Jessica - as someone who can be self-centered, at the same time caring for Badger. There are a few others, and the aspect of peer pressure which teenagers feel is brought out well. I was curious on how Adia, a girl of Indian origin would be depicted and the context provided is just enough to appreciate her cultural identity and is hence easy on readers (though the author could have done better than only using stock phrases such as ‘Indian dresses’ & ‘Indian food/spices’).
While the way the story ends has its charm, I would have liked better convergence and clearer outlook for the characters.
A couple of good passages I liked and made a note of.
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
A nice easy read with some good characters! And the cover is really nice, isn't it? This book is available on Kindle Unlimited.
The story revolves around Badger Gland, a 16-year-old learning from his every day experiences and trying to form relationships. He stays with his divorced mom, grandfather and dog Toast. He has an uneasy relation with his dad and his new partner Sandra. After a silly acrid acid bomb prank which he played with his friend Jacob, he is assigned to Mrs Brown’s literature class. He hates the class to start with but becomes friends with a fellow student of Indian origin Adia. It is an unusual friendship as Adia is very intellectual and committed to her classes, which at least initially Badger is not. The girl he really has a crush on is Audrey, and he is looking for ways to speak to her and spend more time with her. There is also Jessica, who is friendly with him and also gives him a challenge. There are a number of reckless acts Badger indulges in through the course of the story, but reflects on his actions. So, can Badger curb his wild side (reinforced by some bad company) and be the best version of himself at important times?
I read this book after the author asked if I would be interested in it on Instagram. For what I understand is her first book, the story has excellent character development with complex characters: Badger – for his imperfections but ability to reflect; Adia & Audrey are lovely characters - for their values & strength; Jacob - as Badger’s close friend, is a good complimentary character and Jessica - as someone who can be self-centered, at the same time caring for Badger. There are a few others, and the aspect of peer pressure which teenagers feel is brought out well. I was curious on how Adia, a girl of Indian origin would be depicted and the context provided is just enough to appreciate her cultural identity and is hence easy on readers (though the author could have done better than only using stock phrases such as ‘Indian dresses’ & ‘Indian food/spices’).
While the way the story ends has its charm, I would have liked better convergence and clearer outlook for the characters.
A couple of good passages I liked and made a note of.
“You see, reading books is not about finding symbols and themes – it’s about what they can do for your life, what you take from them, what sticks out. You should close it after the last page and feel like you gained something. Something you can use for your own life. Do you understand what I mean?”
“But you’re not a nobody. Life isn’t a book. It often lacks logic or resolution, and it’s quite boring most of the time. We all have our stories, with all the little good and bad decisions.”
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
A nice easy read with some good characters! And the cover is really nice, isn't it? This book is available on Kindle Unlimited.
September 13, 2023
💬 “You see, reading books is not about finding symbols and themes - it’s about what the can do for your life, what you take from them, what sticks out. You should close it after the last page and feel like you gained something.”
💬 “What I’m trying to say is: you have to do what you want, what makes you happy. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else.”
I’m August, I received a message on Insta from Nadine, promoting her new novel - her first coming of age/young adult novel, this being, Being Badger - so I purchased a copy and I can’t thank-you enough Nadine, as this book was brilliant.
I even have tears in my eyes as I write this review - this was a read that sat heavy on my heart the whole way through. The nostalgic feelings that came when reading this were just WOW!
It took me back to my teenage and high school years and that feeling of just trying to fit in and find my place, the self-esteem issues, the peer pressure, friendships, first loves and all those firsts and times of feeling lost, where in the moments, I didn’t think I would be ok.
This will be one of my top reads for 2023 - I felt like Badger was my mate and as if he was sitting next to me and telling his story.
This is a book where I think everyone who gives it a read, will come away with something and also that feeling of nostalgia.
💬 “What I’m trying to say is: you have to do what you want, what makes you happy. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else.”
I’m August, I received a message on Insta from Nadine, promoting her new novel - her first coming of age/young adult novel, this being, Being Badger - so I purchased a copy and I can’t thank-you enough Nadine, as this book was brilliant.
I even have tears in my eyes as I write this review - this was a read that sat heavy on my heart the whole way through. The nostalgic feelings that came when reading this were just WOW!
It took me back to my teenage and high school years and that feeling of just trying to fit in and find my place, the self-esteem issues, the peer pressure, friendships, first loves and all those firsts and times of feeling lost, where in the moments, I didn’t think I would be ok.
This will be one of my top reads for 2023 - I felt like Badger was my mate and as if he was sitting next to me and telling his story.
This is a book where I think everyone who gives it a read, will come away with something and also that feeling of nostalgia.
September 14, 2023
“Being Badger" is a beautiful novel that transcends age and genre boundaries. Nadine has crafted a story that reminds us that no matter how old we are, the struggles and triumphs of youth stay with us, shaping who we become. This is a must-read for anyone who appreciates authentic storytelling and relatable characters.
As it unfolds, it becomes apparent that it's not just a young adult novel; it's an exploration of the human experience. It captures the universal essence of growing up and discovering who we are. This story made me laugh, cry, and reflect on my own journey through adolescence.
Through Badger’s eyes, I was transported back to a world filled with first crushes, parties, friendships, and the search for self-identity. A world where being part of the “cool popular kids” seemed to be the biggest achievement in life.
The writing is so relatable, it creates a direct connection with the audience. The dialogue is true to life, refreshing and interactive, filled with humor and emotion. I felt like I was reading the story of a new friend, as if Badger was inviting me into his world and sharing his secrets with me. In my head, I was having flashbacks of my teenage years and I was also sharing similar stories with him.
As it unfolds, it becomes apparent that it's not just a young adult novel; it's an exploration of the human experience. It captures the universal essence of growing up and discovering who we are. This story made me laugh, cry, and reflect on my own journey through adolescence.
Through Badger’s eyes, I was transported back to a world filled with first crushes, parties, friendships, and the search for self-identity. A world where being part of the “cool popular kids” seemed to be the biggest achievement in life.
The writing is so relatable, it creates a direct connection with the audience. The dialogue is true to life, refreshing and interactive, filled with humor and emotion. I felt like I was reading the story of a new friend, as if Badger was inviting me into his world and sharing his secrets with me. In my head, I was having flashbacks of my teenage years and I was also sharing similar stories with him.
January 3, 2024
Being Badger🩵
4/5⭐️
The lovely author of this book Nadine, reached out to me to check out her debut novel called Being Badger. Being Badger is a YA (young adult) coming of age novel. This book is a great representation and resonates with what it’s like being a teenager trying to fit in and become popular in school as well as the many tough stages that teenagers have to go through while growing up.
For a debut novel this book is impressive in many ways. The first being that the book is 227 pages long but only includes 4 chapters. I personally struggle with keeping on track with books which have long chapters like this one, but this wasn’t a problem for me with Being Badger as it was an easy read which made me want to continuously read on. The second impressive aspect of this book was the realistic portrayal of what being a teenager is really like, I didn’t feel like I could relate to Badger as our teenage lives were very different but I definitely understood him as if I knew him. Thirdly, I loved the mentioning of the classical books such as Catcher in the Rye which I read before this one, funnily enough and Gatsby which I also read recently.
I highly recommend this book and I’m so grateful that Nadine reached out to me to read her debut novel! It means the world to me🫶🏻⭐️
4/5⭐️
The lovely author of this book Nadine, reached out to me to check out her debut novel called Being Badger. Being Badger is a YA (young adult) coming of age novel. This book is a great representation and resonates with what it’s like being a teenager trying to fit in and become popular in school as well as the many tough stages that teenagers have to go through while growing up.
For a debut novel this book is impressive in many ways. The first being that the book is 227 pages long but only includes 4 chapters. I personally struggle with keeping on track with books which have long chapters like this one, but this wasn’t a problem for me with Being Badger as it was an easy read which made me want to continuously read on. The second impressive aspect of this book was the realistic portrayal of what being a teenager is really like, I didn’t feel like I could relate to Badger as our teenage lives were very different but I definitely understood him as if I knew him. Thirdly, I loved the mentioning of the classical books such as Catcher in the Rye which I read before this one, funnily enough and Gatsby which I also read recently.
I highly recommend this book and I’m so grateful that Nadine reached out to me to read her debut novel! It means the world to me🫶🏻⭐️
July 6, 2023
Let me start off by saying that the emotional roller coaster that I rode during this read has been wild. I had fully belly laughs, rage, sympathy, and a good cry.
Badger takes us for a walk down the same road we all once walked, finding out who you are. Which, looking back we can all laugh about, either at ourselves or others….or even Badger. It was very refreshing to have this take on being a teen again.
Lets not forget Toast (she’s the goodest of puppers) plays a great role, because who doesn’t love a dog in a story.
This is Nadine Steiner-Schütz debute novel and the amount of nostalgia she was able to pour into the reader amazed me. I cannot wait to see what else she puts out.
Badger takes us for a walk down the same road we all once walked, finding out who you are. Which, looking back we can all laugh about, either at ourselves or others….or even Badger. It was very refreshing to have this take on being a teen again.
Lets not forget Toast (she’s the goodest of puppers) plays a great role, because who doesn’t love a dog in a story.
This is Nadine Steiner-Schütz debute novel and the amount of nostalgia she was able to pour into the reader amazed me. I cannot wait to see what else she puts out.
November 16, 2023
Amazing!
I like how this book is a coming of age story. It gives an insight of a teenager point of view when it comes to drugs, sex, insecurities, and relationships. I felt like the character experienced things and how he felt about them was true and real. This book was very well written and nice. I definitely recommend this book!
I like how this book is a coming of age story. It gives an insight of a teenager point of view when it comes to drugs, sex, insecurities, and relationships. I felt like the character experienced things and how he felt about them was true and real. This book was very well written and nice. I definitely recommend this book!
January 2, 2024
A growing story
When I first started, I wasn't sure this was a book for me, but I had my "mumma bear" eyes on and thought what a little sh*t! But reading more more I started to think back to my teenage years and what I had gone through, so in the end, I felt quite drawn to Badger.
It's a lovely growing story ❤️
When I first started, I wasn't sure this was a book for me, but I had my "mumma bear" eyes on and thought what a little sh*t! But reading more more I started to think back to my teenage years and what I had gone through, so in the end, I felt quite drawn to Badger.
It's a lovely growing story ❤️
October 8, 2023
Being older now, typically when I read a book about kids in high school, it's hard to relate anymore. This book, though, made me get into my feelings. I loved the main character and how the story was being told through his writing. I loved all the symbolism in the book and how the author would compare the main character to the protagonist from other books and how it tied into the story in a meaningful way. I think my overall favorite message from this book is the following quote: "The people in your life might seem like flat characters, but it's really about the role you give them." It says a lot to me and something I'll always remember.
September 28, 2023
I don't usually read Coming of Age stories because I'm afraid I won't be able to relate. But Badger felt like more than just a character in some book. He felt like my friend, someone so familiar to me that relating to his story felt like second nature.
As someone who reads romance, dark romance at that, this was incredibly refreshing. Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to pick it back up to listen to Badger tell more of his story.
This is definitely a top read of 2023 and I can see myself coming back to hangout with Badger over and over again.
As someone who reads romance, dark romance at that, this was incredibly refreshing. Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to pick it back up to listen to Badger tell more of his story.
This is definitely a top read of 2023 and I can see myself coming back to hangout with Badger over and over again.
July 12, 2023
A classic in the making! I loved it.
December 7, 2023
If I should describe reading this book in one word it would be ‘refreshing’.
I liked the writing style - especially the parts where Badger gets sidetracked and starts to tell a relevant side story.
There are a couple of twists and turns I did not expect and some I could see from a mile away. Somehow exactly that made me fly through the book.
Definitely recommend reading this book!
I liked the writing style - especially the parts where Badger gets sidetracked and starts to tell a relevant side story.
There are a couple of twists and turns I did not expect and some I could see from a mile away. Somehow exactly that made me fly through the book.
Definitely recommend reading this book!
May 30, 2024
I honestly wasn’t going to give this book a rating because it’s a YA and I have a hard time relating to them. But this one I felt like was different it’s a coming of age story and I feel like everyone can relate to this, at least a little bit. The book talks about loneliness, peer pressure, wanting to fit in, anxiety, a queer relationship, all while trying to figure out who you are going to be in the world. Throughout our life we can be everything but nothing all at the same time until we figure out our place. I think this was a beautiful telling of a coming of age story. I think everyone should read it, definitely brought back some nostalgia for me! Thank you to @nadine.indie.author for reaching out to me and telling me about her beautiful story 🤍
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews