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Stoner & Spaz #1
Stoner & Spaz
For sixteen-year-old Ben Bancroft—a kid with cerebral palsy, no parents, and an overprotective grandmother—the closest thing to happiness is hunkering alone in the back of the Rialto Theatre and watching Bride of Frankenstein for the umpteenth time. The last person he wants to run into is drugged-up Colleen Minou, resplendent in ripped tights, neon miniskirt, and an impressive array of tattoos. But when Colleen climbs into the seat beside him and rests a woozy head on his shoulder, Ben has that unmistakable feeling that his life is about to change. With unsparing humor and a keen flair for dialogue, Ron Koertge captures the rare repartee between two lonely teenagers on opposite sides of the social divide. His smart, self-deprecating protagonist learns that kindred spirits may be found for the looking—and that the resolve to follow your passion can be strengthened by something as simple as a human touch.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
57 people are currently reading
2661 people want to read
About the author
Ron Koertge
71 books103 followersAsk Ron Koertge what he brings to the realm of young adult fiction, and the seasoned author responds matter-of-factly. "I write dialogue well, and I'm funny," he says--an assessment few would argue with. "I like iconoclasm and practice it in my fiction. I don't like pretense or hypocrisy. I'm almost always irreverent."
A faculty member for more than 35 years at Pasadena City College, where he has taught everything from Shakespeare to remedial writing, Ron Koertge is the author of several acclaimed novels, most of them for young adults. That Ron Koertge is a master at capturing teenagers' voices--often in witty repartee--is fully evident in MARGAUX WITH AN X, the story of a sharp-tongued beauty and a quirky, quick-witted loner. "MARGAUX WITH AN X started as a short story, but the heroine wouldn't let me alone," the author says. "She had a story to tell, and she wanted a whole novel to tell it in." Another unlikely pairing is found in STONER & SPAZ, Ron Koertge's funny, in-your-face tale of a young cinephile with cerebral palsy and the stoner who steals his heart. "My wife works with the disabled," the writer says of his inspiration for the novel, which quickly garnered critical acclaim. "One night she came home and told me about a young man she'd been working with. He had C.P. and a terrific sense of humor. Coincidentally, that day I had talked to a former student of mine who'd recently been in rehab for substance abuse. What would happen, I wondered, if those two knew each other?"
In addition to his young adult novels, Ron Koertge writes poetry, and has been dubbed "the wisest, most entertaining wiseguy in American poetry" by poet-laureate Billy Collins. SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is narrated by a straight-talking, fourteen-year-old first baseman who has been benched by mono and decides to take a swing at writing poetry. Written entirely in free verse, with examples of several poetic forms slipped into the mix--including a sonnet, haiku, pastoral, and even a pantoum--SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is a veritable English teacher's dream. "The interest in SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is less with the arc of the plot than with the individual poems, some of which demonstrate poetic form, some of which tell the story," the author says. "One of my biggest challenges was to write like a fourteen-year-old who has a knack for writing poetry, and not just sound like a sixty-one-year-old pretending to be one!"
The author's first book with Candlewick, THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS, is also a novel written in free verse, with 15 different teenage characters narrating four or five poems each. "The book started to nag me a few months before the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, and I started to make notes in the form of poems," he says of the hauntingly prescient work. "BRIMSTONE needed to move at high velocity, and this form is perfect for that: no tail fins, no leather seats, no moon roof. Just get in and go."
Ron Koertge grew up in an agricultural area in an old mining town in Illinois, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis, Missouri. There he learned to "drive a tractor and buck hay bales, which are clearly useful skills in Los Angeles," he quips. He and his wife live in South Pasadena, California.
A faculty member for more than 35 years at Pasadena City College, where he has taught everything from Shakespeare to remedial writing, Ron Koertge is the author of several acclaimed novels, most of them for young adults. That Ron Koertge is a master at capturing teenagers' voices--often in witty repartee--is fully evident in MARGAUX WITH AN X, the story of a sharp-tongued beauty and a quirky, quick-witted loner. "MARGAUX WITH AN X started as a short story, but the heroine wouldn't let me alone," the author says. "She had a story to tell, and she wanted a whole novel to tell it in." Another unlikely pairing is found in STONER & SPAZ, Ron Koertge's funny, in-your-face tale of a young cinephile with cerebral palsy and the stoner who steals his heart. "My wife works with the disabled," the writer says of his inspiration for the novel, which quickly garnered critical acclaim. "One night she came home and told me about a young man she'd been working with. He had C.P. and a terrific sense of humor. Coincidentally, that day I had talked to a former student of mine who'd recently been in rehab for substance abuse. What would happen, I wondered, if those two knew each other?"
In addition to his young adult novels, Ron Koertge writes poetry, and has been dubbed "the wisest, most entertaining wiseguy in American poetry" by poet-laureate Billy Collins. SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is narrated by a straight-talking, fourteen-year-old first baseman who has been benched by mono and decides to take a swing at writing poetry. Written entirely in free verse, with examples of several poetic forms slipped into the mix--including a sonnet, haiku, pastoral, and even a pantoum--SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is a veritable English teacher's dream. "The interest in SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is less with the arc of the plot than with the individual poems, some of which demonstrate poetic form, some of which tell the story," the author says. "One of my biggest challenges was to write like a fourteen-year-old who has a knack for writing poetry, and not just sound like a sixty-one-year-old pretending to be one!"
The author's first book with Candlewick, THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS, is also a novel written in free verse, with 15 different teenage characters narrating four or five poems each. "The book started to nag me a few months before the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, and I started to make notes in the form of poems," he says of the hauntingly prescient work. "BRIMSTONE needed to move at high velocity, and this form is perfect for that: no tail fins, no leather seats, no moon roof. Just get in and go."
Ron Koertge grew up in an agricultural area in an old mining town in Illinois, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis, Missouri. There he learned to "drive a tractor and buck hay bales, which are clearly useful skills in Los Angeles," he quips. He and his wife live in South Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
January 7, 2021
Allie and I stopped talking when we were sixteen, but we were best friends for years. She introduced me to alternative music and Jackie Chan movies. We shared laughter and secrets and talked about boys and the Lord of the Rings actors. Being friends with her helped me feel comfortable in my own skin, and I never worried about how I looked or what other people thought of me when I was with her.
Melanie and I were friends from about tenth grade through our early twenties. She and I laughed like nobody's business. Melanie was authentically herself. She never pretended to be something she wasn't. It wasn't all good, but it was all Melanie. We talked about God, and she asked the hard questions a lot of people wouldn't ask. Melanie loved me fiercely, and I always defended her when people made comments about her. She helped me understand that people aren't always what you think they are and that even the roughest-around-the-edges people have good in their hearts.
Shilpa and Laura were just high school friends, people I had classes with and ate lunch with, maybe, but not people I ever hung out with outside of school. Still, they taught me that I could be cool with people of other faiths (Shilpa was Hindu, and Laura was Jewish; I'm Christian) and not feel like we had to convert each other. I went to a Christian school from pre-school up through ninth grade, so being at a public school with classmates who weren't also Christian was a new experience for me. These girls showed me that people are people, and that while all of our faiths were important to us, the differences didn't keep us from getting along, from studying together, and from laughing and enjoying being high schoolers together.
Amanda and I were as different as different could be. I didn't curse, and she said the "f-word" as if it were the word "like," sprinkled through her sentences while she paused for a thought. She got pregnant at 16, like her mother did and like her older sister did. I didn't even kiss a boy in high school (true story). But Amanda and I got along. I loved her, and she respected me and looked out for me. I remember walking around the track during gym class, talking to her about her family and about life and school. I only saw her a couple times after high school, but I still remember those walking talks.
Not everybody you meet and are friends with in high school remains in your life, but they can make an impact. They can change your views, they can change who you are or teach you more about yourself. That's what this book, Stoner and Spaz made me reflect on when I finished it. I really enjoyed this book. It's a little dated, there are some stereotypes, and I'm not sure if there's any ableism (other than the intended ableism conveyed by the people who call Ben "crippled" and "spaz") since it's not #ownvoices, but I liked it anyway. I read it quickly, in two sessions, because it's an easy read but mostly because I really liked Ben and wanted to know what would happen to him. My favorite aspect of the book is the voice. It's first-person, and Ben is funny. He's not belly-laugh funny, but he's witty and enjoyable. It's like, eyebrows lift, and you're like, "Ahhh, yeah, I wish I had said that." I like the kid. But I also like the subtlety of Koertge's message. It's not blatant, but it's there. I'm not sure how I'd feel about this book if I read it at 16, but 34-year-old me gets it and enjoys it. It's sort of Perks of Being a Wallflower, but it's shorter, simpler, and less emotional. There is depth in it, and there are passages that really make you think, but overall, it's a lighter version of the main message in Perks, I think. There are also some great lines. I think a standout is from Ben's bougie grandma: "everybody, and I mean everybody, stands in front of the mirror and wishes they were different."
A great little book. I recommend it, but I do have to say, it was published in 2002, so it's a little outdated, and if you are differently abled in any way, you may find some things offensive. I'm not sure. My only experience with cerebral palsy was with a coworker of mine, Mike. Only his legs were affected--he used a cane. He was also a Christian, and he told me that, before he came to believe in Jesus as Savior, his paralysis was complete in his legs. When he came to know Jesus, he prayed for healing, and his motor skills developed exponentially. He was able to use a walker and then a cane and had hope of one day not even needing the cane. Mike didn't have the sense of humor that Ben has, but I do believe he had the same sense of knowing who he was but hoping for improvement. Mike didn't want to be limited or controlled by C.P. He wanted to control it, and he believed that he could and did. His prayers for healing were effective, and his determination and perseverance came through in every conversation I had with him. My one experience doesn't make me an expert by any means, so again, I'm not sure how accurate and/or respectful Koertge's representation is. I can only say that some parts of the book bothered me, like when Ben would say, "being what I am," or "people like me" because I felt that was Koertge speaking for everyone with C.P. instead of just conveying who Ben is and the struggles he faced. However, I do believe that Koertge intended to write a character with C.P. with integrity, and that shows through the story and the character development.
Melanie and I were friends from about tenth grade through our early twenties. She and I laughed like nobody's business. Melanie was authentically herself. She never pretended to be something she wasn't. It wasn't all good, but it was all Melanie. We talked about God, and she asked the hard questions a lot of people wouldn't ask. Melanie loved me fiercely, and I always defended her when people made comments about her. She helped me understand that people aren't always what you think they are and that even the roughest-around-the-edges people have good in their hearts.
Shilpa and Laura were just high school friends, people I had classes with and ate lunch with, maybe, but not people I ever hung out with outside of school. Still, they taught me that I could be cool with people of other faiths (Shilpa was Hindu, and Laura was Jewish; I'm Christian) and not feel like we had to convert each other. I went to a Christian school from pre-school up through ninth grade, so being at a public school with classmates who weren't also Christian was a new experience for me. These girls showed me that people are people, and that while all of our faiths were important to us, the differences didn't keep us from getting along, from studying together, and from laughing and enjoying being high schoolers together.
Amanda and I were as different as different could be. I didn't curse, and she said the "f-word" as if it were the word "like," sprinkled through her sentences while she paused for a thought. She got pregnant at 16, like her mother did and like her older sister did. I didn't even kiss a boy in high school (true story). But Amanda and I got along. I loved her, and she respected me and looked out for me. I remember walking around the track during gym class, talking to her about her family and about life and school. I only saw her a couple times after high school, but I still remember those walking talks.
Not everybody you meet and are friends with in high school remains in your life, but they can make an impact. They can change your views, they can change who you are or teach you more about yourself. That's what this book, Stoner and Spaz made me reflect on when I finished it. I really enjoyed this book. It's a little dated, there are some stereotypes, and I'm not sure if there's any ableism (other than the intended ableism conveyed by the people who call Ben "crippled" and "spaz") since it's not #ownvoices, but I liked it anyway. I read it quickly, in two sessions, because it's an easy read but mostly because I really liked Ben and wanted to know what would happen to him. My favorite aspect of the book is the voice. It's first-person, and Ben is funny. He's not belly-laugh funny, but he's witty and enjoyable. It's like, eyebrows lift, and you're like, "Ahhh, yeah, I wish I had said that." I like the kid. But I also like the subtlety of Koertge's message. It's not blatant, but it's there. I'm not sure how I'd feel about this book if I read it at 16, but 34-year-old me gets it and enjoys it. It's sort of Perks of Being a Wallflower, but it's shorter, simpler, and less emotional. There is depth in it, and there are passages that really make you think, but overall, it's a lighter version of the main message in Perks, I think. There are also some great lines. I think a standout is from Ben's bougie grandma: "everybody, and I mean everybody, stands in front of the mirror and wishes they were different."
A great little book. I recommend it, but I do have to say, it was published in 2002, so it's a little outdated, and if you are differently abled in any way, you may find some things offensive. I'm not sure. My only experience with cerebral palsy was with a coworker of mine, Mike. Only his legs were affected--he used a cane. He was also a Christian, and he told me that, before he came to believe in Jesus as Savior, his paralysis was complete in his legs. When he came to know Jesus, he prayed for healing, and his motor skills developed exponentially. He was able to use a walker and then a cane and had hope of one day not even needing the cane. Mike didn't have the sense of humor that Ben has, but I do believe he had the same sense of knowing who he was but hoping for improvement. Mike didn't want to be limited or controlled by C.P. He wanted to control it, and he believed that he could and did. His prayers for healing were effective, and his determination and perseverance came through in every conversation I had with him. My one experience doesn't make me an expert by any means, so again, I'm not sure how accurate and/or respectful Koertge's representation is. I can only say that some parts of the book bothered me, like when Ben would say, "being what I am," or "people like me" because I felt that was Koertge speaking for everyone with C.P. instead of just conveying who Ben is and the struggles he faced. However, I do believe that Koertge intended to write a character with C.P. with integrity, and that shows through the story and the character development.
January 3, 2014
I chose this book because like the protagonist I have spastic cerebal palsy, also similar to Ben it affects only one side of my body. I was interested to see how a non-handicap author portrays a disabled person. There are multiple levels of CP ranging from the very mild to very severe; Ben and I are similar in our capabilities although his is slightly worse. I only have slight difficulty getting dressed and I am able to drive. Overall, Koertge did a exemplary job with both main characters. I loved the fact that Ben had a great sense of humor and although he, of course, isn't happy about his situation he accepts it for what it is. Colleen is the polar opposite of Ben with her wild side and drug addiction, but as true to life opposites attract.
April 10, 2022
This is definitely a YA. Kinda sad story. Ben is a lonely teen with no friends. He has let his disability define him so that when people do talk to him he thinks they are being mean or rude. Colleen is a drug addict who thinks she is having fun. Somehow they strike up a friendship where Ben learns he is more then his disability.
September 22, 2009
it was merely ok. i really liked ben's character, but found colleen to be both irritating and unrealistic. some of her "drug problems" come across as particularly unrealistic and might make anyone who knows more about the topic than the author snicker just a bit. for instance: colleen winds up in the hospital and hooked up to an i.v. because of all the marijuana she smoked (not the cocaine she's been snorting throughout). really? any kid who's been around these drugs will likely be turned off at the unrealistic portrayal. on the other hand, ben, who has c.p. is much more believable (smart and witty to boot). not a bad book, but not one i'd really recommend.
October 19, 2012
This awkwardly-covered book follows a teenager with cerebral palsy around while he attempts to break free a bit from the strict rules his grandmother enforces. He befriends a popular girl at school who exposes him to the wonderful worlds of dance clubs, drugs, and making out. I liked the book as a character study and I wasn't expecting more to happen but the author adds in a storyline about Ben's interest in filmmaking that overwhelms the second half of the book and changed the flow for me. (though there is a second book and it looks to be more about filmmaking) The dialogue is funny and Ben's addiction to going to the movies (where no one judges him) was endearing, but I lost all my attachment to this book as the story went on. It went from a 4 star book to a 2.5/5 stars.
This mini-review was part of a series of 7 mini-reviews of short YA books I wrote for a post over at our blog, The Readventurer.
This mini-review was part of a series of 7 mini-reviews of short YA books I wrote for a post over at our blog, The Readventurer.
August 9, 2014
Who would have thought that a love story between a boy with cerebral palsy and a manic pixie drug addict would make me sigh "Aww!" in my head at least 20,000 times? This book is so damn cute.
June 19, 2017
An movie-buff teen disabled with CP meets a girl who actually treats him like a human being without CP - the only trouble is that she was so stoned she can barely remember their encounter. Still, a friendship develops, one that means changes in both their lives. Terrific dialogue is a highlight in this story, another is Koertge's ability to spin a great tale with interesting characters that leaves one wondering about their fates. Good thing there is a sequel!
February 25, 2019
This was a book that I unexpectedly really enjoyed. I didn't realize how few books about disability narratives I've read. And this one was pretty dang good. Ben has CP, which has significantly affected his life. But one day, when he's at a movie, the local stoner Colleen lays her head against his shoulder--and thus a friendship is born. She treats him as a person, and openly discusses his CP rather than denying its existence or ignoring it.
AND we as the reader get to experience Ben having his first sexual experience--which seems weird to say, except for the fact that it is SO important that disabled characters are allowed sexuality.
This book is funny, shocking, and at times heartbreaking. Many events happen off-page, which make it just the more realistic. Well, hopefully--I'm able-bodied, so I'm not exactly one to gauge how realistic this novel is, but coming from that standpoint, it seemed realistic and entertaining while being respectful at the same time.
Overall, this was an interesting book which delves into how those with CP live their lives and how much different their lives both are and aren't depending on their own selves and the actions of those around them.
Review cross-listed here!
AND we as the reader get to experience Ben having his first sexual experience--which seems weird to say, except for the fact that it is SO important that disabled characters are allowed sexuality.
This book is funny, shocking, and at times heartbreaking. Many events happen off-page, which make it just the more realistic. Well, hopefully--I'm able-bodied, so I'm not exactly one to gauge how realistic this novel is, but coming from that standpoint, it seemed realistic and entertaining while being respectful at the same time.
Overall, this was an interesting book which delves into how those with CP live their lives and how much different their lives both are and aren't depending on their own selves and the actions of those around them.
Review cross-listed here!
November 26, 2019
Although this was a short book, it was very good. The book is about Ben, a boy with cerebral palsy, and a girl, Colleen, who is a big mess. I thought it was going to be a common two-weirdos-fall-in-love-and-live-happily-ever-after type of book, but it turned into something more than that. Colleen was truly a wild child with more drugs and dancing experience than a regular teenager would experience. We all wanted her to truly fall in love with the spaz, but that's just not a realistic expectation. Instead, the author tells the story of the love that was never meant to be, and it never ends up to be in the end. I liked this book because the author didn't try to romanticize the scary and disgusting parts of addiction. In my opinion, the story was more impactful because he wrote about Ben being frustrated with Colleen but still falling for her. The writing was simple and overall an easy read. I would recommend this book to anyone.
June 30, 2024
(2.5) just okay. you can tell this was written in the 2000s because damn why tf is there racism?? idk. interesting concept ngl but aldo sometimes ben would get on my nerves and be WAYY to much of a film bro. LMAO
February 25, 2018
Well written and quite funny even though it's dated, because technology has shot off the chart since this book was written. I liked the characters and thought they were well drawn. The only thing that felt unrealistic was when Ben decides to try smoking pot and gets stoned off one hit. No matter how good Colleen's "shit" was, that would never happen. But storywise, it's a fun, fast read.
August 5, 2024
I used to work with Ron and he is as funny in person as the characters he creates. Great novel!
March 29, 2016
Personal Response
I really enjoyed the book "Stoner and Spaz" written by Ron Koertge. This book had a great amount of action combined perfectly with drama to create a very good book. I did not want to stop reading this book, and I was quite fascinated by the plot and the events that took place. I am very glad that I found this book well I was looking around in the library. This book is my favorite book of 2016, so far.
Plot/summary
Ben, the main character in this book, suffers from C.P. This is a disorder in which one of your body parts does not function correctly. The bottom part of Ben’s leg is whats suffering from this. He was at a carnival, walking past the games, when a girl that he knew approached. She wanted money. Generous Ben then gave it to her, and then they rode on the Ferris wheel together. This girl was named Colleen. She did drugs and had a boyfriend named Ed. Ed is the man that started all of her problems. He influenced her negatively and did not care about her. She usually enjoyed this feeling, and got all of her drugs for free. She was very addicted, and kept talking about how good Ed's drugs were. Ben really cared about Colleen. Ben, then offered a ride home to Colleen. She accepted it, and got in his grandma's car. She then said please roll down the window and threw up outside of the window. Ben’s grandma was disgusted in her behavior, and did not enjoy Colleen. She did not want Ben to be around her. Ben on the other hand, really enjoyed her. Ben went to the movies alone, and saw Colleen alone. He said hi, and they talked. She then began to smoke weed and offered Ben some. He accepted her invite. She cuddled up next to him, and they both fell asleep to the end of the movie. He then calls his grandma to give her a ride home. He is really into Colleen. She doesn't know what to think because she has never been shown love before. Neither Ed nor her parents have shown her love. He calls her to say goodnight and tell them to meet up in the alley the next morning. They meet up, with Colleen stoned. She tells Ben that he is such a nice guy and then they start making out. This is his first time ever kissing a girl. This makes Ben absolutely attracted to her. In school, he sat alone at lunch. Today, Colleen appears to sit with him. This makes him mad happy. After school, Ben calls up Colleen. She says that she is busy and with Ed. This makes Ben upset. Ed and Colleen are still dating, but she has been totally different ever since Ben has entered her life. Today was an acceptation. She was on so many types of drugs that she could not feel her body. Ben said that this was enough, and went up to Ed. He said that Colleen is now his and he needs to stop. Ed laughs and says he is giving Colleen to him. Ben tells Colleen that she needs to sober up. He basically carries her all the way home. She is living a good sober lifestyle, but tells Ben that she doesn’t completely like the "new her". Today, she had started smoking again. She agreed to only a few puffs a day and only one joint. This was better than before. The next day, Ben sees his girl in the alley. She says she cannot live like this anymore, and gets into her friend Nick's Car. This means that Ben and Colleen are done. Colleen could not retain the sober lifestyle, and Ben was also hurt by her actions.
Review and Recommendation
I think that this was a great book. I feel like there were some lessons taught in this book. For example, one is people are going to live how they want. You can try to change it, but they will end up overcoming your powers. The next lesson, is to not judge people. I would recommend this book to boys and girls ages 14 and up. I feel that both genders would be amused by the drama and action inside of this book. Kids younger would most likely not understand the concept of this book. Overall, I give this book a five stars; it was a very good book.
I really enjoyed the book "Stoner and Spaz" written by Ron Koertge. This book had a great amount of action combined perfectly with drama to create a very good book. I did not want to stop reading this book, and I was quite fascinated by the plot and the events that took place. I am very glad that I found this book well I was looking around in the library. This book is my favorite book of 2016, so far.
Plot/summary
Ben, the main character in this book, suffers from C.P. This is a disorder in which one of your body parts does not function correctly. The bottom part of Ben’s leg is whats suffering from this. He was at a carnival, walking past the games, when a girl that he knew approached. She wanted money. Generous Ben then gave it to her, and then they rode on the Ferris wheel together. This girl was named Colleen. She did drugs and had a boyfriend named Ed. Ed is the man that started all of her problems. He influenced her negatively and did not care about her. She usually enjoyed this feeling, and got all of her drugs for free. She was very addicted, and kept talking about how good Ed's drugs were. Ben really cared about Colleen. Ben, then offered a ride home to Colleen. She accepted it, and got in his grandma's car. She then said please roll down the window and threw up outside of the window. Ben’s grandma was disgusted in her behavior, and did not enjoy Colleen. She did not want Ben to be around her. Ben on the other hand, really enjoyed her. Ben went to the movies alone, and saw Colleen alone. He said hi, and they talked. She then began to smoke weed and offered Ben some. He accepted her invite. She cuddled up next to him, and they both fell asleep to the end of the movie. He then calls his grandma to give her a ride home. He is really into Colleen. She doesn't know what to think because she has never been shown love before. Neither Ed nor her parents have shown her love. He calls her to say goodnight and tell them to meet up in the alley the next morning. They meet up, with Colleen stoned. She tells Ben that he is such a nice guy and then they start making out. This is his first time ever kissing a girl. This makes Ben absolutely attracted to her. In school, he sat alone at lunch. Today, Colleen appears to sit with him. This makes him mad happy. After school, Ben calls up Colleen. She says that she is busy and with Ed. This makes Ben upset. Ed and Colleen are still dating, but she has been totally different ever since Ben has entered her life. Today was an acceptation. She was on so many types of drugs that she could not feel her body. Ben said that this was enough, and went up to Ed. He said that Colleen is now his and he needs to stop. Ed laughs and says he is giving Colleen to him. Ben tells Colleen that she needs to sober up. He basically carries her all the way home. She is living a good sober lifestyle, but tells Ben that she doesn’t completely like the "new her". Today, she had started smoking again. She agreed to only a few puffs a day and only one joint. This was better than before. The next day, Ben sees his girl in the alley. She says she cannot live like this anymore, and gets into her friend Nick's Car. This means that Ben and Colleen are done. Colleen could not retain the sober lifestyle, and Ben was also hurt by her actions.
Review and Recommendation
I think that this was a great book. I feel like there were some lessons taught in this book. For example, one is people are going to live how they want. You can try to change it, but they will end up overcoming your powers. The next lesson, is to not judge people. I would recommend this book to boys and girls ages 14 and up. I feel that both genders would be amused by the drama and action inside of this book. Kids younger would most likely not understand the concept of this book. Overall, I give this book a five stars; it was a very good book.
December 13, 2014
Ben’s life has been tough to say the least. His parents are gone, he has Cerebral Palsy, and to say his grandmother is overprotective would be an understatement. Everyone treats him differently, except for Colleen. When he runs into her at an old movie theater, he tries to avoid her. Who wants to hang out with a drug addict anyway. The more she hangs around, the more he want to see her. She talks to him like he is normal, she touches him like he is normal, she just overall treats him like a normal 16 year old kid. Isn’t that what he has always wanted?
This book was short, simple, and to the point, without being simple at all. The nuances of high school feelings and relationships are well thought out and documented, however, I wasn’t really drawn to the book. I wasn’t really into the characters, they were so extreme. I understand that the point is that very different people can relate and become friends. I also understand people exist that are similar to both of these characters. However, I am neither of them, and thus had a hard time relating. I also have a hard time of deciding who I would recommend the book. That being said, I know that the book has huge hype among teenagers. Next time I find one who loves it, I will be sure to pick their brain!
This book was short, simple, and to the point, without being simple at all. The nuances of high school feelings and relationships are well thought out and documented, however, I wasn’t really drawn to the book. I wasn’t really into the characters, they were so extreme. I understand that the point is that very different people can relate and become friends. I also understand people exist that are similar to both of these characters. However, I am neither of them, and thus had a hard time relating. I also have a hard time of deciding who I would recommend the book. That being said, I know that the book has huge hype among teenagers. Next time I find one who loves it, I will be sure to pick their brain!
February 11, 2016
My Teen Book Club chose this one to read, otherwise I probably would have never picked it up! This book grew on me as it went. For the first half I was kinda meh about it -- I wasn't a huge fan of the sorta stereotypical way the characters were portrayed (nerdy loner movie lover and TOTAL mess hot drug addict manic pixie dream girl), but as it went on, I warmed up to it.
My Teen Book Club tends to pick fantasy or genre fiction in general, so it was a good experience, I think, for them to read a gritty, raw, realistic fiction book. When we talked about it, none of the kids seemed particularly impressed by the writing, but I was. It was the exact kind of writing I like. Spare and succinct and economical, with amazing little bursts of profundity without needing eloquence. I really liked how the characters developed in the second half, how your expectations about them were shattered, how you really questioned whether Ben and Colleen were good for each other. It was really interesting to read about a relationship that probably SHOULDN'T be happening because it really is kinda toxic, but still really understand how these people could be attracted to each other, and why.
I really liked the ambiguous ending. I'm a little sad there's a sequel, actually.
My Teen Book Club tends to pick fantasy or genre fiction in general, so it was a good experience, I think, for them to read a gritty, raw, realistic fiction book. When we talked about it, none of the kids seemed particularly impressed by the writing, but I was. It was the exact kind of writing I like. Spare and succinct and economical, with amazing little bursts of profundity without needing eloquence. I really liked how the characters developed in the second half, how your expectations about them were shattered, how you really questioned whether Ben and Colleen were good for each other. It was really interesting to read about a relationship that probably SHOULDN'T be happening because it really is kinda toxic, but still really understand how these people could be attracted to each other, and why.
I really liked the ambiguous ending. I'm a little sad there's a sequel, actually.
Read
March 5, 2012Dawn States
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Stoner and Spaz is exactly that, a story about a girl who is on drugs and a boy who has cerebral palsy, the spastic kind. This book gives a slice of what it is like to go to a modern day high school, especially with something as difficult to deal with as cerebral palsy. It portrays this issue realistically and without any softening of the issue, but also without using stereotypes or being desensitized. This book seems like something young adults could currently relate to.
Ben is a sheltered teen living with his grandmother after his mother left him and his father died. He suffers from cerebral palsy, and is extremely self- conscious of it. He hides this by watching and analyzing movies. Colleen is a typical “stoner “ or drug addict when she stumbles across Ben. Together the two form an unlikely duo and help each other cope with their issues.
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Stoner and Spaz is exactly that, a story about a girl who is on drugs and a boy who has cerebral palsy, the spastic kind. This book gives a slice of what it is like to go to a modern day high school, especially with something as difficult to deal with as cerebral palsy. It portrays this issue realistically and without any softening of the issue, but also without using stereotypes or being desensitized. This book seems like something young adults could currently relate to.
Ben is a sheltered teen living with his grandmother after his mother left him and his father died. He suffers from cerebral palsy, and is extremely self- conscious of it. He hides this by watching and analyzing movies. Colleen is a typical “stoner “ or drug addict when she stumbles across Ben. Together the two form an unlikely duo and help each other cope with their issues.
January 27, 2009
I gotta say...while not really having a whole lot of time to do this right now. I used to call this book my favorite. And I mean it still is one of my favorites. I love this book for so many reasons. 1. it has this amazing way of showing you that you really have to look at people and look at yourself before you make a judgement in anyway. 2. Sometimes you just can't get it in your head that you have to face your own shit, Though when you feel you have to save and be strong for someone else...you in turn end up doing that anyway. In this book...there are no lines...you are who you are and you have to accept everyone else for that exact reason....oh yea and the love story is cute too. Not to mention after the first time reading. I always skip the end because I hate that ending...so check it out or don't but if you do...I would LOVEEE to hear thoughts!
August 10, 2014
Ben is 16 and has cerebral palsy. He lives with his overprotective grandma and with no friends, escapes into movies. One night at the Rialto Theatre Colleen Minou asks him for the cost of admission. She is tattooed, loud and oozing attitude, and Ben tries to avoid her as he knows her from school. When she sits next to him then falls asleep on his shoulder, he enjoys the feeling. They build an unlikely friendship – her the stoner, him the spaz – which they openly admit and label each other.
But they are good for each other.
I read this book in one sitting. It was like an older version of ‘See ya Simon’ without someone passing away. In fact the main character actually begins to live. Stoner Colleen changes Ben’s life and hers improves for a while with Ben’s influence. But will it stay like that?
But they are good for each other.
I read this book in one sitting. It was like an older version of ‘See ya Simon’ without someone passing away. In fact the main character actually begins to live. Stoner Colleen changes Ben’s life and hers improves for a while with Ben’s influence. But will it stay like that?
March 10, 2018
While I really like the plotline I had a really difficult time with the writing style of the author and therefore my rating is on the lower side. But I still would like to recommend the book to other readers as I feel it is just me being again the odd one out here
Give it a try and judge for yourself
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August 10, 2009
You have to love Ben Bancroft. He is 16 years old with cerebral palsy, his mother abandoned him, his father may have committed suicide, and his grandmother dresses him in preppy clothes. But he has a killer sense of humor, honed in the last dark rows of the Rialto Theatre in Los Angeles, and refers to himself as “spaz.” By page four, he has bumped into Colleen Mintou; “Everybody at King High School knows Colleen. At least, everybody who wants weed.” Plus, she looks like Helena Bonham Carter in Fight Club.
Full review:
http://www.twentybyjenny.com/teenBook...
Full review:
http://www.twentybyjenny.com/teenBook...
Read
March 19, 2009I liked this book because it's one of the few books written that can actually, truthfully put into words what highschool is like. While the book was good, the ending made me angry because for some reason in books, authors have to leave you to wonder exactly what happens instead of just telling you. all throughout the book you kind of feel sorry for spaz because of his clinging grandmother. i would recomend this book to someone who is looking for a quick read
May 23, 2009
The spaz is a 17 year old boy with cerebral palsy whose life begins to change after a teenage girl with a drug problem and drug dealer boyfriend leans on his shoulder and sleeps during a showing of The Bride of Frankenstein. They seem to be polar opposites, but they somehow make a romantic connection and leave an imprint on each other's lives. One for the better and one for the slightly better.
January 4, 2015
Stoner and Spaz is a really good book. I would recommend it to younger people like in their teens. The book covers situtaions and the lives of teens like the ones today. It also is a touching story about a teen girl who uses drugs and how she becomes friend with a teen boy who has a mental illness and how they become good friends. It is a very good book.
October 18, 2015
basically ben finally makes a friend but, there always drugged out, his friendship will colleen is very awkward and they start becoming very close. so when him and colleen start hanging out more they both start getting more flirty. I cant wait to finish it just to see how it ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2016
love love loved
February 26, 2019
3 March 2002 STONER AND SPAZ by Ron Koertge, Candlewick Press, May 2002
Relatively early on in my career as a "children's" bookbuyer I had the great fortune to participate in a day-long workshop discussing "teen" literature. The experts from whom I was to learn that day were Michael Cart and Richard Jackson. Between them, they made several points that have stuck with me as I define and evaluate young adult literature. Among the words of wisdom that day were:
Adolescents create and re-create themselves on a daily basis as they search for their identity. Good teen literature frequently provides characters whose roles teen readers can try on vicariously as if they were cloaks. Good teen literature frequently poses more questions than it provides answers.
That day's presentations were the inspiration for my creating a separate young adult section--after a week of quoting the experts I was given the okay to purchase and shelve those books away from the kids' stuff, in the process becoming the "children's and young adult" buyer. This division, of course, is the rule rather than the exception in bookstores and libraries today.
STONER AND SPAZ, set in LA, is the latest, perfect example of what young adult fiction is all about.
In addition, STONER AND SPAZ is a book that pays homage to film the way SEEK does to radio.
Ben (Spaz) Bancroft, a teen "cinefile" whose aloofness is the result of his self-consciousness over his dragging an arm and a leg due to cerebral palsy, tells us the story of his entanglement with Colleen (Stoner) Minou, who is as engaging, witty, and tough as Mona Lisa Vito, Marisa Tomei's character in My Cousin Vinnie. Colleen's boyfriend, Ed, is studying to be a drug lord. Early on, as Ben waits to hand over the report on THE GREAT GATSBY for which Colleen has hit him up, he gives us a look at Ed in action:
"Waiting there I feel, I don't know anthropological, I guess. I just need a pair of binoculars and a field guide to watch Ed Dorn in his black jeans and black T-shirt make the rounds, moving from the gangstas in their huge pants through the Mexican tough guys and into the Asian kung-fu fighters. Each clique has a different handshake, and Ed knows them all. He knows which girl's hand to grab and rub over his shaved head, which brother to joke with, which guy's Pepsi to snatch and take a sip of, which one to lean into and whisper. Colleen walks a few steps behind. She wears knee-high silver boots and looks like someone from a different galaxy."
When Colleen catches up with Ben, he mentions to her:
"'I was watching Ed in action. He's like Louis the Fourteenth,' I said, 'moving through the gardens at Versailles dispensing favors.'"
"'Louis better watch his ass,' says Colleen. 'This is Ed's turf.'"
Ben has been raised by his grandmother, who dresses him in prep garb and who meets Colleen when she invites herself for a ride home in Grandma's Cadillac and then endears herself to Grandma by immediately puking out the window. Ben has never given Grandma a bit of trouble before. She cannot understand his growing involvement with Colleen:
"'What is it exactly that you see in her? Besides the narcotics, she's so profane and...' She thinks for a few seconds. "So badly decorated.'"
What Ben sees in Colleen is that she treats his condition so honestly and matter-of-factly. In turn, he makes her feel like a high school kid, which is in such contrast to the scary world of drugs, clubs, and thugs in which she's immersed. And while this is a uniquely descriptive and extremely fun story, it is no fairy tale. When it's over we're left heavy on the side of unanswered questions. I was also left with a profound sadness for having to end my relationship with two characters I came so quickly to like and care so much about--Stoner and Spaz.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
Relatively early on in my career as a "children's" bookbuyer I had the great fortune to participate in a day-long workshop discussing "teen" literature. The experts from whom I was to learn that day were Michael Cart and Richard Jackson. Between them, they made several points that have stuck with me as I define and evaluate young adult literature. Among the words of wisdom that day were:
Adolescents create and re-create themselves on a daily basis as they search for their identity. Good teen literature frequently provides characters whose roles teen readers can try on vicariously as if they were cloaks. Good teen literature frequently poses more questions than it provides answers.
That day's presentations were the inspiration for my creating a separate young adult section--after a week of quoting the experts I was given the okay to purchase and shelve those books away from the kids' stuff, in the process becoming the "children's and young adult" buyer. This division, of course, is the rule rather than the exception in bookstores and libraries today.
STONER AND SPAZ, set in LA, is the latest, perfect example of what young adult fiction is all about.
In addition, STONER AND SPAZ is a book that pays homage to film the way SEEK does to radio.
Ben (Spaz) Bancroft, a teen "cinefile" whose aloofness is the result of his self-consciousness over his dragging an arm and a leg due to cerebral palsy, tells us the story of his entanglement with Colleen (Stoner) Minou, who is as engaging, witty, and tough as Mona Lisa Vito, Marisa Tomei's character in My Cousin Vinnie. Colleen's boyfriend, Ed, is studying to be a drug lord. Early on, as Ben waits to hand over the report on THE GREAT GATSBY for which Colleen has hit him up, he gives us a look at Ed in action:
"Waiting there I feel, I don't know anthropological, I guess. I just need a pair of binoculars and a field guide to watch Ed Dorn in his black jeans and black T-shirt make the rounds, moving from the gangstas in their huge pants through the Mexican tough guys and into the Asian kung-fu fighters. Each clique has a different handshake, and Ed knows them all. He knows which girl's hand to grab and rub over his shaved head, which brother to joke with, which guy's Pepsi to snatch and take a sip of, which one to lean into and whisper. Colleen walks a few steps behind. She wears knee-high silver boots and looks like someone from a different galaxy."
When Colleen catches up with Ben, he mentions to her:
"'I was watching Ed in action. He's like Louis the Fourteenth,' I said, 'moving through the gardens at Versailles dispensing favors.'"
"'Louis better watch his ass,' says Colleen. 'This is Ed's turf.'"
Ben has been raised by his grandmother, who dresses him in prep garb and who meets Colleen when she invites herself for a ride home in Grandma's Cadillac and then endears herself to Grandma by immediately puking out the window. Ben has never given Grandma a bit of trouble before. She cannot understand his growing involvement with Colleen:
"'What is it exactly that you see in her? Besides the narcotics, she's so profane and...' She thinks for a few seconds. "So badly decorated.'"
What Ben sees in Colleen is that she treats his condition so honestly and matter-of-factly. In turn, he makes her feel like a high school kid, which is in such contrast to the scary world of drugs, clubs, and thugs in which she's immersed. And while this is a uniquely descriptive and extremely fun story, it is no fairy tale. When it's over we're left heavy on the side of unanswered questions. I was also left with a profound sadness for having to end my relationship with two characters I came so quickly to like and care so much about--Stoner and Spaz.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
December 20, 2018
I enjoyed the book Stoner & Spaz By Ronald Koertge. Ben, who is the main character is a 16 year old who has cerebral palsy. He has a very shy personality and mainly keeps to himself, while at a young age his mother abandoned him so his grandmother took him under her wing. Ben’s life soon changes after he meets Colleen, a teenage girl with a drug problem and a drug dealer as her boyfriend. The material in this book shows the reality of a teenagers life, that not everyone is a “perfect” child. In reality teenagers are judged and stereotyped everyday, just like this books main focus. During the whole book Ben’s grandmother judges Colleen and does not approve of her grandson hanging out with her, just because of the things she wears and her appearance. This book is a good read for teenagers because it shows trying new things and hanging out with a different crowd can give you new experiences for the better. Just like Ben who started liking Colleen and trying new things soon became more of a social person and happier than he once was. I think my friends would like this book as much as I did because it shows the life of a teenager, being reckless, carefree, and having fun. This book’s audience is steering towards teenagers because it gives you a perspective of two completely opposite lives. It shows no matter what you do or say, you will be judged but just keep being you and loving yourself because others opinions about you don’t matter. “The next day is Saturday. Like that matters. Like every day isn’t just about identical for somebody like me.” (Koertge pg.89). This quote describes the book in a whole, Colleen does not care what others think of her and she has never tried to be someone she’s not. This is a great message to teenagers in high school because nobody should act like someone their not just so people will like them. But I feel like our generation struggles with that, they want to be cool and popular so they are constantly not being their true selves. When I first picked up this book I wasn’t sure about the title and if I was going to like it, but I am not the type of person to judge a book by its title or cover so I decided to give it a try. During the whole book my feelings stayed the same to the characters Ben and Colleen. I also felt bad for Ben because he was handicapped and didn’t have many friends before Colleen so throughout the whole book he really loved Colleen and when she eventually left him my heart broke for him. I knew Ben was in love with Colleen, but she would never feel the same way about him. One part in the book that needed improvement was the reality of the drugs in the book. Colleen was constantly smoking marijuana in public and I feel like in reality people don’t do that because they know it’s illegal and they can get in serious trouble. But overall, the book was a good read and I would recommend to any friend or classmate.
December 20, 2018
Stoner and Spaz, a book by Ron Koertge, had many aspects involved in it to make o enjoyable to read. I enjoyed reading it because of the language, characters, and humor. Ben a boy with Cerebral Palsy befriended a girl who was a rule breaker, stoner, and quite frankly the opposite of himself. Throughout the book Ben tried to fit in and convince Colleen that he was worthy of his love. Ben is different than everyone, as seen on page 12 “are you kidding me? While every other raised to grade school with his pals, I rode this.”(Koertge, 12). This shows that Ben is different than other people and he realizes it, he’s being raised by his grandmother and has CP, and he knows that isn’t like other people. I believe that I would recommend this book to others because of its ability to apply to things people don’t necessarily talk about much but might want to. This book has a lot of illegal activities that happen in it, it is suspenseful and deals with characters like Ben trying to get Colleen and him attempting to fit in. Colleen smokes a lot of marijuana and before Ben met Colleen he had never even been around the substance. This book has a lot of impressions and feelings in it. Ben has to deal with not being able to fit in and being different than others, and for some that may appeal to your emotions and it may be relatable. I know that there were some things that made me really think hard about throughout this book. Ben’s girl troubles were something that really caused some feelings for me and made me feel bad for him. Bad emotions were not the only thing in this book however. There were many cases where this book brought me happiness and rejoicement when Ben was able to overcome some challenges and figure stuff out. Also that is something that worked well in the text, the fact that Ben was able to overcome his differences and inability to do certain things. Ben has CP, so clearly there is more to overcome than just his girl troubles, or his ability to fit in. However Ben learned how to love, he changed, and he became more social and a better person overall. Ben found happiness and it was in Colleen. Throughout this book I thought that there were some things that weren’t very realistic however. Something that didn’t really work well was that. There were times that they would do drugs in public with no consequences. Also there were people who made decisions and did things like bullying, and calling kids names and things of that sort. I felt as if it was unrealistic because at my school I feel as if people are not that direct and keep to themselves unlike in this book. Overall, I think that this was a very solid book, I would recommend this book to others. This book made me think about things in different ways, as well as challenging the way I thought. I enjoyed the differences.
May 29, 2024
3.4/5
Urban dictionary describes a “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” as:
"that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures." A pretty, outgoing, whacky female romantic lead whose sole purpose is to help broody male characters lighten up and enjoy their lives.
Colleen is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, in all honesty I only picked this up because the title and plot made me giggle. When I first saw the description I didn’t even bother to give it a chance due to the obvious implications of some quirky girl who’s only purpose is to give the male lead something to live for (which it totally is by the way) the outdated potrails of woman where pretty groan worthy but in the end it actually held a lot of substance and charecters who where very realistic.
Colleen and Ben reminded me a lot or real people I knew and went to high school with. Teen drug addiction is very common, and many kids I know were sent to rehab for substance abuse problems, and just like Colleen, they don’t always stay on the straight and narrow. Well Ben on the other hand is a very complex and interesting character, he is shown to joke about his disability well still holding serious feelings of disappointment and sadness from the way he has to live, though he knows there’s nothing he can do about it, just like there’s nothing he can do about most things in his life. he holds a serious love for movies which was very enjoyable and made me root for him to succeed in making his own film career come to life.
I was hoping the author would have done more research into drug abuse, most of it was perfectly fine, I loved the extra details of the way Colleen looked and her perpetual puking habit which is common in lots of people with mental health and drug problems. Her stoner habits though where a little unrealistic at times but fine. When she gets hospitalized for smoking to much weed (and not from her perpetual cocaine habit) I found it quite hard to believe and actually quite humorous.
In conclusion, the end of the story was very sad yet satisfying and made perfect sense for the plot, probably my favourite part of the entire book. Though I enjoyed the story, I chose not to give it higher than a 3.4 because it was very predictable and left little to the imagination. Though enjoyable, I wouldn’t recommend this book, unless they would find it just as humorous as me.
Urban dictionary describes a “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” as:
"that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures." A pretty, outgoing, whacky female romantic lead whose sole purpose is to help broody male characters lighten up and enjoy their lives.
Colleen is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, in all honesty I only picked this up because the title and plot made me giggle. When I first saw the description I didn’t even bother to give it a chance due to the obvious implications of some quirky girl who’s only purpose is to give the male lead something to live for (which it totally is by the way) the outdated potrails of woman where pretty groan worthy but in the end it actually held a lot of substance and charecters who where very realistic.
Colleen and Ben reminded me a lot or real people I knew and went to high school with. Teen drug addiction is very common, and many kids I know were sent to rehab for substance abuse problems, and just like Colleen, they don’t always stay on the straight and narrow. Well Ben on the other hand is a very complex and interesting character, he is shown to joke about his disability well still holding serious feelings of disappointment and sadness from the way he has to live, though he knows there’s nothing he can do about it, just like there’s nothing he can do about most things in his life. he holds a serious love for movies which was very enjoyable and made me root for him to succeed in making his own film career come to life.
I was hoping the author would have done more research into drug abuse, most of it was perfectly fine, I loved the extra details of the way Colleen looked and her perpetual puking habit which is common in lots of people with mental health and drug problems. Her stoner habits though where a little unrealistic at times but fine. When she gets hospitalized for smoking to much weed (and not from her perpetual cocaine habit) I found it quite hard to believe and actually quite humorous.
In conclusion, the end of the story was very sad yet satisfying and made perfect sense for the plot, probably my favourite part of the entire book. Though I enjoyed the story, I chose not to give it higher than a 3.4 because it was very predictable and left little to the imagination. Though enjoyable, I wouldn’t recommend this book, unless they would find it just as humorous as me.
October 19, 2024
Spastic Benjamin. A 16-year-old boy with spastic cerebral palsy living vicariously through movies, finds himself in an unexpected scene, slowly falling in love with Colleen. Without hiding his clenched wrist and non-functional leg, Ben shows drug-dependent Colleen what it feels like to be listened to, forgiven, and challenged. Stoner empowers Spaz to follow his dreams and to not live for another’s expectations. Her blatant, often rude, honesty teaches him to commit to his passion in order to be extraordinary in the ordinary. It all started as a favor, then a means to an end, eventually evolving into a friendship and relationship that would change Ben’s life.
This short novel is the materialization of the inner fears, perspectives, and lives of teenagers, especially Gen Z ones. In an age where drug use and abuse has become increasingly accessible and normative in teenagers as a coping mechanism, or simply for Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), this book might appeal to many young minds as it did mine. The feeling of indebtedness to families and self-imposed pressures to accept the dreams of adults as our own is a danger that many of us face in adolescence, it takes a good friend to help us believe in our infinite possibilities and believe in our potential. I loved Benjamin’s determination in making/fixing the movie and Marcie’s relationship with him as a son (though she never had one). Though realistic, I craved more of Colleen’s character development, hoping to see hints of a brighter future for her, one where she overcomes and uses addiction as a powerful motivator to grow, but I guess that’s up to the reader.
This short novel is the materialization of the inner fears, perspectives, and lives of teenagers, especially Gen Z ones. In an age where drug use and abuse has become increasingly accessible and normative in teenagers as a coping mechanism, or simply for Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), this book might appeal to many young minds as it did mine. The feeling of indebtedness to families and self-imposed pressures to accept the dreams of adults as our own is a danger that many of us face in adolescence, it takes a good friend to help us believe in our infinite possibilities and believe in our potential. I loved Benjamin’s determination in making/fixing the movie and Marcie’s relationship with him as a son (though she never had one). Though realistic, I craved more of Colleen’s character development, hoping to see hints of a brighter future for her, one where she overcomes and uses addiction as a powerful motivator to grow, but I guess that’s up to the reader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews