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Deacon Locke Went to Prom
Promposals are taking over Deacon Locke’s high school and there is no place left to hide. But even with graduation looming, shy and unusually tall Deacon doesn’t think he can get up the nerve to ask anyone to the dance. Especially given all the theatrics.
It isn’t until Deacon confides in his witty and outgoing best friend Jean that he realizes she could be a great person to take. Only problem is Jean isn’t your typical prom date. She’s older. A lot older. And she’s Deacon’s grandmother.
But when Deacon meets Soraya—a girl unlike any other he’s ever met—he fears he has totally squandered his chances of having a prom he’ll never forget. Deacon couldn’t be more wrong. About everything.
It isn’t until Deacon confides in his witty and outgoing best friend Jean that he realizes she could be a great person to take. Only problem is Jean isn’t your typical prom date. She’s older. A lot older. And she’s Deacon’s grandmother.
But when Deacon meets Soraya—a girl unlike any other he’s ever met—he fears he has totally squandered his chances of having a prom he’ll never forget. Deacon couldn’t be more wrong. About everything.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 30, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a boy who took his grandmother to prom.
Deacon was an okay character, he wasn’t very confident when it came to girls and I understood how nervous he got when it came to asking one to prom.
The storyline in this was about Deacon taking his Grandma to prom because she missed her own senior prom, and becoming semi-famous because of it when someone posted a video online. We also got a bit of romance with a girl called Soraya who was Deacon and his grandmother’s dance instructor, but I found the pace of the book quite slow, and there wasn’t really enough going on to keep me interested.
The ending to this was okay, although I felt quite sorry for Deacon’s Grandmother.
6.25 out of 10
“Like the universe, my future is limitless. And like the universe, my future is mostly uncharted and kind of scary.”
This was a YA contemporary story about a boy who took his grandmother to prom.
Deacon was an okay character, he wasn’t very confident when it came to girls and I understood how nervous he got when it came to asking one to prom.
The storyline in this was about Deacon taking his Grandma to prom because she missed her own senior prom, and becoming semi-famous because of it when someone posted a video online. We also got a bit of romance with a girl called Soraya who was Deacon and his grandmother’s dance instructor, but I found the pace of the book quite slow, and there wasn’t really enough going on to keep me interested.
The ending to this was okay, although I felt quite sorry for Deacon’s Grandmother.
6.25 out of 10
February 16, 2018
Ich habe schon Ana und Zak von Brian Katcher so absolut gefeiert. Daher war der neueste Streich von Brian Katcher ein Muss für mich. Und dank dem dtv Verlag durfte ich dieses tolle Buch schon vor Weihnachten lesen. Aber heute erscheint endlich Ich, Jean und die Nacht meines Lebens und ich kann Euch an meiner Begeisterung teilhaben lassen!
Deacon erzählt die Geschichte aus der Ich-Perspektive. Er spricht den Leser an wie einen guten Freund und teilt uns seine oft unfreiwillig komischen Gedanken mit. Deacon lebt bei seiner Oma Jean, der er nach einer verkorksten Kindheit mit seinem Vater und ständigen Umzügen einfach alles verdankt. Sie ist sein Heim und seine Familie – und seine beste Freundin. Denn sonst hat Deacon kurz vor seinem High School Abschluß kaum Freunde – geschweige denn dass der fast 2 m große Junge schon mal eine Freundin hatte… ein Date für den bevorstehenden Abschlußball zu finden stellt sich somit für den schüchternen Jungen als eine echten Herausforderung dar… bis ihm die geniale Idee kommt, seine Großmutter zu fragen, die ihren eigenen Abschlußball verpasste, weil Deacons Grandpa damals in Vietnam war.
„Nicht, dass ich was mit meiner Großmutter anfangen will. Nicht alles, was du über Arkansas hörst, stimmt.“ (Deacon, S.51)
Jean, Deacons Grandma ist zunächst not amused. Sie kann nicht glauben, dass ihr Enkel wirklich kein Mädchen in seinem Alter findet, die gern mit ihm zu Ball gehen würde. Doch schließlich willigt sie ein, ihn zu begleiten – unter der Voraussetzung, dass Deacon mit ihr einen Tanzkurs belegt.
„Wirst du dich bemühen, häufiger abends auszugehen? Endlich mal ein Mädchen nach Hause mitbringen, die ich missbilligen kann?“ (Jean, S.16)
Den Tanzkurs leitet Soraya Shadee – für Deacon ein wahr gewordener Traum. Und sie scheint auch gar nicht so uninteressiert an ihm zu sein… doch auch sie hat ein anderes Date für den Abschlußball.
Nach 130 Seiten ist schon der Abend des Schulballs. Ich bin ganz überrascht. Deutet doch der Titel darauf hin, dass dieser der Höhepunkt der Geschichte sein soll – ähnlich wie der Besuch der Comicon bei Ana und Zak. Doch nach rund 30 Seiten ist der Ball schon vorbei. Kurz war ich enttäuscht. Doch was danach kam, konnte keiner ahnen – vor allem nicht Deacon, der in die Welt der (sozialen) Medien katapultiert wird…
Für mich war es lustig das Verliebtsein mal von der Jungs-Seite zu betrachten. Brian Katcher erzählt Deacons Geschichte mit dem von ihm gewohnten Humor – aber hier kommen auch gesellschaftskritische Elemente zum Zug: Alter, Krankheit, Mobbing, Rassismus, Ehrlichkeit der Medien …
Ich war überrascht von der Wendung, die das Buch gemacht hat – aber durchaus positiv! Ich empfehle die einfühlsam erzählte Geschichte von Deacon und Jean und die Macht der Liebe uneingeschränkt Lesern ab 12 – egal ob Männlein oder Weiblein… 5 von 5 Lieblingslesesessel für die coolste Oma aller Zeiten!!!
Deacon erzählt die Geschichte aus der Ich-Perspektive. Er spricht den Leser an wie einen guten Freund und teilt uns seine oft unfreiwillig komischen Gedanken mit. Deacon lebt bei seiner Oma Jean, der er nach einer verkorksten Kindheit mit seinem Vater und ständigen Umzügen einfach alles verdankt. Sie ist sein Heim und seine Familie – und seine beste Freundin. Denn sonst hat Deacon kurz vor seinem High School Abschluß kaum Freunde – geschweige denn dass der fast 2 m große Junge schon mal eine Freundin hatte… ein Date für den bevorstehenden Abschlußball zu finden stellt sich somit für den schüchternen Jungen als eine echten Herausforderung dar… bis ihm die geniale Idee kommt, seine Großmutter zu fragen, die ihren eigenen Abschlußball verpasste, weil Deacons Grandpa damals in Vietnam war.
„Nicht, dass ich was mit meiner Großmutter anfangen will. Nicht alles, was du über Arkansas hörst, stimmt.“ (Deacon, S.51)
Jean, Deacons Grandma ist zunächst not amused. Sie kann nicht glauben, dass ihr Enkel wirklich kein Mädchen in seinem Alter findet, die gern mit ihm zu Ball gehen würde. Doch schließlich willigt sie ein, ihn zu begleiten – unter der Voraussetzung, dass Deacon mit ihr einen Tanzkurs belegt.
„Wirst du dich bemühen, häufiger abends auszugehen? Endlich mal ein Mädchen nach Hause mitbringen, die ich missbilligen kann?“ (Jean, S.16)
Den Tanzkurs leitet Soraya Shadee – für Deacon ein wahr gewordener Traum. Und sie scheint auch gar nicht so uninteressiert an ihm zu sein… doch auch sie hat ein anderes Date für den Abschlußball.
Nach 130 Seiten ist schon der Abend des Schulballs. Ich bin ganz überrascht. Deutet doch der Titel darauf hin, dass dieser der Höhepunkt der Geschichte sein soll – ähnlich wie der Besuch der Comicon bei Ana und Zak. Doch nach rund 30 Seiten ist der Ball schon vorbei. Kurz war ich enttäuscht. Doch was danach kam, konnte keiner ahnen – vor allem nicht Deacon, der in die Welt der (sozialen) Medien katapultiert wird…
Für mich war es lustig das Verliebtsein mal von der Jungs-Seite zu betrachten. Brian Katcher erzählt Deacons Geschichte mit dem von ihm gewohnten Humor – aber hier kommen auch gesellschaftskritische Elemente zum Zug: Alter, Krankheit, Mobbing, Rassismus, Ehrlichkeit der Medien …
Ich war überrascht von der Wendung, die das Buch gemacht hat – aber durchaus positiv! Ich empfehle die einfühlsam erzählte Geschichte von Deacon und Jean und die Macht der Liebe uneingeschränkt Lesern ab 12 – egal ob Männlein oder Weiblein… 5 von 5 Lieblingslesesessel für die coolste Oma aller Zeiten!!!
March 29, 2017
Before this book, I had never heard of Brian Katcher. And honestly? I feel like his book must be ridiculously underrated. This book, at first, comes across as if it will be some funny story of a teen boy going to his first prom. While it is that, it's also a lot more than that.
I really want to talk about the Muslim love interest, Soraya who I loved and is a TOTAL badass, but I've decided not to say a ton, just because of some backlash and accusations I've received on Twitter for stating opinions before (essentially I don't want to accidentally say the wrong thing) I will say however, that she is AWESOME and definitely one of the reasons you should read this book. (My fave Soraya quote below)
She's a firecracker and honestly one of the best characters!
So. The HUMOR in this book!! I was laughing my head off whenever I wasn't fangirling over Soraya and Deacon or yelling at Deacon for being an IDIOT. (EXAMPLES BELOW!!)
Essentially this book is amazing and there's dancing, and prom, and romance, and overnight fame(which is a newer book trope that I'm totally becoming obsessed with), guys who love their grandmas (BLESS THEIR ADORABLE SOULS), and Muslim rep, and all in all, this book is AMAZING. (go read it)
CONTENT GUIDE -
Sexual - kissing, maybe innuendos
Cussing - mild
Imbibing - some underage drinking
Violence - fighting, mean people, and the damage it'll do to the book when you cry and throw it at the wall bc it's SO GOOD
I really want to talk about the Muslim love interest, Soraya who I loved and is a TOTAL badass, but I've decided not to say a ton, just because of some backlash and accusations I've received on Twitter for stating opinions before (essentially I don't want to accidentally say the wrong thing) I will say however, that she is AWESOME and definitely one of the reasons you should read this book. (My fave Soraya quote below)
“It’ll be a cold day in Arkansas when I give a sh** about what some yahoo with an internet connection thinks about me. I’m not some kind of damn Disney princess who needs a man to come and save her. I’ve been handling a**holes all my life. Yes, it bothers me. Yes, sometimes it scares me. And yes, it really helps to have friends like you and Jason to lean on. But when it comes down to it, I can live my own life. Jason and my father never really understood that, and neither do you.”
She's a firecracker and honestly one of the best characters!
So. The HUMOR in this book!! I was laughing my head off whenever I wasn't fangirling over Soraya and Deacon or yelling at Deacon for being an IDIOT. (EXAMPLES BELOW!!)
"It’s Kelli. I do a double take. Now that she’s lost her glasses, let down her hair, and gotten a makeover, I’m suddenly struck by what a truly beautiful girl she is. Or was she always this lovely and I was too blind to see it? Just kidding. This isn’t a romantic comedy."
(At 48%) "The end. Seriously. Deacon learned to come out of his shell, and he’s going to go out with Soraya. Book’s over. The next two hundred pages are acknowledgments."
(Character name omitted to avoid spoilers) "It’s Passover, (character name omitted). Time to taste the bitter herbs of . . . Sorry, I’m not Jewish, and it was a bad metaphor to begin with. But I really want to kick (character name omitted)'s a**."
Essentially this book is amazing and there's dancing, and prom, and romance, and overnight fame(which is a newer book trope that I'm totally becoming obsessed with), guys who love their grandmas (BLESS THEIR ADORABLE SOULS), and Muslim rep, and all in all, this book is AMAZING. (go read it)
CONTENT GUIDE -
Sexual - kissing, maybe innuendos
Cussing - mild
Imbibing - some underage drinking
Violence - fighting, mean people, and the damage it'll do to the book when you cry and throw it at the wall bc it's SO GOOD
April 7, 2017
You know, even when you consider an author your friend, and you both write for the same website, you just don't read a book and expect to see your name--and the names of other FYA ladies--used for exuberant internet commenters. :D
This is a cute story about an awkward high schooler who takes his grandmother to prom, gets the courage to go out with someone closer to his own age, and stumbles into accidental fame. Katcher's sense of humor is the best part about this book, especially in the form of Elijah's character.
The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak is my favorite Brian book, still, but Deacon Locke has a lot of the same stuff I loved about Ana and Zak. Look for the full review on Forever Young Adult soon!
This is a cute story about an awkward high schooler who takes his grandmother to prom, gets the courage to go out with someone closer to his own age, and stumbles into accidental fame. Katcher's sense of humor is the best part about this book, especially in the form of Elijah's character.
The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak is my favorite Brian book, still, but Deacon Locke has a lot of the same stuff I loved about Ana and Zak. Look for the full review on Forever Young Adult soon!
Read
May 17, 2017Graded By: Jennie
Cover Story: Puttin’ On The Ritz
BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: I Came, I Danced, I Went Viral
Bonus Factors: Kick-Ass Gram, Internet Fame
Relationship Status: Drinking Buddy
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Puttin’ On The Ritz
BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: I Came, I Danced, I Went Viral
Bonus Factors: Kick-Ass Gram, Internet Fame
Relationship Status: Drinking Buddy
Read the full book report here.
June 25, 2017
*ARC Kindly provided by Katherine Tegen Books thru Edelweiss for review*
Deacon Locke is probably one of the awkward-est but cutest characters I’ve ever encountered and his story is as well one of the cutest & simplest story I’ve read this year!
Deacon Locke Went To Prom is a story about a shy guy who decided to bring his grandma to his prom and ended up being instantly internet famous. Ohhh, yes, that quick. This is not the first insta-internet-famous story I’ve read. There are several YA books with the same insta-internet-famous plot line. I think, this goes to show how influential the social media is really getting right now.
Anyway, back to the story. The story flowed smoothly for me but I was just a bit left perplexed by the thought of Deacon not owning a cellphone and having no interest with social media. There might be some millennials – like Deacon – that may not be interested in social media but not owning a cellphone? Hmmm.
The first part of the story focuses on Deacon’s Prom dilemma while the second half is a bit more personal and emotional for me. I love how the story transitioned from focusing on the normal teenage dilemma such as prom then proceeding to turn the story into stuffs that I guess is more serious.
On to the characters, there’s only a handful of characters introduced but they all captured my interest!
I loved Deacon and I want to hug him for the entire duration of the story. He’s awkward and I really liked him. With Deacon, what you see is what you get. He’s a bit of a nerd when it comes to astronomy, has a dry sense of humor but over all a very good guy.
Elijah – Deacon’s friend is such a sweetheart as well and I really liked how he’s pushing Deacon out of his shell. Soraya is the love interest in the story but since the story doesn’t really revolve on the love story aspect of it we only get a few glimpses of Soraya here and there (but don’t fret there’s a HEA here *wink*). Jean – Deacon’s grandmother also captured my heart. She’s a great character and though her love and support for Deacon isn’t really shown verbally, you can see thru the actions she’s making for him that he do love our main guy.
“Like the universe, my future is limitless. And like the universe, my future is mostly uncharted and kind of scary.”
In all, Deacon’s story was cute, plain and simple. More than everything, this is a coming of age book with Deacon deciding what he wants for his life and his future.
Deacon Locke is probably one of the awkward-est but cutest characters I’ve ever encountered and his story is as well one of the cutest & simplest story I’ve read this year!
Deacon Locke Went To Prom is a story about a shy guy who decided to bring his grandma to his prom and ended up being instantly internet famous. Ohhh, yes, that quick. This is not the first insta-internet-famous story I’ve read. There are several YA books with the same insta-internet-famous plot line. I think, this goes to show how influential the social media is really getting right now.
Anyway, back to the story. The story flowed smoothly for me but I was just a bit left perplexed by the thought of Deacon not owning a cellphone and having no interest with social media. There might be some millennials – like Deacon – that may not be interested in social media but not owning a cellphone? Hmmm.
The first part of the story focuses on Deacon’s Prom dilemma while the second half is a bit more personal and emotional for me. I love how the story transitioned from focusing on the normal teenage dilemma such as prom then proceeding to turn the story into stuffs that I guess is more serious.
On to the characters, there’s only a handful of characters introduced but they all captured my interest!
I loved Deacon and I want to hug him for the entire duration of the story. He’s awkward and I really liked him. With Deacon, what you see is what you get. He’s a bit of a nerd when it comes to astronomy, has a dry sense of humor but over all a very good guy.
Elijah – Deacon’s friend is such a sweetheart as well and I really liked how he’s pushing Deacon out of his shell. Soraya is the love interest in the story but since the story doesn’t really revolve on the love story aspect of it we only get a few glimpses of Soraya here and there (but don’t fret there’s a HEA here *wink*). Jean – Deacon’s grandmother also captured my heart. She’s a great character and though her love and support for Deacon isn’t really shown verbally, you can see thru the actions she’s making for him that he do love our main guy.
“Like the universe, my future is limitless. And like the universe, my future is mostly uncharted and kind of scary.”
In all, Deacon’s story was cute, plain and simple. More than everything, this is a coming of age book with Deacon deciding what he wants for his life and his future.
May 16, 2017
Quintessential Katcher:
Quippy protagonist
Quirky characters and conflicts
Quality ideas
Quick, optimistic read
Quibbling reviewers
Deacon, the main character, is remarkably blasé about all sorts of social pitfalls, yet ridiculously insecure about other interactions. This level-headed attitude and anxiety-prone behavior combine to make Deacon a believable guy. I am also fond of the side characters. Each member of the supporting cast is distinct from the others, shaping and supporting the main character's trajectory in an individual and often subtle manner.
As with any story unconfined by the boundaries of convention and formula, there are elements of this novel that demand suspension of disbelief. That's a fair exchange for a book that is unlike any other. This novel's structure poses a surprising number of conflicts that unfold at varying paces and with multiple highs and lows. Such elements prove that Katcher's writing talent gains complexity with each new project.
Although I don't feel the epilogue was necessary--the final chapter ends on a pitch-perfect note-- I like it because it unfolds in a highly visual way. When this is made into a movie, the epilogue will fit well after the credits have rolled.
As far as negatives, I was alarmed by two editing misfires early in the book. On page 11, the main character reflects that "There's been a couple of close calls" (have, not has) and on page 16, Deacon asks, "Do us poor guys even stand a chance?" (It's we. Do WE stand a chance?) Since the second gaffe is part of the dialogue, I forgave and moved on. Fortunately, the story soon held me in its grip and if there were more errors, I neglected to notice.
I'll be recommending this novel to many students.
Quippy protagonist
Quirky characters and conflicts
Quality ideas
Quick, optimistic read
Quibbling reviewers
Deacon, the main character, is remarkably blasé about all sorts of social pitfalls, yet ridiculously insecure about other interactions. This level-headed attitude and anxiety-prone behavior combine to make Deacon a believable guy. I am also fond of the side characters. Each member of the supporting cast is distinct from the others, shaping and supporting the main character's trajectory in an individual and often subtle manner.
As with any story unconfined by the boundaries of convention and formula, there are elements of this novel that demand suspension of disbelief. That's a fair exchange for a book that is unlike any other. This novel's structure poses a surprising number of conflicts that unfold at varying paces and with multiple highs and lows. Such elements prove that Katcher's writing talent gains complexity with each new project.
Although I don't feel the epilogue was necessary--the final chapter ends on a pitch-perfect note-- I like it because it unfolds in a highly visual way. When this is made into a movie, the epilogue will fit well after the credits have rolled.
As far as negatives, I was alarmed by two editing misfires early in the book. On page 11, the main character reflects that "There's been a couple of close calls" (have, not has) and on page 16, Deacon asks, "Do us poor guys even stand a chance?" (It's we. Do WE stand a chance?) Since the second gaffe is part of the dialogue, I forgave and moved on. Fortunately, the story soon held me in its grip and if there were more errors, I neglected to notice.
I'll be recommending this novel to many students.
July 30, 2017
I absolutely love the premise of this book for many reasons but the biggest one is that
everyone can relate to Prom. If you are young, you either can’t wait to go or you are dreading it. Everyone who is post-Prom age has a Prom story - either why you didn’t go to Prom, what your dress looked like, how hard you partied, what went wrong, etc. Personally, I think about Prom at least 8 months out of every year because I am the Prom co-sponsor at the school where I teach. So, other than the fact that this is a Brian Katcher book so I’m definitely going to read it (I read and love all of his books), I knew I wanted to read this book because it was Prom related. Katcher had me laughing from page one where he begs the question, “Who the hell comes up with these (Prom) themes?” Well, Mr. Katcher, my committee, my co-sponsor, and I do!
Deacon Locke wants to go to Prom but he’s a bit of a loner without many friends and he is certainly way too nervous to ask some random girl to go so he gets an idea. Deacon lives with his grandmother, Jean, and they are best friends and she is just a super cool lady. Jean never got to go to her Prom because her fiance (Deacon’s grandfather) was fighting in Vietnam. Deacon decides he will take his grandma to Prom. After a sweet Promposal, Jean agrees to go under one condition - that they take dance lessons. Deacon finds that he is a pretty good dancer. But the best part of dance lessons is the dance instructor - the beautiful Soraya . . . Taking Jean to Prom was a huge hit. Lots of attendees take video of Deacon and his grandmother dancing and guess what happens. The videos go viral. Just like that, Deacon is a local celebrity. His life is completely turned upside down. His once very average and maybe a bit boring life is now filled with exciting opportunities and lots of stress. And not just because of the video. He’s falling in love with Soraya (and the feelings just might be mutual!), he’s offered a spot on a reality show which would mean giving up his first semester of college, and he now needs to start dealing with a reality that he’s been ignoring for a long time - his grandmother’s dementia. Deacon handles everything with humor and lots and lots of mistakes. The way most teenage boys would.
In typical Brian Katcher fashion, this book is hilarious (Deacon’s friend’s idea for a sandwich shop called, “Billy, Don’t Be a Gyro” had me laughing out loud for a solid minute), clever (“Sometimes I wonder if I’m actually a character in a poorly performing situation comedy. I look up at the ceiling and beseech the writers for a romantic subplot”), and sweet (“But it doesn’t stop me from hugging Jean and crying. I can’t sit in her lap, of course, but I kind of squat on the floor and let her hug me as I sob”). As for Gateway, Deacon Locke Went to Prom is a no brainer!
everyone can relate to Prom. If you are young, you either can’t wait to go or you are dreading it. Everyone who is post-Prom age has a Prom story - either why you didn’t go to Prom, what your dress looked like, how hard you partied, what went wrong, etc. Personally, I think about Prom at least 8 months out of every year because I am the Prom co-sponsor at the school where I teach. So, other than the fact that this is a Brian Katcher book so I’m definitely going to read it (I read and love all of his books), I knew I wanted to read this book because it was Prom related. Katcher had me laughing from page one where he begs the question, “Who the hell comes up with these (Prom) themes?” Well, Mr. Katcher, my committee, my co-sponsor, and I do!
Deacon Locke wants to go to Prom but he’s a bit of a loner without many friends and he is certainly way too nervous to ask some random girl to go so he gets an idea. Deacon lives with his grandmother, Jean, and they are best friends and she is just a super cool lady. Jean never got to go to her Prom because her fiance (Deacon’s grandfather) was fighting in Vietnam. Deacon decides he will take his grandma to Prom. After a sweet Promposal, Jean agrees to go under one condition - that they take dance lessons. Deacon finds that he is a pretty good dancer. But the best part of dance lessons is the dance instructor - the beautiful Soraya . . . Taking Jean to Prom was a huge hit. Lots of attendees take video of Deacon and his grandmother dancing and guess what happens. The videos go viral. Just like that, Deacon is a local celebrity. His life is completely turned upside down. His once very average and maybe a bit boring life is now filled with exciting opportunities and lots of stress. And not just because of the video. He’s falling in love with Soraya (and the feelings just might be mutual!), he’s offered a spot on a reality show which would mean giving up his first semester of college, and he now needs to start dealing with a reality that he’s been ignoring for a long time - his grandmother’s dementia. Deacon handles everything with humor and lots and lots of mistakes. The way most teenage boys would.
In typical Brian Katcher fashion, this book is hilarious (Deacon’s friend’s idea for a sandwich shop called, “Billy, Don’t Be a Gyro” had me laughing out loud for a solid minute), clever (“Sometimes I wonder if I’m actually a character in a poorly performing situation comedy. I look up at the ceiling and beseech the writers for a romantic subplot”), and sweet (“But it doesn’t stop me from hugging Jean and crying. I can’t sit in her lap, of course, but I kind of squat on the floor and let her hug me as I sob”). As for Gateway, Deacon Locke Went to Prom is a no brainer!
August 11, 2017
Such a fun read. Katcher continues to bring humor and life together in a way to keep a reader wanting to turn pages. I loved the comments at the end of chapter, putting into print what my mind was saying. That's like having a friend finish your sentence and then laugh because of the special connection. The serious side is not heavy handed. Any group wanting to use this book for shared reading or book discussion groups will find much to discuss. Recommended for all secondary school libraries. Can't wait for the next Brian Katcher book.
September 28, 2017
Deacon Locke does go to prom in this book, but he does so much more. He comes of age, falls in love, learns to reach farther than he thought he could, and will touch your heart. At times funny, touching, and profound, Deacon Locke is one of the most appealing 18 year olds I've met in a long long time. You should definitely go to prom with Deacon.
August 19, 2019
With prom coming around the corner, Deacon Locke needs to find a date. After his best friend/crush gets asked by someone else, Deacon decides to ask his grandmother, Jean, to prom. She's funny, cool, and Deacon feels relaxed around her. Then, while taking a dance class with Jean at the YMCA, Deacon meets Soraya, and he falls in love. Brian Katcher writes a hilarious novel that will knock you socks off with laughter.
I loved this book! It was so funny. The humor in this novel was phenomenal. If I had to grade this novel, I would give it a solid A. It was an easy to read novel, and the plot line was so engaging that I would spend 3 hours just reading this novel and not even know how much time had passed. Katcher touched on deeper issues like Islamophobia and dementia with a comedic spin. Deacon Locke Went to Prom was a refreshing read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I definitely recommend this novel. If you liked Grendel's Guide to Love and War by A.E. Kaplan, Losers Take All by Daniel Klass, or Great Falls by Steve Watkins, then you'll definitely love Deacon Locke Went to Prom as much as I did. 😊
I loved this book! It was so funny. The humor in this novel was phenomenal. If I had to grade this novel, I would give it a solid A. It was an easy to read novel, and the plot line was so engaging that I would spend 3 hours just reading this novel and not even know how much time had passed. Katcher touched on deeper issues like Islamophobia and dementia with a comedic spin. Deacon Locke Went to Prom was a refreshing read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I definitely recommend this novel. If you liked Grendel's Guide to Love and War by A.E. Kaplan, Losers Take All by Daniel Klass, or Great Falls by Steve Watkins, then you'll definitely love Deacon Locke Went to Prom as much as I did. 😊
April 2, 2018
It all started when Deacon Locke decided to bring his 60-year-old grandmother to prom. After this, Deacon's life is suddenly crazier than he could have ever imagined. I was a little worried when the prom happened less than halfway through the book - what would happen after that? Deacon's life turns upside down when he becomes a viral sensation. The book touches on aging, racism, judgement, confidence, and letting go. I rather enjoyed this high school read.
June 28, 2017
This was so cute! And set in Fayetteville, Arkansas, so I loved seeing all the Arkansas stuff mentioned.
I will admit that I was a *little* bummed when I saw the names of all the FYA girls as Internet commenters and didn't see mine - but Rosemary made her appearance there at the end and I let out a tiny fist pump!
I will admit that I was a *little* bummed when I saw the names of all the FYA girls as Internet commenters and didn't see mine - but Rosemary made her appearance there at the end and I let out a tiny fist pump!
July 5, 2023
Effortlessly crowd-pleasing and cliche to a benefit with a sweet and funny voice, a very unique premise, and a great cast of characters and assortment of zingy sidequests. Jean and Soraya are beautifully fleshed out. Deacon is silly and sincere and flawed and honest with loads of charm and charisma. The heart of the novel is always beating and buzzing, the reader is almost always smiling, but the nuance and reality and earnestness the story fully embraces heading into its final chapters makes for an emotional, wistful, and sincere aftertaste.
May 29, 2017
Brian Katcher has created a YA novel that accurately depicts the reality of social media, racism, and living with a grandparent. Throw in some humor and awkward Senior moments, and you get a clever, fun novel!
June 17, 2017
'Deacon Locke Went to Prom' by Brian Katcher was somewhat different from many young adult novels. Even though there are YA novels that have a male protagonist, many of the ones I read and review on a regular basis have a female main character. It was also interesting to see the angst and lack of self-confidence of a teen boy whom others see as good-looking and capable of popularity.
Deacon starts the novel with two friends, both of whom are girls - his eating and studying partner - Kelly - and his grandmother, Jean. After his father gets into some skirmishes with the law, Deacon's grandmother takes him in and raises him as her own as he finishes high school. With the end of the year looming and prom getting ever closer, Deacon can't help but notice all of the promposals going around. Other guys are really doing it up big as they ask girls to the dance, and Deacon thinks he can pull something off and ask Kelly, but that gets sidelined when another guy beats him to it. With no one left to ask and a feeling that there is nothing to lose, Deacon decides to ask Jean to prom. After all, she never went to her own prom since her future husband was away at war at the time.
This is definitely an interesting premise to start the novel off, and Deacon's lack of self-assurance is definitely noticeable at all times. When Jean finally agrees to go with him, the beginning of Deacon's path to a new him is started. From meeting Soraya, the beautiful dance teacher, to becoming a quasi-celebrity, getting into fights, dealing with a forgetful grandmother, and figuring out how astronomy and college fit into his future, Deacon has his work cut out for him.
There were a couple of plot points in the novel that could have been further developed to lend some clarity and intrigue to the storyline. There seemed to be mention of one of the guy characters seeming attracted to Deacon, but this was always shrugged off. The times when it was mentioned were very subtle, so maybe I was picking up on something that wasn't there, but it seemed to happen more than once, so more on this would have helped bring the novel together more. It would have also been nice to have Deacon's father around for more than memories of what he had been like in the past. Deacon has issues that are clearly the result of his father's lack of guidance in his life, and having Deacon confront this would have been a welcome plot point within the novel.
All in all, 'Deacon Locke Went to Prom' is a great story by Brian Katcher that covers all the themes that YA likes to offer - crushes, love, family relationships, drama, a few twists and turns, and more. A satisfying and enjoyable read.
*Review originally posted on YABooksCentral.com*
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
Deacon starts the novel with two friends, both of whom are girls - his eating and studying partner - Kelly - and his grandmother, Jean. After his father gets into some skirmishes with the law, Deacon's grandmother takes him in and raises him as her own as he finishes high school. With the end of the year looming and prom getting ever closer, Deacon can't help but notice all of the promposals going around. Other guys are really doing it up big as they ask girls to the dance, and Deacon thinks he can pull something off and ask Kelly, but that gets sidelined when another guy beats him to it. With no one left to ask and a feeling that there is nothing to lose, Deacon decides to ask Jean to prom. After all, she never went to her own prom since her future husband was away at war at the time.
This is definitely an interesting premise to start the novel off, and Deacon's lack of self-assurance is definitely noticeable at all times. When Jean finally agrees to go with him, the beginning of Deacon's path to a new him is started. From meeting Soraya, the beautiful dance teacher, to becoming a quasi-celebrity, getting into fights, dealing with a forgetful grandmother, and figuring out how astronomy and college fit into his future, Deacon has his work cut out for him.
There were a couple of plot points in the novel that could have been further developed to lend some clarity and intrigue to the storyline. There seemed to be mention of one of the guy characters seeming attracted to Deacon, but this was always shrugged off. The times when it was mentioned were very subtle, so maybe I was picking up on something that wasn't there, but it seemed to happen more than once, so more on this would have helped bring the novel together more. It would have also been nice to have Deacon's father around for more than memories of what he had been like in the past. Deacon has issues that are clearly the result of his father's lack of guidance in his life, and having Deacon confront this would have been a welcome plot point within the novel.
All in all, 'Deacon Locke Went to Prom' is a great story by Brian Katcher that covers all the themes that YA likes to offer - crushes, love, family relationships, drama, a few twists and turns, and more. A satisfying and enjoyable read.
*Review originally posted on YABooksCentral.com*
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
May 19, 2017
Full disclosure: I was one of the beta readers for early drafts of this book. I enjoyed it enough to read the final version once it was released.
Deacon is a sweet, if sometimes clueless, high school senior. He lived an unsettled life (to put it mildly) with a father who is out of the picture by the time the story begins. Only in the last couple of years has Deacon found any kind of stability, living with his grandmother, Jean, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
As senior prom approaches, Deacon decides he'd like to grasp this one last chance to do a normal teen activity, but he procrastinates too long to get a date. The answer is obvious -- Jean missed her own prom due to his grandfather's military service in Vietnam. Yes, he takes his grandma to prom. And she's a hit. Video clips of the two of them dancing go viral. Fame and complications ensue.
One complication is Deacon's growing awareness that Jean is in the early stages of dementia, just as he is about to head off and leave her.
Another is Deacon's new girlfriend, Soraya, the dance instructor at the Y, where Deacon and Jean took lessons. Soraya attends the local Islamic school. Internet fame for Deacon unfortunately leads to nasty bigotry toward Soraya. I love how she handles herself and the lessons Deacon learns about the difference between being supportive and being a savior. In fact, props for many strong female characters in this book.
Though some of the issues are heavy, there's lots of humor.
I especially enjoyed the gutter repair scene.
Deacon is a sweet, if sometimes clueless, high school senior. He lived an unsettled life (to put it mildly) with a father who is out of the picture by the time the story begins. Only in the last couple of years has Deacon found any kind of stability, living with his grandmother, Jean, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
As senior prom approaches, Deacon decides he'd like to grasp this one last chance to do a normal teen activity, but he procrastinates too long to get a date. The answer is obvious -- Jean missed her own prom due to his grandfather's military service in Vietnam. Yes, he takes his grandma to prom. And she's a hit. Video clips of the two of them dancing go viral. Fame and complications ensue.
One complication is Deacon's growing awareness that Jean is in the early stages of dementia, just as he is about to head off and leave her.
Another is Deacon's new girlfriend, Soraya, the dance instructor at the Y, where Deacon and Jean took lessons. Soraya attends the local Islamic school. Internet fame for Deacon unfortunately leads to nasty bigotry toward Soraya. I love how she handles herself and the lessons Deacon learns about the difference between being supportive and being a savior. In fact, props for many strong female characters in this book.
Though some of the issues are heavy, there's lots of humor.
I especially enjoyed the gutter repair scene.
May 23, 2017
Full disclosure: I am one of Brian's CP's and read early drafts of the first half of this story (but had to wait for the finished book to read the ending, which was torture). I loved the final product.
Brian's ability to create lovable and quirky characters, treated with humor and compassion, is on full display in this feel-good coming of age story. My favorite part of this story is Deacon's relationship with his grandmother, who is also his guardian, and how both deal with the progression of her early onset dementia. I often feel that adult characters aren't given enough weight or realness in YA, while teen characters are more rounded and complex. It was refreshing to see a complex adult character whose relationship with the protagonist is the heart of the story.
Also, kudos to Brian for creating two strong female characters (Jean and Soroya) and making me laugh out loud in the doctor's office.
I highly recommend Deacon Locke Went to Prom to anyone wanting a quick, feel-good summer read with plenty of heart and humor.
Brian's ability to create lovable and quirky characters, treated with humor and compassion, is on full display in this feel-good coming of age story. My favorite part of this story is Deacon's relationship with his grandmother, who is also his guardian, and how both deal with the progression of her early onset dementia. I often feel that adult characters aren't given enough weight or realness in YA, while teen characters are more rounded and complex. It was refreshing to see a complex adult character whose relationship with the protagonist is the heart of the story.
Also, kudos to Brian for creating two strong female characters (Jean and Soroya) and making me laugh out loud in the doctor's office.
I highly recommend Deacon Locke Went to Prom to anyone wanting a quick, feel-good summer read with plenty of heart and humor.
July 13, 2018
Deacon Locke really wants to go to prom. He's missed all of his other school dances and now he's a senior with only one high school dance left. Unfortunately, Deacon is a bit awkward around girls, even those he's been friends with for a long time. The only girl Deacon considers asking winds up with a date before Deacon gets the chance to ask, so he comes up with what seems like an ideal solution to the problem: invite his grandmother, Jean, to prom. It's perfect; she missed her own prom since her date, Deacon's late grandfather, was en route to serve in Vietnam at the time. Jean eventually agrees on the condition that Deacon take a dance class with her. Deacon is happy to oblige.
Deacon expects to have fun preparing for the dance with Jean, what he doesn't expect is to develop a massive crush on their dance instructor, Soraya (who has also been asked to prom by someone that isn't Deacon). At the dance itself, Deacon and Jean have a wonderful time dancing the night away. After the dance, however, things start to get more than a little weird. Jean is starting to show signs of serious memory problems. Soraya seems like she might reciprocate some of Deacon's attraction. Oh, and a bunch of people filmed Deacon and his grandmother at prom and now the videos have gone viral, making Deacon and Jean instant celebrities.
Deacon Locke Went to Prom is a sweet and funny little diversion. At times, it verges on too sweet, particularly when Deacon talks about his grandmother. It has a tendency to feel somewhat less than authentic for a teenager, even if this is the type of kid that invites their grandparent to prom. There are some surprising twists in the post-prom story, some of which can be seen coming from a mile away while others seem almost jarringly out of the blue. That being said, most readers are going to be willing to overlook some of these flaws in favor of characters they can root for and a storyline that isn't super-bleak. I enjoyed reading it, though it's not normally something I would have picked up for myself. As it turned out, I genuinely appreciated reading something lighter and more fun after all the depressing books I've been reading lately.
Deacon expects to have fun preparing for the dance with Jean, what he doesn't expect is to develop a massive crush on their dance instructor, Soraya (who has also been asked to prom by someone that isn't Deacon). At the dance itself, Deacon and Jean have a wonderful time dancing the night away. After the dance, however, things start to get more than a little weird. Jean is starting to show signs of serious memory problems. Soraya seems like she might reciprocate some of Deacon's attraction. Oh, and a bunch of people filmed Deacon and his grandmother at prom and now the videos have gone viral, making Deacon and Jean instant celebrities.
Deacon Locke Went to Prom is a sweet and funny little diversion. At times, it verges on too sweet, particularly when Deacon talks about his grandmother. It has a tendency to feel somewhat less than authentic for a teenager, even if this is the type of kid that invites their grandparent to prom. There are some surprising twists in the post-prom story, some of which can be seen coming from a mile away while others seem almost jarringly out of the blue. That being said, most readers are going to be willing to overlook some of these flaws in favor of characters they can root for and a storyline that isn't super-bleak. I enjoyed reading it, though it's not normally something I would have picked up for myself. As it turned out, I genuinely appreciated reading something lighter and more fun after all the depressing books I've been reading lately.
August 8, 2018
Cute new YA novel about tall, gangly, self-conscious Deacon, a high school senior whose whole family consists of his grandmother, Jean, with whom he lives. Deacon plays faithful friend and sidekick to perky, assertive, feminist Kelli. It's coming up on prom season and Deacon decides to take a big step outside his comfort zone and ask Kelli to prom which would be his first date in high school. He waits too long, and Kelli asks a football player.
Deacon asks Jean about her prom experiences and finds that she didn't attend her senior prom because her boyfriend was in Vietnam. He asks Jean to be his date and Jean enrolls them in dance classes at the Y. Enter Soraya, the Lebanese dance instructor, the most beautiful girl Deacon has ever seen. He's a goner.
Deacon and Jean have an enjoyable evening at the prom with a few of Deacon's new friends, but the angle of Deacon taking his grandma, their smooth dance moves, and videos posted to YouTube, turns his life upside down.
Storylines include coming of age, young love, diversity and racism, making friends and enemies, transitioning from high school to college, aging and dementia, and the impact of social media on the lives of teens.
Deacon and Soraya are both wonderful characters.
Deacon asks Jean about her prom experiences and finds that she didn't attend her senior prom because her boyfriend was in Vietnam. He asks Jean to be his date and Jean enrolls them in dance classes at the Y. Enter Soraya, the Lebanese dance instructor, the most beautiful girl Deacon has ever seen. He's a goner.
Deacon and Jean have an enjoyable evening at the prom with a few of Deacon's new friends, but the angle of Deacon taking his grandma, their smooth dance moves, and videos posted to YouTube, turns his life upside down.
Storylines include coming of age, young love, diversity and racism, making friends and enemies, transitioning from high school to college, aging and dementia, and the impact of social media on the lives of teens.
Deacon and Soraya are both wonderful characters.
January 1, 2018
teen fiction; awkward teen makes friends, meets girl of his dreams (who happens to be Muslim), and deals with unexpected fame in Fayetteville, Arkansas, among other things. Charming characters and a lot of zinging humor.
From Stonewall-winning author of Almost Perfect (about a boy falling in love with a trans girl in Missouri, though the original synopsis written by the publisher is off-putting and the author advises ignoring that to the extent possible).
From Stonewall-winning author of Almost Perfect (about a boy falling in love with a trans girl in Missouri, though the original synopsis written by the publisher is off-putting and the author advises ignoring that to the extent possible).
October 22, 2018
Yes , a rare 4-stars from rme. I am not being trite when I say, "I laughed and I cried." This book was highly recommended to me by one of my students - a fourteen-year old young man who had never read this type of book before. Katcher's novel has officially party crashed the I-only-really-like-sports book club.
July 4, 2017
Such a cute book. I loved the subtle narration in the background. It was kind of like the voice in Kevin Arnold's head in the Wonder Years. A sweet story about a kid who wants to become a man and then realizes he really was a man to start with.
September 5, 2017
I appreciate how true to life it is, everything is entirely plausible and not an idealized version of life.
July 13, 2017
Katcher does not disappoint. This story is both humorous and heartwarming. I loved it. There's so many good things about this book, I don't know where to begin, so all I'll say is Read it!
August 13, 2020
This was such a great book to read, nice and lighthearted, I loved watching this shy guy deal with his upcoming prom, a girl he has a crush on, and his grandmother!
June 16, 2019
What started as a cute YA romantic comedy became something with so much more depth. Deacon a true underdog, who when dateless decides to take his grandmother to the prom she never attended. What follows is the story of their relationship and Deacon finding first love and true friendships. Beautiful and entertaining storyline.
June 21, 2017
Brian Katcher is one of my critique partners and I was privileged to see parts of this book in the formative stages, when I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed it even more in its final form. This is a madcap romp through the life of a young man with a good heart who is nonetheless pretty much clueless about, well, everything. This is his coming-of-age, brought about courtesy of social media bullying, reality TV, bigotry, and mental health issues. And despite the heavy topics in that list, the book is filled with Brian's trademark laugh-out-loud humor.
November 28, 2017
I loved this one from the first moments. This dude, this shy tall awkward dude, takes his grandma to prom. And then.. stuff happens that he so does not expect and his whole life changes. And how does he deal with this? Read the book. I loved it.
November 17, 2017
Reading Challenge 2017: Book with a title that's a character's name. Brian Katcher does it again! Deacon Locke is a tall, tall, tall student who has no self-confidence when it comes to people. His senior prom is approaching and he does not have a date. When he discovers his grandmother Jean never went to her prom, due to her husband being in Vietnam, he asks her to attend with him. That is a turning point for his life. They take dancing lessons at the YMCA, where he meets his soon to be girlfriend, Soraya Shadee. Deacon and Jean turn out to be the sensation of the prom as students capture his dancing with Jean on video, which becomes a viral Youtube sensation. At first I did not think taking Jean to prom would work, knowing that nobody over 20 is allowed at prom (at least at the high school where I teach), yet Jean is allowed entrance as she knows one of the chaperones. His thoughtfulness when concerning his grandmother takes a sad turn when it is discovered she has dementia. The viral video lands him a spot on a reality TV show, Celebrity Dance Off, forcing him to question whether or not he wants to stay home and take care of Jean, or go to California to be on the show and help make money for college and taking care of Jean.
Deacon's life is changed as Jean is moved into a care facility, their house is sold to a golf course, and he loses the only girlfriend he had. It was a change from many happy endings as he does not end up with Soraya, but steps into adulthood through all he has learned in his adventures. I giggled when I noticed Brian had included his name as one of the admirers of Deacon's dance moves.
A subplot to the story is Soraya having to deal with idiotic Muslim haters, which only makes her a stronger character as even though Deacon wants to come to her rescue, she reminds him that he has always taken care of others and not really himself, which is another turning point in his growing up.
Deacon Locke Went to Prom is more than just a promposal and dance story. It is about an abandoned young man (his father left him with Jean) who learns to grow up the hard way. It ended on a happy note and a promise of Deacon and Soraya meeting up in the future.
Deacon's life is changed as Jean is moved into a care facility, their house is sold to a golf course, and he loses the only girlfriend he had. It was a change from many happy endings as he does not end up with Soraya, but steps into adulthood through all he has learned in his adventures. I giggled when I noticed Brian had included his name as one of the admirers of Deacon's dance moves.
A subplot to the story is Soraya having to deal with idiotic Muslim haters, which only makes her a stronger character as even though Deacon wants to come to her rescue, she reminds him that he has always taken care of others and not really himself, which is another turning point in his growing up.
Deacon Locke Went to Prom is more than just a promposal and dance story. It is about an abandoned young man (his father left him with Jean) who learns to grow up the hard way. It ended on a happy note and a promise of Deacon and Soraya meeting up in the future.
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