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High Before Homeroom
Losers, now you can get the bad-boy rep the girls find positively irresistible! Unleash your dark side with the Doug Schaffer plan for drug addiction and rehabilitation! (Kids, don't try this at home. )
At sixteen years old, Doug Schaffer knows two things for
1. He is doomed to live in the shadow of his older brother, Trevor, a former high school football star who is stationed in Iraq.
2. Free-spirited Laurilee, the hot ear-piercing girl at the mall, only dates bad boys.
Cue Doug's foolproof plan to tarnish his own unremarkable reputation. The first step is to develop a drug addiction. His mom's too preoccupied with organizing care packages for Mothers Support Our Troops Northwest Oklahoma City Chapter to stop him. Besides, he just needs to get hooked on meth long enough to come back from rehab a totally different person. Someone people notice.
With the help of Trevor’s strung-out former high-school buddy, drug addict Doug has the confidence that loser Doug never mustered. He stays out all night, scores girls, and stands up for himself. Then Trevor unexpectedly returns home with a dark secret of his own, and everything Doug thought was true is shattered. Soon the brothers find a common ground they never knew they shared as they discover the price of pleasing others is the freedom to be yourself.
At sixteen years old, Doug Schaffer knows two things for
1. He is doomed to live in the shadow of his older brother, Trevor, a former high school football star who is stationed in Iraq.
2. Free-spirited Laurilee, the hot ear-piercing girl at the mall, only dates bad boys.
Cue Doug's foolproof plan to tarnish his own unremarkable reputation. The first step is to develop a drug addiction. His mom's too preoccupied with organizing care packages for Mothers Support Our Troops Northwest Oklahoma City Chapter to stop him. Besides, he just needs to get hooked on meth long enough to come back from rehab a totally different person. Someone people notice.
With the help of Trevor’s strung-out former high-school buddy, drug addict Doug has the confidence that loser Doug never mustered. He stays out all night, scores girls, and stands up for himself. Then Trevor unexpectedly returns home with a dark secret of his own, and everything Doug thought was true is shattered. Soon the brothers find a common ground they never knew they shared as they discover the price of pleasing others is the freedom to be yourself.
299 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2010
9 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Maya Sloan
3 books29 followersMaya Sloan grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Boston University, as well as a MFA in Fiction Writing from the University of Arkansas. Her short story about Christian Rock Groupies will be featured in the 25th Anniversary Issue of Boulevard. Maya was one of five writers granted a Kostova Foundation fellowship to attend the Sozopol Fiction Seminars in Bulgaria this summer. Maya also received the Writers at Work Fiction Fellowship, Boston University's Inaugural Saul Bellow Literary Prize, a St. Bolotoph Foundation Emerging Artists Grant, and taught as a Boston University Scholar under the direction of Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky. While at University of Arkansas, Maya received a Walton Foundation Creative Writing Fellowship, a Lilly Peter Fiction Prize, a Bill Harrison Best Thesis Award, and two nominations for Best New American Voice. She has had stories in Passages North and Driftwood, and been granted residencies from the Vermont Studio Center and Byrdcliffe Artists Colony. Currently, Maya is an adjunct professor in literature and film at Berkeley College in Newark, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 3, 2010
This book was a hilariously fun and genuine read--while some readers have complained about language and sexual/drug references, I assert that, without them, how would Sloan effectively convey the teenage male perspective? Also, I invite those readers to READ THE BACK MATTER before opening the book. Summaries tell us a lot, people.
My qualms with the book: Having grown up and remained in Oklahoma City all of my life (except for the five years getting my undergraduate degree), the local name-dropping and geographical references were very entertaining, but many of the phrases that might have been intended to serve the purpose of local color were lacking in authenticity (ie: "getting on THE I-35 or THE I-40", and referring to Northwest Classen High School as "Classen High" instead of "Northwest").
One more thing: Did her editors PROOF this book at all?! If I were Maya Sloan, I'd be angry at all of the typographical errors I found in the paperback edition.
My qualms with the book: Having grown up and remained in Oklahoma City all of my life (except for the five years getting my undergraduate degree), the local name-dropping and geographical references were very entertaining, but many of the phrases that might have been intended to serve the purpose of local color were lacking in authenticity (ie: "getting on THE I-35 or THE I-40", and referring to Northwest Classen High School as "Classen High" instead of "Northwest").
One more thing: Did her editors PROOF this book at all?! If I were Maya Sloan, I'd be angry at all of the typographical errors I found in the paperback edition.
March 27, 2011
This is the story of the 16 year old, Doug, whose teenage hormones are running wild. He lusts after Laurilee, and feels that the only way he can get her is if there is something "different" about him. So he plots to become addicted to drugs to gain her attention.
The b-line for this story is the fact that Doug is living in the shadow of his legendary older brother, who is a hero to his family and community, which causes a lot of conflict for the character.
I thought the plot was interesting and definintely drew me in, but the execution of the story could somehow be improved.
Was there good character development? Check
Good setting/scene? Check (boring Oklahoma)
Engaging to read? Check
Humor? Check (sort of, not LOL)
Conflict? Check
So what's this book lacking? I found it to be a quick read, the story was interesting and there was plenty of movement to keep your attention. But I was a little annoyed by the dialogue. I think part of the problem is that I know the author is a female-probably gen-X who is writing from the perspective of the main character and narrator. I didn't find all the language buy-able at most times, just contrived.
The other thing I found annoying was the typos! I counted at least half a dozen and that just drives me nuts.
I think this is the author's debut novel, so I'll say in that case it was good, I'd be willing to read other stuff by her. But I didn't love it either. It actually felt like a watered down version of "Youth in Revolt," one of my faves, but this book definitely was a satisfying and entertaining read. One of the best qualities is how engaging it was, and I didn't want to put it down. An amazingly fast read!
The b-line for this story is the fact that Doug is living in the shadow of his legendary older brother, who is a hero to his family and community, which causes a lot of conflict for the character.
I thought the plot was interesting and definintely drew me in, but the execution of the story could somehow be improved.
Was there good character development? Check
Good setting/scene? Check (boring Oklahoma)
Engaging to read? Check
Humor? Check (sort of, not LOL)
Conflict? Check
So what's this book lacking? I found it to be a quick read, the story was interesting and there was plenty of movement to keep your attention. But I was a little annoyed by the dialogue. I think part of the problem is that I know the author is a female-probably gen-X who is writing from the perspective of the main character and narrator. I didn't find all the language buy-able at most times, just contrived.
The other thing I found annoying was the typos! I counted at least half a dozen and that just drives me nuts.
I think this is the author's debut novel, so I'll say in that case it was good, I'd be willing to read other stuff by her. But I didn't love it either. It actually felt like a watered down version of "Youth in Revolt," one of my faves, but this book definitely was a satisfying and entertaining read. One of the best qualities is how engaging it was, and I didn't want to put it down. An amazingly fast read!
August 1, 2010
Last night I would have rated this a 4, but as I thought more, I stepped back. There are flaws that leave me somewhat unsatisfied. Ultimately this book shows two brothers coming to terms with their lives and their relationship. And I really like that. Along the way, too many 2-dimensional characters, almost stereotypes, dampen my enthusiasm for the book. I've called this YA, but I'm going to have to be really careful about recommending it. Sloan has given Doug sexual fantasies in overdrive. Never having been a teenaged boy, I don't know how close she is to the truth. But she's made my job recommending it harder...
I love my 'brush with greatness' I know a woman whose daughter went to high school with Sloan. I love that the setting is Oklahoma...and that I knew the places she puts Doug. I love that she posed for the cover art which is awesome. I appreciate that she has used the Iraq war as a backdrop and shows us what we are doing to another generation of young soldiers.
But ultimately conflicts remain. I know this book will find its way into the hands of students who will need it. I just don't know who that is at the moment...
I love my 'brush with greatness' I know a woman whose daughter went to high school with Sloan. I love that the setting is Oklahoma...and that I knew the places she puts Doug. I love that she posed for the cover art which is awesome. I appreciate that she has used the Iraq war as a backdrop and shows us what we are doing to another generation of young soldiers.
But ultimately conflicts remain. I know this book will find its way into the hands of students who will need it. I just don't know who that is at the moment...
January 29, 2015
I tried to finish this book. I got to about page 180 and just couldn't do it anymore. When I needed to get to sleep, I would start reading and it sure enough put me to sleep.
June 22, 2019
Като изключим огромното количество долнопробен и вулгарен език, който определено ме накара да се чувствам откровено неудобно, книгата всъщност е доста добра. Историята почва доста типично и клиширано, но докато се усетиш фокусът се измества и ти се струва като най-естественото нещо на света. Аз лично много харесах края, макар да ми се стори леко претупан, но за 250 страници доста неща се случиха, така че се върза с цялостния тон.
Главният герой Дъг е пълен кретен и идиот с богато въображение, но наистина не може да не го харесаш. Поводи да не го харесвам имаше на всяка страница, но четейки, не можех да не се присещам за себе си като тинейджър и какво идиотче бях и аз самата, та само клатих глава в знак на разбиране и съпричастност. :)
Ако можете да преживеете покъртително селския вулгарен език и да четете отвъд него - то историята може много да предложи за израстването и семейните отношения.
Главният герой Дъг е пълен кретен и идиот с богато въображение, но наистина не може да не го харесаш. Поводи да не го харесвам имаше на всяка страница, но четейки, не можех да не се присещам за себе си като тинейджър и какво идиотче бях и аз самата, та само клатих глава в знак на разбиране и съпричастност. :)
Ако можете да преживеете покъртително селския вулгарен език и да четете отвъд него - то историята може много да предложи за израстването и семейните отношения.
April 3, 2015
Всеки е чел поне една young- adult книга. Въпреки, че във всяка книга има нещо различно, те са обединени и от нещо общо. Бях в такова настроение, че ми се четеше нещо земно. Някаква история за обикновени хора като мен, в която не се набляга на нещата които се случват с тях, а на техния душевен и вътрешен свят.
Затова и започнах отдавна набелязаната книга на Мая Слоун. Главен герой в нея е Дъг Шафър. По никакъв начин не желая да се подигравам със Селинджър, като кажа че той е " днешния" Холдън.
Шейсет и четири години по- късно Дъг също се чувства отхвърлен и самотен. Търси неузнаваем свят като постепенно осъзнава, че не света на мечтите му е различен, а човека който той е в него. Дъг има и брат, който е пример за подражание и гордост. Майка, която съвсем ясно показва кое от децата си обича повече и баща изоставил цялото семейство, когато той е бил съвсем малък. Има и най- добър приятел, кибер манияк с цял куп виртуални гаджета. Остана и момичето. Той е олицетворение на посредствеността, а тя е...
Животът на един тинейджър в 21 век тече в щат като Оклахома. Едно типично място, с хора вълнуващи се от футбол, с квартали на богати и бедни, изпълнено с лица и залепени етикети.
Какво може да се направи, когато животът е гаден и то доста. Да си пуснеш най- депресиращият албум издаван някога, да прочетеш за пореден път " По пътя" на Джак Керуак.
Може би има и още някои варианти. Дрога? Неслучайно това името на романът. Дрогата сбъдва мечти, помага ти да бъдеш това което искаш и това, което другите искат.
Това не е книга, която се чете бавно и трудно. Докато се усетиш си стигнал до средата, че и отгоре. Не ти се иска да свършва, защото мислите на героя са ни познати. Светът, в който трябва да живее също. Изключително много ми хареса искреността в книгата, не би могло да те обземе чувство, че никой не говори по този начин. Може само да си припомниш, че всеки говори или поне е говорел по такъв начин.
Затова и започнах отдавна набелязаната книга на Мая Слоун. Главен герой в нея е Дъг Шафър. По никакъв начин не желая да се подигравам със Селинджър, като кажа че той е " днешния" Холдън.
Шейсет и четири години по- късно Дъг също се чувства отхвърлен и самотен. Търси неузнаваем свят като постепенно осъзнава, че не света на мечтите му е различен, а човека който той е в него. Дъг има и брат, който е пример за подражание и гордост. Майка, която съвсем ясно показва кое от децата си обича повече и баща изоставил цялото семейство, когато той е бил съвсем малък. Има и най- добър приятел, кибер манияк с цял куп виртуални гаджета. Остана и момичето. Той е олицетворение на посредствеността, а тя е...
Животът на един тинейджър в 21 век тече в щат като Оклахома. Едно типично място, с хора вълнуващи се от футбол, с квартали на богати и бедни, изпълнено с лица и залепени етикети.
Какво може да се направи, когато животът е гаден и то доста. Да си пуснеш най- депресиращият албум издаван някога, да прочетеш за пореден път " По пътя" на Джак Керуак.
Може би има и още някои варианти. Дрога? Неслучайно това името на романът. Дрогата сбъдва мечти, помага ти да бъдеш това което искаш и това, което другите искат.
Това не е книга, която се чете бавно и трудно. Докато се усетиш си стигнал до средата, че и отгоре. Не ти се иска да свършва, защото мислите на героя са ни познати. Светът, в който трябва да живее също. Изключително много ми хареса искреността в книгата, не би могло да те обземе чувство, че никой не говори по този начин. Може само да си припомниш, че всеки говори или поне е говорел по такъв начин.
July 19, 2010
Compelling book that made me stay up WAY past my bedtime to finish. But part of that was the riveting attraction of watching a train wreck.
Doug Schaffer thinks he's invisible and living in the shadow of his football hero older brother Trevor. Doug hatches a plan to make his mark, get his dream girl and show everyone once and for all that he is special and unique. Problem is, that plan calls for him to become a meth addict.
Shocking? Yes. Are there pretty clear instructions to the various effective methods of doing meth? Yes. But I think this is an insightful look into the teenage male brain and covers lots of ground in terms of family relationships, bullying, perceptions vs reality, and ultimately, redemption. Wish the author was clearer about how that redemption exactly happened, though. The family implodes spectacularly, then it seems that a chapter is skipped as a year elapses and everyone is on an even keel again. I'd recommend it as a teen book group read to open some issues of drug use, bullying, problem solving and teen relationships. But there is def. VERY mature content, so I'd recommend accordingly.
Doug Schaffer thinks he's invisible and living in the shadow of his football hero older brother Trevor. Doug hatches a plan to make his mark, get his dream girl and show everyone once and for all that he is special and unique. Problem is, that plan calls for him to become a meth addict.
Shocking? Yes. Are there pretty clear instructions to the various effective methods of doing meth? Yes. But I think this is an insightful look into the teenage male brain and covers lots of ground in terms of family relationships, bullying, perceptions vs reality, and ultimately, redemption. Wish the author was clearer about how that redemption exactly happened, though. The family implodes spectacularly, then it seems that a chapter is skipped as a year elapses and everyone is on an even keel again. I'd recommend it as a teen book group read to open some issues of drug use, bullying, problem solving and teen relationships. But there is def. VERY mature content, so I'd recommend accordingly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2010
Reviewed by Angie Fisher for TeensReadToo.com
Doug Schaffer is a sixteen-year-old self-proclaimed loser, although no one notices him enough to care.
When he falls for a girl at the mall he works at, he realizes the only way she'll ever pay attention to him is if he becomes a "bad boy." His plan? Become a meth addict, complete with the drama of rehab and returning with a reputation. What wasn't in his plan was the return of his formerly perfect brother, who was injured in Iraq and formed his own addictions.
What follows is Doug's sad, often humorous journey, albeit researched, into a life of drugs that he never fully embraces, but sucks him in nonetheless.
HIGH BEFORE HOMEROOM is a coming-of-age novel that, like life, isn't always easy to read, but is a very real depiction of the lengths teens will go to be accepted, regardless of the casualties they leave in their wake.
Maya Sloan may well be the most realistic voice to hit the young adult genre since Chris Crutcher, and I, for one, will certainly be following her rise to fame.
Doug Schaffer is a sixteen-year-old self-proclaimed loser, although no one notices him enough to care.
When he falls for a girl at the mall he works at, he realizes the only way she'll ever pay attention to him is if he becomes a "bad boy." His plan? Become a meth addict, complete with the drama of rehab and returning with a reputation. What wasn't in his plan was the return of his formerly perfect brother, who was injured in Iraq and formed his own addictions.
What follows is Doug's sad, often humorous journey, albeit researched, into a life of drugs that he never fully embraces, but sucks him in nonetheless.
HIGH BEFORE HOMEROOM is a coming-of-age novel that, like life, isn't always easy to read, but is a very real depiction of the lengths teens will go to be accepted, regardless of the casualties they leave in their wake.
Maya Sloan may well be the most realistic voice to hit the young adult genre since Chris Crutcher, and I, for one, will certainly be following her rise to fame.
January 3, 2011
It is hard to read a book that contains composites of people you knew and places you grew up with an open mind. So when I started reading High Before Homeroom, it was with more than a little trepidation. Ms. Sloan and I were high school classmates and this novel borrows heavily on the cast of characters we knew back then.
Because of this, it took me a long time to "accept" the characters as individuals on their own and to stop attempting to map them over real people I once knew. Once I overcame this limitation of myself however, the book really opened up as a full and complete story.
The last several chapters are extremely well written and are a painful capture of the insecurity you must feel in youth if you are ever to feel confident as an adult.
Because of this, it took me a long time to "accept" the characters as individuals on their own and to stop attempting to map them over real people I once knew. Once I overcame this limitation of myself however, the book really opened up as a full and complete story.
The last several chapters are extremely well written and are a painful capture of the insecurity you must feel in youth if you are ever to feel confident as an adult.
November 17, 2013
Книгата заслужава 4 звездички, но смъквам една заради българското издание. Нещо просто не е наред с него. А книгата си има всичко - редактор, коректор, че и отговорен редактор. И все пак някъде по веригата нещо не е сработило както трябва. Защото е грапава. И това го виждам аз като читател, без да сравнявам с оригиналния текст и без да съм особено претенциозна. Тъпо. А иначе книгата е много хубава, но доста ме е яд.
Ревю тези дни в www.azcheta.com, ще добавя линка после.
Ревю тези дни в www.azcheta.com, ще добавя линка после.
July 9, 2010
Fast paced and easy to read. Far fetched in some ways but in general a very real and honest look into themes of identity, the freedom to construct your own identity and being noticed.
Voices of male characters are very convincing, even more impressive that they were created by a female author.
Not worthy of a second read but all at once a fun and serious read.
Voices of male characters are very convincing, even more impressive that they were created by a female author.
Not worthy of a second read but all at once a fun and serious read.
December 3, 2011
I kept thinking "Come ON, get on with the drugs!" and it wasn't until the final chapter I realized, it wasn't about the drugs. By that point I was enthralled with Doug, who reminded me of myself at that age, minus the penis & boy thoughts, of course. Struggling to find our place in a world carved out by others, who are struggling too, Doug & I both got on with it.
August 2, 2013
A darkly hilarious tale about losers and winners, a fun journey, a voice that still echoes in my heart. Pitch perfect American debut occupying a strange place between Breaking Bad and The Catcher in the Rye.
Side note: I loved the novel, but I couldn't care less about the title, which DOES NOT capture the spirit of the story.
Side note: I loved the novel, but I couldn't care less about the title, which DOES NOT capture the spirit of the story.
June 13, 2010
This book was interesting. It has language and lots of references to a certain boy's body part, but all in all a good read. This could cross over into the teen market, but I hesitate only because of the language used.
November 17, 2010
Sloan has done a great job of crafting a believable male character who not only has faults as any other teenager, but also has a heart. Insightful from page one, this is a novel I would recommend to any teenager contemplating the attractiveness of drugs.
March 17, 2010
This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed reading it and tore through it in 2 nights. The story is raw and real and leaves you wanting more.
Want to read
May 8, 2010The title would have put me off reading it, except for this great review-- http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.c...
November 4, 2010
this book was hilarious. the ending was not at all what i was imagining it would be. could not put it down.
March 9, 2011
I rather liked this book. Strong main character, and believable dialogue. Descriptive and a fun YA read.
November 18, 2010
Strange read...
December 4, 2010
Loved it!
December 7, 2010
Absolutely adored everything about this book. Such vibrant, vivid characters. Maya is a sharp wit, and this book was extremely difficult to put down. A must read from a criminally underrated author.
September 19, 2011
"Disappointed mother is the worst sound in the world." TRUE.
This book made me kinda depressed at times. You can't deny the raw emotion though.
This book made me kinda depressed at times. You can't deny the raw emotion though.
July 12, 2012
yea, I know this is a teen book but I liked the title.
July 31, 2016
not something i would read again
June 23, 2014
Thank you for books that make you feel things. It's a pretty fucked up book, but awesome all the same.
May 29, 2015
Hilariously and cleverly written. A page turner up until the end.
May 10, 2016
predictable and annoying at times - horrifying and bizarre at other times. wouldn't recommend for a younger person because of the themes however to immature for someone my age.
February 18, 2015
It was okay,
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews