The Great American Whatever in Mock Printz 2026

Jun 09, 2016 Carol Royce Owen rated it it was amazing

When I ordered this book I was pretty sure of two things. One, I wouldn't be able to put it on my bookshelf for K-6 students at school, because unlike Five Six, Seven, Nate and Better Nate Than Ever, this one is definitely meant for young adults. I was ok with that, though, and I'll find someone who can include it in their collection because of number two. Number two is that it would likely have the fast paced, spirited, zippy train of thought filled writing that I loved from Tim Federle's earli When I ordered this book I was pretty sure of two things. One, I wouldn't be able to put it on my bookshelf for K-6 students at school, because unlike Five Six, Seven, Nate and Better Nate Than Ever, this one is definitely meant for young adults. I was ok with that, though, and I'll find someone who can include it in their collection because of number two. Number two is that it would likely have the fast paced, spirited, zippy train of thought filled writing that I loved from Tim Federle's earlier books. He did not fail me. After finishing his books I feel as though I've been chasing around one of those little guys on the Family Circle cartoon, who are given a task to do, possibly next door, but take the most circuitous route possible to get there.

The Great American Whatever is the story of Quinn Roberts, a sixteen year old who, along with his mom, has literally dropped out of life since six months ago when his older sister, Annabeth died in a car accident. Fortunately, he has a best friend, Geoff, who isn't going to let him be sucked into the vortex of self pity any longer, insisting that he return to life and reality. At first, it's just by taking him out to buy an air conditioner, but then having him accompany him to his sister's college party. And that's when things change for Quinn. He meets someone...someone who thinks he has a cute butt. And so the return to life begins.

The fun part of this book, is that Quinn has always wanted to be a screen writer, and has a talent for it. So, as we wait for the next big event to happen, we first see it as he envisions it will happen, written in the form of a screenplay, and you're never sure if that's the way it will go or not. Unfortunately, Quinn has given up on that dream because of the death of his sister, just as he's given up on things like cell phones and texting, but as I said, he's got this incredible best friend.

Now, one more thing I'm sure of. I am sure that there will be people that will be offended by this book. It's likely to be added to that list of "banned books" in some towns where "concerned" (read narrow-minded) people feel they must control everything that their children's eyes see. I wish that weren't the case, but it likely will be. Just this week another book that I've heard wonderful things about, was met with resistance, and the author visit cancelled because the town wasn't prepared to deal with the issues of drug abuse that were brought up in the book. Just ask Kate Messner about that one. I admit, I may have been that narrow-minded at one point in my life, but things change. I've read some incredible books in the last ten to twenty years that have left me wishing I had found that book years ago when I was a teen going through that same thing. And that's the way I feel about these books. Kids out there are going through things that they aren't always comfortable talking about, and sometimes reading about another kid (even if it is a fictitious character) in similar circumstances can help him/her go through and not give up. Tim Federle uses homosexual characters in his stories that are often experiencing their first loves, and just coming out, and in this story Quinn wonders if he will lose his virginity (you'll have to read to find out if it happens). So, like Judy Blume's book, Forever, which was one of the first I ever read where sex between two teens was ever written about expressly for young adults, and has been listed on many "banned book" lists, Tim's book will probably meet the same fate. But take heart, Tim. Judy Blume's book has gone on to be a classic, and maybe The Great American Whatever will, too. ...more

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Jul 27, 2018 Wendy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: in-my-classroom-library, we-need-diverse-books, recommended-for-middle-schoolers, young-adult, pg13, glbqt, family-issues, friendship, mental-illness-and-differences, death-and-dying

It didn't make me laugh and cry, but it did make me chuckle and tear up. Quinn is achingly believable, and I love his inner thought processes, and the very authentic way he has a huge heart and yet is absolutely self centered. I also really appreciated the body acceptance messages in a book by and about a thin gay white guy (instead of, say, a chubby middle aged woman, as is usually the case). I also liked the look at "situational depression," which is quite real and valid and needs treatment bu ...more

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Aug 01, 2016 Angela rated it really liked it

I laughed out loud several times in the first third of this book, lost interest in the second third, then felt the book rallied in its final third. The conclusion felt realistic, and managed to avoid cliche and sentimentalism.
The voice felt very similar to Simon vs. the Homosapien Agenda.
LOVED the Pittsburgh setting! That put it over the top from 3 to 4 stars for me.

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Dec 24, 2016 Barbara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alcohol, resilience, birthdays, families, identity, self-esteem, writing, body-image, friendship, community

My friends are going to call me heartless when they read this review. In my defense, I'm absolutely not heartless, but I've read books like this one before. While it's not that I wasn't moved by its plot and its protagonist's search for the meaning of life, even while trying to find himself and deal with his grief, I just got tired of him. Would-be film maker Quinn Roberts is sixteen, almost seventeen, and he's spent most of the last year hiding out in his bedroom and mourning the loss of his ol My friends are going to call me heartless when they read this review. In my defense, I'm absolutely not heartless, but I've read books like this one before. While it's not that I wasn't moved by its plot and its protagonist's search for the meaning of life, even while trying to find himself and deal with his grief, I just got tired of him. Would-be film maker Quinn Roberts is sixteen, almost seventeen, and he's spent most of the last year hiding out in his bedroom and mourning the loss of his older sister, Annabeth. Not only were they close, sharing many secrets and interests, but Annabeth was his partner for the movies he conceived and she shot. His mother is not in much better shape than Quinn is. When his best friend Geoff decides that it's time he left the premises, Quinn goes along reluctantly, and taking baby steps, he starts coming back into the world. He even goes to his first college party and meets a slightly older guy whose attentions make him think his heart might start beating again and that there could maybe, possibly be a happy ending to his story. The author describes one young man's grieving process quite accurately here, somehow moving from depression and loss to humor in the same breath. But the big build-up about some of Annabeth's secrets left me unsurprised and made Quinn seem a lot more naïve than I would have expected him to be. I also felt sad at the conclusion of his encounter with Amir as he remarks that "I am somehow not at all sad that I am never going to see him again" (p. 250). So...what? The two of them just used each other to get over their respective losses? Doesn't that count for anything? SIGH! Maybe I'm just too old or too worldly or not worldly enough to appreciate how all that went down. Clearly, Amir's not over his relationship with his college professor either, but how do we even know when we're ready for someone or something new? The dialogue, occasional movie references--I wish there had been more as would be fitting for a film buff--and the movie scripts were especially appealing to me. ...more

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Nov 21, 2015 Karyn Silverman added it

Shelves: arcs, ya, z2016-reads

Liked it, but it felt like a cross between Simon and we are the ants. Unfortunate - if I'd read it before those two, probably would have been more enthusiastic. But it's good, and I especially like the way there is the sexy times and romance but it's not the end all and doesn't pretend to be. ...more

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Nov 30, 2017 Brooke rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, queer, realistic-fiction

Really liked the relationship between the main (gay) character and his straight best friend. You don't see a lot of that territory explored in YA lit. Very sarcastic narrator (so different from Tim Federle's Nate character!), but still likeable. Not a coming out story or a romance, more about the loss of the main character's sister in a car accident. Overall, dynamic. And a great audiobook read by the author.

note: high school - swearing, queer sex ...more

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