Winger

Winger by Andrew Smith

Winger, by Andrew Smith.  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers,  New York, 2013. ISBN 978-1442444928

Summary

Ryan Dean West isn’t like most fourteen-year-olds.  He’s a junior in high school, goes to a boarding school for the rich and privileged, and lives in a dorm. But while he isn’t a typical fourteen year old, everyone still thinks of him as a kid: his parents, the older teens he lives with, and Annie, his best friend who he’s in love with.   And everyone thinks of him as a troublemaker too, after he stole a teacher’s cell phone and is forced to live in the same boarding hall as other troublemakers.

Ryan Dean has an entire year in front of him: a chance to play on the rugby team, a chance to keep his grades up, and a chance to prove he’s not the little kid everyone thinks he is. With the help of his new friends and Annie, Ryan Dean is determined to make this year his best. But what will he do when tragedy strikes his circle of friends?

Critical Evaluation

There’s no doubt that the narrator of Winger is a teenage boy.  He frequently talks about sex, bodily functions, and sports. While these themes could turn off other readers, the book redeems itself with its humor and writing style. The chapters are short enough to hold any reader’s attention, and the plot moves along quickly despite the 400-some pages.  Ryan Dean himself is a likeable hero and it’s easy to identify with him throughout the book: whether that is for his unrequited feelings for Annie or his many embarrassing moments.

While the hero himself is only fourteen years old, Winger is meant for older teens, with its language, sexual themes, and violence.  There is also a plot twist toward the end of the book that can be seen as depressing and bleak for younger readers.  Winger does balance these challenging elements with its humor and cartoons sprinkled throughout the book.  Altogether, Winger is a great book for guy readers and reluctant readers.  

Reader’s Annotation

Think you were weird at fourteen? Try being a high school junior in a boarding school for rich, troubled kids.

About the Author

“Andrew Smith is the award-winning author of several Young Adult novels, including the critically acclaimed Winger (Starred reviews inPublishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness—an Amazon “Best of the Year,” and an ALA Top 10 for 2014) and The Marbury Lens(A YALSA BFYA, and Starred reviews and Best of the Year in bothPublishers Weekly and Booklist). He is a native-born Californian who spent most of his formative years traveling the world. His university studies focused on Political Science, Journalism, and Literature. He has published numerous short stories and articles. Grasshopper Jungle, a starred novel by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, andShelf Awareness, is his seventh novel. He lives in Southern California.”

 (Author Andrew Smith.  Retrieved October 11^th, 2014 from http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Home.html)

Genres

Humor

Contemporary

Coming of Age

Curriculum Ties   N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1: Discuss the setting of Pine Mountain boarding school.

2: Why was Ryan Dean and his friends such a target for the bullies?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 15+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

Language

Sexual situations

Violence

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why included?

I included this book because it was written in the point of view from a teenage boy. I also liked the humor and the short chapters in the book.