The Haters by Jesse Andrews

by:  Jesse Andrews
published by:  Amulet Books
publish date:  April 5, 2016

For Wes and his best friend, Corey, jazz camp turns out to be lame. It’s pretty much all dudes talking in Jazz Voice. But then they jam with Ash, a charismatic girl with an unusual sound, and the three just click. It’s three and a half hours of pure musical magic, and Ash makes a decision: They need to hit the road. Because the road, not summer camp, is where bands get good. Before Wes and Corey know it, they’re in Ash’s SUV heading south, and The Haters Summer of Hate Tour has begun.

I loved Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.   I was excited to see that Jesse Andrews had a new book out.  For the most part I liked this book, but not as much as Me and Earl.  

Wes is at Jazz Camp with his best friend Corey.  They don't like being there until they meet Ash.  Ash convinces them that they need to leave camp, start a band, and go tour the country.  Fortunately for them Ash is the daughter of a billionaire so she has plenty of money to fund this excursion.  They travel down south begging for gigs.  

This story was a little unbelievable in that some kids could leave band camp and their parents wouldn't be totally freaking out.  But if you look past that, it was a really funny story.  I was cracking up at the way Wes and Corey would talk to each other.  I think it is probably a little too vulgar for younger YA readers, but there's probably nothing too shocking for the older readers.

Autumn's Top 10 of 2015

Kari and I have discussed repeatedly how this year pretty much sucked for books.  I couldn't come up with 10 books that deserved to be in a Top Ten.  Don't even get me started on the Goodreads winners this year...

So I came up with 7 really good books I read this year.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

by:  Jesse Andrews
published by:  Harry N. Abrams
publish date:   March 1, 2012

     It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.
        This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life.

So a like a week ago I said I read my favorite book of this year, well that was a lie.  I think THIS is my favorite book of this year.  I think this is one of the funniest books I have ever read in my life.  Greg had me dying laughing.

Greg just wants to go through high school with everyone sort of liking him.  He doesn't want anyone to like him too much because then some other group of people might not like him anymore.  It's a very delicate balance.  He really only has one friend, Earl, but even then Greg considers him more a co-worker in the film business.  Then, Greg's mom forces him to be friends with Rachel who is sick with leukemia.  This throws Greg's whole life into chaos.  The films that Greg and Earl have so carefully guarded are now being shared.  Greg is actually having to socialize with people at school.  For the first time ever, he might actually have a friend in Rachel.

The language in this book is bad.  It's probably like the worst ever, but it's hilarious.  The swearing is probably some of the most inventive I've ever heard and it had me rolling.  Would I recommend this book?  Wholeheartedly, but to grownup kids for sure!  This is one of those books I'd want my kids to read but they'd be like "Mom, every other word is a bad word!!"  I want to go watch the movie now to see how it rates in comparison to the book!