Published March 1, 2012
About the Book:
Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.
Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.
Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.
And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.
My Thoughts:
I liked this book a lot. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads, but I hovered between giving it 4 or 5 stars. Andrews does a really good job of not making the book just a sob story all about Rachel, the girl with cancer. It's not one of those cancer/sickness type of books that emotionally devastates you. The book makes you laugh a great deal. It's also very honest and real. The characters grapple with real issues and the real feelings people might have when faced with the issues presented in the book. Not everyone responds to things in the expected way, and the book acknowledges that. The characters are awkward and weird and obnoxious and just real. It has a healthy dose of profane, obscene teenage boy humor, which I happen to find hilarious. If you are offended by stupid (in a fun way), obscene, profane humor, then it's probably not the book for you. Also, it's totally a character-driven book, as not a lot happens as far as the plot goes. Some like that and some don't. I'm good with it. Don't expect anything profound, to gain any life lessons, to be particularly inspired, or to cry, even though it is kinda a book about cancer. It's just not that kind of book about cancer. Well, maybe you will be inspired...inspired to laugh at what life throws you and not take it all so serious. Sometimes life sucks, and laughing in the face of it might just be what gets you through it.
Oh, and look at the cover art! Love it!
Also, a film adaption is set to start filming soon!
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