Skip to main content

#77: Winger by Andrew Smith

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications with the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn infographics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.


  • Kindle: 13812 KB
  • Print Length: 449 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (May 14, 2013)
  • ASIN: B005C78E86

AMAZON US   |   AMAZON CA   |   AMAZON UK


Andrew Smith knew ever since his days as editor of his high school newspaper that he wanted to be a writer. After graduating college, he experimented with journalistic careers - writing for newspapers and radio stations - but found it wasn't the kind of writing he'd dreamed about doing.

Born with an impulse to travel, Smith, the son of an immigrant, bounced around the world and from job to job, working at various times in a metals mill, as a longshoreman unloading bananas from Central America and imported autos from Japan, in bars and liquor stores, in security, and as a musician, before settling down permanently in Southern California. Here, he got his first "real job," as a teacher in an alternative educational program for At-Risk teens, married, and moved to a rural mountain location. Throughout his life, Smith continued to write, but never considered seeking publication until challenged into it by lifelong friend, author Kelly Milner Halls.

In 2008, Smith published his first novel, Ghost Medicine, an ALA/YALSA "Best Books for Young Adults." This was followed in 2009 with In the Path of Falling Objects, also a BBYA recipient. The Marbury Lens is Smith's third novel, and will be followed in 2011 by Stick.

Smith prefers the seclusion of his rural setting, where he lives with his wife, 16-year-old son, 13-year-old daughter, two horses, three dogs, three cats, and one irritable lizard named Leo.


REVIEW:
Winger is awesome!
I'm not talking about the book, although it's awesome too, I'm referring to the character. Winger, a.k.a. Ryan Dean is an incredible young man. Not only smart, he is a great friend. Throughout this book, his unfailing loyalty for friendship is tested, time and time again. Since his best friend is so diverse, it never ends, but he isn't swayed in the least. He even gets the girl of his dreams. He is the star player on the Rugby team, and still maintains a level head. I like that a lot.
The end of the book surprised me though, and in hindsight, it really shouldn't have. All the signs were there, though I was oblivious to them until the end. Plus there was a throat-choking moment there too.
Sure made for an epic story.

5/5


**No compensation was received for posting. Compensation will be earned if purchases are made from the links within. This copy was read free at PulseIt. Opinions are owned by Freda's Voice.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Scooby Doo: The Sword And The Scoob

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL NOW AND DVD MARCH 23! RATED F 72 minutes AMAZON An evil sorceress transports the gang back to the age chivalrous knights, spell-casting wizards, and fire-breathing dragons. While there, Shaggy unwittingly pulls out Excalibur from a nearby stone to cut a block of cheese and now no one is sure who the rightful ruler is. The legendary wizard, Merlin, appears and explains that the throne of Camelot must be determined through TRIAL BY COMBAT. Our heroes pull out all the stops to try and win the tournament, break the witch's hold on King Arthur, and find a way back to the present in this legendary story of Scooby Doo in King Arthur's Court. REVIEW: It was weird starting off with a He-Man lookalike, Thunder the Barabarian), until I realized a character from the film was watching the cartoon in the airplane. Still, it was kind of cool to reminice about two cartoons from my childhood. So many great actors bring the film to life! What a fun story it was too! Although

#19: Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .  Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. KINDLE:  448 KB Print Length:  400 pages Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends (January 3, 2012) ASIN:  B005KJJ4F8 AMAZON US   |   AMAZON CA AUTHOR BIO: Marissa Meyer was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, home of Almond Roca and Stadium High School, which was made famous when Heath

The #Friday56 & #Instagram56

Welcome to week 588! RULES: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your  ereader . If you have to improvise, that is okay. *Find a snippet, short and sweet. *Post it, and  add the url to your post in the Linky below . If you don't link up, we may not know to visit. Also join in the fun on Instagram using the hashtags #Instagram56 #Friday56   Happy  weekend to you all!  Check out this read on  Amazon . Read  my review .   Read my 56: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Freda Mans (@fredasphotos) Book Beginnings leave your links in the comments if you didn't join in the Friday 56. Q:    How many books do you buy per month? A: I honestly don't have a number. I rarely buy books, and when I do, it's a book I can't live without.  **This is a weekly book meme post. Compensation may be earned from the link within.