Book Review: Crash and Burn

From Goodreads:

On April 21, 2008, Steven “Crash” Crashinsky saved more than a thousand people when he stopped his classmate David Burnett from taking their high school hostage armed with assault weapons and high-powered explosives. You likely already know what came after for Crash: the nationwide notoriety, the college recruitment, and, of course, the book deal. What you might not know is what came before: a story of two teens whose lives have been inextricably linked since grade school, who were destined, some say, to meet that day in the teachers’ lounge of Meadows High. And what you definitely don’t know are the words that Burn whispered to Crash right as the siege was ending, a secret that Crash has never revealed. 

Until now. 

Michael Hassan’s shattering novel is a tale of first love and first hate, the story of two high school seniors and the morning that changed their lives forever. It’s a portrait of the modern American teenage male, in all his brash, disillusioned, oversexed, schizophrenic, drunk, nihilistic, hopeful, ADHD-diagnosed glory. And it’s a powerful meditation on how normal it is to be screwed up, and how screwed up it is to be normal.

This is a hard review for me to write. On the one hand, it’s an emotionally powerful book about two broken boys. On the other, it has one of the least likable main characters I’ve ever read in YA fiction.

Let’s start there. Steven “Crash” Crashinsky has been hailed as a hero for stopping David “Burn” Burnett from killing his classmates. You learn pretty quickly that while Crash is a hero, he’s also an asshole. And, to be honest, this fact makes him so real I’m almost certain Crash could be a teen guy living somewhere in America. For that reason, I’m positive teen boys will love this book.*

But realistic doesn’t mean likable, and I had an incredibly hard time with Crash, who divides his time between smoking pot and screwing girls. I’m no stranger to the man-whores in YA fiction, but for some reason Crash’s treatment of girls was more grating. I’m pretty sure that if I ever came across Crash in real life I’d knee him in the balls before breaking his nose.

That said, the narrative alternates between Crash’s present-day antics and his past—and that’s where I wanted to stay. Learning how Crash and Burn met, how their relationship grew and evolved, was so compelling that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Those chapters in the past—when we learned about Crash’s home life and Burn’s instability—helped me sympathize with Crash in a way I couldn’t the minute the narrative switched back to the present day. To be 100 percent honest, the chapters set in the past were what kept me from setting the book aside when I couldn’t take present-day Crash anymore.

I should also mention that Crash has serious ADHD, which affects the way the book is written (it’s a bit rambling at times, which felt really authentic). But more than that, it’s a raw look at what some kids with ADHD go through in school and at home. Hassan did a phenomenal job showing Crash’s struggles in school, as well as his parents’ and his teachers’ struggles in dealing with his learning disability.

It wasn’t always easy to watch the horrible way some of the adults in Crash’s life reacted to his disability, but I felt like it was necessary, at least for me, because I had no idea ADHD could be so emotionally distressing.

There were times my heart broke for Crash, whose dad couldn’t connect with the way his mind works and resorted to calling him stupid, who struggled with his medications. It’s a really heartbreaking look at life with ADHD, though it didn’t soften me enough toward Crash that I could get past his general douchebaggery.

And I think that’s where readers will be divided. Some won’t be able to get past the unlikable Crash. Others will find him refreshingly realistic and his story often heartbreaking and intensely moving. I won’t say any more because there is a mystery here: Specifically, what did Crash say to stop Burn from killing his classmates? And, in general, what happened to Burn to get him to that place?

*Though, here’s your warning that the book’s packed with curse words, drugs, and sex.

The YA Book Club's August Read

At the request of two YA Book Club members,* I have adopted Supreme Overlord status this month in order to reveal the book we’ll be reading. I know August is a busy month, what with back to school crazies and last-minute summer vacations, but we’re going full steam ahead with this beach read.

Are you ready for the big reveal that is not such a surprise because of the extremely large photo above? Here it is: We’re going to be reading Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. Here’s the Goodreads summary:

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains. 

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve. 

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

I know, I know: It’s already the 13th. Feel free to scold me. Because it took me 13 long days to get this post up, we’ll be chatting about the book on September 3, right after Labor Day. God help you if you wear white to the party.

If you’re unfamiliar with Morgan Matson, I suggest you buy Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour, an awesome road trip novel that I just love.

Okay, clubbers. Start your reading!

* Who shall remain faceless and nameless and in protective custody lest you riot against the use of my Supreme Overload powers in picking a book you don’t like.

Bookanista Review: A Tale of Two Centuries

Rachel Harris’s My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century was an adorable YA contemporary that followed twenty-first century Cat as she traveled to sixteenth-century Italy, found a best friend in her ancestor Alessandra, and fell in love. In the sequel, A Tale of Two Centuries, Harris twists the story: Alessandra travels to modern L.A. Cue the hijinks.

(Imma gonna go ahead and stop you right here if you don’t want to read any spoilers for My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century.)

This is such a fun book. It’s the sort of story you want to read if you’re upset or moody or and need a pick-me-up. Like Ben and Jerry’s. Did I just call A Tale of Two Centuries literary ice cream? I believe I did.

Alessandra’s misunderstandings over modern technology and language were such fun, and the growing relationship between Alessandra and her descendant Cat was sweet. The bond between the two girls was one of my favorite parts. Cat’s still the same strong girl she was in My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, but during the course of this sequel we get to watch Alessandra grow up and come into her own.

And then there’s Austin, the misunderstood bad boy who becomes her de facto guide to all that is modern. (Including an adorable amusement park experience.) Their relationship was slow-building and sweet, and by the end I was really rooting for them to stay together despite the five-century difference. Oh, that? NBD.

On that note: I really like how Harris handled the ending. We know from My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century that Cat was returned to the 21st century eventually, and it’s understood from the start that Alessandra’s trip will one day be cut short, too. But what about her new sister-but-really-descendant and super hot boyfriend?

Like I’m going to answer that.

Here’s what the other Bookanistas are reviewing today:

Lenore Appelhans enjoys In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Jessica Love sees stars for Golden by Jessi Kirby

Katy Upperman gushes about OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

What's Up Wednesday No. 3: The Self-Destruction Edition

For the past eleventy billion weeks I’ve been telling myself that I’d do another What’s Up Wednesday post, but then Tuesday would come around and make me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

Here’s a transcript of the actual event, kindly recorded by my house elf:

Tracey: Time to participate in What’s Up Wednesday, which I publicly told my blog readers I’d be doing every week. La la la… 

Tuesday: You could do that, yes you could. But I could also provide you with unparalleled inspiration. 

Tracey: Oh. 

Tuesday: Yes, oh. Wouldn’t you like to be touched by the muse for hours tonight? 

Tracey: Okay, yes please, sign me up and do you require my first-born child?

So that happened. And here’s what else:

What I’m Reading: In the spirit of my current WIP, a sci-fi mystery, I jumped at the chance to read another YA mystery. Prep School Confidential is so very different than what I’m working on, but I was anxious to see how Kara Taylor wove her mystery together. Also, I sounded really fun. And, in case you’re wondering, it is really fun. The story is fast paced, the mystery engaging, and the romance really cute. I’ll definitely pick up the sequel, which I hope will land the main character with the right boy instead of the one she ended up with. And that’s all I’ll say about that.

What I’m Writing: For a while there, I was sweating out a couple hundred words here and there. And it felt as if each and every one of those words squeezed from my pores in the most disgusting and painful way possible. It was as if I couldn’t get into the story because what was on the page wasn’t the same story as what was in my mind. The words weren’t lovely enough and the mystery wasn’t mysterious enough and the characters weren’t solid characters and I was a hack and the book was terrible.

I think you can grasp where my mind was. I had just hit the 25K mark and was sucker punched with doubt and insecurity. I take no credit for digging myself out of that slump. If it weren’t for nighty #ReadySetWrite writing sessions I may still be there. (Which is why you should join in. Peer pressure = awesome.*)

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Because my parents are moving, I’ve been going through a ton of my old schoolwork, tossing ridiculous things and reading stories I wrote in third grade that make me laugh. Once I’ve been through them all, I think I’ll have to post one here because they are hilariously bad.

Oh look, it’s me in third grade, when I killed myself in a story. (Bulletproof Tracey showed early proficiency with surprise endings. Spoiler: Tracey learns she’s not so bulletproof when a robber shoots her. The end.)

What’s Inspiring Me: This post by Chuck Palahniuk about thought verbs gave me a lot to, uh, think about. (Sorry, had to do it.)

And a certain quote helped push me out of my funk:

“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel.” —Steve Furtick

Well said, Steve. Well said.

What have you been reading, writing, and so forth?

 ________

*In select rare occasions such as this.

British Invasion

BY BRICE HARDELIN (SOURCE)

The other day I was researching a character for one of my WIPs—a right tosser if I’m being completely honest—and came across a few lists of Britishisms,* which are both illuminating and hilarious.

But they’re also helpful if you have, say, a chap from the UK in your story and want him to sound like a proper Brit. You know, one whose vocabulary includes more than “bloody” and “arse.”

I’ve been wanging on long enough. For more great Britishisms (plus a bit of their etymology), have a look at Not One-Off Britishisms. I’m keen on this list from XO Jane as well.

Cheers.**

*Please forgive my piss-poor attempt at adding Britishisms to my post.

**If you happen to be British, what are some other common phrases or slang? Leave ’em in the comments.