"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews

Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
Published: March 1, 2012
Genre: YA Fiction

Well, I think it's safe to say that I'm a little late to the game when it comes to reviewing this book. It's been floating out there on my radar since last year, but I finally got my hands on a copy a few months ago and then finally found some time to read it while I was holed up with the flu bug 2 weeks ago. Besides having oodles of free time for once in my life, what finally gave me the push to read this book was stumbling upon the trailer for the movie version while scrolling through YouTube on one of my (frequent) binges. The movie made its debut at the 31st Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2015, where it also took home two awards. I have yet to see the movie, but I would like to give it a shot having finished the novel.

Here's a quick synopsis: Greg Gaines has a unique approach to surviving high school. He prides himself on the fact that he's mastered high school espionage by successfully inserting himself into every group and clique on campus. Greg only has one rule: make sure no one from any other group knows what he's doing. Therefore, Greg is completely invisible, which is just how he wants it. Well, except for Earl. Earl is Greg's "coworker" and only real friend. Together they make films. Bad ones. And neither of the boys show them to anyone.This arrangement works pretty well until Greg's mom tells him that his old classmate from Hebrew school, Rachel Kushner, has been diagnosed with leukemia. And as Greg puts it, "My life had reached its highest point. I had no way of knowing that as soon as Mom walked in, the prime of my life was over. It had lasted eight hours." Greg's mom forces him to spend time with Rachel, and the unlikely trio eventually bond over Greg and Earl's films. But when Rachel stops treatment for her leukemia, Greg and Earl must take on the near impossible task of creating a film for her, which thrusts Greg into the spotlight that he'd work so hard to avoid.

This is not your stereotypical young adult "cancer novel." There's no great life lesson learned, no grand statement about the meaning of life. and none of the characters fall in love right at the last minute. Actually, it took a long time for me to figure out my feelings about this book. I felt almost no emotional reaction when I finished it, which is not something I expected in a book about a girl who dies - This fact is not a spoiler, simply because Greg tells you it's going to happen on page 2. Honestly, I got more emotional watching the movie trailer (probably the reason why I still want to see it). I also couldn't really find the book's message in between the potty language and the raunchy jokes. On top of that, Greg's constant interjections during his narration about how much the book sucks, got really irritating. But I think I finally got the point. Point number 1 is that death sucks. Unfortunately, that's also a part of life. The thing that endeared Greg to me in the book was his response to Rachel's death. He doesn't know how to deal with it, especially when the dead person was his friend. I'm 22, and I still don't cope with death well. I think teens who read the book will be able to relate to what Greg is feeling at that particular moment. Point number 2. Greg works so hard to avoid connecting with anyone. He's so afraid of rejection that he avoids any unnecessary interaction with anyone other then Earl. But what teenager hasn't felt that way? I think we all go through that phase where we just want to please our peers and fit in. However, once Rachel passes away, Greg regrets not getting to know her sooner. Readers should take this away with them when they read the book: take time to get to know people better. Create those bonds, even if you're afraid that one day they'll break because you never know how much time you'll get with those special people who you care about and who care about you. That's just life! 

I'm going to give the book 3/5 coffee beans for a colorful cast of seemingly relatable characters and worthwhile message, but I'm taking points away for the vulgarity (I think there's a swear word on every page) and the sometimes distracting narration. Parents might want to be cautious before letting your kids read this one.

Kaylee says:

"A Cup of Dust" by Susie Finkbeiner

Title: A Cup of Dust
Author: Susie Finkbeiner
Published: October 27, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now know that I absolutely adore Historical Fiction! So I was excited to have the opportunity to review A Cup of Dust by Susie Finkbeiner. I was unfamiliar with both the title and the author, but the summary on the back cover piqued my curiosity right away.

Here's a quick breakdown. It's 1934 in Red River, Oklahoma, and 10-year-old Pearl Spence and her family can barely brush themselves off before another "duster" comes around and buries them. Pearl's father, Tom Spence, is the beloved sheriff of Red River, who is known for bringing down the notorious criminal Jimmy DuPre. Her mother, Mary, spends her time taking care of the sick and preparing food for the less fortunate. She is assisted by Pearl's grandmother, who is affectionately known as "Meemaw." Rounding out the family is Pearl's older sister Violet Jean "Beanie" Spence. Beanie's brain doesn't work the way that other people's do, and as a result, she doesn't always understand what is happening around her. As just about the only ray of light left in a county blackened by dust clouds, the Spence family does their best to care for their neighbors and provide a little hope to a town that could desperately use some. 

Life carries on as usual until a mysterious visitor named Eddie gets off the train and immediately knows everything about Pearl. As he forces his way into her life, playing the hero to win the trust of those around him, Pearl is the only person who seems to see the cold hatred behind his cornflower blue eyes. And the secret he claims to know about Pearl's family is enough to send her spinning like the very storm that threatens her hometown.

I certainly don't claim to be a expert on all things Dust Bowl, so what I love about this novel is that it has the endorsement of actual survivors who sign off on its historical accuracy. One such man, Virgil Dwain McNeil, has this to say: "The author does a great job of giving the reader a feel for those dark days in our nation's history." I couldn't agree more. Through Pearl's eyes, I really felt like I was experiencing what went on during that troubling time in our nation's history, and it was a tragic yet beautiful journey to take.

The characters in this novel were so believable. In the moments where the family is together, it was easy to picture their dynamic: the warmth during the good times and the tension during the bad. One character that I really want to focus on here is Eddie. He's the strange hobo who jumps off the train and steamrolls his way into Pearl's life, almost crushing it completely. It's been a long time since I've read a novel in which the villain actually made me feel fear. Eddie did that for me. He creeps in and out of Pearl's day-to-day existence in a crazy-stalkerish way, showing up at all the worst times. Maybe I can blame the feeling on my unhealthy obsession with Law and Order: SVU, but either way, Eddie made my skin crawl, and it was wonderful.

Going back to the Spence family for just a minute, I couldn't help but draw up some conclusions between them and Job from the Bible. Job was a man who had everything, and even when it was all taken away from him, he still trusted in the Lord. The same can be said about the Spence family. They're living in the most desolate county of Oklahoma in the midst of the Dust Bowl, yet they never completely lose the hope that God will protect and provide for them. If you ask me, that's an attitude that we can all work a little harder to adopt.

Kaylee says: