The Great American Whatever
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Wry, heartfelt tale of teen trying to move on after tragedy.
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What's the Story?
Quinn Roberts is 16 going on 17, and he's trying not to think about anything at all. Since the death of his older sister -- who also happened to be his best friend and filmmaking partner -- he's stopped going to school, writing his screenplays, showering, or even leaving the home he shares with his mother, who's similarly frozen with grief. When his best friend, Geoff, drags him out to a college party, he meets Amir, an older (and very cute) college student whose flirtatious interest coaxes Quinn out of hiding. Quinn knows how he'd like this story to play out, but he finds that reality tends to stray from his script.
Is It Any Good?
Author Tim Federle has a gift for blending witty humor with pathos to create charming antiheroes, and he brings it all to this touching story about coming out to live life fully and unapologetically. Tragedy pulses through THE GREAT AMERICAN WHATEVER, but it's kept in check by Quinn's irrepressible spirit. He's an observant and self-deprecating narrator, able to laugh at his own insecurities. As his idealized heroes are revealed as flawed -- and more human -- Quinn's faith in himself grows ever stronger.
Some readers may find the sexual content awkward or too edgy, but for most teens Quinn's anxiety over sex and relationships will strike a very familiar chord. It's a classic coming-of-age tale with a very modern sensibility: Quinn is nervous about coming out, but the big reveal proves to be no big deal. His relationship with Amir isn't a love affair for the ages, but it's no less consequential for a boy figuring out how to be his own man.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Quinn's concern over his lack of sexual experience. Do you think teens are honest about their sexual activities? Why do you think some teens try to compare their own experiences with those of others? What's the effect of sexual content in children's media?
What do you think about Quinn's behavior when he emerges from his house (he wants to try drinking and having sex)? Do you think it's healthy or worrisome?
Quinn views coming out as a hassle, and his own experience proves somewhat anticlimactic. Do you think the experience of coming out is getting easier for young people?
Book Details
- Author: Tim Federle
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: March 29, 2016
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 30, 2020
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