Week 7 Reading - From Zero to Hero

Young Adult Novel:

Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini

When the term Squip (a fictional item in a young adult novel) becomes a word in the online Urban Dictionary, you know your teen novel is doing quite well.

Ned Vizzini's novel Be More Chill is a great young adult novel for both males and females to enjoy. Jeremy Heere is the main character in the novel and is, well...a major geek. Unfortunately, he also has no luck with the ladies, and he desperately wants to get...hm mm...."lucky." After purchasing and swallowing a pill sized computer to help him make cooler and wiser life choices, his life begins to change from major dork into a popular socialite.

As librarians, we must realize how many teens are going through awkward stages in this time of their lives. They may be having a difficult time realizing who they are and what is valuable to them. Reading this book offers teens an opportunity to relate to the characters and fantasize about being a different individual. But, the book also gives teens the warning that "the grass may not always be greener on the other side of the fence."

We may want to be someone else, but is that who we really are? I think this is just one question that teens may dabble into while reading this novel. I also really like how this story explores how far one person will go to impress another, as well as how far honesty is needed in human relationships. I would definitely recommend this book to be purchased for any school or public library teen annex collection. I think this novel may help teens become more self confident in themselves as they can come to realize that... $h!t happens!