Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 295 pages
Source: Purchased from Half Price Books
Goodreads | Amazon
Greg Gaines is the last
master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any
social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they
spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of
Coppola and Herzog cult classics.
Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.
Rachel
has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent
awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed.
When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to
make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and
becomes a turning point in each of their lives.
And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.
My Review
Wow. Now this is one hell of a book!
If you want to read a realistic book about cancer that doesn't romanticize the disease, look no further than Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
Unlike other young adult novels that make it seem like living with
cancer is a just a normal thing (which it's totally not), this book shows that cancer really does suck but
can truly bring people together and realize what dying really means.
I'm pretty sure that in my Goodreads review, I swore a lot because of how much I adored this book. The swearing won't happen here, but I do want you to know just how much I loved this wonderful debut novel. Everything about Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is perfect. The characters
are so real that you feel like they could walk down your street at any
moment.
The book is told from Greg's point of view, and at the
beginning of the book, he tells you that he is writing a book that will
suck. That definitely caught my attention because it works as Greg writing his own novel. Many times throughout the book, he makes fun of the readers for
still reading it. It is completely adorable. He doesn't expect anyone to
keep reading, but you become so completely involved in the story that
you do keep reading. Eventually, in the epilogue, Greg reveals who he is
writing the book for, and a lot of it makes so much sense. It's a really
funny moment. Also, you need to know that Greg prides himself for
getting along with every clique in the school. That becomes important
later in the book.
Earl is another central character in the book. Now Earl is Greg's friend. But from what Greg
tells you, you realize that the two aren't really friends; they just
hang out a lot out of habit. Earl is pretty much the coolest YA
character you'll ever meet because he is one hundred percent honest and
real. I love how he talks because it is in the right vernacular and
everything. He reminds me of a lot of the people who work at my uncle's
pizza shop. He is a piece of work, and I love Mr. Andrews for bringing Earl into the literary world.
And then you have "the
dying girl." Her name is Rachel, and she goes to school with Greg and
Earl, but neither of them hang out with her. Greg went to Hebrew classes
with her when they were younger, and he kind of dated her, but in that way that middle schoolers "go out" and then usually break up a week later. Of course they broke up. Then they
kind of stopped talking to her. As a favor to his mom, Greg spends time
with her to make her feel better while she is sick.
I don't know if I've said it enough, but I really,
really just freaking love this book. I'm really hoping that with the upcoming film adaptation, it becomes one of the most popular YA books of all time because it really deserves it. All three main characters are
positively perfect because they aren't perfect and you can tell that Andrews never set out to make them perfect. The book is hilariously written, and it pokes fun at all sorts
of other YA books about cancer and cliche YA books, which I think is really funny because it
is completely fresh.
Now... to the cool connection that I have to the book. It's set in my hometown. so obviously, I knew I had to read it. I love all things about my city, so seeing it in literature yet again was just amazing. It is great to see another young adult author write about many
of the great things to see and do in Pittsburgh.
Title: Side Effects May Vary