Winger by Andrew Smith

Genre: Young adult fiction

Page Count: 439

What was it about?

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids in the Pacific Northwest. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking. (WARNING: Explicit language)

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My opinion: One of my favourite book of all time (although the sequel is a bit disappointing. I'll write about it later). It's funny, easy to understand and the sarcastic jokes is everything! The book is funny and it also have some illustrations which were drawn by Ryan Dean (the main character) either on his book or in his imagination. The illustrations and the drawings by Ryan Dean were there to help you to have a clearer imagination what is happening in his mind (plus it was funny!). Perfect for "too much words I can't focus" type of people. This book have a bit of love story but mostly it focused on friendship.

Although it is a great book, I'm struggle to keep up with this-type-of-sentence kind of thing. If you read the book, you will understand. But it wasn't for a very long time until I found out that typing-word-sarcastically-like-this things actually entertaining.

As far as emotionally, it doesn't give you that much emotional depth. However, you will enjoy how fun the book is and the ending is just unexpected! It took a different turn and you will just left speechless of the ending. If you appreciate an unexpected ending and this book is one of it.

“And I'm pretty sure that everyone in the Pacific Northwest heard Ryan Dean West shout, "YOUSTEPPEDONMYFUCKINGNUTSYOUSONOFABITCH!”

Yes. That was my favourite quote from the book because it shows how funny Ryan Dean is! I would recommend it for a first time reader because it wasn't too heavy, the language used is easy to understand and it really funny!

Who will enjoy this book?

For those who like a bit of illustrations in their books will enjoy this book. This book is also for people who enjoy sarcastic jokes.

Who will not enjoy this book?

If you hate sarcasm this book is not for you (YES. There are people who hate sarcasm). If you bought this book in hope to read a love story, this book is not it, it only contains some of it. This book is also not for homophobic person.

Rating: I gave it 4.5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐