Winger

Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults

Smith, A. (2014). Winger. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Ryan Dean West is a brilliant fourteen-year-old junior in a private boarding school. He is so intelligent that he was even able to skip two grade levels. He is given a room in Opportunity hall, which is a dorm for “troublemakers” with a senior that he dislikes. He is deep in love with his best friend named Annie, however, she is two years older than him and thinks he is too young for her. During the story, she keeps on reminding him that she cant love him. Throughout the school year, Ryan Dean makes a lot of new friends, but unfortunately enemies too. He plays poker, has study sessions, visits Seattle, is constantly thinking about girls, and attends a Halloween party. Everything is finally going good for Ryan and then suddenly he realizes that his friend Joey who is gay hasn’t been around for a couple classes. Ryan Dean informs officers about the disappearance and the next morning, he is found tied to a tree and beaten to death by two other students. Ryan Dean loses his ability to talk and can only except whisper to Annie. His parents want to take him away from that school, but he convinces them to let him stay because he does not want to be far away from Annie.

I love how this novel incorporates lots of humor. Almost every page made me laugh. It is such a fun book to read and the pictures it displays are great. The twist to the story is given at the very end; however, I was expecting it a little earlier. There are many boys just like Ryan Dean that can identify themselves with him. He kind of starts off being a loser and then matures to a young man. This book will definitely encourage unmotivated readers to read.

Book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGeYuIW2N-g

About the author:
http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Home.html

Other books by the author: