Carter Finally Gets It

Having recently discovered the YA genre in the past year, I've found some really awesome authors! As soon as I finished Carter Finally Gets It, I knew I had to do a review. Will Carter, "Carter" to his friends and classmates, is starting high school. He's excited, anxious, worried, and determined to start high school off right. The only problem is everything he's doing, he's doing wrong! Girls: He stutters when he's talking to pretty girls. Except for Abby. A middle school friend whose lost her baby fat, she and Carter start spending time together. They kiss, hold hands, watch movies together. But even while following Carter's big sister's advice, he still screws up. He doesn't understand how sweet Abby is or how much he really likes her until he stupidly asks another girl to Homecoming. So now Abby and the rest of her drill team hate him. Sports: He has visions of winning football games, State swim meets, and getting on the high school baseball team. He manages to win a few football games as the kicker (after a rough start of kicking two footballs into a senior's kidneys) and does make it to the State swim meet (after a battle with a disposable razors, and the razors win) but disqualifies his team with an early start, and he's devastated when he gets cut from baseball tryouts. Family: He's not really close to his big sister Lynn, and even blames her for his stuttering problem. She's bossy and is constantly looking out for him in order to protect her repution. So how does Carter's first year in high school end? With a lot of ups and downs, run-ins with cops and attack dogs, a fight with the school bully, months of agonizing about his virgin state, Carter does indeed GET IT. He learns the hard way that he really does want to be with Abby, and with the help of a spring play, he finally gets another chance. He learns that in sports it's great to win, but not the end of the world if you lose. He still thinks his sister is a psycho, but he loves her and appreciates her looking out for him and in the end, she's HIS psycho. And high school is going to be confusing and difficult at times, but it's not about hiding or being invisible. Now it's about bringing it on. This was an awesome book. I could not stop laughing. Carter is endearing, lovable, and a reader just can't help but cheer for him when he's on an "up", and wince for him when he's on a "down". I'm hoping that this won't be the last time I read of Carter. Here's hoping that Brent Crawford comes back with another novel or three...

My daughter asked for this book, and the whole family has enjoyed it! Great story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gave this old lady a glimpse into the mind of a 14-year-old boy, which I must admit I found a bit scary. But for the most part, Carter is funny and sweet and loveable. I'm glad I won't ever have to be 14 again myself, but Carter reminded me about the good parts of being 14 and not just the bad parts. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud moments in this book, and I was rooting for Carter all the way. Looking forward to seeing what happens to him when he hits sophomore year.

I'm 38 years old and had the pleasure of reading this book. It was a wonderful reminder of how fun/crazy/strange High School can be. And Brent Crawford does the book proud with excellent writing that keeps the pages turning. Even if you don't get this for your kid, read it yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Buy this book! Your 14 (13-15 . . . 35) -year-old son/nephew/neighbor/grandson/cousin/student/godson/boywhomowsyourlawn/unknownboywhorideshisaxle-pegbikepastyourhouseeveryschoolday/grocerysacker/newspaperboy will love you for it. If a couple of days go by (while you read it for yourself) he'll never know. Just try not to spill any Mountain Dew (or beer) on it before you give it to him.