LitPick Review
Rory is a 16 year old guy whose life shakes in his junior year of high school. He has played basketball and in the band for years, but he decides that chemistry is his true calling. When a scholarship opportunity arises, Rory quits everything but chemistry--and girls. Rory struggles to determine which is better: relationships or academics. When Rory meets Victoria, a girl interested in playing the oboe, he reassesses what is important to him. Of course, teachers, coaches, and parents try to influence him to live out his life THEIR way.
Opinion:
When I began to read this book, I was very interested in the subject matter. Like Rory, I love chemistry and want to study it in college. Rory's personality and relationships with others are strikingly similar to those that I have. This connection made the book realistic and contemporary. The writing was well done, and it is accurate to real life. Some of the main themes are trying to succeed, falling in love, and power struggle between teenagers and adults. I recommend this book to any teenager who desires advice on the coming-of-age. It may also be a good read for parents who do not understand the behavior of their teenage child.