I received this book at no cost from the publisher
XL by Scott Brown ISBN: 1524766240
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on March 26, 2019
Genres: Coming of Age, Friendship, Realistic Fiction
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Fiercely funny, honest, and poignant, this story of a growth spurt gone wrong is perfect for readers who love Becky Albertalli and Jesse Andrews.
Will Daughtry is a late bloomer--at least that's what everyone tells the high school sophomore, who is just shy of five feet. By his sixteenth birthday, Will is resigned, bitterly, to being tiny forever. His only comfort is his best friend and stepbrother, Drew (6'3"), and their pal Monica (5'10"), the girl Will's secretly pined for since fifth grade. With them, he feels whole; everyone else sees him as a half man. But when Will stumbles onto Drew and Monica kissing, he realizes he's on his own.
That's when he starts to grow. And grow fast. Astonishingly fast.
For the first time in his life, Will is happy with his height, and with himself. He can barely keep up with the new possibilities that are opening up to him: sports come naturally, girls are throwing themselves his way. But as his growth spurt shows no signs of slowing, it starts to affect his relationships with Drew and Monica, the people who've meant the most to him. Now Will has to figure out what to do with himself--and all of this new "himself" he never expected to have.
My Thoughts
Will Daughtry is just under 5 feet tall and has only two wishes in life: to be taller and to have a girlfriend. He even knows the perfect girl. Monica and since he and his stepbrother have made a perfect trifecta with her throughout the years of growing up. Just when Will thinks he has the courage to ask Monica out, Drew beats him to it. Well, at least Will gets one of his wishes when he starts to grow and eat and grow. There is much drama over this growth and Will’s snarky ego grows as well.
This was such a fun read, especially since something similar happened to my nephew except he grew at a somewhat quick pace but wanted to be shorter. A lot of those same themes that take place in this book happened in real life. Since Will ends up somewhere near seven feet, there, of course, are basketball jokes. I could see these relationships taking place in real life and the ordeal Will has to deal with does come across realistically. There is limited sexual situations, the normal teen language so nothing too disturbing for those in grades seven and above.
About the Author
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My gently read copy of XL
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I am short
I’m short.
I’m short.