Born Too Short: The Confessions of an Eighth-Grade Basket Case [Mass Market Paperback]

Dan Elish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

Matt Greene is 5'1", a nerd, invisible to girls, and has a best friend who's the biggest stud at Hannaford School in New York City. Babes practically trip over Matt to get to Keith, a guy so studly his smile is featured in a toothpaste ad. Sure, sometimes Matt gets a little jealous. And once, at the peak of Keith's studliness, Matt wishes his best friend's life would fall apart. A little extreme? Sure. But not as extreme as the changes that are about to take place....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Teenage angst may be no laughing matter, but readers will find it hard not to giggle over the misadventures of Elish's (The Worldwide Dessert Contest) 5'1Ù" eighth-grade narrator, Matt Greene, who is constantly outshined by his best friend, Keith Livingston. Deep down, Matt admires his buddy who has "pathologically straight" teeth, has made out with "more girls than [Matt has] toes" and writes a rock musical acclaimed by his classmates but that doesn't always stop Matt's "Jealousy Quotient" from ratcheting up. One night, Matt vents his frustration in the form of a series of rather nasty wishes, and suddenly the tide starts to turn. Keith experiences a string of disasters while Matt repeatedly comes out on top until Matt is "blindsided" by a "mega guilt wave." While the question of whether or not Matt is truly responsible for Keith's bad luck remains satisfyingly ambiguous, Elish sends the clear message that not even a "stud/athlete/Adonis" is immune from growing pains. However familiar the premise, the delivery is witty and potent, as fast-paced as the New York City setting. Readers will appreciate the humorous approach to sex, too (after Keith describes his date with a 10th-grader, Matt confesses, "It rattled through my brain over and over and over again like a mantra from a place where sexually immature eighth graders go to die: `Keith got to third with Wendie Culhane!...' "). Good quick fun. Ages 12-up.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grades 7-9--A hilariously honest, first-person account of Matt Greene, 13, as he comes to terms with his jealousy toward his best friend. Keith has it all: good looks; athletic prowess; and, most important, girls, girls, girls. Poor Matt is plagued by his 5'1 Ù" frame, cracking voice, and his lack of sexual experience. Still, he prides himself on being an accomplished classical guitarist. When Keith, who only knows how to play four chords, announces that he's going to write a rock musical, his friend hopes that it will flop. Disaster strikes on opening night when the show is a success, Matt learns he didn't make the Aspen Music Festival, and, worst of all, his new girl falls for Keith. At the cast party, the disappointed teen drowns his sorrow with beer (his first) and bonds with a casual friend from school. On their way home, Matt's anger and jealousy explode in a tirade of wishes against his best bud. Adding a touch of magical realism, a homeless man appears out of the blue and warns, "Better be careful. Wishes that strong can come true." Sure enough, Keith blows the school basketball championship and finds out his girlfriend is bisexual. Things are looking up for Matt, though. He gets his first real girlfriend and a shot at a music scholarship in Paris. Feeling guilty and a bit freaked out by this twist of fate, he imagines tracking down the homeless man to reverse the spell, but finally realizes that the only way to set things straight is to talk to Keith. Written in an engaging, humorous voice, Born Too Short entertains while offering adolescents insight into friendship, dating, and life.

Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068986213X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689862137
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,225,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars born to short by dan elish, September 15, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Born Too Short: The Confessions of an Eighth-Grade Basket Case (Mass Market Paperback)

Born to Short

I read a book called born to short. The confessions of and eighth grade basket case. It was written by Dan Elish who also wrote the world wide dessert contests which he made into a musical. The book is mainly about a kid named Matt Greene who is a shot nerd and his best friends with Keith Livingston a stud/athlete/Adonis. .matt becomes really jealous because he is a non stud / non athlete/non Adonis. After the end of Keith's play Matt could not take any more. It is one of those great be careful what you wish for stories .when he wish bad luck on his friend

What I liked most about the book is how much it sounded how a real eight grader might feel. I am in the eight grade and I do feel some times like one kid gets everything like in the story y how matt Greene fells with his friend Keith Livingston. Matt is probably my favorite character, because he is really dictated to what he does. I wish I was as dictated to my baseball has he is with his guitar and he is the underdog in every thing he does

I really recommended this book to any one who wants to get in to the head of and eighth grader. If is an easy read but it is still really good. This is and good moral booster with real problems and a really friendship. I loved it

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book, November 3, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Born Too Short: The Confessions of an Eighth-Grade Basket Case (Mass Market Paperback)

Born Too Short: The Confessions of an Eight-Grade Basket Case by Dan Elish is a great book. Not only is it funny, but it shows meaning to how you get used to high school/junior high and it tells a story of who you are becoming as an indivivual. Well anyways, I am a kid and I think that this book got *****(5) stars! And check out her other books too. If you are into comdy/family(yourself)/problems and learning who you are, then defenitly read this book. It is fiction too, which I think is great.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun New Read, October 9, 2003

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Born Too Short: The Confessions of an Eighth-Grade Basket Case (Mass Market Paperback)

"Born Too Short" is a novel that could be compared to a modern-day "Catcher in the Rye." Matt Greene, the main character, is completely invisible to girls, too short (he's only 5'1), and a total nerd. At least that's how he feels, having Keith, the biggest stud at New York City's Hannaford School, who is a God with all of the girls, and just happens to have his perfect smile pasted all over New York in a stupid toothpaste advertisement. Becoming jealous of his best friends good luck, Matt wishes that Keith's entire life would fall apart. He never knew that his wish would actually come true.

This is a perfect book for male or female fans. Matt and Keith are funny characters, whom you can relate with completely. Anyone looking for an insteresting young adult book should purchase this.

Erika Sorocco