Customer Reviews

... And Sometimes Why

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This is a believable, funny, all-too-true story of Jack and Chris, a boy-girl pair of best friends. But are they just best friends? Jack begins to wonder that summber between eighth grade and high school, when he begins to notice Chris in a whole new light. Chris is suddenly not just muddy, messy, tomboy Chris-- she's beautiful and popular with boys, and Jack is jealous, even as he's drenched with attention from Popular Girl Emily. When it's time for the Country Club Cotillion and Jack shares a dance with Chris, will she be able to accept that her best friend now sees her as a GIRL? Maybe. Well, she can until Jack kisses her... then she shows that she may be a girl, but she sure ain't a feminine flower!

This is a somewhat bland tale of friendship between two eighth graders that I doubt I would have finished had I not been listening to it on audio. It wasn't bad, just one those "meh" reads. Chris and Jack have been inseparable ever since their first meeting in the first grade. Jack is from "the right side of the tracks" but never fit in with the snotty country club set, while Chris is a girl who lives with her dad in a cozy apartment above a hair salon. This apparently means she's "from the wrong side of the tracks" as she states just like an old fogie at some point in the book. Maybe it's just me or the kids I know, but when I spout out some old fart saying like that, I'm called out on it and they always look at me like I'm some oddity so hearing these kids talk like older folks pulled me out of the book more than a time or two.

Chris and Jack are growing up and Jack is starting to have issues with Chris's legs and the fact that so many guys are now noticing them. He fears losing her friendship and is having a difficult time seeing her with other guys and reacts with emotion, causing a rift between them. Making matters worse, Jack's parents have just separated and he fears his dad is having an affair. The story follows a few months in Jack's mildly tumultuous life as he sorts through all of these changes. If you toss away the old speak, it's all realistic but not earth shattering stuff to get all excited about. My own childhood at this age was much more traumatic so I'm probably not being fair to this novel. If you're really bored and looking for a mild tale about friendship you may love it.

And Sometimes Why is an amazing book, perfect for everybody, but especially teens. This book expresses the feeling of a normal teen in everyday life. It is touching and realistic, without losing the comedy. And Sometimes Why is an all-around wonderful book!