Who the Man (Hardcover)

~ Chris Lynch (Author) "RIGHT AND WRONG IS A SIMPLE DEAL, AND everybody knows it..." (more)
Key Phrases: melon head, Bobby Norton, Earl Pryor, Pryor Church (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Right and wrong is a simple deal, and everybody knows it. As long as you have all the facts, right and wrong make themselves very clear to you," begins 13-year-old Earl Pryor, who narrates this tale of one life-changing week. Through Earl's first-person narration, Lynch (Freewill) lays bare the pivotal period in adolescence when the world changes from the black-and-white simplicity of childhood innocence to the gray area of adulthood. Earl may remind adult readers of Steinbeck's Lenny in Of Mice and Men: his tenderness comes through in his fierce protection of his best friend, Bobby, and 16-year-old neighbor, Louisa, as well as in his deep loyalty to his parents, but all too often he uses his size 14 feet and giant limbs to prove his point. After a scuffle at school leads to a week's suspension, the structures that Earl relies upon so heavily quickly begin to unravel; he becomes disillusioned with the Catholic church, Louisa and, in the denouement, even his parents. Some readers may have trouble trusting Earl's narration at first, but if they stay with it, they gradually observe his inner monologue marrying up with the events around him. Lynch creates a hypnotic voice ("Somebody sees me and sees a man. Somebody sees me and sees a boy. Somebody sees me not at all") in this striking chronicle of a painful transition from boyhood to manhood. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-At 13, Earl is bigger and physically more mature than the other kids in his school, and he doesn't hesitate to use violence to handle conflicts. His tough-talking father actually eggs him on and encourages him to take care of himself. The novel follows a week in the boy's life after he has been suspended from school for fighting. In a rhythmic first-person narration, Lynch gets inside the head of the type of student who exists in many schools-the misunderstood kid whose confusion and anger gets him pegged as a brute and a bully, yet hidden beneath are layers of sensitivity, vulnerability, and loneliness. Readers are privy to Earl's confused thoughts about his parents, religion, his one friend, and an older girl on whom he has a crush. During that same week, he shows the first inklings of a new understanding of the world, learning that most situations are not black and white, and right and wrong are not defined in terms of absolutes. Things come to a head when Earl spots his father with another woman. In a conclusion that seems somewhat hurried and jumps ahead in time, he is last seen adjusting to his parents' divorce and is beginning to understand himself better. While there isn't much story here, the novel successfully captures the nuances of Earl's character, and is superbly written.
Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1ST edition (December 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0066239389
• ISBN-13: 978-0066239385
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,085,940 in Books (See Bestsellers 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 Who the Man, March 16, 2005

By	Morgan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who the Man (Paperback)

Who the Man by Chris Lynch is a must read for teenagers and all people who work with teenagers. This book tells the story of Earl, a thirteen year old boy, who deals with problems at home and school. He is bigger than everyone else and everyone thinks he is a bully, but he is quite the opposite. He learns the hard way what true friendship is all about and how to lobe both parents even though they divorce. This book is sad at times, but it is hard for the reader to put it down because of its strong conflicts and hopeful out come.

Earl is misunderstood by many people, even by his friends. There is conflict between Earl and his friends. His friends make him do things he really does not want to do. They use him to get stuff that they want like beer, because he is big. In the halls at school, they act like Earl is important to them, but behind his back they treat him badly.

Things are not any better at home. Earl sees his drunken father with another woman. He punches him in the bar. This is only one of many incidents that confuse Earl throughout the story but in the end he is not angry anymore.

To deal with his problems, Earl goes to his quit places. He likes Pryor Church and his room. He talks to himself and God. This helps him calm down and work through his problems.

Any one who reads this book will think it is dismal most of the time, but they will be glad that Earl amends things with his friends and his parents. Even when his parents divorce, he can see all of his friends and both of his parents. The conflicts are true to life, and this makes the book interesting and exciting.

5.0 out of 5 stars Who the Man, March 16, 2005

By	Jeffrey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who the Man (Paperback)

Earl is the giant of his school, but that is nothing to be proud of. He might be as large as an oak and stronger than a bear, but he is still thirteen on the inside. People see only the outside and just want to fight or take advantage of him. Being the strongest person around will not save Earl as his world collapses around him.
The central conflict was depressing because many people, even his friends, misunderstood him throughout the book. The main problem had a true-to-life scenario that made it interesting and stimulating. I did not like when his friends mistreated him or misunderstood him.
Chris Lynch did a phenomenal job writing Who the Man. Every sentence paints a vivid image. This book deserves more praise than received. I felt bad for him when his small sanctuary was destroyed; it was a place where he could escape harsh reality, if only for a moment. The thing that appeals to me the most in this tale is that Lynch lets me know exactly what Earl is thinking. You will find yourself looking through different eyes and having bigger shoes as you are shoved into Earl's life.

4.0 out of 5 stars Who the Man, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Who the Man (Paperback)

Who the man? was the question that many people asked in Earls school.Earl is a thirteen year old teen that is really tall and people cant understand him.Because people always want to fight him but he dosent like to fight.So all he does is defend him self.

I because everybody thinks hes a bully,but hes really not.He is just calm and normal like everybody else.Even though everybody judge him by how he looks.Also because they explained what what was going very good.Many times it was in an action scene and they explained perfectly with perfect words that I can auctually visualize what was going on.

I recommend this book to people who get judged by the way they look.It talks about things that happen in real life.This book would be good for two people to read together,so they can share opinions.