How Ya Like Me Now (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "EDDIE SHIFTED FROM ONE FOOT TO the other on his front porch, trying to keep warm, while his aunt Lily clutched her coffee cup..." (more)
Key Phrases: Aunt Dinah, Uncle Brian, Jamison Creative (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Halpin folds plenty of funny, fresh-mouthed peer banter into this tale of a teen who comes to the end of a years-long nightmare when his widowed mom finally checks into rehab. Leaving his familiar but pain-filled life in the suburbs to stay with his aunt and uncle in big bad Boston, Eddie finds himself in a small, challenging alternative school with his well-socialized but underachieving cousin, Alex, and surrounded by nonwhite classmates, some of the female ones pretty hot. Feeling free for the first time to stretch his mental and emotional wings, yet withdrawn and prone to tears, Eddie has good days and bad as he goes back and forth between wanting his mother back and hoping to never see her again, all while growing into his new situation and finding friendship and support in surprising places. An engaging YA slice-of-life story, capped by an upbeat resolution and endowed with both laughter and healing. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"An interesting exploration of serious issues, presented in a lighthearted tone."  --Kirkus Reviews

 

"An engaging YA slice-of-life story, capped by an upbeat resolution and endowed with both laughter and healing."  --Booklist

 

"Halpin creates a strong, solid offering whose achievements are lasting and miraculous."--VOYA

 

"Everything comes together with a solid click here."--The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books

 

"An enjoyable story with a satisfying conclusion." —IRA

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (April 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374334951
• ISBN-13: 978-0374334956
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #420,962 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, June 2, 2007

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

HOW YA LIKE ME NOW by Brendan Halpin is the story of opposites. One boy - his father dead and his mother entering rehab to kick her OxyContin habit. Another boy - two caring parents and anything he needs and wants.

Eddie and Alex are cousins. They haven't seen each other much over the years, but that's all about to change.

Eddie's lost his dad unexpectedly, and he has found himself taking over for his mother more and more lately. She found that using his dad's leftover prescriptions helped dull her pain. Eddie hasn't had time to socialize. His focus is on keeping their home together and not falling behind in school. Unfortunately, her life spiraling out of control has left Eddie with the options of foster care or moving to live with relatives he barely knows.

Alex hears his cousin will soon be sharing his room. Used to being the only child in a pretty comfortable home environment makes Alex doubtful that the experience will be a pleasant one. Sharing is not something he is very accustomed to, including girls. Alex is gifted in the area of women. They gravitate toward him, so he's always with someone and is filled with quirky advice about how to make the right move to attract the right girl.

His relocation takes Eddie not only into a new home, but also into a new school setting. The school is a special private school with a focus on professionalism in every aspect of the students' lives. Although it is not what he is used to, Eddie finds that with the help and friendship of Alex, he becomes quite comfortable. In fact so comfortable, that when there is news his mother is recovering and wants to get in touch with him, Eddie battles mixed feelings about returning to his former life.

Told from alternating points of view, HOW YA LIKE ME NOW relates the inner feelings of both boys. The reader learns the inner workings of these two opposite characters. There are both serious moments and lighthearted comic relief. Most readers will choose a favorite character and cheer him on until the end.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging YA fiction, June 10, 2007

By	S. Holland "busy mom" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I field tested this book with my 8th grade students, and they give it a nod, which is generous praise indeed.

As an educator, I'm gratified to see depiction of boys, urban students, and students of color that are honest and complementary, rather than simplistic steriotypes.

The story themes are standards in YA - growing up, conflicted feelings of wanting to be parented and wanting independence, wanting to belong to a group, and feeling like an outsider. Probably lots of other stuff too, but I'm a math teacher, not an ELA teacher so I'm less than expert at literary critique.

I can say, however, that my students enjoyed this book, so yours probably will too.