Winger by Andrew Smith
4 out of 5 stars.

“Nothing ever goes back exactly the way it was, that things expand and contract- like breathing, but you could never fill your lungs up with the same air twice.”

Goodreads Description: Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids in the Pacific Northwest. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy. With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

I was finally able to get around to finishing Winger and OMG! First off, it took me a bit to finish it, because a lot of the time I just wasn’t in the mood for this kind of book. It wasn’t because I didn’t like it. I loved Winger so much. With my failed attempt at an Andrew Smith book (Grasshopper Jungle – it was a DNF for me), I still wanted to give Winger a chance. I was little bit nervous about that, but I am so glad I read it though.

I am not entirely sure how to go about writing a review or my thoughts on this book. So once again, this may be all over the place. Ryan Dean has made it to my favorite characters list. He’s 14 years old and in eleventh grade. He is such a funny kid and pretty perverted too, lol. I was laughing out loud so much. I love that his drawings and comics were included in the book. For a 14 year old, he was pretty tough. He refused to back down from anyone.

There were lots of times that I really felt bad for him. I know it couldn’t have been easy to be the only 14 year old in eleventh grade. He had a good group of friends for the most part though. The ending was a complete shocker and I honestly did not see it coming at all. I still think about it a lot today. Overall, I really enjoyed Winger a lot. I think this book is important for everyone to read, to be honest. I am not exactly thrilled about how this review came out, but I really have no idea how to put into words what I felt about this book. So much emotion and love for it though. I can’t wait to pick up the second book.

“The same words that make the horrible things come also tell the quieter things about love. I found out something about words. There are plenty of words I can put on paper, words I can see with my eyes and scribble with my hand, that I never had the guts to say with  my mouth.”

Have you read Winger? If so, what did you think? If not, do you think you will?

I am off to work! I hope you have a great day! 🙂