The Field Guide To The North American Teenager

YA fiction 

     "Twenty-three minutes after landing at the Austin airport, Norris Kaplan could confirm that life in Austin, Texas really did come with 'a unique flavor,' as had been aggressively promised by all his mother's tourism pamphlets.  Unfortunately for Norris, and just as he'd predicted, none of this 'flavor, tang, zest, piquancy, whatever you might call it, was hospitable to your average Canadian.'"

     Only Norris, protagonist of Ben Philippe's The Field Guide To The North American Teenager, is not your average Canadian.  He's the Black French Canadian son of an immigrant from Haiti.  He's moved under duress.  His mother had been offered a tenure track--the Holy Grail of academia--college teaching position.  His father, producing yet another baby by wife #2, doesn't have room for his first son.  

     Norris's arrival in Austin isn't propitious.  Nobody recognizes his hockey team shirt.  And the heat is killer.

    Norris's mom has said that if he really can't handle Texas they'll go back to Canada where she'll never be more than 'an adjunct--if that.' She wants him to make a serious effort.  Only Norris, who has seen plenty of old movies and TV sitcoms, knows what American high schools 🏫 are like.  Nothing there for him.  He has no desire to make friends, join clubs, or do anything more strenuous than survive 730 days in exile.

     Only life doesn't work out that way.  Even doing his best to stay uninvolved with his peers Norris finds himself:

*alienating the head cheerleader,

*crushing on a free spirit photographer who may not be over her last relationship,

*bullied by an athlete he thinks of as Hairy Armpits,

and *followed around by a boy who, with no ice skating experience whatsoever, wants to start an ice hockey team--a team that would include Hairy Armpits.

     Philippe uses an unusual format.  Each chapter starts with a field guide like description of a person, place, or event.  For example, guidance counselors are:

"APPEARANCE: Tricolored plumage; 'stylish' glasses.

FEEDING HABITS: Half-eaten containers of Light & Fit yogurt known to linger on desk past eleven a.m., copious amounts of caffeine.

MATING HABITS: Thankfully never observed."

     So does Norris ever hit the point where, if given the choice to go or stay, he'd actually stay in Austin?

     There's only one way to find out.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a really fun 😄 ☺️ 😊 invitation for July 4th.  But I said sorry, the in-laws will probably be doing their usual barbeque.  (Jules)

Maybe I'll get cat treats.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to you, our readers, with best wishes for a fun 😀 😊 😄 ☺️ 🙂 😁 July 4.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

    

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone