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nancyadelman's review against another edition
5.0
A fun and cute story about three, 14 year old boys, Billy, Alf, and Clark, who discover that Vanna White is on the most recent issue of Playboy magazine and set out to find a way to acquire a copy. The three of them come up with a number of ways to get the magazine, and eventually come up with a get rich quick scheme while Billy becomes preoccupied with a girl and a video game. This book is set in 1987 and the book is rich with 1980's details, particularly the Commodore-64 that Billy uses. There were a few unexpected twists and I was able to read this book in two days. I really liked how the author put the story together in such a way that the reader can't tell what's coming. The video game at the heart of the story was actually created for this book and is a playable game on the author's website; a detail I love. I think there was a bit of colorful language. This is just an all around good story appropriate for teens or adults.
elianaini's review against another edition
2.0
El libro arranca divino: aventuras de 3 amigos, jueguitos, nostalgia ochentosa y primeros acercamientos entre chicos y chicas. Pero todo eso que construye en la primera mitad lo rompe en la segunda parte del libro. Parece escrito por dos personas distintas. Se va la nostalgia ochentosa y pasa a ser una version barreta de John Green, poco interesante y compleja al pedo. Me costó muchÃsimo terminarlo y tiene muchos golpes bajos.
esteemedgaijin's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bdbarnalidas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
solidoak's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kayanne03's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kerrymc's review against another edition
3.0
Fun read...love the 80s
This was a quick and pleasant read. Lots of nostalgia with elements of John Hughes, Stephen King and other favorites from my childhood. Somewhat predictable but not entirely. There was one point where a character just did a 180 in a,Michael urges time that I found unbelievable. But otherwise I felt the characters rang true to their age and era.
This was a quick and pleasant read. Lots of nostalgia with elements of John Hughes, Stephen King and other favorites from my childhood. Somewhat predictable but not entirely. There was one point where a character just did a 180 in a,Michael urges time that I found unbelievable. But otherwise I felt the characters rang true to their age and era.
jarrettwdavis's review against another edition
4.0
The book starts out with a teenage boy stereotype and then evolves rapidly from there. What felt like a forced plot device became something a lot deeper. This book was a quick, fun read that I would definitely recommend for a number of reason.
The book centers around Billy, a teenager who loves computers during a time when being involved in any way with technology was not a cool thing to do. He also loved girls, and so did his friends. The book seemed to hinge on this one stereotype, setting up a type of heist in order to procure a famous Playboy featuring none other than Vanna White. What follows goes deeper than that plot device dripping with teenage boy stereotypes.
While I didn't really grow up in the 80s (I was born the year the book is set), I felt a lot of nostalgia reading this book. It doesn't feel forced, but makes sense and is necessary. The very fact that the boys need to develop this elaborate heist-type plan to get a magazine from a store is due to the time in which this is placed. Nowadays, you can find anything on the Internet.
The real meat of the story is focused on Billy's relationship with Mary. The heist takes a backseat to the game they are creating together. Billy, originally painted as a horny teenager with arguably terrible friends, becomes a character that you really get behind. He develops a genuine relationship with Mary. It's one that is pretty believable.
The story somewhat jumps the shark near the end, but really adds some conflict. The resolution is not your typical happily ever after, which is refreshing. There is a happy ending, but it's... surprising, at the risk of a bit of spoilers.
I really enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to what Jason Rekulak comes up with next!
The book centers around Billy, a teenager who loves computers during a time when being involved in any way with technology was not a cool thing to do. He also loved girls, and so did his friends. The book seemed to hinge on this one stereotype, setting up a type of heist in order to procure a famous Playboy featuring none other than Vanna White. What follows goes deeper than that plot device dripping with teenage boy stereotypes.
While I didn't really grow up in the 80s (I was born the year the book is set), I felt a lot of nostalgia reading this book. It doesn't feel forced, but makes sense and is necessary. The very fact that the boys need to develop this elaborate heist-type plan to get a magazine from a store is due to the time in which this is placed. Nowadays, you can find anything on the Internet.
The real meat of the story is focused on Billy's relationship with Mary. The heist takes a backseat to the game they are creating together. Billy, originally painted as a horny teenager with arguably terrible friends, becomes a character that you really get behind. He develops a genuine relationship with Mary. It's one that is pretty believable.
The story somewhat jumps the shark near the end, but really adds some conflict. The resolution is not your typical happily ever after, which is refreshing. There is a happy ending, but it's... surprising, at the risk of a bit of spoilers.
I really enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to what Jason Rekulak comes up with next!