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A review by tracybabler
Stu Truly by Dan Richards
3.0
I received a free review copy of Stu Truly from the publisher. All opinions are my own. Stu Truly is a light-hearted MG about a boy whose family owns a butcher shop developing his first crush on the new girl at school, who is a vegetarian. Before he can stop himself, Stu announces that he is a vegetarian, too. This makes for a hilarious setup for their for their budding friendship, culminating in the town parade in which Stu's dad makes him dress up like a rack of ribs.
The author's dry humor is unique in this age range, giving young readers a lot of credit for their ability to detect sarcasm. Stu's humor shines in his observations of the changing landscape of the world around him as he and his male friends start to become interested in girls. At its best, it is self-deprecating and incredulous, adding to the likability of Stu and his crew. Many young readers will relate to Stu's confusions and uncertainties. And his equally silly and kind friends add to the fun.
I was disappointed with two aspects of the book. First, the gender-based humor often felt tired. A lot of out-dated narratives are reinforced that don't feel relevant or helpful. This detracted from the otherwise smart humor the author is clearly capable of. On top of that, all of the characters are white, which contributed to the lack of universal relevance for this generation of readers.
The author's dry humor is unique in this age range, giving young readers a lot of credit for their ability to detect sarcasm. Stu's humor shines in his observations of the changing landscape of the world around him as he and his male friends start to become interested in girls. At its best, it is self-deprecating and incredulous, adding to the likability of Stu and his crew. Many young readers will relate to Stu's confusions and uncertainties. And his equally silly and kind friends add to the fun.
I was disappointed with two aspects of the book. First, the gender-based humor often felt tired. A lot of out-dated narratives are reinforced that don't feel relevant or helpful. This detracted from the otherwise smart humor the author is clearly capable of. On top of that, all of the characters are white, which contributed to the lack of universal relevance for this generation of readers.