Vigilante Poets Of Selwyn Academy (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
Seriously loved this. It was refreshing and very different than a lot of what's out in the YA market today, but still quintessentially YA.It had really good humor thanks to a great narrator (Ethan is great, likable, and real) and great characters (Ethan's friends and their bond are well-drawn). In general, it was just quirky in a way I loved (Baconnaise and Ethan's humor.)It is intelligently written while still managing to be a light read and it was real. The Ezra Pound references were woven in so well and I feel like Ethan learned a lot and grew without coming off as preachy.Such a good read and I look forward to more by Hattemer. I'm afraid my review will fall sort of what it deserves. I am not Luke. Maybe the highest praise I can offer is this: after reading it I purchased 12 copies as the holiday gift for my teen book club. I've never done that before--usually it's bookmarks and handmade somethings. I do know it's one of those rare treasures that will appeal to every reader in the group. It's smart, it's wise, it's caring, it's original, and the characters resonate. I loved Ethan's self depreciating, sarcastic pov and how genuinely kind, if clueless he is. The idea of a reality TV show in an Arts' high school is at once funny and poignant. There's a palpable loss of self of every school student, teacher, and parent in some way as they willingly sacrifice real potential for an entertaining image of it. Ezra Pound was the perfect counterpoint. I also am a fan of tricolons, interrobangs, and long poems in binary code.
What do You think about Vigilante Poets Of Selwyn Academy (2014)?
I liked it, but I wish there was more humor. And more character development.
—Guanacx
I'm for any YA novel that uses Pound's Cantos as a major part of the book.
—Rafia
