Synopses & Reviews
Ferris Bueller meets La Femme Nikita in this funny, action-packed young adult novel. Its prom night—and Perry just wants to stick to his own plan and finally play a muchanticipated
gig with his band in the Big Apple. But when his mother makes him take Gobija Zaksauskas—their quiet, geeky Lithuanian exchange student—to the prom, he never expects that his ordinary high school guy life will soon turn on its head. Perry finds that Gobi is on a mission, and Perry has no other choice but to go along for a reckless ride through Manhattans concrete grid with a trained assassin in Dads red Jag.
Infused with capers, car chases, heists, hits, henchmen, and even a bear fight, this story mixes romance, comedy, and tragedy in a true teen coming-of-age adventure—and its not over until its “au revoir.”
Review
"Going's latest (after The Garden of Eve) is full of comic moments featuring "Aunt" Pete's glam-rock band buddies and Liam's relentless blunders, as well as his uncommon fashion expertise ("You're like a fashion Einstein," gushes one of Pete's friends). Readersscrewups or notwill empathize as Liam, utterly likable despite his faults, learns to be himself."Publishers Weekly, starred reviewLiam is a multifaceted and resilient character who ultimately learns how to be comfortable in his own skin with the help of his new, makeshift family. Goings knack for defying stereotypes and creating memorable characters will not disappoint fans of Fat Kid Rules the World (Putnam, 2003) and Saint Iggy (Harcourt, 2006).--School Library Journal, starred review "Goings latest flows easily with smooth, realistic dialogue and reads like a coming-out story for straight guys. This innovative, out-of-the-box approach juxtaposes stereotypes, received values, parental roles and masculinity in a jarringly fun and approachable manner that marks a triumphant left-turn for the genre. Cloaked as a story of tough love, this is actually a psychological exploration of the impact of parental expectations versus the dreams of their children."--Kirkus "Liam and Aunt Pete are true originals, and Going balances her strong messages of selfdiscovery and acceptance with compassionate, bittersweet scenes that highlight the soul-sapping futility of trying to please unappeasable adults."--Booklist "Going creates an engaging cast of characters . . . Liam is a complex character whose development into a sympathetic, real person is compelling."--VOYA (4Q4P) After her darker, more enigmatic turn with Saint Iggy . . . Going delivers an involving coming-of-age character study likely to please fans of her Fat Kid Rules the World.”--The Bulletin "Going's writing is smooth and simple."--New York Times Book Review
Review
"What follows are captures, tortures, machine guns, a helicopter rescue, and a kiss that is, like this addictive first novel for teens, a 'long, intoxicating dive through a sea of Red Bull.'"—
Booklist, starred review "
Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick is a high-octane, high-caliber joyride centered on one very loud night in New York City, a sort of Nick & Norahs Infinite Hit List. As Perry deals with flying bullets, exploding glass, and college admissions, your assignment is much simpler (and safer): Read this book!" —Michael Northrop, author of
Trapped "
Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick is the hilarious YA buzzbomb I've been waiting for all year. Has style and wit to burn. I read the whole thing in one sitting. Buildings explode, scores are settled, and the dialog is explosively funny. Pretty much every page does it to the hilt. Boom." —Sean Beaudoin, author of
You Killed Wesley Payne "Fast paced, smart, exciting . . . it's like your favorite summer action thriller and John Hughes movie rolled into one." —Josh Schwartz, executive producer of
Gossip Girl and
The O.C. "Plain and simple, its a blast. A couple of them, actually."—
Publishers Weekly, starred review "Perfect for action adventure junkies who will enjoy the car chases, thugs, graphic killing scenes, explosions, and a random bear fight, Schreibers debut novel also contains enough humor, sexual tension, distinctive language, and character development to make this more than just a quick thrill read."—
Horn Book "This not-so-subtle irony combined with Schreiber's incisive wit and clever insights about high school and its relation to the larger world make this a slick, stylish read with serious implications that will give readers plenty to contemplate."--Bulletin
Synopsis
Liam Geller is Mr. Popularity. Everybody loves him. He excels at sports; he knows exactly what clothes to wear; he always ends up with the most beautiful girls in school. But he's got an uncanny ability to screw up in the very ways that tick off his father the most.
When Liam finally kicked out of the house, his father's brother takes him in. What could a teenage chick magnet possibly have in common with his gay, glam rocker, DJ uncle who lives in a trailer in upstate New York? A lot more than you'd think. And when Liam attempts to make himself over as a nerd in a desperate attempt to impress his father, it's his "aunt" Pete and the guys in his band who convince Liam there's much more to him than his father will ever see.
About the Author
Joe Schreiber is the New York Times bestselling author of adult novels Death Troopers, Chasing the Dead, and Eat the Dark. His other novels for young people include, the critically acclaimed Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick, Perry's Killer Playlist, and Lenny Cyrus, School Virus. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and children.