M Gonzalez Gonzalez من عند نيويورك من عند نيويورك

First off - I loved this narrator. Sure, he was so immature that he made you cringe much of the time. Just like you'll yell "Don't go in there!" to a girl in a horror movie you'll want to sew up Albert's tongue half the time: making him unable to do or say one of the hundreds of things he does or says throughout the book. I think that's what I loved so much about this book - it was such a spot on representation of how dumb and self centered some boys and girls can be at (ahem) some ages. The last 50 pages or so lagged and I'm not sure the ending was very satisfying, but it's worth checking out if only to read the first few chapters. The descriptions of Albert's physical reactions to being in the same room as a hot girl are some of the funniest most heartfelt bits of teen lit I've ever read. Besides the hot-girl-syndrome effects, my favorite source of comedy and pain in this book are Albert's trying to do well Korean parents. He's the first Korean-American in the family and Alberts shares some really great insights. Trying to pin down the time/setting for this book is difficult, but based on the music, clothing and attitudes, I'd set it in the mid-90s. I'm going to put a hold on Yoo's other YA book, Girls for Breakfast, right now!