Boy21 in Mock Printz 2026

Sep 16, 2011 Crowinator rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, a-good-cry, school-hard, genre-contemporary, arc-print, booklist-review, 2011-reads, gangsters-and-the-mob, ra-ya-sportsball, sportsball

I think I have some sort of crying disorder. Seriously. The characters in this book have their tragedies and vulnerable emotional moments, both big and small, and it's all very authentic, but c'mon.

Next thing I know, I will be crying at heartwarming television commercials.

Oh wait, that's already happened. I need to read something funny, like NOW.

Real review later. This will be a good one for reluctant teen readers who want something both unusual and serious that doesn't talk down to them.

[I edi ...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Bethany Miller rated it really liked it

Shelves: royal

Ever since he was a kid, basketball has been a huge part of Finley’s life. Basketball helped him cope after his mother died, and it is the bright spot of his life in Belmont, a run-down town that is divided by racial lines with organized crime on both sides. Finley is the starting point guard and the only white kid on the high school team. He knows that he is not the most talented player on the team, but he is determined to be the hardest working. One day just before the beginning of his senior Ever since he was a kid, basketball has been a huge part of Finley’s life. Basketball helped him cope after his mother died, and it is the bright spot of his life in Belmont, a run-down town that is divided by racial lines with organized crime on both sides. Finley is the starting point guard and the only white kid on the high school team. He knows that he is not the most talented player on the team, but he is determined to be the hardest working. One day just before the beginning of his senior year, Finley’s coach stops by his house to tell him he needs a favor. He tells Finley that the son of a close friend of his is going to be transferring to Belmont High. Russ had been the star point guard at an exclusive school in California where he was already getting recruited by major college basketball programs, but then tragedy struck. Russ’s parents were murdered, and he was no longer able to cope with the spotlight. Coach asks Finley to help Russ adjust to life in Belmont. Finley agrees even though he knows this could mean the end of his starting position on the team. The first time Finley meets Russ, he realizes there is something very different about him. Russ asks to be called Boy21 and claims that his parents are in outer space and will be coming back to earth to take him away soon. It seems clear to Finley that Boy21 has some major issues, but Finley is no stranger to grief. He keeps the promise he made to his coach, and eventually a friendship grows between the two that helps both begin to cope with the tragedies in their past.

Boy21 is a book that defies easy categorization. Basketball is certainly important in the book, but calling it a sports book would be inaccurate. Issues of race are essential to the book, but they are an essential piece of the background never really taking center stage. At its essence the book is about how people cope with the tragedies in their lives and the ways in which friendship can play a role. The characters, settings and themes are very well-developed, and the story is refreshingly original. Finley and Russ are characters who will stick with readers for a long time. Highly recommended for readers looking for a fresh and original read.
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Apr 16, 2012 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: bromance, ya

This book is getting a lot of buzzzz. I liked it, but I did not LOVE it, like I loved Matthew Quick's last book. Is it awards material? Maybe. I don't know. I love these lines, though:
"Someday an opportunity will come. Think about Harry Potter. His life is terrible, but then a letter arrives, he gets on a train, and everything is different for him afterward. Better. Magical."
"That's just a story."
"So are we--we're stories too."
Librarians love it when authors reference the power of stories in the ...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: bullies

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Brains and athletic prowess have long been touted as avenues for social and economic mobility. For Finley McManus, basketball promises to help him leave behind the neighborhood where he grew up. Divided between the Irish mob and African-American drug-runners, Bellmont is not a pretty place, and Finley and his basket-playing girlfriend dream of escaping its violence and poverty. When his basketball coach enlists Finley's help in supporting a transfer student from California, the athlete does as h Brains and athletic prowess have long been touted as avenues for social and economic mobility. For Finley McManus, basketball promises to help him leave behind the neighborhood where he grew up. Divided between the Irish mob and African-American drug-runners, Bellmont is not a pretty place, and Finley and his basket-playing girlfriend dream of escaping its violence and poverty. When his basketball coach enlists Finley's help in supporting a transfer student from California, the athlete does as his coach asks, even though it may mean that he will lose his own starting position on the team. Russ, who prefers to be called Boy21, is recovering from the murder of his parents, and claims to be an extraterrestrial. As the boys grow closer, the similarities in their lives become more readily apparent. While Russ spins elaborate an elaborate space fantasy, Finley remains silent, failing to stand up even when classmates pile carrots on his plate at lunch because his nickname is White Rabbit and when his girlfriend is disrespected by others. A tragedy involving Erin causes Finley to lose interest in everything else in his life. The author's exploration of love, loss, and second chances will remind readers of the power of hope and the coping mechanisms used by the human mind and heart as they heal. For me, the first two-thirds of the book are exceptionally strong, but the title uses steam once Erin disappears. While the long-reaching arms of kingpins who rule over communities frozen by fear that extends over generations and guarantees silence is described clearly here, I was saddened once Finley realizes the price his own family has paid for their mistakes. Although I hope for the best for Erin and Finley, I'm not sure how safe they will be in the end or how realistic it is to hope for a happy ending in their case. As Finley makes his escape, thanks to mob money, I wonder how long it will be before someone comes to collect what is owed. This provocative title is sure to inspire much debate about the choices each of the characters makes. Wow! The book's layers allow the characters to be drawn in a complex fashion as readers--and characters--discover small and large truths throughout the pages. ...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Debrarian rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-aka-teen, sports

I was pretty absorbed by the first 2/3, but the last 3rd lost me -- characters dropped out, the storyline changed focused, hurried up, and went into passive voice. But I liked the friendship between the two traumatized, b-ball playing boys, and I liked the relationship between Finley and his sometimes-girlfriend, b-baller Erin, and the family scene was interesting.

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Aug 24, 2012 Ellen rated it liked it

A curious read - between the spacey cover, and the basketball subject matter, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I came away with was a fairly decent buddy book, centered around the boys' shared love of basketball and family tragedy. What didn't quite work was Finley's overly dramatic, and somewhat unbelievable family history. ...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Tiff rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, tiffs-favorites, met-this-author, advance-copy, cover-love, read-in-2011

The things that happen to the teen characters in this book broke my heart...and yet, the story is woven throughout with hope. I think Quick is a master of this type of story, as well as of authentic, unique characters. I wanted the characters in this book to persevere more than I have wanted any character in any book to do so since Amber Appleton in Quick's previous book Sorta Like a Rock Star. I feel like I can't really do this book justice with my babbling review. Just know that I highly recom ...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Ricki rated it really liked it

Finley is the only white kid on his school's basketball team. When Coach asks him a favor to help a new kid adjust to the school and the team, he has to say yes. But Russ isn't normal--he thinks he is from outer space and calls himself Boy21.

This is a page-turner. Finley learns a lot about himself and his place in the mafia-controlled, dead-end town of Belmont. Quick is an outstanding author and readers are sure to find something new and thought-provoking in this one. ...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Chrissy rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, ya, sports

3.5 stars

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Oct 20, 2012 Jenna rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult

Really enjoyed this book. Boy21 is a fascinating character, and I loved his friendship with Finley. I thought the ending was a little rushed and overly dramatic, but overall I still thought this book was pretty great.

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Nov 21, 2011 Lea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, arc, profile, sports, ncte-alan-2011, high-school

Amazing. Basketball, the Irish mob, a boy from outer space, family secrets, and Harry Potter are just the start of this excellent new novel from Matthew Quick.

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Sep 18, 2013 Lorna rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction-romance, young-adult, realistic-fiction, ala-best-book, fiction-multicultural, friendship

This young adult book is about a unique friendship and is fueled by basketball. It was different than I expected, but I found it to be touching in many places.

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