David Yoo (1)Critiques

I can't decide if I loved or hated this book. The book opens on the morning of Nick Park's graduation from high school as he is reflecting on how his life unfolded ever since his parents moved to the upper middle class and almost all white town of Renfield, CT just before third grade. At the beginning, the book was laugh-out-loud-funny but there are equally sad, disgusting, and just plain mean episodes. Nick was his own worst enemy, lying to his friends, his parents, and girls. No doubt he experienced racism as he came of age but his belief that he wasn't popular because of it was delusional. His own self-loathing and erratic behavior sealed his fate. There were parts that were just heartbreaking because of the way he treated his parents, his supposed-best friend, girls, and other classmates. Nick Park seemed to gain very little insight in the end.

The Detention Club is part mystery and part coming-of-age story. Peter is going into middle school as a 6th grader and is confident that he will rule the school as he did with his friend, Drew in 5th grade. Peter soon finds out; however, that things that made him popular in 5th grade only make him look like a "loser" in 6th. To top it all off, Peter sister, Sunny, who is an 8th grader is the "queen" of the school making straight As and never doing anything wrong. Peter comes up with lots of ways to try and become popular including framing other students so that they all end up in detention together. At the same time, someone has been stealing things from students in the school and many are starting to wonder if Peter is the culprit. Peter and Drew set out to find the thief in order to clear Peter's name.
Peter is kind of hard to like in this story because he seems to do all of the wrong things in order to become popular and is pretty over-confident about it, but he is believable because he thinks in the way that middle school students often think. In addition, the other characters in the story react and behave in ways that seem realistic. I enjoyed this story, many parts laugh-out-loud funny. An overall good read about the transition from elementary to middle school life.

Kudos, first of all, to David Yoo for perfectly capturing the world of middle school. I found myself giggling out loud as Peter and Drew navigated the perils of this new school experience. From their voices, to the snark, right down to the bullies, everything was there in perfect color. I'm not kidding. It took me back to my middle school experience and, although I wasn't in the same position as Peter, I had not a single problem falling into step with these wonderful characters.

The chemistry between these two characters is amazing! Peter is the brains of the operation, and it's no surprise that he might just sometimes be a little bit of a liar. After all, schemers generally are. Sweet Drew is his loyal friend, who is also the voice of reason in the friendship. Whenever Peter comes up with a particularly odd plan, it's Drew who has to remind him it just might not be for the best. I was giggling out loud at the way the two of them interacted. I admit that Drew was a bit of a pushover, but charismatic Peter is a tough character to follow. They compliment one another perfectly.

What I most enjoyed about The Detention Club was the message underneath everything. Buried under the funny parts, and the banter, is a story that all middle school kids will be able to connect with. All Peter and Drew want to do is fit in. They want to be popular enough that they have other friends, and don't feel like losers. However as the book goes on, Peter realizes that Drew isn't always going to be completely on board with his crazy schemes. We all grow up sometime don't we? He also uncovers that people might not always be what they seem on the outside. Most of all, he realizes that no matter who we are, just being ourselves is perfection. Who wants friends that make you change for them anyway?

It might all sound a little cliche, like the lectures our parents give us when we're young, but now that I'm older don't I know it's the truth. David Yoo has perfectly masked these very important lessons under a story that is quick-paced, funny, and filled with things that younger readers will connect with. Honestly, I'm so happy I was given the opportunity to review this book! I fully intend to take it to the 5th grade class at the school I work with and let them read it. Maybe it will give them some good early pointers for what's to come!

Recommended most definitely! If you have a younger reader, I can't deny they'll fall in love with Peter, Drew and their crazy cohorts. Just be ready for the sounds of giggling from the other room.

I'm supposed to like the hero of this young adult novel, while being amused and relating to his many flaws. Unfortunately, the author spent all his time showing the flaws, and forgot to give me anything to like. Couldn't finish it.

The Detention Club is part mystery and part coming-of-age story. Peter is going into middle school as a 6th grader and is confident that he will rule the school as he did with his friend, Drew in 5th grade. Peter soon finds out; however, that things that made him popular in 5th grade only make him look like a "loser" in 6th. To top it all off, Peter sister, Sunny, who is an 8th grader is the "queen" of the school, making straight As and never doing anything wrong. Peter comes up with lots of ways to try and become popular including framing other students so that they all end up in detention together. At the same time, someone has been stealing things from students in the school and many are starting to wonder if Peter is the culprit. Peter and Drew set out to find the thief in order to clear Peter's name.
Peter is kind of hard to like in this story because he seems to do all of the wrong things in order to become popular and is pretty over-confident about it, but he is believable because he thinks in the way that middle school students often think. In addition, the other characters in the story react and behave in ways that seem realistic. I enjoyed this story, many parts laugh-out-loud funny. An overall good read about the transition from elementary to middle school life.

Funny: grade 4-6

This was hilarious and depressing. A look into a life that was completely alien to me. Kind of embarrassing to say that I'm 44 and I really only have ever had three or four Asian friends and two or three of those were coworkers. It's not like I was pre-screening or anything but it just seemed to work out that way. So I had no idea of the struggles of Asian Americans growing up surrounded by white people. It's funny that the author talks about trying to distance himself from the Asian stereotypes because I've definitely met a couple of Asians whom I thought acted completely outrageous and I assumed it was so they would appear more "American". Because let's face it, Americans are pretty outrageous.

Anyway, there are many laugh out loud and cringe-worthy moments and even a couple really sad moments. Toward the end it started getting pretty depressing as the author/protagonist got older and older and his life wasn't going anywhere. The ending was fairly uplifting though so that helped.

Don't let the innocent-looking boy on the cover of David Yoo's The Choke Artist: Confessions of a Chronic Underachiever fool you into thinking this hilarious memoir of coming of age Asian in a sea of white faces is for the same audiences as his YA novels, Girls for Breakfast and Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before, or his middle-grade novel, The Detention Club. The cringe-worthy comedy of The Choke Artist gets pretty graphic with its escalating, self-deprecating true confessions, ranging from high school through his post-college years. It is definitely adult reading! Perhaps perfect for the "New Adult" audience, but its themes of identity and belonging will resonate with adults of all ages.
Longer review at Bay State Reader's Advisory blog.

Gah. Unlikable, self-loathing hero, pointless story, cardboard supporting characters.

Albert is one of the most consistently unlikeable narrators I have ever encountered, and he goes through almost no character growth over the course of the novel. This is a very difficult hurdle for any book to get over, and Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before is not able to overcome. Despite some excellent characterization, interesting situations, and fine writing from Mr. Yoo, Albert's complete and total inability to see anything beyond his own wants and needs makes sympathy for Albert hard to come by. I was only able to make it to the end of the book by imagining Albert's eventual growth, but it didn't ever happen. The one part of the book that I did truly enjoy was Albert's summer working with Mia. When Albert's life is going well, he is funny and charming.

Reviewed by Bookluver_Carol for TeensReadToo.com

If Albert Kim has learned one thing in his tragic adolescence, it's that God (probably a sadistic teenage alien) does not want him to succeed at Bern High.

By the end of sophomore year, Al is so tired of humiliation that he's chosen to just forget girls and high school society in general, and enjoy the Zen-like detachment that comes from being an intentional loser.

Then he meets Mia Stone, and all the repressed hormones come flooding back. Mia, his co-worker at the Bern Inn, is adorable, popular, and, most intimidating, the ex- long-term girlfriend of Ivy-bound, muscle-bearing king of BHS and world class jerk, Ryan Stackhouse.

But - chalk it up to the magic of Al's inner beauty - by the end of a summer vacuuming hotel rooms and goofing off together, he and Mia are officially "something."

Albert barely has time to ponder this miracle before the bomb drops: Ryan has been diagnosed with cancer, and he needs Mia's support, i.e. constant companionship. True, he's lost weight and he's getting radiation, but that doesn't make him any less of a jerk. And to Albert, it couldn't be more apparent that Ryan is using his cancer to steal Mia back.

With the whole town rallying behind Ryan like he's a fallen hero, and Mia emotionally confused and worried for Ryan, Al's bid for love is not a popular campaign. In fact, it's exactly like driving the wrong way on a five-lane highway.

STOP ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE was a funny, sad, and wonderful story all at the same time. Yoo really knows how to capture the reader and keep them hooked until the last page.

Albert felt like a real teenage boy and his emotions were captured so well. The love between him and Mia grew gradually and I loved that. They didn't fall in love when they first met; their friendship grew into love. I really liked how Albert grew as a character and had a truly unique voice.

Overall, I highly recommend STOP ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE. It's just such an engaging novel!

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!

Hats off to the author, David Yoo, presents a great book for teens. It turns the ongoing saga of adolescence misery and coming of age into a intriguing, funny, perceptive story that you won't be able put down until the end.

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/...½

Albert Kim is Korean, a teenager, and a loser who has taken himself out of high school society. He gets to know Mia Stone, a classmate and the coolest girl in school, at their summer job vacuuming rooms at a local inn. An unlikely friendship turns into an even more unlikely romance, which turns sour when school starts again and Mia's ex-boyfriend is diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Funny and frustrating, like high school.½

I could definitely picture Albert as an awkward boy trying to fit in to impress the girl. I appreciated his attempts at humor and winced as they fell flat with his audience. He tried hard to be the patient and understanding boyfriend as Mia nursed Ryan to health, and I wanted to knock some sense into Mia as she continually chose Ryan over Albert without fully realizing how it was damaging her relationship with Albert.

I had expecting this to be a little funnier, and I am sad that it failed in that aspect. While Albert did make some weak jokes, his narration seemed a tad too serious with not enough humor.

Rating: A

This book was seriously, 100% laugh out loud funny. I have this habit of carrying my books around with me and reading them while I'm walking around on campus, to and from classes, but I couldn't do this with Girls for Breakfast because I was making a fool of myself laughing too hard. Here's an excerpt to give you a taste:

"What confused me about involuntarily visualizing Miss Hamilton with no clothes on was that she wasn’t even pretty. Her nose was pointy and her frizzy hair always looked sweaty, but I couldn’t stop picturing her naked. I also couldn’t stop picturing Martha the bus driver naked every time I stepped on the bus. I was a perverted Superman... I glared at Miss Hamilton’s breasts and shook a fist at her bare butt as she faced the chalkboard. I knew in my heart I’d beat this disease."
Seriously, this was funny. Plus, this comes after he's made up this whole new form of martial arts because his friends in WASP-y Connecticut think that because he's Asian he must be a kung fu master. Upon reading this book I realized that writing truly funny stuff is equally as challenging as writing dramatic stuff. Eliciting a visceral reaction of laughter is just as note-worthy as getting a reader to cry.

I gave the book an A, couldn't quite pull off an A+ because the story line drags at parts, in my opinion (granted the jokes keep coming), but you know where Nick Park is going to end up, but it just takes him so long to get there. It was a fast and easy read (and his parents are hilarious). I recommend this book to people that can appreciate sophomoric humor.

Albert has made it through his sophomore year of hign school as a loner, which is just how he wants it to be. But over the summer he works with Mia, one of the most popular girls at his school, and they actually start dating. Things are looking up until they get back to school and Mia's ex, Ryan, gets cancer, and Mia decides to be there for him.

Albert is the ultimate introverted teen. His dramatic mental meanderings are way too familiar...

In this hilarious book, due out in October of this year, Albert is such a stereotype he makes himself sick. His parents are Korean immigrants who’ve set a standard for achievement in America that, while intimidating, Albert manages to match fairly effortlessly. It’s all about fitting in, and Albert is crestfallen when he learns he is to move from the town where he has finally managed to gain an admirable level of popularity, to some podunk hamlet in Massachusetts. Within his first week of high school, a few unfortunate social fopahs lead Albert to conclude that he is doomed to loserdom and he might as well tune-out of the social scene. He manages to travel through two years of high school completely under the social radar, until the summer before his junior year when he finds himself working closely with the female half of the school’s “it” couple, Mia, except she has broken up with her boyfriend and depends on Albert to cheer her up. Albert is amazed to learn by the end of the summer that he and Mia are “something,” but he worries that “something” will not translate to the high school hallways. Albert has learned to cope with his status as high school persona non grata by retreating into his own, introverted and amazingly perceptive world. His emergence into his peers’ social strata is more like the proverbial bull in the china shop than the butterfly and the cocoon. This book is filled with sensitive, silly, self-deprecating humor, and is a nice, clean (though frequently frustrating) romance.

Another first novel, this book focuses on the sole Korean-American teenager in a very white New England town and his coming of age.