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Grand & Humble (2000)

by Brent Hartinger(Favorite Author)

3.57 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

review 1: Very, very, very confusing. I did not understand the ending AT ALL, but it was confusing in a good way I think, as if it was actually written to be confusing. I'm glad I read it. I didn't put it down once while I was reading it, just sat for three hours reading, until the book was finished. I am a swimmer like Harlan, and this is the first book I've read that is even close to being accurate about the sport. I'm really critical of books that have swimmers in it, because it seems like they always get it wrong in some way, but this one actually did a good job. I'd recommend this book, although I think Hartinger should have made in longer and included more details in the end.
review 2: Wealthy, athletic and popular, Harlan is the son of a United States Senator. His... more controlling mother forces him to spend all his time at charitable photo opportunites. Manny is the lighting designer for the high school drama club. He spends his free time making movies with his one close friend, Elsa. Harlan and Manny are having frequent nightmares about death. They go to the same high school, interact with some of the same people, and yet know nothing of each other and the horrific dreams they have in common. In alternating chapters, Harlan tries to interpret his dreas in order to save his own life, and Manny looks to his dreams to uncover secrets about his past. Likeable, believable characters make this a quick read. The diverse cast includes a deaf best friend, a homosexual athlete and a housewife turned psychic. Elsa, the deaf character is a welcome addition to young adult literature. She is well protrayed as a regular teen who just happens to sign and read lips, territory not often covered in young adult novels. Unfortunately, while the build up is suspenseful and the characters are appealing, the ending may be unsatisfying to a lot of readers, for it is neither completely open-ended, nor smoothly tied up. less

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