Winger

Smith, A. (2014). Winger. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary: Ryan Dean West is a brilliant 14 year old junior in a private boarding school (skipped 2 grades). He is given a room in the "troublemakers" dorm with a senior that he really hates. He loves his best friend Annie, but she is two years older than him and thinks he is too young for her. Throughout the school year, Ryan Dean makes a lot of new friends and, unfortunately, new enemies. It seems as though things are finally working out for Ryan Dean when his friend Joey disappears. Joey is found tied to a tree and beaten to death by two other students. He loses his ability to talk except whispering to Annie. His parents want to take him away from that school, but he convinces then to let him stay because he does not want to be far away from Annie.
Commentary: The character of Ryan Dean West is a bit stereotypical. He is the funny self-aware teen that narrates his own story. He starts out as a rebellious boy that is sent to a boarding school. He is a relatable "loser" by his own admission. By the end of the book he has endured many trials and has come out a mature young man. The author's style is relaxed. His words are those of a teenager and sounds as though he is actually that age. He also uses meta-commentary in his story where he reflects on his own writing within the story.
Connections: Teacher Resources, Book Review, Book Trailer, Author Interview
Similar Books: Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles; Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle; Reality Boy by A.S. King
Textbook Connections: When reading Winger, I thought this book could be used to encourage unmotivated readers to give reading a try. I think the style and the character will be relatable to students.