The publisher kindly sent me a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that those three things don’t bode well when you are moving to Austin, Texas. Plunked into a new high school and sweating a ridiculous amount from the oppressive Texas heat, Norris finds himself cataloging everyone he meets: the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Loners, and even the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Making a ton of friends has never been a priority for him, and this way he can at least amuse himself until it’s time to go back to Canada, where he belongs.
Yet, against all odds, those labels soon become actual people to Norris. Be it loner Liam, who makes it his mission to befriend Norris, or Madison the beta cheerleader, who is so nice that it has to be a trap. Not to mention Aarti the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, who might, in fact, be a real love interest in the making. He even starts playing actual hockey with these Texans.
But the night of the prom, Norris screws everything up royally. As he tries to pick up the pieces, he realizes it might be time to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions and start living his life — along with the people who have found their way into his heart.
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager Review
After hearing about The Field Guide to the North American Teenager, I quickly added it to my list of books to read. I’m so happy that I enjoyed it!
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager follows Norris, a black French Canadian who moves to Texas when his mother gets a new job. It’s a story all about accepting life and enjoying everything that comes your way.
The characters in this book are great. Norris is an extremely judgemental person but his internal (and external) commentary is quite funny. Not only are these inner thoughts hilarious but his interactions with others are just as great. It’s surprising that he actually speaks these thoughts out loud instead of keeping them to himself.
I also love the two friends he makes in Texas – Liam and Maddie. They’re such great friends because they look beyond Norris’ judgy comments. They’re the true definition of friends. I thoroughly enjoyed them.
This book is hilarious and had me laughing from the very beginning. There is certainly a reason as to why the dedication page for the book went viral!
The overall story of the book is enjoyable, but not amazing. The characters and the humour really drive the enjoyable experience – at least for me. Ben Philippe’s writing certainly pushes that humour through the page.
Overall, I enjoyed this debut novel and would definitely recommend it. Whether you’re looking for a funny read or a quick contemporary, this one is for you.
I’ll definitely be checking out Ben Philippe’s books in the future!
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Favourite Quote
The Sorting Hat of Anderson High had spoken, and Norris Kaplan was to be a Loner, which was fine by him. Better than Hufflepuff, by all accounts.
About the Author
Ben Philippe was born in Haiti, raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and now resides in New York. He is a graduate of the Michener Center for Writers and holds a BA in Sociology from Columbia University. In 2013 he won the Tennessee Williams Fiction Contest and his writing has appeared in Observer, Vanity Fair, Thrillist, and others. He still doesn’t have a valid driver’s license.
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