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Book Review of Crazy

Crazy
Crazy
Author: Han Nolan
Genres: Children's Books, Teen & Young Adult
Book Type: Hardcover
trksh22 avatar reviewed on + 2 more book reviews


Wow! I loved this one!

Crazy is about Jason, who takes care of his mentally ill dad. They're all they've got. You'd think Crazy would be sad and heartbreaking - and it is, but there is so much more to it. It's funny and heartwarming. It's not sappy or anything like that, it's just good. Really, really good.

Jason has this imaginary audience in his head. It consists of a few characters. There's the critic AKA FBG (fat bald guy) with mustache and Crazy Glue, the crazy kid. There's Aunt Bee, the motherly/sympathetic type, and Sexy Lady, who tells Jason how hot he is all the time. Oh, and then there's You (us, the reader). Don't worry, We don't say much in the book.

At first I was worried about the imaginary friends getting in the way, but it worked for this story. The author does a great job at putting us inside Jason's head. When he got furious, I was fuming. When he was sad, so was I. I was happy when he was happy. Not too many books can connect that well, this one did.

I got mad at how the system was so eager to that things between him and his dad. I didn't like that. It was interesting to compare my (very little) experience as a foster parents to some of the things that happened with Jason. I am glad that he had friends and adults who were willing to help him - even when he didn't think he needed it.

All Jason wants to do is help his dad get better. His home life is suffering because he has to take care of his dad and himself. They live in a house with no food and little heat. He's falling behind in his schoolwork.

It's nice to have friends who care and will go with you through the good and the bad. His friends were all Shelby (in the beginning I did not like her. I thought she was a loudmouth hothead) grew on me over time. She had a different way of dealing with her moms condition. Pete was sweet, with his own problems. Haze was a good friend too. They all had their problems but they still were there for one another.

I am so glad I read this one. I couldn't stop reading it once I started. It's fairly clean, too. So younger teens are ok to read it. It has a few cuss words (use of BS) but they are understandable given the circumstances. If you get the chance to read this one please do NOT pass it up!