Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
HarperTeen (2012), Edition: Reprint, 256 pages
Description
Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: This wasn't the way it was supposed to go. You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place? There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen? You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn't make that lead to his own destruction. In his stunning young-adult debut, Charles Benoit mixes riveting tension with an insightful�and unsettling�portrait of an ordinary teen in a tale that is taut, powerful, and shattering. Advance praise for You: "You is authentic, ambitious, and gripping. A serious book that reads like a suspense novel, the story it tells�of the ways in which we become imprisoned by our own choices, big and small�is both frightening and frighteningly real." �Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall "Charles Benoit has written a shattering, gut-wrenching novel that puts You right in the center of the story. Pick it up and you won't put it down!" �Michael Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Gone "I sat down to start this book�and didn't get up until I'd finished it, a riveting three hours later. You is pitch-perfect: funny, real, touching, brimming with tension and foreboding�and still surprising right up to the last page. one of the best ya novels I've read in years." �Patricia McCormick, National Book Award finalist, author of Sold and Purple Heart "A sandstorm of a novel, as harshly real as hell or high school. I loved it." �Robert Lipsyte, Margaret A. Edwards Award�winning author of The Contender and Center Field "Wanna know who the real bad guys in your school are? Read You. This book will keep you reading, and then it will start you thinking. And talking. You is good stuff." �Chris Crutcher, Margaret A. Edwards Award�winning author of Deadline.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member JackieBlem
Trust me, YOU don't want to miss "You". Benoit writes this book in a unique way that is initially unsettling, but becomes very powerful as the story goes on. The book tells you what you are doing, you being a teenage boy facing some ordinary teenage situations. You have a problem with anger, you
You end up making a series of seemingly small decisions that stack up to lead you to your destiny. You will be very surprised, disturbed and shaken by this book. You will not forget it easily.
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are keeping some secrets, and you don't know who to trust.You end up making a series of seemingly small decisions that stack up to lead you to your destiny. You will be very surprised, disturbed and shaken by this book. You will not forget it easily.
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LibraryThing member lilibrarian
Kyle Chase considers himself a typical 15-year-old guy. But others call him a hoodie because of the all black outfits he and his friends wear. Subject to bullying and mistrusted by school administration he finds himself alone, until a new student befriends him. The book is written in second person,
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so YOU are Kyle Chase, and you find out what kind of friend he has made. Show Less
LibraryThing member PattyLouise
You
By
Charles Benoit
Kyle Chase is a loser…in his own mind. He has dropped out…he has made poor choices, he doesn’t care, he doesn’t like the way his parents treat him, he doesn’t respect his teachers, he doesn’t really even like his friends. He knows if he had made other choices he would
Then…new student Jake comes into Kyle’s life and nothing will ever be the same again. Jake knows how to find Kyle’s weak spot and use it to his own advantage. This results in a devastating end of this story.
I was really caught up in this story. It is narrated by Kyle. It was heartbreaking. I wondered what I would do if I had known someone like Kyle. He is intelligent, awkward, rebellious…all the things a 15 year old male can be. I don’t know if I would have gone out of my way to talk to him. It seemed as though all he needed was one understanding parent or one teacher he could talk to but all circumstances were against him. He walked alone. His story was so sad. He seemed to not know joy. He did not understand what to do with his tortured anger.
So…how did I feel about this book…I think it is an important book to read.
By
Charles Benoit
Kyle Chase is a loser…in his own mind. He has dropped out…he has made poor choices, he doesn’t care, he doesn’t like the way his parents treat him, he doesn’t respect his teachers, he doesn’t really even like his friends. He knows if he had made other choices he would
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be in a different school doing very different things. And yet he is not. And there is nothing he can do about it. He has everyone figured out. He has life figured out and he is not able to change anything. He doesn’t know how or even better he knows how and yet he doesn’t want to do anything to change. He appears to be stuck. He gets detention after detention, he doesn’t study, he yearns after a girl named Ashley and does not do anything about it. He wonders when his mom became awkward around him and when his dad began to dislike him. He seems to love his little 5 year old sister. Her innocence and her love for him mean a lot to him. One day he hears his sister tell his mom that when she grows up she wants to be just like Kyle. When his mom responds that she hopes not…Kyle is sad even though he doesn’t want to be. Then…new student Jake comes into Kyle’s life and nothing will ever be the same again. Jake knows how to find Kyle’s weak spot and use it to his own advantage. This results in a devastating end of this story.
I was really caught up in this story. It is narrated by Kyle. It was heartbreaking. I wondered what I would do if I had known someone like Kyle. He is intelligent, awkward, rebellious…all the things a 15 year old male can be. I don’t know if I would have gone out of my way to talk to him. It seemed as though all he needed was one understanding parent or one teacher he could talk to but all circumstances were against him. He walked alone. His story was so sad. He seemed to not know joy. He did not understand what to do with his tortured anger.
So…how did I feel about this book…I think it is an important book to read.
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LibraryThing member edspicer
This book had such good ratings, but it wasn't good at all. The whole book was dull and I was waiting for a good ending but it never came. It was also written in a confusing view.
1Q, 2P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for Middle School.
It was selected because the reviewer though it would
Grade (of reviewer): 11th
(KL-AHS-NC)
1Q, 2P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for Middle School.
It was selected because the reviewer though it would
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be good.Grade (of reviewer): 11th
(KL-AHS-NC)
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LibraryThing member edspicer
This book may be a confusing read, but in an excellent way. The second person adds a certain effect, so try and read it.
4Q, 3P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for highschoolers.
It was selected due to recommendation.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(QB-AHS-NC)
4Q, 3P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for highschoolers.
It was selected due to recommendation.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(QB-AHS-NC)
LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
When you open a book and find this:
“You’re surprised at all the blood. He looks over at you, eyes wide, mouth dropping open, his face almost as white as his shirt. He’s surprised, too.”
You find yourself instantly hooked. Right away I got Kyle. He's an average kid. He's not the best of
I found myself devouring this book rapidly as I watched Kyle make the wrong choices and the circumstances that led him to the moment at the start of our story. Mr. Benoit's writing is sparse but it is also very profound. He does a wonderful job in creating a character that is very believable - his actions, his thoughts, etc. His insights into other kids, teachers and administrators ring true.
You is a fast-paced, suspenseful novel that you will not want to put down. It is disturbing, haunting, and intense - it is one that I'd recommend to teachers, teen boys and especially parents. Although its dark subject matter might not be one for everyone it is still one that when you read it, you will want to talk about it and then you'll find yourself recommending it because of how strong and powerful it is. A must read.
“You’re surprised at all the blood. He looks over at you, eyes wide, mouth dropping open, his face almost as white as his shirt. He’s surprised, too.”
You find yourself instantly hooked. Right away I got Kyle. He's an average kid. He's not the best of
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students, has parents who nag and nag, he likes a girl who has no idea about his feelings.... he's no one ,yet he's everyone... he's YOU. We can all relate with Kyle - one way or another. You really get to understand Kyle since the story is told in 2nd person. It is almost as if you are Kyle. I found myself devouring this book rapidly as I watched Kyle make the wrong choices and the circumstances that led him to the moment at the start of our story. Mr. Benoit's writing is sparse but it is also very profound. He does a wonderful job in creating a character that is very believable - his actions, his thoughts, etc. His insights into other kids, teachers and administrators ring true.
You is a fast-paced, suspenseful novel that you will not want to put down. It is disturbing, haunting, and intense - it is one that I'd recommend to teachers, teen boys and especially parents. Although its dark subject matter might not be one for everyone it is still one that when you read it, you will want to talk about it and then you'll find yourself recommending it because of how strong and powerful it is. A must read.
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LibraryThing member kulmona
I won this book in a FirstReads giveaway on Goodreads. It had a promising beginning. The very first page peaked my interest. But, ultimately, I found the ending to be unsatisfying. Or maybe I just didn't get it. It's written in 2nd person narration and the characters,setting, use of language, and
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descriptions were very authentic and true-to-life. A couple passages are repeated word-for-word in the book and I'm not sure if this repetition was intentional or an error. Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be a quick read. Show Less
LibraryThing member JamesterCK
This book centers around the character of Kyle Chase. He is a sophomore in high school and he considers himself a loser in a group called the Hoodies (as they always wear black hoodies). His friends all went to a different high school, but something happened to Kyle in middle school and he just
My opinion: I didn't hate this book, but I didn't exactly love it either. The book really sucks you in the first couple paragraphs by essentially describing what happens at the end of the story, without giving too much away. Then the rest of the book details what happened leading up to that event. I actually love the way the book is written. It's as if you, the reader, is this character Kyle Chase. It really helps you connect with him and you get to see everything he thinks and feels. It's very easy to relate with Kyle; not in the sense that everyone is an outcast, but the way he feels about schools and some of the cliches that come along with it are very easy to relate to. Some of them even made me laugh a bit. And certainly we can all agree that some people are stereotyped by the way they dress or wear their hair, and often become scapegoats even if they are innocent. I was kind of frustrated with him for not applying himself more in middle school and just letting himself settle for the kind of existence he found himself in. He had been a good student and then just stopped trying, for whatever reasons. The only person he really has a soft spot for is his little sister, and the way her father and mother dote over her is probably some of the reason he kind of hate his life. It seems like nothing he tries to do matters, because nothing ever works out in the end. I hated Zack as soon as he was introduced. He was incredibly annoying and arrogant. Throughout the rest of the book you find new ways to hate him. All in all, not the best book ever, but the relatability and the point of view the book was written it made it easy to keep reading; I finished it in one sitting!
My rating: 3/5 stars
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stopped trying. So instead of going to Odyssey HS, he ends up at Midlands High, a place everyone else looks down on. He doesn't try in any of his classes because he doesn't see much point, doing the same thing day in and day out. His father all but ignores him and his mother only seems to nag at him, wanting him to do better in school and get a job. He is in love with a girl at his school, Ashley, but he just can't work up the nerve to tell her how he feels. Even though his entire group of "friends" has a bad rap as trouble makers, Kyle really tries to do the right thing and stay out of trouble. However people get preconceived notions about certain groups or individuals, and are quick to point fingers if something goes wrong. Kyle definitely has some issues to work on though and he's not sure when everything took a turn for the worse. Then he meets the new kid in school, Zack, and his life changes forever. My opinion: I didn't hate this book, but I didn't exactly love it either. The book really sucks you in the first couple paragraphs by essentially describing what happens at the end of the story, without giving too much away. Then the rest of the book details what happened leading up to that event. I actually love the way the book is written. It's as if you, the reader, is this character Kyle Chase. It really helps you connect with him and you get to see everything he thinks and feels. It's very easy to relate with Kyle; not in the sense that everyone is an outcast, but the way he feels about schools and some of the cliches that come along with it are very easy to relate to. Some of them even made me laugh a bit. And certainly we can all agree that some people are stereotyped by the way they dress or wear their hair, and often become scapegoats even if they are innocent. I was kind of frustrated with him for not applying himself more in middle school and just letting himself settle for the kind of existence he found himself in. He had been a good student and then just stopped trying, for whatever reasons. The only person he really has a soft spot for is his little sister, and the way her father and mother dote over her is probably some of the reason he kind of hate his life. It seems like nothing he tries to do matters, because nothing ever works out in the end. I hated Zack as soon as he was introduced. He was incredibly annoying and arrogant. Throughout the rest of the book you find new ways to hate him. All in all, not the best book ever, but the relatability and the point of view the book was written it made it easy to keep reading; I finished it in one sitting!
My rating: 3/5 stars
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LibraryThing member TruthBeToldBlog
You by Charles Benoit was one of the most intriguing novels I have read in the last year. The style of writing that was used in this book was what drew me in. In You the main character is Kyle, however, as oppose to saying “Kyle did this” or “Kyle spoke” the book is talking to you, telling
In case you were unaware, Charles Benoit is a best-selling fictional mystery author. This book definitely has undertones of mystery in it, there is a lot of foreshadowing and you are constantly trying to think, who is this person and why is he here. When I read the first couple pages, I had a completely different idea of what would be happening to the character Zach, however, the ending threw me for a loop. It was a really shocking surprise. Don’t worry, I won’t give the ending away.
I loved the dialogue in You, in some areas all you were able to read was Kyle’s side of the conversation, while it may sound confusing, you automatically know what the other character is saying. Another kind of interesting fact about this book, there are no chapters. The book just goes on, it really makes you want to read it in one sitting.
COVER LOVE! I could not stop staring at the cover of this book. The back and the front spell out You in shattering glass letters. It's really artsy. I remember I would stare at the cover for a while wondering how this image was captured. I love it.
This book completely hooked me in. I think it’s a great new mystery and suspense style novel for young adults. Charles Benoit started something with this novel that I hope to see more of.
I give You by Charles Benoit 5 Lanterns. This book has a mystery feel and writing style that is unique; I can’t wait to see more Young Adult novels from Charles Benoit.
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you that your name is Kyle. It’s a bit difficult to describe but definitely worth reading. In case you were unaware, Charles Benoit is a best-selling fictional mystery author. This book definitely has undertones of mystery in it, there is a lot of foreshadowing and you are constantly trying to think, who is this person and why is he here. When I read the first couple pages, I had a completely different idea of what would be happening to the character Zach, however, the ending threw me for a loop. It was a really shocking surprise. Don’t worry, I won’t give the ending away.
I loved the dialogue in You, in some areas all you were able to read was Kyle’s side of the conversation, while it may sound confusing, you automatically know what the other character is saying. Another kind of interesting fact about this book, there are no chapters. The book just goes on, it really makes you want to read it in one sitting.
COVER LOVE! I could not stop staring at the cover of this book. The back and the front spell out You in shattering glass letters. It's really artsy. I remember I would stare at the cover for a while wondering how this image was captured. I love it.
This book completely hooked me in. I think it’s a great new mystery and suspense style novel for young adults. Charles Benoit started something with this novel that I hope to see more of.
I give You by Charles Benoit 5 Lanterns. This book has a mystery feel and writing style that is unique; I can’t wait to see more Young Adult novels from Charles Benoit.
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LibraryThing member edspicer
This book is something new, that to my knowledge has never been done before. It has almost four different stories in one.
5Q, 5P; Cover Art: Awesome!
This book is best suited for highschoolers and adults.
It was selected because nobody else had finished it.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(AS-AHS-NC)
5Q, 5P; Cover Art: Awesome!
This book is best suited for highschoolers and adults.
It was selected because nobody else had finished it.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(AS-AHS-NC)
LibraryThing member edspicer
I wouldn't recommend this book, not because of lack of detail, but flooding the book with so much detail there was almost no room for imagination from the reader. When people say books are like TV screens in their head, this is quite literal in this book. Even though it made a pretty color, Charles
4Q, 3P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for middle and highschoolers.
This book was selected because secnd person (writing) seemed like an interesting, new experiance.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(DF-AHS-NC)
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used way too much paint.4Q, 3P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for middle and highschoolers.
This book was selected because secnd person (writing) seemed like an interesting, new experiance.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(DF-AHS-NC)
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LibraryThing member Tatiana_G
What a lucky Goodreads Giveaway win! I would have never picked up this book on my own and it ended up exceeding all my expectations.
The novel is addictive from the very first lines:
You are surprised at all the blood.
He looks over at you, eyes wide, mouth dropping open, his face almost as white as
He's surprised, too.
There is not a lot of broken glass, though, just some tiny slivers around his feet and one big piece busted into sharp peaks like a spiking line graphs, the blood washing down it like rain on a windshield.
He doesn't say anything clever or funny, doesn't quote Shakespeare, just screams. But no one can hear him, and it would be too late if they could.
You are thinking, this wasn't the way it was supposed to go, this shouldn't be happening. And now things are only going to get worse...
What did just happen? Who are these people? What are they doing?
As the story unfolds, we gradually learn who this mysterious "you" is, how he got to this point, what life choices (or circumstances?) made him what he is now. It's not a feel good story. To see the main character make poor choices and become passive and apathetic is truly disheartening, but there is a meaningful lesson.
You is an extremely intense novel written in a very unique way. Although it is very short (220 pages in large font and with huge margins) and the prose is sparse, the book managed to keep me in a state of anxiety throughout. What is also remarkable about the style is that the story is written in 2nd person. I don't come across this POV very often and Charles Benoit uses this perspective to the fullest advantage. In fact, You is written and paced so well that I believe the book might be a Printz award contender.
The novel might not appeal to everyone - it is a dark, frustrating story. Many will think the ending unsatisfying. But I personally found the message of the book very powerful. You are the choices you make rather than a victim of circumstances, even though it is often more comforting to think so.
The novel is addictive from the very first lines:
You are surprised at all the blood.
He looks over at you, eyes wide, mouth dropping open, his face almost as white as
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his shirt.He's surprised, too.
There is not a lot of broken glass, though, just some tiny slivers around his feet and one big piece busted into sharp peaks like a spiking line graphs, the blood washing down it like rain on a windshield.
He doesn't say anything clever or funny, doesn't quote Shakespeare, just screams. But no one can hear him, and it would be too late if they could.
You are thinking, this wasn't the way it was supposed to go, this shouldn't be happening. And now things are only going to get worse...
What did just happen? Who are these people? What are they doing?
As the story unfolds, we gradually learn who this mysterious "you" is, how he got to this point, what life choices (or circumstances?) made him what he is now. It's not a feel good story. To see the main character make poor choices and become passive and apathetic is truly disheartening, but there is a meaningful lesson.
You is an extremely intense novel written in a very unique way. Although it is very short (220 pages in large font and with huge margins) and the prose is sparse, the book managed to keep me in a state of anxiety throughout. What is also remarkable about the style is that the story is written in 2nd person. I don't come across this POV very often and Charles Benoit uses this perspective to the fullest advantage. In fact, You is written and paced so well that I believe the book might be a Printz award contender.
The novel might not appeal to everyone - it is a dark, frustrating story. Many will think the ending unsatisfying. But I personally found the message of the book very powerful. You are the choices you make rather than a victim of circumstances, even though it is often more comforting to think so.
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LibraryThing member lisagibson
This book pulled me in and held me there until the final words on the page. I couldn't put it down and read it basically all in one sitting.
Kyle is a likeable character. I keep wanting more for him. I want him to have Ashley as his girlfriend. I want him to have good friends again. I want his
I could feel Kyle's frustration too. It's easy to see that if there's no possible way to pass, why bust your ass trying to catch up. Not much point. I so wanted someone to reach out to him.
In the same respect, I try explaining to my son all the time how it's so easy to find yourself in a situation that can have far reaching consequences. Consequences that suddenly, frightenly fall beyond your control. It's too easy for people to point the finger at someone else and say, "I did that because I was compelled by this person or my situation or whatever. It's a tougher thing to realize that we all make our own choices in life. We are a product of the choices we've made over time. We are where we are in life, due to our choices. YOU is the story of Kyle Chase coming to realize that. The writing is tight, intense and compelling. I absolutely recommend that you read YOU. :) Four big kisses!
Kyle is a likeable character. I keep wanting more for him. I want him to have Ashley as his girlfriend. I want him to have good friends again. I want his
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parents to see all the possibility in him and see that he needs help too. Kyle is not really a bad kid...he's just a kid. He's a teenager and that brings certain baggage with it. I could feel Kyle's frustration too. It's easy to see that if there's no possible way to pass, why bust your ass trying to catch up. Not much point. I so wanted someone to reach out to him.
In the same respect, I try explaining to my son all the time how it's so easy to find yourself in a situation that can have far reaching consequences. Consequences that suddenly, frightenly fall beyond your control. It's too easy for people to point the finger at someone else and say, "I did that because I was compelled by this person or my situation or whatever. It's a tougher thing to realize that we all make our own choices in life. We are a product of the choices we've made over time. We are where we are in life, due to our choices. YOU is the story of Kyle Chase coming to realize that. The writing is tight, intense and compelling. I absolutely recommend that you read YOU. :) Four big kisses!
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LibraryThing member ericajsc
Initially I picked up this book because I’d heard buzz that it was brilliant… but I had no clue what it was really about. Basically all I knew was that it was written in second person. I’ve read very few books in second person – I think all the others I’ve read have been epistolary novels
However, as I read, I found myself bothered by the tense. I kept trying to figure out who was narrating. Was it a teacher? A cop? (Notice I didn’t wonder if it was a friend or another student? There were times when comments were made that made me feel like it was an adult telling the story, not a teenager.) It drove me crazy not knowing! It started to feel like nothing more than a gimmick (albeit a good one, since it’s a big reason I picked up the book). But I pressed on, genuinely interested in where Kyle’s story was heading.
Kyle is an ordinary teenager – he gets by in class, but doesn’t excel. He’s got friends, but not close friends. He’s been in fights, but doesn’t seek them out. He’s got a crush on a girl in class, but he can’t work up the nerve to ask her out. Then Zack, the new kid, notices Kyle and invites him into a world unlike the one he knows. Zack is offbeat and as much as he annoys Kyle, he also fascinates him. The fact that Kyle is just this average guy made it easy to see why he made the choices he did, even when they weren’t necessarily good ones.
Despite my problems with the tense, when I finished the book it all made sense. I couldn’t imagine anything but a second person narrative working for the overall story. This is one of those books that, though I enjoyed it as I read it and thought it was great when I finished it, as I processed it later that night (and for days afterward) I liked it even more. I’ll add my vote for this being a brilliant book!
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– so this intrigued me.However, as I read, I found myself bothered by the tense. I kept trying to figure out who was narrating. Was it a teacher? A cop? (Notice I didn’t wonder if it was a friend or another student? There were times when comments were made that made me feel like it was an adult telling the story, not a teenager.) It drove me crazy not knowing! It started to feel like nothing more than a gimmick (albeit a good one, since it’s a big reason I picked up the book). But I pressed on, genuinely interested in where Kyle’s story was heading.
Kyle is an ordinary teenager – he gets by in class, but doesn’t excel. He’s got friends, but not close friends. He’s been in fights, but doesn’t seek them out. He’s got a crush on a girl in class, but he can’t work up the nerve to ask her out. Then Zack, the new kid, notices Kyle and invites him into a world unlike the one he knows. Zack is offbeat and as much as he annoys Kyle, he also fascinates him. The fact that Kyle is just this average guy made it easy to see why he made the choices he did, even when they weren’t necessarily good ones.
Despite my problems with the tense, when I finished the book it all made sense. I couldn’t imagine anything but a second person narrative working for the overall story. This is one of those books that, though I enjoyed it as I read it and thought it was great when I finished it, as I processed it later that night (and for days afterward) I liked it even more. I’ll add my vote for this being a brilliant book!
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LibraryThing member Booklady123
Good Reads Description:
This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.
You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?
There had to have
You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn't make that lead to his own destruction.
What a great read for my first YA read for 2011. I was hooked from the first word. Benoit spins a compelling tale without being verbose. Teens who struggle to fit in and to understand why seemingly innocuous decisions create so much trouble will identify with this book.
I’m sure teen girls will enjoy this book as well, but it’s a great book to recommend to male readers who have trouble finding a good read amidst all the paranormal romance and teen chick lit books.
It’s a quick, engaging read that you won’t want to put down until the last word.
This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.
You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?
There had to have
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been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn't make that lead to his own destruction.
What a great read for my first YA read for 2011. I was hooked from the first word. Benoit spins a compelling tale without being verbose. Teens who struggle to fit in and to understand why seemingly innocuous decisions create so much trouble will identify with this book.
I’m sure teen girls will enjoy this book as well, but it’s a great book to recommend to male readers who have trouble finding a good read amidst all the paranormal romance and teen chick lit books.
It’s a quick, engaging read that you won’t want to put down until the last word.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
This short, grim young adult novel is about a boy who has been brought up without love or respect, with tragic results.
Much like Before I Fall, the book starts at the end of the story with the death of the main character, and works backwards to tell you what happened and why. It’s also told in
Kyle Chase has grown up with cold, critical parents and basically no real friends as he starts tenth grade. Of the two people he thought actually liked him, both were using him and had no real interest in him at all. In fact, Zach has “selected” Kyle as a “friend” precisely because of his apparent loneliness and neediness. Ashley is as vapid as they come and Zach is, horrifyingly, a psychopath.
Evaluation: Benoit, a former high school teacher, is as good as it gets when it comes to putting his finger on the teenage mind and teen vocabulary. I felt so sad for Kyle. He was full of anger and hurt over his home life, didn’t fit in well at school, and his teachers were uninspiring and devoid of understanding. Zach convinces Kyle that the bad things that have happened to him are a result of his own choices. One can’t help but feel, however, that Kyle was pushed into bad decisions by ending up a sensitive boy with potential in a world that could not be bothered with him. This intriguing book takes you to a dark place, and yet I was glad I read it. I would recommend it as a cautionary tale.
Much like Before I Fall, the book starts at the end of the story with the death of the main character, and works backwards to tell you what happened and why. It’s also told in
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second-person omniscient narration (in which the narrator tells the story by addressing the protagonist as “You”) which adds a unique tone to the book.Kyle Chase has grown up with cold, critical parents and basically no real friends as he starts tenth grade. Of the two people he thought actually liked him, both were using him and had no real interest in him at all. In fact, Zach has “selected” Kyle as a “friend” precisely because of his apparent loneliness and neediness. Ashley is as vapid as they come and Zach is, horrifyingly, a psychopath.
Evaluation: Benoit, a former high school teacher, is as good as it gets when it comes to putting his finger on the teenage mind and teen vocabulary. I felt so sad for Kyle. He was full of anger and hurt over his home life, didn’t fit in well at school, and his teachers were uninspiring and devoid of understanding. Zach convinces Kyle that the bad things that have happened to him are a result of his own choices. One can’t help but feel, however, that Kyle was pushed into bad decisions by ending up a sensitive boy with potential in a world that could not be bothered with him. This intriguing book takes you to a dark place, and yet I was glad I read it. I would recommend it as a cautionary tale.
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LibraryThing member 4sarad
This is definitely a book you find yourself thinking about a lot once you finish it. I'm not entirely sure why it was written in 2nd person, although that was the main reason it was shot to the top of my to-read list, so if it was just a marketing ploy... good for them. Working in a high school I
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see students like Kyle every day, and Benoit did a great job creating him. Very believable. You know exactly how Kyle feels... you make a few mistakes and suddenly it's clear that you've put yourself on a certain "loser" or "slacker" track and there is no real way to take it back and start over. You find yourself wondering if there was anything Kyle could have done to change the way his story ended or if it was just his destiny. And you realize you said the word "you" in your review way more often than usual and "you" finally realize why the novel was written in 2nd person. Good job Benoit! Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
I would recommend this. It was quite convincing, yet vague. Only read it if you're paying attention.
4Q, 2P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for high schoolers and adults.
It was selected for the challenge, since most don't finish it.
Grade: 9th
MW-AHS-NC
4Q, 2P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for high schoolers and adults.
It was selected for the challenge, since most don't finish it.
Grade: 9th
MW-AHS-NC
LibraryThing member Rstaine1014
You by Charles Benoit
This book takes you into the world of Kyle Chase, who is a hoodie, and hoodies are kind of like the shy kids, the bad guys, and also the cool guys. But, Midlands High School isn't what he wanted his future to be like, but, all isn't that bad because there is a girl named Ashley
Will he leave through the rest of high school?
Will he get the girl of his dreams?
Will he finally be more than just a hoodie?
Will his life turn out to be everything he wished it could be?
You...can find all this out in the teen book, You by Charles Benoit.
Get ready to be strapped in for the ride of your life that you will never, ever forget!
P.S. This book is for people of all ages, but only if you can comprehend it.
This book takes you into the world of Kyle Chase, who is a hoodie, and hoodies are kind of like the shy kids, the bad guys, and also the cool guys. But, Midlands High School isn't what he wanted his future to be like, but, all isn't that bad because there is a girl named Ashley
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Bianchi, who he really likes but he's not so sure if she likes him back.Will he leave through the rest of high school?
Will he get the girl of his dreams?
Will he finally be more than just a hoodie?
Will his life turn out to be everything he wished it could be?
You...can find all this out in the teen book, You by Charles Benoit.
Get ready to be strapped in for the ride of your life that you will never, ever forget!
P.S. This book is for people of all ages, but only if you can comprehend it.
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LibraryThing member kissedbyink
This story is full of angst and it's real. The characters are definitely believable and their feelings are true. Charles Benoit does a fantastic job of using Kyle to twist Zack's world.
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Few writers write as brilliantly about adolescent angst Charles Benoit does in this novel. Robert Cormier, Chris Crutcher, Robert Lipsyte, Chris Lynch are a few that come to mind. Benoit is definitely in that league. This is one of the best YA novels I have read this year. Brutally honest realism.
LibraryThing member FaithLibrarian
Gross and disgusting after just a few pages. Nope
LibraryThing member edspicer
I really like the way this book was written. It made me feel like I was a part of the story. It really gets you thinking about life choices. 5Q4P The cover art is awesome and I'd recommend this book to high school students. I chose to read this book because I like stories written in this type of
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perspective. JenniferW Show Less
LibraryThing member mtlkch
Strange book . . . Hard to get used to 2nd person narration. The end - didn't really like.
LibraryThing member Birdo82
Far less sharp and shocking than the reviews would have one believe, but the swiftness of the text left little time to dwell on such details.
Awards
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 9-12 — 2012)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2012)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2011)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010-09-01
Physical description
256 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0061947067 / 9780061947063