My Most Excellent Year (Madeline Dowd) (Megan Leese) (Matt Smith)

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Klugar. Published by the Penguin group. There are 403 pages.
I decided to read this book because last year the author came in and talked about his books and how he became a writer, and I thought it was very interesting. I never ended up reading the book, so I thought it would be a good book for this assignment. I had also heard from many people that it was a really good book.
This novel is about a boy named T.C. Keller. His best friend name is Augie, and after T.C.’s mother dies, they adopt each other as brothers. The book takes place during their freshman year of high school. T.C. has been obsessed with the Red Sox, but ends up finding a new love in his life, Ale Perez. She is a very pretty and smart girl and she too finds herself falling in love with T.C. In the meantime, Augie seems to also be falling in love, but with a boy. While Augie loves musicals, it is obvious to his family and friends that Augie might be gay. Throughout the novel the characters struggle to discover themselves and find love. The story is told in alternate perspectives, so you are able to get a great understanding on each individual character.
The audience is directed to high school teens because the book is about three friends’ experiences during their freshman year.
The author’s writing style is definitely casual filled with slang. It has alternating point of views, so you are reading as if you were each character. His style helps you get a feel for each character’s personality.
“Since you’d never guess it from looking at me, nobody can tell that words like because, fart, there, and banana come out sounding like “becazz”, “faht”, “they-a”, and “bananer” when I say them outloud.”(page 1&2) This quote really struck me because it was the opening sentence in the book and I thought it really grabbed the reader’s attention. It showed the narrators the narrator’s humorous side. “That was my life until the ninth grade, my most excellent year. And then I got drop-kicked by a six year old kid and the girl of my dreams.”(page 4) I really liked this quotes because I felt this was the opening sentence that started the book. It gave you a hint that the rest of the book was going to be very eventful. “Along time ago I learned how to cry without making any noise so nobody would know what I was doing (which is strictly a guy thing).” I chose this quote because it showed that T.C. was an emotional person and he learned how to not show them. I know what he means by not making any noise when you cry. It is sometimes embarrassing when you cry and you don’t always want people to know that you are doing it.
I believe the theme of the novel is growing up and discovering your true self. “Because without any warning at all, he turned suddenly, put his hands on my shoulders, yanked me close, and-eyes wide open with terror-kissed me.” This demonstrates that Augie is comfortable around Andy, and that he is gay. “In spite of what I’d brought myself to believe, it turns out that I didn’t know everything after all. But what I was missing is what I picked up when I was fourteen-through Augie’s trust and Anthony’s heart.” This quote explains about growing up. T.C. realizes that he isn’t always right and discovers the reason for his friends.
I would grade this book a B or B+. I really enjoyed the book. I think for teens it is very relatable and it is similar to a regular teenager’s life. At times though it was confusing because of the alternating perspectives and you had to keep in mind who was talking at all times.

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Title: My Most Excellent Year Author: Steve Kluger Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Pages: 416
I decided to read this book because everyone I knew who read the book loved it. I met the author at our school when he came to encourage people at our school to read the book.
This book is about the regular lives of 3 teenagers, Augie, Alejandra, and T.C., and how they deal with things many teenagers deal with. T.C. is absolutely obsessed with the Red Sox. He knows everything there is about the Red Sox, and has a strong Boston accent which is used throughout the book. Alejandra is in love with dance, singing, and acting. Like Alejandra, Augie loves acting, singing, and writing plays. This book is also interesting because a deaf character, Hucky, who is a huge fan of Marry Poppins, is also introduced. Hucky is also very smart and helped T.C. find which pitches were strikes and balls during his baseball game by doing hand signals on the first base line. Hucky’s character is one of a kind, and the teenagers learn how to be responsible and to help others when they start including Hucky in the activities they do together. Augie is a play writer and performer for his school’s drama program. Augie convinces T.C. to act in some of his plays because they are best friends, and even though T.C. is a jock and doesn’t like acting, he still helps his friend out. Many life lessons are taught in this book, and I think that it is can be an influential and interesting book to most teenagers.
The audience of this book is teenagers who can relate to this book, because the book deals with many things teenagers go through, and Steve Kluger wrote the book in the way teenagers talk.
“Dear Mama, when I first had the Julie Andrews idea it was only because I know its what you would have done if you were me and I was Hucky,” (Page 287). This passage struck me because even though T.C.’s mom died of cancer, he still writes her letters in his journal. To me, that is a way that he keeps his mom in his heart still, and I think that was very important for T.C. Even if his mother couldn’t respond, he still felt as if he was talking to her, and that is what got him through a lot of problems he had.
“Did people treat Hucky like a regular kid or just a deaf one?”(Page 152). This passage struck me because I felt sorry for Hucky. It’s hard enough for a young kid to be deaf, and I would imagine it would be even harder for him to make friends. That is why T.C. started being friends with a little boy, because he wanted to be his friend since he didn’t have any.
“I don’t need extra credit. I need to learn sign language,” (Page 153). This passage struck me because at first T.C. felt sorry for Hucky, and that’s why he wanted to be friends with him. But as he got to know Hucky more, he really cared about him and did everything he could to learn sign language so he could talk to him.
The author’s writing style casual, because he wrote the book the way teenagers talk, and so the audience could relate to the book. The author writes using a Boston accent for one of the main characters, T.C., which is also slang. “Since you’d never guess it from looking at me, nobody can tell that words like because, there, and banana come out sounding like “becazz,” “they-a,” and “bananer” when I say them out loud,” (page 2).

I believe the theme of this book is to be happy with who you are, and to be yourself. They demonstrate the theme because one of the main characters, Augie, finally comes out about being gay, and his best friend, T.C., accepts him for who he is. Also, T.C. tries to get a girl in his school, Alejandra, to like him by not being himself, but when he is himself, she ends up liking him. I think that is a very important life lesson to learn, and I am glad the author, Steve Kluger, included it into his book.
If I were to give a grade to this book, I would give it a B, because it is a good read for teenagers, but I believe that this book is longer than it has to be. I think the author may have used a little bit too much detail about the lives of these teenagers, because at some times the book is a bit boring. Otherwise, I think it accurately reflects how teenagers live, and touches on some very important life lessons that teenagers need to learn, like accepting people for who they are.

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Title: My Most Excellent Year
Author: Steve Kluger
Published by: The Penguin Group
Pages: 403
I decided to read this book because I remembered Steve Kluger coming to the school last year and a lot of other students really enjoyed this book, so I thought I’d give it a try. When I looked at the book, it seemed like something that I would be interested in; I like high school dramas and love stories.
Summary: My Most Excellent Year is about three teenagers: T.C and Augie (who are “unofficial” brothers), and Aléjandra (Alé). The story is told in alternating perspectives, starting with T.C, then Augie, and lastly Aléjandra. The story starts with the three as juniors, but takes place through journal entries for a school assignment—to reflect on their “most excellent year,” (9th grade)—and IM chats. It was the year when T.C fell for Alé, Alé started going to public school, and the year when Augie realized he was falling in love... with a boy. As the story progresses, the three teens grow closer and even adopt a little, deaf-mute boy named Hucky along the way. The story is one full of love, friendship, self-discovery, and, of course, Mary Poppins.
Audience: I believe the audience for this book is most-likely young adults and college students. I think this because it is a high school drama/ love story, so high school and college students could probably better relate to the book than younger or older readers. However, even if someone isn’t a young adult or college, he/she will still probably enjoy reading it.
Writing Style: Steve Kluger has a very casual, teenage-like, writing style that is, in my opinion, perfect for young adult and college student readers. I say this because the journal entries and IMs that the story is told through sound as if actual teenagers were writing or speaking.
Instant Messenger
“AugieHwong: This is a crisis. I need you to be a supportive brother for a minute.
TCKeller: Oh. Like I’m usually the other kind.
AugieHwong: What would you say if I told you I think I like boys? I mean LIKE boys. I mean the way you like Alé?
TCKeller: “Duh”?
AugieHwong: That’s it??
TCKeller: Depends. Who’s the boy?
AugieHwong: Andy Wexler.
TCKeller: The jury’s out. I need to see how he treats you first. Hey, listen. Even if I don’t win a Tommy Award for Best Supporting Actor, this inaugural address may be the most bitchin’ thing I’ve ever done in my life—including the back-to-back home runs in fourth grade. Pop says I’m only ten steps away from the White House already. Just promise me that when I kick the bucket, you won’t let them put anything on my epitaph except “Here lies T.C Keller. Tempered by a hard and bitter peace,” (106-107).
“I was grounded for four weeks, and after that Pop asked Mrs. Jordan at the Deaf Institute if she could send us papers to fill out so we could adopt Hucky ourselves. (It was bound to happen sooner or later anyway. Even Nehi knew that.) He slept in my room for the first couple of months and then Pop and I cleared out the guest bedroom and made it Hucky H.Q. We even put in an extra bed, an extra chest of drawers, and an extra bulletin board for Mateo’s sleepovers,” (399).
~ This passage struck me because I found it extremely cute and touching that T.C. and his dad officially adopted Hucky into the family. I find their love for him very touching and sweet.
“As usual, Andy went ahead to find us seat while I stood in line at the concession counter—which gave me a good chance to get unneurotic before the movie started…Naturally by the time I got to our seats with the popcorn, the red twizzlers, the junior mints, and the slurpees, we were back to the single syllables again. “Here.” “Thanks.” “Gum?” “Sure.” If you and Beau had started out this way, you’d still be selling off your paintings.
But I finally decided to do something about it. Maybe it was because Hucky had made me realize what ginks we were or maybe it was because I knew I’d never be able to sing a torch song with any real authority until I took some affirmative action. So as soon as the lights went down, I gave my right hand permission to storm the beaches of Normandy. Which is exactly what it did. Reaching across the armrest, it deliberately took hold of Andy’s five left fingers—no accidental bumping this time, but sure and confident like it knew just what it was doing. Andy instantly squeezed back, and that’s the way we stayed for two and a half hours,” (245-246).
~ I really liked this passage because it shows a real growth in Augie and Andy’s relationship. Not only did I find it cute, but I had been waiting for a moment like this between them for a long time, so it was great for it to finally happen. It was just one of those moments in a book that are long awaited and it’s refreshing when it actually comes.
“’Ms. Andrews,’ I blurted, coming out from under the fire extinguisher while Hucky followed my cautiously, ‘My name is Anthony Keller and this is Hucky Harper. You sent him a letter, but we forgot to tell you that he thinks you are Mary Poppins, and he doesn’t understand why you haven’t come to live with him yet.’
‘I see,’ she said, looking me up and down. And then ‘Hmmmm’ when she got to Hucky…’You must be Hucky.’ Mama you should had to see the eyes-wide look on his face. It’s HER! It’s really HER!! All he could do was manage not to fall over on his six-year-old butt.
‘I think we need to have a little talk, don’t you?’ she asked… And when she stood up to take his hand, he turned to me in shock. Is this really happening?!” (373-374).
~ I chose this passage because it is one of my favorite parts of the book. I find it utterly amazing that T.C. managed to get Hucky to meet Julie Andrews, AKA Mary Poppins, who Hucky believes is real and idolizes. I think that this is one of the sweetest things that I’ve ever seen someone do for a kid—an orphan, deaf-mute kid no less.
Theme: I think that the primary theme of this book is friendship/love. All throughout the book love and friendships are the focus: whether it be T.C. and Alé’s relationship or Augie and Andy’s, the friendship of T.C., Augie, and Alé, or even their unofficial sibling relationship with Hucky.
Grade: (A+) I give this book an A+ because I enjoyed every minute of reading it and often wished that it would never end. The story was very touching and cute, but not overly so. It was also pretty realistic, so it wasn’t one of those books that you question the plot or events. I recommend this book to everyone because I really believe that most people would enjoy it. It is currently one of my favorite books.