About the Book
-
Author:
- John Corey Whaley
- Genres:
- Boy-Girl Romance
- Science Fiction
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Ken-tastic
BFF Charm: Sassy Gay Friend
Talky Talk: He Said They Say
Bonus Factor: Frozen Heads
Relationship Status: Head Over Heels
Cover Story: Ken-tastic
Um, this cover is obnoxiously bright with a punny tagline and a plot-accurate doll (sorry — action figure). OBVIOUSLY, I LOVE IT.
The Deal:
After his body was almost entirely ravaged by cancer, sixteen-year-old Travis Coates opts for a radical new treatment… in which his head got chopped off, cryogenically frozen, and then surgically reattached to another dude’s body five years later. (So, y’know, your run-of-the-mill operation.)
But the world that Travis left behind is not the one that he returns to. It’s like a reverse Wooderson: everyone else got older, and Travis stayed the same age. But how do you go back to your life when everyone else has moved on without you?
BFF Charm: Sassy Gay Friend
Truthfully, I would TOTALLY make out with Travis. Hot, funny, and fan of ’80s music? YES PLEASE. Except Travis is having a tough time letting go of the past; understandable, since he has to process five years’ worth of change in a short time. Being displaced from your own life must suck, but Travis just exerts so much energy trying to shove everyone back into the roles he’s familiar with.
I mean, DUDE. Look at your (awesome) life! Look at your (terrible) choices! You literally have a new lease on life, but you won’t be able to enjoy it if you’re always dwelling on things beyond your control. Or make out with someone else if you’re obsessed with getting back together with your now-adult ex-girlfriend.
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Once upon a time, Cate and Travis were one of those inseparable and adorable high school couples. Not even his deteriorating health could keep them apart. Nowadays, Cate is a grownup (although I’ve reached the age at which I think of 21-year-olds as babies) and Travis is not. Cate’s also in a serious relationship that Travis takes anything but seriously, because C + T = 4EVAAAAA. I get that he’s having a hard time letting go of the relationship — esp. since it wasn’t so long ago to him that they were so in love — but the unrelenting pursuit is not so much romantic as it is disrespecting Cate’s wishes. Travis, there is no layer of subtext in which she’s begging you to keep trying. Even if you invoke Tears for Fears in your efforts.
Talky Talk: He Said They Say
It might not seem like a long time, but a lot can happen in five years. As Travis reacquaints himself with the world, he’s discovering that totally bizarre-to-him concepts like social media has become the norm. Travis’ insights are spot-on and hilarious, as are his musings on things like farts and his new equipment. (Not going to lie, I had wondered how far into the book it’d take for the latter to get a mention. I wasn’t kept in suspense for long.)
And even though it’s true to how some real people speak, I couldn’t stop the Mr. DeMartino eye twitches every time Travis introduces some tidbit or anecdote. I can’t help it; ambiguous subjects in sentences give me Gossip Girl flashbacks.
Bonus Factor: Frozen Heads
I love an outlandish premise that provides the framework for a story without overshadowing it. The weird science here def. fits the bill.
Relationship Status: Head Over Heels
Sure, I have a few quibbles with this book, but those don’t even matter because we have so much fun together. I mean, it’s already moved in with me, so I’m definitely in it for the long haul.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Simon & Schuster, and then I bought my own afterwards. I received neither money nor froyo for writing this review (dammit!). Noggin is available now.
