Bianca
Written on Jun 29, 2018
A moving tale of incredible friendship for fans of Jay Asher, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and David Levithan.
It's never been easy for Finley, particularly at home. But two things keep him going: his place on the basketball team and his girlfriend, Erin - the light in even the darkest of his days.
Then Russ arrives. He answers only to Boy21, claims to be from outer space, and also has a past he wants to escape. He's one of the best high school basketball players in the country and threatens to steal Finley's starting position.
Against all the odds, Russ and Finley become friends. Russ could change everything for Finley, both for better and for worse. But sometimes the person you least expect can give you the courage to face what's gone before ...and work out where you're going next.
- ISBN10 0316127965
- ISBN13 9780316127967
- Publish Date 18 June 2013 (first published 1 January 2012)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Little, Brown & Company
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 272
- Language English
Reviews
Jo
Written on Dec 7, 2014
Having just finished reading a really moving novel, I was eager to read something equally as moving. Matthew Quick has moved me in the past, so I eagerly picked up Boy21 expecting to be blown away. I'm sad to say that I was let down.
Finley is a quiet boy living in a rough town. There are only two important things in his life; playing basket ball, and his girlfriend, Erin. When his coach turns up at his home asking for his help with a new boy at school, Russ, he doesn't know what to think. Especially as, after a trauma, Russ will only go by Boy21, and claims to be from outer space. Why on earth does Coach think he can help? And how is Finley supposed to act around a boy who seems crazy? Despite his odd behaviour, Finley finds he likes Russ, and an unlikely friendship is formed, but one with resentment. Russ is a hugely talented basketball player, and Coach wants him playing again and on the team - and that means taking Finley's spot. But soon Finley learns that some things are more important than basketball, like friendship, the ones you love, and getting over the past.
Based on the blurb alone, I didn't really fancy Boy21. I'm not into basketball, and I didn't know what to think of a guy claiming he's from space. But as it was by Matthew Quick, I decided to give it a go, as I loved Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock so much. However, Boy 21 fell pretty flat to me. Finley and Russ are supposed to be 17/18, their senior year of high school, but they both seem so young to me. And along with that, the whole book feels like it's for readers than the boys themselves.
Boy21 is set in Bellmont, a pretty rough area. Like stays with like, and so although there's no enforced segregation, the black community sticks with the black community, and the smaller Irish community sticks with the Irish community. There are also bad people, on both sides; drug dealers, people who, if they know you and like you, will "sort out" any problem you have with violence, people who it's not wise to talk about. It's a dangerous place, and you can imagine how that could make Boy21 really dark and gritty. But it's only surface stuff, we don't get into it in any deep way. Ok, so the book isn't about those people, but those people do affect the characters of the book, and there are incidents that are talked about, but it feels too soft. These are seriously awful things, but the book never gets into the seriousness of it, just how devastating it is that these things happen. People are worried about, but the actual actions themselves aren't really touched upon in much detail. It's this that gives the book the feel that it's for younger readers, that it doesn't really cover the severity of where they live.
Boy21 is another novel that deals with mental health issues, much like Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock and The Silver Linings Playbook. In this one, it's Russ creating an imaginary life where things aren't so bad, where he still has parents. Before he meets Russ, Coach tells Finley that Russ' parents were murdered not too long ago (not a spoiler, we learn very early on), and calling himself Boy21, saying he's a prototype from outer space to observe Earthling emotions before his parents pick him up in their spaceship is Russ' way of dealing with it. Finley also has his own issues too, a reason for him not talking very much. However, there's less focus on the mental health issues and more on the outward signs of them; Russ' obsession withe being from outer space, Finley's almost muteness. We find out the reasons for it all, but dealing with it feels too easy - just by the two of them becoming friends. It's a different approach to how Quick deals with the topic in Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, which again makes me feel it's for younger readers. It does make me feel a little sad though; Leonard Peacock and Finley are the same age, yet the stories deal with these issues in such different ways, and it feels like the difference is because of the intended audiences of each book.
Boy 21 wasn't really my cup of tea. It wasn't awful, but it was far from wonderful, too. Perhaps a good book to introduce early teens to mental health issues without getting too heavy.
Rinn
Written on Jun 29, 2014
I’ve noticed a formula with all of the Matthew Quick books I’ve read so far. They all feature:
- a main character (or characters) with quirky habits or personal issues that go deeper than they initially appear to
- an emphasis on the importance of family and friendship, no matter how rocky the relationship, or how difficult things might be
- a particular hobby or interest that the main character has a real passion for – and it’s not always healthy
So far this formula has worked very well for Quick – and Boy21 is no exception. It’s very much his writing – simple yet unique, thoughtful and very centered around character development. When we first meet Finley, he tells us the short, sweet story of how he met his girlfriend, Erin. They have known each other since they were kids, and their relationship to me felt so genuine. They’re so supportive of each other with their basketball careers. The one element I didn’t quite understand of their relationship was that they broke up every basketball season, then got back together after. I understand why, so they wouldn’t distract each other, but I don’t really understand how they could do it if their relationship was so great. Or maybe that’s the point, they’re so trusting and comfortable with each other that they know three months not even talking each year will be fine?
Russ’ introduction, on the other hand, was crazy. And very sad. Convinced that he is in fact an alien called Boy21, who will be ‘collected’ by his parents in a few months, he refers to Finley as ‘Earthling’ and asks him questions such as where his ‘dwelling pod’ is. Neither Finley, nor the reader, know whether Russ is actually convinced that he is an alien or whether he has just put up this very elaborate front to try and keep the pain of his parents’ murder away – and it’s heartbreaking. In his more lucid moments, Russ proves to be a great friend, and in a strange role reversal, manages to coax Finley out of his shell.
Although Finley was at times a rather spineless character – his main ambition seemed to be to follow Erin around wherever her basketball career might take her, and stay with her for the rest of his life – he was a genuinely selfless guy, prepared to help out Russ, even if his very presence threatened one of the things that meant most to Finley – his place on the basketball team.
Overall, a wonderful story about how different people deal with loss, and a great coming of age tale. My main complaint was that I was bit lost amongst the basketball terminology at times, but that’s about it! A definite recommendation for anyone who has previously enjoyed Quick’s works, as well as those of YA contemporary authors such as John Green.