Matt's only substitute parental caregiver, Jack, is dying of cancer and to fund their life, Matt sells drugs. Matt is intelligent but does just enough to get by in school. The school counselor assigns Matt to an after school club thinking it will help him stay on track for graduation and at that club Matt meets Amanda. Amanda befriends both Matt and Jack and Matt learns to let another person into his life.

This is well written but short and the ending seems unfinished.

The writing style was weird. I felt like the book was originally written in first person and then all the pronouns were switched.

This book was supposed to be some sort of coming of age story, but Matt's character never really changed. The turning point was when he didn't have to deal with Jack anymore--not when he decided what he wanted. He always wanted to graduate he just didn't put himself first. Matt didn't have to better his life before--he escaped his problem. Which seems awful to say under the circumstances, but he really did.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but the whole time I felt like I was being manipulated into liking the book. Like if you feel sorry enough for a character, you'll like the story. But I just didn't care enough about the characters to care about the story.

Mr. 60% is a book that is going to tug at your FEELINGS. I absolutely loved it!! It was a bit of a "pick up on a whim" sort of book and I'm so glad I did. It's heartwarming and it's really short, but packs a punch. And it's pretty gritty too, so no fluffy unicorns or rainbows here. It's about a teen who runs drugs in order to buy medication for his dying uncle. It so perfectly builds this scene of a boy and his uncle who grate against each other but LOVE each other fiercely.

I absolutely loved Matt. He's called "Mr 60%" because he does the bare minimum to get through classes. He's basically only in school so he can hook kids up with drugs = ergo to buy money for his uncle's meds. So he's a total antihero. He's closed off and silent and so so sad because everyone treats him like dirt. Everyone just think he's a no-good, loser, going-to-end-up-in-jail sort of kid and -- IT KINDA BREAKS YOU. He's also kind of sweet, but in a gruff way. The book is SO SMOL but I really cared about Matt in like a matter of heartbeats. Precious cinnamon scone.

I also adored the writing!! It was really concise, brisk, and to the point. The scenes are short and they PUNCH. I love it!!

And it showed a really gritty side of dying. Like Uncle Jack's sickness is messy and gross and here's Matt, 17, and taking care of his Uncle no matter what.

Also can we take a moment for boy-and-girl platonic friendships?!?? Matt teams up with super sweet Amanda for a school project but there is (a) no sappy insta-romance, and (b) Amanda doesn't take Matt's moodiness but she also doesn't force him to change. It's so healthy and good and I loved it.

Honestly it was moving and bittersweet and really powerful and the themes of love and family and friendship were so strong and tightly woven with moments of heartbreak and pain. A definite recommend!