Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe is a wonderful coming of age, seeing the light kind of book that explores the feelings of teenagers as well as the assumptions we all make about other people.

Ok, this may be dating myself, but when Dawson's Creek first came out there was all this buzz about how the characters all talked using this ridiculous vocabulary and convoluted, overly-pretentious sentences and sounded like pretty much no teenager ever. And it wasn't just the teenage characters, it was all the characters. They all spoke with one voice, and that voice was absurdly unrealistic.

And it was also kind of cool and part of Dawson's Creek's charm.

The same thing happens here. Every single character is an incredibly witty wordsmith and they all speak in exactly the same way. It's so far from realistic, but it's also a big part of why I started and continued reading. If the book hadn't been written in this style, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading it.

The second reason I enjoyed the book is the equally ridiculous 1990s teenage movie vibe where the characters have a mission and the whole school kumbayas in the end. There's even something called a Sermon Showdown. And the whole school gets in on it and it is drop-the-mic epic like when Kat reads her poem about the 10 reasons she hates Heath Ledger or when Laney Boggs walks down the stairs. Yeah. I'm simultaneously appalled and enthralled.

There were some pretty heavy topics like suicide and abusive relationships and drug use and, wow, yeah, now that I think about it this book is stuffed with a whole host of Very Special Episode topics. And it works about as well as it did when TGIF tried to smush together levity and Serious Issues. It works, and it also doesn't work at all. What did work for me were the very contrived but very aw-inducing friendships that were formed between the jock and the nerd and the jock, nerd, and curmudgeonly old man. See what I mean? Sooo predictable, trite, and ridiculous, but also, well, it works.

I don't really know who this book is written for. It's filled with references and elements to totally resonate with someone who grew up in the 1990s (they even go to a video store), but does that work for actual teens now? I don't know.

Bottom line

If you're looking to fill that 90s teen rom-com void, then Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe is a good pick. It's super long, but short chapters, punchy writing, and the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink jammed in makes for a fast read. I enjoyed reading it, but I don't know that I'd reread it. 3.5 stars

4.5 stars. This book sucked me in from the very beginning. I thought it was fast-paced and funny despite the dark subjects it tackles. There were a lot of great quotes and language, and it felt a lot like a John Green book for most of it. While I enjoyed the pop culture references and understood them, I am not a big <i>2001</i> or Tarantino fan, so large passages devoted to those subjects fell flat to me. To some, the complex issues presented in the book might seem like a lot to take on (domestic abuse and bullying, plus drug/alcohol use, plus religion, plus LGBT issues, plus body positivity, plus death and suicide), but I don't think it was overly cliched or felt like there was too many dramatic topics.

*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Honestly.... I'm blown away right now.

I requested this book, but by the time it came for me to read I was uneasy about reading it. I'm so glad I bit the bullet because I blew through this book and laughed my ass off at some points.

At first, the book was difficult for me to read because Cliff is going through such a rough patch in his life. His brother committed suicide, people at school make fun of him constantly, he has no friends, and his dad beats him when he isn't happy. Life sucks. When Aaron comes out of his coma, the book picks up. Cliff grows into himself, gains friends, and finds a purpose in life. Of course, the purpose isn't easy and they make mistakes along the way. I'm glad they made mistakes, by the way, it made them seem more realistic. Who knows how to make a bully stop bullying or a drug dealer find a better path in life? It takes some time to figure out.

Aaron and Cliff are a hoot. I should have highlighted the part because I can't remember it now, but I laughed and laughed and laughed. Wow, I needed that laugh. I almost cried. The boys grew on me. They aren't perfect-- no one is, but they have their quirks and traits which I could connect with.

Through working on this list, some pretty big issues come to light and are talked out as well. These issues, such as living with epilepsy, lgbt rights, drug addiction, and bullying, aren't always the main focus and might not be dealt with in a complete manner. Perhaps, the conclusions were too easy or not talked too much about.

I love this book. LOVE THIS BOOK. I'm going to recommending this book to everyone. Please go read it. It is so amazing.

Thank you to Disney and Netgalley for the advance Kindle copy of this 5/22 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for Neanderthal. At least, that’s what everyone at his school calls Cliff, since he’s giant and pretty much a social outcast. He generally stays to himself, avoiding his explosive father and mourning his brother’s suicide. However, when the quarterback of the football team returns to school after a head injury and tells Cliff that he saw God, got a to-do list from Him, and needs Cliff’s help, Neanderthal’s life changes in ways he never expected. I highly, highly recommend this to readers in grades 9+.

It confused me to why Cliff was so concerned of Aaron not being in class that he went to the Principals office. I felt as though Cliff wanted revenge but then was more concerned about why Aaron wasn’t in school.

This is the kind of book that you want to race through to find the answers at the end, then feel bad that you didn't take enough time to enjoy the ride.

If you're looking for a big, bold story with a plot that packs an emotional punch -- and uses a ton of swear words -- check out Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe. The story's hero is a larger than life underdog main character and the plot that involves a plan handed down directly from God to his polar opposite to team up and fix their high school.

What I loved about the book: A strong but flawed male main character, powerful, emotional writing, set in a wonderfully hopeless small town. The author bravely tackles religion, suicide, fitting in, standing out, first love, hate, bullying, and acceptance while weaving a fast-paced, intriguing tale. He also weaves in some awesomely entertaining pop culture and cult classic movie references. Mr. Norton really "gets" teens -- the way they think and act and react and interact -- in a way that shows he has spent a lot of time working with kids and understanding them. Overall, a good choice for a mature, older teen reader.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but . . . I really loved it!

The plot is certainly different from anything else I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot). 6’ 6”, 250-pound Cliff “Neanderthal” Hubbard is a huge guy and a very unhappy one. He’s a misfit at school, and his home life isn’t any better, with a father who is an abusive alcoholic and a brother who committed suicide. So, Cliff is taken aback when Aaron Zimmerman, quarterback and the most popular guy in school, comes to talk to him following a near-death experience. He’s absolutely shocked when Aaron tells him that God spoke to him while he was in a coma and gave him a list of tasks to accomplish to make their high school a better place—and that Cliff is supposed to help him. However, Aaron’s story has so many quirky details that echo things he and his brother Shane said and did, Cliff finds himself agreeing to work with Aaron. As the two of them try to follow God’s list, Cliff becomes friends with Aaron and other students and starts to find new meaning in life after Shane’s loss. But changing an entire high school . . . well, that’s not exactly an easy task.

So, what did I love about this book? Cliff is a terrific character; he’s the kind of person who protects his huge heart by pretending not to care, until his defenses get breached. The supporting characters are almost all equally great, but I particularly liked Cliff’s girlfriend, Tegan, who’s caring but tough, just like Cliff. (Seriously, she calls Cliff “princess” and threatens to ravish him. I loved it.) And while the novel has plenty of sad moments, it’s also funny. Like, laugh-out-loud funny. I mean, when Aaron tells another character, “We’re on a mission from God,” I had to giggle, just because of the reference. (Leaving that line out would have been a crime, by the way.) That’s not funniest bit, either, not by a long shot.

Is the story realistic? No, obviously not, since it’s about two guys trying to follow a list of directives from God delivered while one of them is in a coma. But it’s unrealistic in the best way—the author creates the kind of world that we ought to live in. The takeaway message for me was in a line that gets repeated several times: “Sometimes we get so caught up in the things we’ve got to do that we forget about the people.” This novel is about affirming that people matter, that we should all take a little more time to care about each other rather than getting wrapped up in ourselves. That’s a message I think it would benefit a lot of people to hear these days.

If the story I’ve described here sounds at all appealing, read this book! I highly, highly recommend it.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think teen readers would love it as well.

The story centers on a larger high school boy, Cliff Hubbard, whose older brother and best friend committed suicide almost a year ago. Cliff becomes unlikely friends with golden boy Aaron after a near death experience leaves Aaron with a list from God. To be clear, while this book does discuss religion, it is not a religious or Christian book.

The writing was witty and fun, and it was very easy to get sucked into Cliff and Aaron's plan to change their high school. I enjoyed the writing style immensely and liked how the book featured a little suspense among the river of excellent pop culture references.

It's an appealing book, and I will be seeking out other books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my copy.

Cliff Hubbard, the gargantuan 250 pound social reject known as Neanderthal, is suspended from school after he gets into a fight with the popular star of the football team who continually harasses and torments him. Cliff is beyond surprised when Aaron Zimmerman sits next to him at lunch a week later with a List from God. Aaron, recovering from a brain injury that put him in a coma for a few days, swears he saw God, who gave him a list of five things to fix at Happy Valley High School. God also told Aaron that Cliff is the person he needs to help him out with this task. When Aaron tells Cliff that life is a door to the universe and that God has the voice of Morgan Freeman, it seems to Cliff to be a direct message from his beloved older brother, Shane, who died the year before. Cliff reluctantly agrees and the two boys are off to stop some bullies, connect with a cantankerous teacher and hopefully make their school suck less.
Some of the plot developments in the novel are a bit too coincidental and convenient to ring true. The quick transition of the boys’ relationship from mortal enemies to best friends and Cliff’s social transformation from bullied loser to hero test the bounds of credibility. Many of the characters are stock stereotypes –the misunderstood loner, the jock jerks, the uptight small-town Christian teens, and the rebellious and tough girl with a heart of gold. However it is still an enjoyable and touching read, exploring so many issues that an American teenager in a small town might face –dysfunctional families, grief, popularity and fitting in, acceptance and connection. And the main character Cliff is so thoughtful, his ruminations and abundance of terrific quotes and pop culture references provide insight and hope about his depressing circumstances. Funny and honest, edgy with foul language and a dark comedic side, recommended for older teens.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me with an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Oh, wow.But...

So I'd say it's a 3.5.

Cliff is big, quite big, and thus he's called Neanderthal and has no friends, but his brother who is now dead. He knows high school is terrible and his school is especially problematic, but he had never considered he could do something about it until golden boy Aaron comes back from a coma with a list of tasks sent by God. Who, by the way, also said Cliff would help him accomplish them. It does sound crazy, but there's just something to Aaron's story...

This was very different. Cliff has a unique voice I haven't found in any YA's so far. Also the style of the story is very dynamic, I almost felt as if I was watching a movie. This made for most of the fun in the reading, imagining how it would be in the movie. It's a very visual story, I'd say.


I liked how Cliff gets to know people better, see that his actions were also a part of the problem and thus he was a part of the solution as well. It's a nice tale, though it does get cheesy.


The thing is that the book was too long. It is indeed uplifted but not enough that I didn't drag at times.


This doesn't deny that it's well written and planned. I liked all the steps Cliff has to take until he finally gets it. Also, Cliff's friendship with Aaron was a highlight. They were so cute together I almost hoped they'd fall in love. Silly me, but they were that cute. By the way, I wasn't expecting but we get some (hetero but still) romantic scenes. I'm still more in favor of the boys, I apologize, but I did have a silly grin during the actual couple's scenes.

In sum, this should have been more entertaining and it could be less cheesy, but it's still a nice story.

Title: Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe
Author: Preston Norton
Genre: YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

Cliff Hubbard tries to stay in the background at Happy Valley High School, a difficult task for someone who’s 6’6”, 250 pounds, and called Neanderthal by the whole school. Cliff’s life sucks: he has no friends and his home life in a ratty trailer park has only gotten worse since his older brother committed suicide last year. He can’t stand the popular kids, and he doesn’t even know what to say to the druggies who hang around outside of school.

The guy he hates the most is Aaron Zimmerman, the perfect star quarterback who can do no wrong. All Cliff wants is to beat that smug look off Aaron’s face. Until Aaron has a near-death experience and returns to school with a message: while unconscious, he saw God, who gave him a list of things to do to make Happy Valley better…and Cliff is the only one who can help him.

To his own surprise, Cliff agrees, and he and Aaron start on the List which includes the meanest English teacher ever, a computer hacker intent on exposing the entire school’s secrets, the local drug dealers, the school’s most sadistic bully, and a group of teens who are Christian in name only. But soon Cliff will realize the List is more personal than he ever suspected—and he must act if he’s to prevent tragedy from striking Happy Valley High again.

I’m just going to say it: I LOVED this book! I generally prefer female YA protagonists, but Cliff was wonderful! His voice and humor brought this story to life, and I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do next. Cliff’s family life is sad and hard, and I felt so sorry for him at times I wanted to cry. But at heart, he’s such an optimistic, good-hearted person. Even the minor characters in this book are vivid (and somewhat over-the-top, making them completely realistic), and I loved every page.

(Galley provided by Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.)

I really enjoyed this book. It was thought provoking without being preachy, entertaining not heavy handed. A great read.

My thoughts are somewhat mixed regarding this book. I really had no trouble reading it and did enjoy the story but it was missing that extra spark that it would have needed to make it great. It was a book that was pretty easy to set aside because I never felt completely invested in the story. There were a lot of issues address in this story and in some ways it felt like nothing went beyond the surface level. I did find the book entertaining and am glad that I decided to pick it up.

Cliff is huge which is one of the reasons that his classmates refer to him as Neanderthal. He leads a rather solitary life and is dealing with the loss of his brother not too long ago. Cliff and Aaron are not friends at the start of this book. Aaron is the popular quarterback so he has very little in common with Cliff . When Aaron has a near death experience, he partners with Cliff to fulfill a to-do list that he received from God. The list is very specific and everything on it is tied to their high school. If they can accomplish all of the tasks, the school will undoubtedly benefit from their efforts.

This book touches on so many issues. I actually think that it would have improved the story if fewer issues were dealt with but in greater detail. Cliff and Aaron are not only dealing with their list but they are also developing relationships including their own friendship. Some of the items on the list sound almost impossible and other will require some investigation before they can even begin.

I liked the characters but I never felt like I completely connected with them. The book is told from Cliff's point of view and I didn't feel like I got to know any of the other key players beyond the surface level. Even during some parts of the book that were more emotional, I found that I was rather unmoved. I think I would have liked this book a lot more if I had been able to develop an emotional connection with any of the characters.

I did enjoy the story and thought that it had a lot of unique aspects. I do think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one a bit more than I did. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from Preston Norton in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley.

Cliff Hubbard, nicknamed Neanderthal, is a huge kid, 6'6", 250 and no he doesn't play football, actually he hates football and especially the star quarterback. But when said quarterback comes back to school after a accident with claims of a near death experience in which God himself told him he needs to team up with Neanderthal to complete this check list of things that will make their high school a better place for everyone. A lot of things change, but you will have to read the book to see if they change for the better or not.

This was a really good book, I know the cover is a bit different as is the name but this is one book you do not want to judge by the cover, it has a strong and powerful story inside that is amazing a nd wonderful for all teens to read, the troubled or the popular, I think any and all can find themselves in one character or another and see how it is they need to be to make things better for others, like I said this is a very powerful book for all, so take the chance on the insides of this interestingly named book, I don't think you will regret it.

This will appear on my blog on June 5th

Great book! Saw it recommended during a Webinar and was not disappointed when I finally got a chance to read it. It's full of heart and you'll fall in love with all the characters. Amazing plot done in a unique way. I recommend this one to everyone!

This book is not the most light-hearted of teen fiction, but the caper-like feel certainly gives readers a reprieve from the heavy topics. 

**Trigger warning for suicide talk**

Cliff, commonly known to Happy Valley High School, is often referred to as Neanderthal, both behind his back and in his presence. He is an outcast and a loner, and feels more alone than ever since his older brother committed suicide. Suddenly, one of his worst enemies shows up at school after a near death experience and claims to have received a list from God on how to save HVHS and turn it into an enjoyable place to be. Cliff accepts Aaron's proposal and embarks on one of the craziest missions of his life. 

I did enjoy the humor throughout this book. It felt very sardonic, at times overly blunt and other times overly existential, which is just my cup of tea, really. A good bit of this story felt oddly forced into feeling like the moral of the story. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying the experience of confronting bullies and turning the school into an enjoyable place to be. This almost felt like magical realism in a way. Cliff and Aaron would go somewhere, talk to people, and the next day they would disvoer that everything had changed overnight!

There was also a surprising amount of cursing and sexual innuendos that seemed to be part of some of the characters' main personality traits. I wasn't off put by it, but I could see how some people would be. The language didn't seem to be useful in furthering the plot in any way, but it is how plenty of high schoolers talk. 

Similarly, the religious aspects were not too over the top. I believe Christianity was portrayed through multiple lenses, both as something that could be positive and negative. Norton didn't get much more nuanced than that, despite the fact that he made Christianity into some of the major plot points. I think he was trying to go for a bit more nuance with Aaron's perspective, but I didn't really get it as a reader. 

**There isn't any direct description of suicide, just conversations around Cliff's brothers' deaths and Cliff's own processing of the emotional baggage. I felt as though the emotional conversations were handled very well and I'm glad Cliff went through both times when he bottled it up and times when he was able to explore and let out his emotions - I think that's very important to the conversation around suicide. **

I received a copy of Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A well written, character driven novel that handles some very serious topics with sensitivity and grace while also providing readers with a heartwarming ending without feeling didactic or cliched. Teens will easily root for Cliff and company, I know I did. A must add to YA collections, most definitely.

This might just be the most hopeful YA I’d read in a long, long time. What started as a ‘stereotypical’ high school story became everything but, when the school ‘jock’ has a near-death experience and claims God needs him and the school ‘loser’ Neanderthal to turn everything around. Every character started jumping from the page, so complex and fully realized that I couldn’t help but fall in love with them all. A beautiful book to rekindle your hope in humanity!

My first reaction when starting this read was to roll my eyes at all the High School clichés. You have the outcast who lives in a trailer park (with an abusive father), the popular jocks, the bullies, weird nerds, drug dealing teens…but then everything changes when Quarterback Aaron wakes up from his coma. He has seen the face of God – who looks remarkably like Morgan Freeman – and God has given him a list to change all this. And he specifically asked for Cliff’s help.

The author takes all these familiar YA elements and turns them upside down, making Cliff one of the most stand out characters I have ever read in contemporary YA. Still reeling from the suicide of his brother, with many questions he will never get the answer to, he joins Aaron in their mission to change the school. At times, the writing feels a lot like John Green’s, and can really pack an emotional punch; the characters are complex and have so much dimension you feel like you can really know them. It allows for the author to surprise you in so many ways.

It’s surprising in its (un)predictability. As a reader of a LOT of YAs, it’s evident an author cannot escape the formulaic nature of high school contemporaries. The way the author deftly manages to pull twists out of this is astounding. At many times I found myself wowed by the depth of the characters: how Cliff remains so hopefully through everything, how Aaron canbe such a good person and friend, how Teagan… no spoilers, I’m just still in awe!

It’s honest, irreverent, sweet, funny, incredibly sad, and still hopeful. Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe is an absolute must for fans of YA Contemporary. It’s at times brutally honest, yet so hopeful and relatable that you can’t put it down. Give yourself a mental hug and read this book.

Wow. I absolutely loved this book. It punches you right in the feels, in the best way possible. The characters were lovable and covered a very serious message, while managing to keep you cheering them on the whole time.