This book is a bit slow, but still enjoyable. I love that it's told from a male POV- I think that will help pull in my male students. This was a light read and I found myself caring about the characters. I also really liked the relationship between the brothers.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I honestly tried a few times to read this book and could not get into it. We did, however, purchase a copy for the teen section.

If you're in the mood for something light-hearted and fun, put this on your summer reading list. It's about Drew, a boy who is resigned to being short for the rest of his life (he even got a tiny car for his birthday). But when he unexpectedly starts to grow, his entire world changes—for better and for worse.

I liked a lot of things about this book. First, I really enjoyed the light, enjoyable "voice" of the story. It's funny and a bit sarcastic and just plain fun. Drew and his stepbrother have a fantastic relationship and I loved the dynamic between those two boys.

While this book probably won't knock your socks off, it's a breath of fresh air in the YA arena. It's told from a boy's POV, which is rare, and it's funny, which is also a rarity. I love that it's an upbeat, contemporary story that teenagers will relate to. It deals with an issue that most teens deal with at one point or another (being too short or too tall).

If you're looking for a quick, easy read with lots of humor, this is your book.

Source: NetGalley.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *

DNF @ 25%

This book is so, so slow. 25% in and we are still just on day one. He hasn't started growing, only complained about his circumstances, which I mean, totally should, but it feels like all that has happened is complaining and being told background information. With this much page-time spent on just one day, it really made me wonder how everything else was going to fit in-- keeping to this pace we'd fit in 3-5 more days, right?? Maybe less because the first day wasn't even over when I put the book down. It did feel like things were finally going to get started, but by then I was too bored to keep going.

Perhaps this one will appeal more to a younger crowd, even though it feels like it might deal with some heavier topics down the line. I definitely think something is going on with Monica's home life.
I probably won't recommend this one to anyone, but the witty writing and premise may be of interest to some, so I won't write this one off entirely.

Will Daughtry is a late bloomer, just shy of 5 feet tall, and both he and his family are losing hope that he’ll ever grow. The one positive in his life are his friendships with stepbrother Will (6’3”) and Monica (5’10”) who he’s loved since age 11. After an especially upsetting 16th birthday, when he’s given a “clown car” as a gift and then catches Will and Monica kissing, he gets really angry. Virtually overnight, he begins to grow…at a rate of 2 inches a month. For the first time in his life, he’s happy and finally “seen,” by girls and by coaches. By the time he tops 7 feet, his “nice guy” persona is dissolving and it’s starting to affect his relationship with Drew and Monica. Add to this mix a social media troll who’s threatening him and stirring up the pot, and a day of reckoning is imminent.

There’s so much to recommend this book. With its humor, focus on sports (primarily basketball and surfing) and the male protagonist POV, it will appeal to teenage boys. Brown’s extensive use of gorilla interaction as a metaphor for the three protagonists’ relationship highlights just how little we’re removed from apes. All characters are well fleshed-out, and Monica is a strong, fearless female. In a YA field populated with themes of death, abuse, parental neglect and suicidal ideation, it’s refreshing to have a story that addresses these issues without them taking center stage. The only minor cons are that there is no answer as to what is causing Will’s growth spurt and whether it will stop, his whining and callous behavior, and Tolkien references that will stump those not familiar with his stories. Ultimately, its messages are “Be careful what you wish for; it might just happen” and that nice guys don’t always finish last. As Will observed while watching the beta male gorilla Mike, “Was Mike nice because that was his nature? Or because that was his context?” and what happens when the context changes?

Recommended for ages 13 and up with minimal swearing and violence (except between gorillas) and sexual references that are alluded to but not described.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Knopf Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

At first blush, it seems like the vehicle for change Brown is using is a simple one: Will begins to grow and it changes his relationship with is brother and his best friend. But as the plot progresses, we realize that the issues that come to light have been simmering for years, things they've all been pushing down and his change in stature causes them to reevaluate the balance of power between them and address those old issues. It's an intriguing exploration that is clearly paralleled in the gorillas. In both situations, Brown shows how a small change can have a devastating impact on an environment. The ending is somewhat ambiguous, creating a source for discussion and potentially for frustration.

Will is short--really short--until one day when he isn't anymore. A huge growth spurt means that Will goes from the shortest kid in his grade to the tallest. And suddenly, his height isn't the only thing that's changing. Friendships, his place at school, and more have all be thrown into flux. In a witty and funny first person narrative, Scott Brown introduces a character that grows as much inside as he does outside--which is a lot.

This is a fun contemporary read for teen boys and girls. The male protagonist will pull in male readers but I think all teens will enjoy reading this light coming of age story. Not every teen deals with extreme issues and although the main character , Will is dealing with extremes, in regards to height , this book is really more about something anyone can relate to- fitting in, feeling self conscious in your skin, and believing others could like you for you.

(My 15 year old also read this e-galley and enjoyed it as well. He found it pretty "real" even though the premise was unbelievable..)

I struggled to enjoy this book. The writing was good (great even at times) but I couldn't get into the plot and the unrelenting self-absorption of the narrator and many of his fellow classmates. There was also a persistent and uncomfortable theme of "nice guys" who spend most of their time contemplating the "friend zone" and wondering why the girls in their lives aren't interested in them in the way they feel they should be. In fairness to Brown, he directly addresses these issues and unpacks them extremely well, but I still found it unsettling and unpleasant.

This was the fun, refreshing, boy protagonist book I have been looking for. Will is super likeable, and super short. Until one day he isn't. He has to navigate life through a medically impossible growth spurt; a 16 year old that went from 4'11" to over 7 feet tall in one year. He is working his way through friendship, love, sex, and family.

I loved the aspect of friends and family in this. His parents - dad Brian and step-mom Laura, are loved but still annoy him sometimes. Will is a loving and thoughtful teenager, but one still apt to make mistakes and not have a clue what is going on. There are moments I cracked up laughing, a couple I teared up, but mostly I smiled through the entire book. I will be recommending this for next year's Rhode Island Teen Book Award.

I love Scott Brown's writing style: interesting vocabulary, descriptive metaphors, a glimmer of breaking the fourth wall, and a bit of dry, subtle humor. It works. If you don't like being given one of the funniest lines of a movie during a trailer, don't read the next part of this sentence since I'm going to ruin a chuckle for you: car mitzvah, when you turn 16 and get your driver's licence and your parents buy you a car. OK- you can resume reading. I also like that Brown gave me things to ponder, like if are there only two kinds of quests (end of chapter 2).

I do beg to differ with one factoid that seemed to play a large (pun intended) part in the plot; Will says, "Fact. Small things don't live as long." But that's not true; small dogs live longer than big dogs. Just sayin'.

Brown did a nice job of consistently characterizing each of his secondary characters; they had unique personalities. He also did well with his extended metaphor of the gorillas in the zoo at which his father worked with the three-way relationship of Will, Drew, and Monica - the three main characters. In chapter 6 Will's impending experiences are even foreshadowed by the gorilla's behavior. Some symbolism was just a little too obvious, though, like the placement of the necklace given to him by one girl when he was in the presence of another (chapter 12).

I stayed interested in how the conflicts were going to resolve themselves, but I was, unfortunately, slightly disappointed with the unfinished, happy ending. So, they all stay friends, but... What happens to Will and his XL situation? Does Monica, who is a strong character throughout the story, end up compromising her Plan? Now that Drew abandoned his Plan, where does that leave his future? I know... "the best-laid plans of mice and men..."; that's the message in itself. But I'm not sure I've been given enough information about the characters to strongly speculate about their futures. In spite of this, I enjoyed the underlying premise of, "Be careful what you wish for; you might get it."

Perfect for fans of John Green, David Arnold, and Becky Albertalli. I laughed out loud so much while reading this book! Witty humor helps Will Daughtry navigate teenage life as a shorter than average teen. However, he unexpectedly experiences a growth spurt and all the changes that come with it.

A solid, funny choice that will especially appeal to readers of Geoff Herbach. Interesting premise (what happens when a 4’11” kid has a sudden 2”+ growth spurt?), and generally good delivery. A bit heavy on the primate biology at times, but it made for an interesting parallel with the main character’s journey. There are more than a few laugh-out-loud moments and the perfect amount of raunchy humor. Will definitely purchase for my high school library.