A Roller Coaster Ride Full of Life Lessons — Me and Earl and the Dying Girl reviewed
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reviewed by Paulina
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a young adult novel about an ordinary boy who deals with his friend who gets cancer. The book is written from the perspective of Greg Gaines, a high school student who is just trying to get through his last year of high school without drawing too much attention to himself. He even develops a plan, a plan that includes befriending every social group in his school but not becoming so friendly with them that the other groups will think he belongs there. As a result, Greg doesn't have any enemies and everyone thinks he's an okay guy. What people don't know is that Greg and his best friend Earl are secret filmmakers, and they don't let anyone watch their films, because they think their films are not good enough for other people to watch. But this all changes when Rachel, a girl that Greg used to be friends with, is diagnosed with leukemia. Greg and Earl are forced to step into the spotlight, and their lives change as they realize some important truths about life.
My brother posted a list of books on Facebook that people should read if they liked The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and one of them was Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. It caught my eye because of the beautiful cover, and I immediately looked it up on the Toronto Public Library's website. I borrowed it, thinking that it was like The Fault in our Stars, but I was wrong. This book was definitely different.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is very realistic. It doesn't sugarcoat anything. It's like a roller coaster. There are times when everything is funny, and then the story goes sad, and there are times when I just wanted to punch Earl or shake some sense into Greg. But that's life, and this book is a great example of what really happens everyday to normal teenagers.
One of the things that I really liked about Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is that it emphasized the fact that we are not perfect. We do not constantly say extremely inspiring words that touch other people's lives. Usually, we're confused, and awkward, and this book says that it's okay. It's okay to be awkward. And it's alright to have those moments when you have no idea about what you're talking about. Everyone has those moments, so don't mind it too much.
So for those people who like raw and true to life stories with not sugarcoating, you're in for a treat with Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
10 thoughts on “A Roller Coaster Ride Full of Life Lessons — Me and Earl and the Dying Girl reviewed”
Does sounds like the more realistic version of The Fault in Our Stars. I might read this since it can;t disappoint compared to the sugarcoated-hormone-stuffed The Fault in Our Stars.
I don’t usually go for these kind of books, but this one seems alright. Probably will check it out.
You should! It’s really good! 😀
Yeah. I like this one more than The Fault In Our Stars. 🙂
Yes it seems like a very realistic book.
Wow, with that said. I must read this book then!
This sounds pretty good I’ll give it a try. I wonder how their film making will be effected due to the situation.
Did you happen to enjoy The Fault in Our Stars? If so, can you explain why it has aroused so many? I really don’t see it as much more than a typical romantic novel.
I didn’t think about the film making that much, perhaps you are right, I hope it does not affect it in a negative way.
I just have to say, I love the cover! So colourful!