Available:*
Material Type | Library | Call Number | Item Barcode | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library | TEEN FICTION BELL | 31330009339189 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Chelmsford Public Library | Y/FIC/BELL | 31480011026405 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Georgetown Peabody Library | YA FIC BELL | 32120001169448 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Haverhill Public Library | J/FIC/BELL | 31479006873904 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... North Andover - Stevens Memorial Library | J BEL | 31478003451649 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Westford - J.V. Fletcher Library | MG F BELL | 31990004520701 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Wilmington Memorial Library | KIDS FICTION BELL | 32136003258278 | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Perfect for fans of Tim Federle and Gary Schmidt, this is a hilarious and poignant tale about the trials of middle school when you're coming of age--and coming out.
Alan Cole can't stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He can't escape the wrath of his demanding father, who thinks he's about as exceptional as a goldfish. And--scariest of all--he can't let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him.
But when Nathan discovers Alan's secret, his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother must complete seven nearly impossible tasks; whoever finishes the most wins the game. If Alan doesn't want to be outed to all of Evergreen Middle School, he's got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand up to Dad. Alan's determined to prove--to Nathan, to the world, to himself--that this goldfish can learn to swim.
May the best Cole win.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-All Alan Cole has ever wanted is to blend in. He takes care not to let his cafeteria tablemates, Zack and Madison, become his friends. Alan stays quiet at the dinner table so as not to upset his irascible father, and tries to avoid his brother, Nathan, who relentlessly bullies him. One day Nathan forces Alan to play a round of Cole vs. Cole, in which each brother must attempt to accomplish as many of Nathan's proposed seven assignments as possible within a week. The tasks are tough and include learning how to swim, retrieving a slip of paper from inside a broken vending machine, and receiving a first kiss. If Alan loses, Nathan will reveal his biggest secret to the whole school: Alan is gay and has a crush on one of his male classmates. With its well-developed characters, juxtaposition of supportive adult educators and aggressive parents, and message of hope, this novel feels like a contemporary version of Gary D. Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now. Many of the book's most memorable scenes involve its lovable supporting characters, including Zack, a sweet kid who brings new meaning to the phrase free spirit, and Madison, who is named after three U.S. presidents and feels that his name comes with a responsibility to speak as eloquently as possible at all times. VERDICT A strong debut; recommend to tweens who enjoy realistic fiction, particularly readers looking for -stories about LGBTQ kids.-Shira -Pilarski, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Washington, DC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
With his popular older brother Nathan bullying every single friend Alan has ever had, life in middle school feels bleak, twisted, and mixed up. Alan also has to hide his enthusiasm for his art projects, the only thing that makes school bearable, from his bullying brother. The fact that his own father believes art is a waste of time doesnt help. In fact, Alan believes he needs to conceal many things about himself from a lot of different people, especially the fact that he is gay. When Nathan threatens to reveal this fact to Alans crush unless Alan competes with him in a rigged set of tasks he has no chance of winning, Alan is forced to find allies. This book is the Labors of Hercules for the middle-school set, complete with underwear jokes. Alans biggest challenge, however, isnt completing one of Nathans odious tasks; it is understanding the generational pattern of abuse in his own family. Although the books tone seesaws too often between wacky and serious, debut author Bell has written a compelling story that examines homophobic fathers and families and still manages to show Alan a way to see himself as a valuable member of a community--as an artist, even a brave artist. ed spicer (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Alan Cole starts out as a coward but doesn't end as one in this harrowing but inspiring debut. White seventh-grader Alan's home life has taught him that it's best to stay out of the way. He conceals his crush on Connor Garcia. He doesn't want friends but eats lunch at the Unstable Table with Madison Truman, who's bullied about his weight, and Zack Kimble, who cheerfully lives by his own rules. He tries to avoid abuse from his father and violence from his brother Nathan. His mother is a largely passive figure, though she does shed some (unsatisfying) light on the source of their familial trauma. Nathan, who is both sympathetic and frightening as a victim and perpetrator of abuse, wants to crush his brother once and for all in an ongoing contest Nathan calls Cole vs. Cole. As the brothers struggle through their list of tasks for this particularly trying game of CvCfrom getting kissed to standing up to their fatherAlan realizes his own potential for strength, the value of friendship, and the warped reasoning behind his father's rage. Alan's burgeoning gay identity is only a small part of his larger angst, and his slow but steady growth from cowed endurance to self-assured advocacy makes for a rewarding, if at times difficult, read. The intensity of the family relationships is so effectively rendered that this book has the potential to appeal to older teens as well as a middle school audience. The potential horrors of white, middle-class, suburban public school are well-documented and creatively managed here, though readers could easily come away either contented or depressed. (Fiction. 11-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Twelve-year-old Alan Cole has a secret: he's gay. Unfortunately, his vicious older brother, Nathan, has guessed the truth and uses it to force Alan to play a game of Cole versus Cole, in which the brothers must complete a list of seven seemingly impossible tasks within a week. The first one to complete the list (pass the swimming test, become the most well- known kid in school, get your first kiss, etc.) is the victor. If Nathan wins, he will out Alan; if Alan wins, Nathan will grant him a favor. Alas, one of the tasks is standing up to their father, a monster who subjects the boys to terrible verbal abuse. Nathan isn't much better, though his abuse is physical, as he routinely batters his brother. Unfortunately, the two, father and son, are so awful they are more caricatures than characters, and they come close to turning drama into melodrama. Nevertheless, introverted artist Alan is a fully developed and quite appealing character. Readers will care what happens to him as he struggles to come of age.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2017 Booklist