Ginger Kid

February 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-YouTube star Hofstetter takes readers back into a time that is the most difficult: high school. In this memoir, he details his journey from public school to getting into an elite private school and trying to find his way during his formative teenage years. From having his first girlfriend and learning the ins and outs of dating, to finding new friends in his new school, Hofstetter never misses a beat, mixing humor with more serious issues, such as bullying and standing up for oneself. For those who are ready to graduate from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" who want to see a self-proclaimed nerd progress in life, this is a welcome next choice. VERDICT Told in tales of foibles and triumphs, this book is a positive example of perseverance for large high school and public library collections.-Mitchell Berman, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2018
Comedian and YouTube personality Hofstetter pens a memoir about attending a prominent Manhattan high school, where he faces bullying, overcomes shyness, finds his true friends, learns about relationships and his naivete, and discovers passions for writing and comedy.The narrative is told in first-person and in three parts: opener, feature, and headliner--the same outlined acts that make up a typical American comedy show. Hofstetter begins by depicting an easy, relaxed elementary and middle school experience in Queens, New York. As the youngest of four siblings, he tells readers, "I never realized my family didn't have money"--a detail that is contingent on where an individual lives, as Hofstetter's family of six in a three-bedroom house might seem quite luxurious to some. Dated references will be lost on young readers, but what won't be lost are the references to an often stoned teacher, minimal mentions of sex (both on the phone and in the flesh) between inexperienced teens, and weapons at school--a kid pulls out a knife on young Hofstetter twice. The redheaded, white Jewish teen begins high school attempting to keep a low profile and remain an outcast; his journey includes much work with the United Synagogue Youth and navigation of sexual politics, and by the end, readers will recognize character growth.Despite the book's occasional long-windedness and repetitiveness, some teen readers may still find themselves rooting for young Steve. (Memoir. 13-17)

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February 1, 2018
Grades 8-11 Comedian and Queens native Steve Hofstetter chronicles his difficult high-school years in this funny and heartfelt memoir. Hofstetter structures his story like the three acts that make up an American comedy show: first up is the opener (new, often overwhelmed), then the feature (the comedian who's gaining confidence but still makes mistakes), and finally the headliner (experienced and understanding). Hofstetter enjoyed middle school, but when he entered Manhattan's Hunter College High School, everything changed. He became a scared, nearly silent kid desperate to escape the attention of bullies, and he developed an eating disorder ( I'd unknowingly become my own bully ). He humorously recounts unrequited crushes, mean girls, dating disasters, college-admissions anxiety, and threats from a knife-wielding student (a future famous hip-hop rapper). Eventually Hofstetter stopped worrying about what others thought of him and became an improv addict, softball coach, actor, homecoming king, and his class' graduation speaker. Many chapter titles are amusing and often telling, and this is more upbeat and entertaining than most.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
YouTube performer and standup comedian Hofstetter was bullied in high school by classmates, unnerved by family dysfunction, and socially insecure with the opposite sex. Structured to resemble the acts in a comedy show, his entertaining and honestly written (though sometimes repetitive) memoir mines his high school, synagogue youth group, and summer camp experiences for high and low points.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)