Kitty S. (kittynewengland) reviewed on 9/24/2016 + 116 more book reviews

SKIPPY DIES was a mixed bag for me. Pros: The author does a great job of authentically voicing so many characters, from teenaged boys to frustrated adults. There are funny sections, like the mayhem at the Halloween Hop, any interchange with acting principal Greg Costigan, and the Christmas concert. Cons: The novel is too ambitious. There are too many minor characters that distract from, rather than add to, the story. And each main character, like teacher Howard, has too many story lines--his past at the school, his infatuation with another teacher, his current girlfriend, his attempt to teach the students about world War I, etc. At more than 650 pages, SKIPPY DIES felt like a chore to get through. A more streamlined story would have been more effective.

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