About the Book
Abram and Juliette know each other. They've lived down the street from each other their whole lives. But they don't really know each other at least, not until Juliette's mom and Abram's dad have a torrid affair that culminates in a deadly car crash. Sharing the same subdivision is uncomfortable, to say the least. They don't speak.
Fast-forward to the neighborhood pharmacy, a year later. Abram decides to say hello. Then he decides to invite Juliette to Taco Bell.
To her surprise as well as his, she agrees. And the real love story begins.
"
About the Author :
Jay Clark is the author of The Edumacation of Jay Baker, which was named a Bank Street College Best Book. He's also a random blogger. Surprisingly popular entries like "How to stop hating people in 21 minutes" and "8 tips for posting your best selfie yet!" can be found on his website. He lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Review :
"Clark crafts a believably tentative relationship between these two damaged teens, their sharp-edged humor masking the pain that they can't quite shake." - "Publishers Weekly"
Praise for "The Edumacation of Jay Baker"
I have rarely rooted for anyone--fictional or real--more than I rooted for Abram and Juliette. Jay Clark--you just wrote one of my favorite YA books ever. Thank you! Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl
Clark crafts a believably tentative relationship between these two damaged teens, their sharp-edged humor masking the pain that they can't quite shake. Publishers Weekly
Clark makes this thorny story work by creating dynamic and complex teens who help each other face their demons. . .Though the problems the teens face are myriad, the story never bogs down. Instead, the uncomfortable silences, the awkward conversations, and the slow but gradual trust that connects both the teens and their surviving parents ground the novel in the stark reality that sometimes life is full of genuine surprises. Booklist
* The magic lies in the telling . . . a narrative patter so deeply laced with groaner puns, pop-culture bombs, and warp-speed free associations that it's almost a new language. . . . Most of all, though, Jay's smarts, originality, and warmth make the old teen trope of the hot girl(s) falling for the doofus guy actually believable. Booklist, starred review on The Edumacation of Jay Baker
Readers eager to give both their hearts and their brains an energetic workout will enjoy this mash-up of rockin' comedy and problem novel. BCCB on The Edumacation of Jay Baker
Two teens embark on a romantic relationship in the wake of their parents' death. Kirkus Reviews
"
I have rarely rooted for anyone--fictional or real--more than I rooted for Abram and Juliette. Jay Clark--you just wrote one of my favorite YA books ever. Thank you! "Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl"
Clark crafts a believably tentative relationship between these two damaged teens, their sharp-edged humor masking the pain that they can't quite shake. "Publishers Weekly"
Clark makes this thorny story work by creating dynamic and complex teens who help each other face their demons. . .Though the problems the teens face are myriad, the story never bogs down. Instead, the uncomfortable silences, the awkward conversations, and the slow but gradual trust that connects both the teens and their surviving parents ground the novel in the stark reality that sometimes life is full of genuine surprises. "Booklist"
* The magic lies in the telling . . . a narrative patter so deeply laced with groaner puns, pop-culture bombs, and warp-speed free associations that it's almost a new language. . . . Most of all, though, Jay's smarts, originality, and warmth make the old teen trope of the hot girl(s) falling for the doofus guy actually believable. "Booklist, starred review on The Edumacation of Jay Baker"
Readers eager to give both their hearts and their brains an energetic workout will enjoy this mash-up of rockin' comedy and problem novel. "BCCB on The Edumacation of Jay Baker"
Two teens embark on a romantic relationship in the wake of their parents' death. "Kirkus Reviews""
"Two teens embark on a romantic relationship in the wake of their parents' death." - "Kirkus Reviews" "I have rarely rooted for anyone--fictional or real--more than I rooted for Abram and Juliette. Jay Clark--you just wrote one of my favorite YA books ever. Thank you!" --Jerry Spinelli, author of "Stargirl""Clark crafts a believably tentative relationship between these two damaged teens, their sharp-edged humor masking the pain that they can't quite shake." - "Publishers Weekly"
Praise for "The Edumacation of Jay Baker"
* "The magic lies in the telling . . . a narrative patter so deeply laced with groaner puns, pop-culture bombs, and warp-speed free associations that it's almost a new language. . . . Most of all, though, Jay's smarts, originality, and warmth make the old teen trope of the hot girl(s) falling for the doofus guy actually believable." --"Booklist," starred review
"Readers eager to give both their hearts and their brains an energetic workout will enjoy this mash-up of rockin' comedy and problem novel." --BCCB
"I have rarely rooted for anyone--fictional or real--more than I rooted for Abram and Juliette. Jay Clark--you just wrote one of my favorite YA books ever. Thank you!" --Jerry Spinelli, author of "Stargirl
"Praise for "The Edumacation of Jay Baker"
* "The magic lies in the telling . . . a narrative patter so deeply laced with groaner puns, pop-culture bombs, and warp-speed free associations that it's almost a new language. . . . Most of all, though, Jay's smarts, originality, and warmth make the old teen trope of the hot girl(s) falling for the doofus guy actually believable." --"Booklist," starred review
"Readers eager to give both their hearts and their brains an energetic workout will enjoy this mash-up of rockin' comedy and problem novel." --BCCB
Praise for "The Edumacation of Jay Baker"
* "The magic lies in the telling . . . a narrative patter so deeply laced with groaner puns, pop-culture bombs, and warp-speed free associations that it's almost a new language. . . . Most of all, though, Jay's smarts, originality, and warmth make the old teen trope of the hot girl(s) falling for the doofus guy actually believable." --"Booklist," starred review
"Readers eager to give both their hearts and their brains an energetic workout will enjoy this mash-up of rockin' comedy and problem novel." --BCCB
Praise for "The Edumacation of Jay Baker"
* "The magic lies in the telling . . . a narrative patter so deeply laced with groaner puns, pop-culture bombs, and warp-speed free associations that it's almost a new language. . . . Most of all, though, Jay's smarts, originality, and warmth make the old teen trope of the hot girl(s) falling for the doofus guy actually believable." --"Booklist", starred review
"Readers eager to give both their hearts and their brains an energetic workout will enjoy this mash-up of rockin' comedy and problem novel." --BCCB
* "First off: not a thing happens here that's unusual for a teen, or a teen book for that matter. Jay Baker nurses a crush on his longtime best friend, Cam; becomes an emotional mess after his parents' separation; clashes with his homecoming-queen older sister; and weathers a feud with a pushy jock who could squash him like a bug. But the magic lies in the telling. Jay, a large-hearted wiseass who's nearly impossible to dislike, has a narrative patter so deeply laced with groaner puns, pop-culture bombs, and warp-speed free associations that it's almost a new language. It's an argot he shares with vivacious Cam (whose real name, hilariously, is Cameo Appearance Parnell), but after he gets rebuffed trying to share a bit more with her, he starts seeing another cutie who's more or less the anti-Cam. While their awkward love triangle takes shape, Jay's parents get mired in their own supremely embarrassing love-life disaster. To help him out of his funk, Jay's government teacher (who can match him bon mot for bon mot) challenges him to use his considerable powers of clever to write a school blog. OK, so it's not the most thrilling goal ever, but getting there is both flippantly fun and surprisingly resistant to ironic detachment. Most of all, though, Jay's smarts, originality, and warmth make the old teen trope of the hot girl(s) falling for the doofus guy actually believable." "--Booklist"", s"tarred review
