Winger

Ryan Dean West is a 14 year old junior in high school. This puts him at an awful disadvantage, especially when it comes to his crush. He is seen as a baby amongst his peers. He also gets stuck boarding in the dormitory for troublemakers. With all of Ryan’s luck, his roommate is the school bully. As Ryan is learning the in’s and out’s of who he is, something unthinkable happens. Ryan must reanalyze everything he’s learned and thought about himself and his life.

If you are a fan of Looking For Alaska by John Green, you will love this book. The similar story of a young but smart high school boy and his quest to find out who he is, will resonate with many teen readers.

Chapter 5: What makes a book “Good”?

Theme

Self discovery is one of the most difficult rights of passage in high school. Many people struggle to find their place and figure out who they are. When you read Winger, you walk alongside Ryan, as he begins his journey to self discovery.

Smith, A. (2013). Winger. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.