From Goodreads,
"Newbery Medalist Richard Peck brings us this big-hearted novel about gay marriage from a kid’s endearing perspective.
When Archer is in sixth grade, his beloved uncle Paul marries another man—Archer’s favorite student teacher. But that’s getting ahead of the story, and a wonderful story it is. In Archer’s sweetly naïve but observant voice, his life through elementary school is recounted: the outspoken, ever-loyal friends he makes, the teachers who blunder or inspire, and the family members who serve as his role models. From one exhilarating, unexpected episode to another, Archer’s story rolls along as he puzzles over the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become…and manages to help his uncle become his best self as well."
The more I read middle school and young adult books, the more I find that I like certain authors. Alan Gratz, Kwame Alexander, and Dan Gemeinhart all rank fairly high on my favorites list. Richard Peck has slowly wormed his way into this list as well after I read A Long Way From Chicago. I was surprised that he continued writing into his 80s before he passed away. When I found this book on Scholastic Book Clubs it seemed like a good book that had a good message and good diversity.
The Best Man is told by Archer who chronicles the time leading up to him being the best man at a wedding. We learn of the mishaps throughout school and the friendships that were made and built along the way. The entire book is a journey to turn archer into the best man he can be.
I loved the LGBTQ+ support that was present in this book. It was a bit of a subtle thing at the beginning. And I honestly don't think that a middle school kid would easily pick up on the hints that were dropped throughout the book about Archer's uncle. And the entire journey that all of the men in this book were going through is a wonderful example of growing up and being the best you. Archer and his dad have to learn to cope with the loss of Archer's grandpa. And his dad has to learn how to readjust that aspect in his life. Archer and his dad both help his uncle realize what he needs and wants and how to get it. They are able to convince him to be happy with Archer's previous student teacher. The book also touches on changes that are happening at the middle school age and the differences that start to become present between boys and girls. This book was a wonderful coming of age story.
The story wasn't quite what I was expecting. The summary led me on to believe that the book was going to be about him being the best man at a wedding. The entire book focused around school and everything that went along with it. The wedding didn't happen until the final chapter of the book and even then it was a very brushed over event.
The title of this book is definitely a double meaning. Archer gets to be the best man at his uncle's wedding, but the big point is that archer learns how to be the best man. He looks up to his grandpa, his dad, his uncle, and even his student teacher. He learns what makes them the best men they can be and what he can do to be like them. This was a good book, especially for it being Peck's final book before his death in 2018. I give this 3 stars. I think this book has the perfect balance with nothing that is too in your face and overwhelming.
No comments:
Post a Comment