I 100% bought The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe due to the dedication (which I won’t spoil here, but it’s funny, check it out). When I first started the book, I didn’t care for Norris. I put it down for a bit, then picked it up and really enjoyed it.

Norris, while a sarcastic and cynical teenager, has moved not just to a new school, but a new country in high school. I also moved schools my junior year, and it was hard. Once I thought about that, I felt a kinship with Norris and actually enjoyed most of his antics.

Norris is a complicated character. He’s going through a lot as it is, and he feels alone in the world. I was most interested in his field book, which we never got any true insight about. While I appreciated his overall growth, the ending was a bit of a drag, but also realistic. I won’t spoil things there though.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager is funny and heartfelt, and definitely worth a read.