Many readers will be able to relate to the main character, Angelo, who comes from a relatively poor, dysfunctional family, as he navigates the perilous waters of his freshman year at high school and finds himself dealing with a failed love interest, bullies, thoughts of suicide, and hopes for a wealthy future.
Middle-teen readers through adults will enjoy HEIST SCHOOL FRESHMEN, especially all of the head-spinning drama. The caustic commentary, such as “The Trumbell Twins. I hated their identical faces, especially their cavemen jaws and fat necks” makes this book tick and hold the reader’s attention from start to finish.
Overall, the original storyline and snarky dialogue are engaging and move at a fast clip. The characterization is usually pretty good but it could use a little work — at times, Angel’s and his high school colleagues’ diction is far too mature and educated for the characters portrayed. (Frankly, at times, the dialogue sounded like that of high school teachers, not students.) Regardless, the main character, Angel, comes across as an endearing young man and will charm readers with his exploits, foibles, and candidness. This book definitely has the potential to be made into a movie or television series.
HEIST SCHOOL FRESHMEN is a well-written YA story about a young man’s adventures during his freshman year. The author succeeds in capturing the essence of the drama, ups and downs, naiveté and insecurities of the high school years in a way that readers, mid-teens and older, can relate to.
Reviewed by Robin Carr for IndieReader