America saw him throw tantrums when he was 5 — will he ever change?
Reality Boy — A. S. King
Under-the-Radar Book of the Week
Reality Boy by A. S. King
What It’s About
Gerald is angry, and always has been. Or, that’s what everyone in the country thinks. He knows exactly when he became angry: the moment the camera crews stepped into his house at 5 years old and began filming his life. He’s almost 18 now, but the show followed him everywhere, costing him friends, a typical education, and opportunities he may have gotten otherwise.
It doesn’t matter that he wants to be normal, have a crush, go to school like everyone else. They’re all waiting for him to snap, waiting for his next temper tantrum, and sometimes, he feels like he wants to give it to them.
Even though he wants so much more from his life, no one wants to give him the chance because all they see is the temper-tantrum-throwing boy from that one TV show all those years ago.
Why You Should Read It
Characters that aren’t perfect are the most interesting to read about. Gerald is just a guy struggling with his childhood and a family that doesn't know how to deal with its problems upfront. I was always rooting for him, even when I definitely did not agree with his actions. Every person in the book is flawed in a huge way, and I loved that each person had to deal with it or not deal with it. Some did and some didn't. Because that's the way life works.
This was a stunning work that dealt a lot with psychological aftermath of what the media does to a family and to individuals, as well as an exploration of family struggles when members are unstable.
Who Will Like It
With documentaries like Shiny Happy People and books like I’m Glad My Mom Died making waves in showcasing how toxic the television industry can be, especially for kids, this is a great follow-up to those if you’re interested in the subject.
If you read a previous recommendation of mine, The Book of Essie, following an evangelist reality TV family, and enjoyed that aspect, you’ll like this one as well. You’ll also like this book if you like emotionally charged, character novels like John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down.
Giveaway!
If you missed Friday’s post, you can earn a chance to win an ARC of The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp, a murder mystery set in a house share for elderly folks. All you have to do is visit the post below, leaving a comment there letting me know you’d like to read it (and be a subscriber, of course!).
More Books
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
Read about the dark history of an Oregon desert town and the ghosts that haunt it
Read a Renaissance Faire rom-com with grumpy pirates and pub songs
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I’d love to read it--always looking for a good mystery.
I loved I’m Glad My Mom Died, so I’ll check this out. I’m looking for a good new mystery series. Big fan of Christie, Tana French and Jane Harper. Any suggestions?
And yes I’d love to be entered to win The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp.