reply
Okay, here it is!
To start, I love how this book’s a longer one. It makes me so happy! More content than usual and a nice long read.
Chapters 1-7
I love Dex! He’s such a nice and chill character but I can tell he has a lot of built up sass. The characterizations of all the older characters are so good. The truancy officer busting into Bingo was an iconic scene. He’s a great guy. He’s so no-nonsense, too: Dex is going to school whether he likes it or not.
The picture Gord paints of THE PINES is awesome. Especially in later chapters.
Now, Gianna! Gianna Greco. One: Great name. Two: I can tell she’s nosy. Knows the way things work and don’t I love a good reporter character. I love how she always has a nose for an interesting story, and how she is so observant and takes advantage of her surroundings. She reminds me of all the good parts of Shoshanna and forgive me, but that reporter girl in SLUGFEST. A little bit of my heart was warmed because of how much time we didn’t have with the reporting in that book… anyways, Gianna’s really interesting to me.
At first, Ronny gets on my nerves. But in that cool kid kind of way? The insults he uses (and Jackson?) for the “Geezer Squad” had me and my friends absolutely cackling because absolutely nobody says that. I feel like a lot of slang was used excellently and some ironically. That was funny. But I feel like the characterizations of people in OLD SCHOOL are just… different. Like Gord tossed together similar but different personality traits or he tried something different. Whatever he did, it was most excellent. Also, Gianna and Ronny’s sister-brother relationship is written very well, I’d say. Like they exist to each other, but not really at all.
Unrelated, but there was this one line that Jackson said. It actually had me laughing and wheezing as I read this book on my bed. I had to reread it. Page 52.
“Finally—something about this kid that makes sense. His parents moved across an ocean just to get away from him. I can relate.” Jackson Sharpe, page 52
This made me CACKLE! I even laughed reading it again! This has got to be a legendary joke. That got more out of me than all of Malik’s jokes in MASTERMINDS except for one. Speaking of Jackson, I adore his character. He reminds me a lot of Yash in theory—but he’s so, so different. They’re both popular athletes, that’s literally it. Jackson is so egotistical, he’s like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. He’s so hilarious about it though. His friendship with Ronny? Classic. The mathlete… three time athlete… can’t get enough of himself and he hates Dex. I 100% understand him. Someone coming on your turf and stealing your fire? Nah. Won’t work! He was just so comical to me and it made me happy to see so much of him in the beginning. I like how he cares a little bit about what Ronny’s doing, but everybody understands that Ronny is kind of just… an angry guy. Ronny reminds me of Steinke Newhouse. God, that NAME! I couldn’t forget Steinke’s name if I tried! But Anyways.
The characters in OLD SCHOOL remind me a lot of other characters but in the best ways possible. They’re only the same in premise. They’re written like whole different people because they are.
I like how Dex falls into how terrible Middle School is. I can also appreciate his little crush on Teagan. Wonder where that will go. But he’s just such a realistic and likeable middle schooler, they all are! The pacing in this story is excellent.
Now, now. Ms. Napier. I really liked her at first. I love her introduction about loving kids or something. But I have mixed emotions towards her. She’s so… faculty. I can tell you though at first I loved her! She’s so peppy but… adulty.
But anyways. Sorry, I’m skipping around the book as I write this. This story was great, okay? Reading the little snippets as I refresh my memory. I really like the buildup for the Eyeball where Gianna is. Traci Vogel’s introduction is spectacular and she has so much main character energy. I know I’m not supposed to like her, but she’s just so likeable. An actual icon. The way eighth graders are painted from a seventh’s grader’s perspective is so well done. Anyways.
Back to Gianna. I’d like to see a book with her as the main character. But this story told for Dex is perfect. I think Chapter 6 was the best of 1-7. I like the confrontation with Ronny at the end and how he embarrasses himself again. I like how Dex is shown to be a fixxer-upper! I didn’t know that about him. The foreshadowing for everything is just so well done… goodness! Also, everything about the Bunker Boys? WWII? So epic!
Also, also, also. Chapter 7. Jackson’s little evil letter to Dex. Woah. He’s such a great device to facilitate the plot through. I see the story actually beginning and I’m so intrigued. His logic behind making it a letter and not an email? The very end of the chapter? Jackson, naughty!
Anyways, I was not planning on writing my entire chapters 1-7 review right now, but i got carried away because the story is just that. good. Cheers to Book Club!