When I was reading this, I kept thinking to myself: if it were possible for a book and a film to have a torrid love affair (J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and Daisy von Scherler Mayer’s Party Girl, respectively), their offspring might look something like Undiscovered Gyrl. I was completely engrossed from page one devoured this book in one sitting. It thrilled me, shocked me, captivated me, and made me laugh—often and out loud! I have a hunch this book is going to be very, very successful and I sure hope Allison Burnett is adapting it for a screenplay.
The voice of Katie Kampenfelt is so absolutely authentic that it is hard to believe this book is a work of fiction…and that’s a good thing. Katie is impulsive, witty, naïve, wanton, intelligent and unapologetic. She decides to defer college for a year to “discover her bliss” and documents that time in a blog…an anonymous blog. The result is a hauntingly, painfully honest (and hysterically sarcastic) window into her soul.
There’s a broad appeal to Undiscovered Gyrl, it is enjoyable on the surface as YA fiction and yet profound enough to become classic coming of age literature. This book is funny and entertaining, relatable and relevant. It flawlessly captures the usual struggles of youth magnified today by the internet, texting, and the other “always available” technologies of this generation. At a deeper level, it is frank and inadvertently cautionary without being preachy or artificial in any way. There is one thing that bothered me about this book that unfortunately I cannot discuss without being a spoiler. I will just say that without that one part, the book is superb, and with it, it’s still a great read with one unfortunate and annoying blemish. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book it is supremely clever and extremely readable. Bravo, Allison Burnett!
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You make the book sound very interesting. I like the idea that is sounds so real it doesn’t feel like fiction. Haunting and hysterical? That sounds great. Not to mention that I think I am hysterically sarcastic too so I think this would be something I would enjoy.
I absolutely love it when I come across a book that I enjoy so much I am convinced it will become a classic. When you mentioned that in your review I became instantly intrigued. I love coming of age novels but I also want the characters to feel “real”.
There is plenty of teen angst in novels but I also want the humor, I want the sarcasm that teens seem to excel at voicing. I am so curious to discover what happens to Katie and her blog, why it is a cautionary tale. I would love to be thrilled, shocked and laughing out loud too! Thanks for the chance.
waitmantwillie at hotmail dot com
I think this book sounds interesting because of the honesty and appeal of the narrator! I’d love to read it!
skrishna [at] skrishnasbooks [dot] com
I think I’d love the blog format! That’s how I read these days.
I actually started an anonymous blog at one point – nobody read it so it was kind of pointless…
This book sounds captivating. I’m intrigued by the idea that typical YA issues are magnified by technology…
I think it’s interesting that it is a coming of age story in today’s day and age. So many of the classic coming of age stories aren’t completely relevant today though we all go through the learning about our limits, our sexuality, our place in the world. Today with computers, internet, cell phones, and other technology, growing up is happening so much faster and earlier, even though psychologically and emotionally kids aren’t as prepared for these changes.
I’ve read quite mixed reviews on this novel. Many have compared it to Catcher in the Rye, however, which I LOVED. Words you used in your review that completely sucked me in and made me add it to my wish list are: captivated, shocked, devoured, engrossed, hysterically sarcastic.