Who Would Like This Book:
If you've ever felt like an outsider or obsessed over how to fit in, "Be More Chill" is right up your alley. Ned Vizzini's writing is sharp, hilarious, and painfully honest, capturing the awkwardness, anxiety, and absurdity of high school social life. The concept - a socially desperate teen taking a pill that installs a 'coolness' supercomputer in his brain - is both clever and relevant, especially for those who love witty, satirical takes on teen culture. Fans of dark comedy, those who enjoy stories about misfits, and anyone intrigued by teen angst with a sci-fi twist will likely eat this up.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers are put off by the book's heavy use of crude humor, explicit language, and sexual references, which can feel jarring or excessive - especially for younger teens. If you prefer subtlety, nuanced character development, or more progressive gender representation, the story might not sit well. There are also criticisms about the book's dated cultural references and one-dimensional depictions of women, adults, and high school stereotypes. If you’re looking for thoughtful coming-of-age or expect a totally wholesome vibe, you might want to skip it.
About:
Jeremy Heere, a high school loser, takes a pill containing a computer chip called a squip that instructs him on how to be cool. As he transforms from a geek to one of the cool kids, he experiences the consequences of relying on the squip for advice. The book explores themes of peer pressure, social acceptance, and the lengths people go to in order to fit in, all written in a contemporary style that captures the awkwardness and humor of high school life.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include strong language, sexual content, drug use, and themes of bullying.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance present in the story, primarily centered on the protagonist's infatuation with Christine and his relationships which evolve throughout the book.
From The Publisher:
The groundbreaking novel that inspired the Broadway musical!
Jeremy Heere is your average high school dork. Day after day, he stares at beautiful Christine, the girl he can never have, and dryly notes the small humiliations that come his way. Until the day he learns about the "squip."
A pill-sized supercomputer that you swallow, the squip is guaranteed to bring you whatever you most desire in life. By instructing him on everything from what to wear, to how to talk and walk, the squip transforms Jeremy from geek to the coolest guy in class. Soon he is friends with his former tormentors and has the attention of the hottest girls in school.
But Jeremy discovers that there is a dark side to handing over control of your life-and it can have disastrous consequences.
"A fresh, spontaneous, and original voice…it's fun, wacky, outrageous. I just couldn't stop reading." -Judy Blume
"Quirky, Funny, and Dead-on…imagine Holden Caulfield with internet access."-New York Post
Ratings (5)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (2) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (15):
Read It (8) | |
Want To Read (6) | |
Not Interested (1) |
What can you read after
Be More Chill?
About the Author:
Ned Vizzini began writing for TheNew York Press at the age of fifteen. At nineteen, he had his first book published, Teen Angst? Naaah…. He was also author of three other books for young adults including The Other Normals, Be More Chill, the first young adult novel ever chosen as a Today Show Book Club pick, and which is the basis of the musical of the same name, and It's Kind of a Funny Story, which NPR named #56 of the "100 Best-Ever Teen Novels" of all time and which is the basis of the film of the same name. The last novel published before his death, House of Secrets, was a middle-grade fantasy novels co-written with filmmaker Chris Columbus; it debuted on the New York Times best-seller list.
Ned's stories often drew on his struggles with anxiety and depression, yet they had a strong comic bent. His fans appreciated his honesty and sense of humor. He was also very generous to other writers. In 2005, he started the Barnes & Noble Teen Writers Workshops, which he ran until 2012.
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