Noggin, by John Corey Whaley, is about a teenage boy who get to have a second chance of life. Before dying of cancer, he chooses to undergo a treatment/experiment-thingy that could potentially give Travis (the boy) a second shot for life. And so it goes, the treatment worked. Noggin is about Travis coping with his parents, his friends, school, and life with the "new" him.
Cons
- Travis's parents play a big role in the book, so I felt a little deprived when the situation about his mom and dad was not mentioned again towards the end of the book.
- There were somewhat annoying characters, but some of the "annoying" parts are understandable in different circumstances.
- I wanted the title of the book "Noggin" to have some significant circumstance through out the book; it only touches base on the name in the beginning of the book
Pros
- Touches on topics such as self-acceptance of sexuality, marriage and divorce, family, friends, and religion (does not make you want to be 'X' religion, but naturally talks about religion for the sake of Travis's sake).
- Humorous dialogue and texts
- Heart-felt and touching in some parts
- Very satisfying ending
Overall, Noggin was an enjoyable book to read. Although I had minor problems with it, as with many books, I still think Noggin is great to read if you want something that makes you laugh, tear up, and empathize with some characters.
3.5 out of 5 stars
