3.5 stars

I know this is a really polarizing book and most people seem to either LOVE it or HATE it. I fell pretty much in the center. I don't see it as "young entitled white male rage" which is what most people who hate it seem to say about why it's a 'bad' book. Honestly I see it as deeply traumatized childhood that never got any emotional support or mental health services. This kid suffered a lot in his young childhood and it froze how he sees the world around him. He's envious of people who can either move on and mature or who can be carefree kids and it comes off as being super judgmental. I really feel for this character but he's also an angsty teenager who is super annoying at times. He can be both.

I think it's definitely worth a read with an open mind but I will say, I'm not sure why this is standard High School English class curriculum, at least in the U.S. It's probably not something most teenagers will get the nuance of at that age themselves.