by Ben Philippe
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
In Ben Philippe’s sharp-tongued and witty debut, we follow the misadventures of Canadian-turned-Texan Norris Kaplan as he careens throughout life, work, and love. Norris has just been displaced from his native city of Montreal and is forced to adapt to life in the sweltering heat of Austin, Texas. It is by no means an easy transition, and Norris records his musings and snide remarks in a notebook given to him by the school guidance counselor. In no time at all, Norris has a best friend, a part-time job, and a love interest. But how long before he screws it all up?
This charming debut has the heart and fast pacing to land itself on the bookshelves of teens across the country. Norris is a quirky and relatable teen who, despite being unlikable on occasion, is fully capable of carrying this novel. The other characters are fully defined and interesting, with no shortage of internal conflicts. The place where this novel comes up a bit short in is originality - it falls into quite a few cliches, especially those surrounding high school and love triangles. In the end, THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE NORTH AMERICAN TEENAGER is a fun and enjoyable read.
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