SYNOPSIS
Newbery Medalist Richard Peck brings us this big-hearted novel about gay marriage from a kid’s endearing perspective
When Archer is in sixth grade, his beloved uncle Paul marries another man—Archer’s favorite student teacher. But that’s getting ahead of the story, and a wonderful story it is. In Archer’s sweetly naïve but observant voice, his life through elementary school is recounted: the outspoken, ever-loyal friends he makes, the teachers who blunder or inspire, and the family members who serve as his role models. From one exhilarating, unexpected episode to another, Archer’s story rolls along as he puzzles over the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become…and manages to help his uncle become his best self as well.
REVIEW
The Best Man is a cute, coming-of-age book. I liked the novel and the writing, but it’s nothing to go crazy about. It’s a very simple story told from Archer’s POV. Yeah, it has its funny moments and the like.
The problem is, though, that the novel isn’t “sticky”–not memorable. I mean, I finished reading this novel a week or so ago, and I can’t remember much of the story line.
RATING
3.5 out of 5 confused penguins
Gerardo Writes 