Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini

Vizzini, N. (2005). Be More Chill. CA: Disney-Hyperion. ISBN: 0786809965

Plot Summary

  Jeremy Heere is a hopeless nerd who wants to date the beautiful and popular Christine Caniglia. He thinks she is way out of his league until he acquires a squib which guides him through a physical and mental transformation. By having the squib tell him how to act, he rises to popularity. 

Critical Evaluation

  This graphic novel is hilarious. It is sarcastic and thought provoking as it takes readers through so many different human emotions. It also shows how far someone may go in order to gain popularity. 

Readers Annotation

  How far would you go in order to be popular?

Information about the Author

  Edison Price "Ned" Vizzini was born April 4, 1981 and grew up in Park Slope in New York City. He attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, and graduated in 1999. He began working for the New York Press as a teenager. 

  After writing essays that were published by the New York Times Magazine, several of his essays were combined to form his first book, Teen Angst. Ned lives in Los Angeles and continues to write and speak about books. 

Genre

  Graphic Novel

Curriculum Ties

  n/a

Booktalking Ideas

  - How far would you go to become popular?

  - What does the squib symbolize in reality?

Reading Level/Interest Age

  9-12th grade/Young Adult

Challenge Issues

  I would offer my library's Collection Development Policy which highlights how challenges and reconsideration's are handled. I would ask the challenger and the professional reviewing it to familiarize themselves with the book.

Reason for Selection

  I grabbed this off of the return truck at the library where I work.