School Library Journal Review
Gr 7-10-High school freshman Antsy Bonano, who made his first appearance in The Schwa Was Here (Dutton, 2004), returns in Neal Shusterman's latest novel (Dutton, 2008). After a chance encounter, Ansty finds out that Gunnar, a fellow student, has only six months to live. Ansty decides to give Gunnar a month of his life in a gesture which ends up having far-reaching consequences. Ansty's first person point of view is very tongue-in-cheek without becoming cynical, giving him an earnestness and honesty that is refreshing. The underlying message about the value of family and the sacrifices that people make for one another is not subtle, but it is done in an appealing, humorous way. Death by runaway parade balloon, an echo-locating rival for an ex-girlfriend's affections, water-pouring shenanigans at Ansty's father's restaurant, an attractive older girlfriend, and a Grapes of Wrath dust bowl all figure into this funny, touching tale of a young man who is trying to find his way in a confusing world. Shusterman's crisp narration is delivered with great enthusiasm and a good amount of fun. A popular choice for school and public libraries.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
(Middle School) Antsy Bonano, wisecracking hero of The Schwa Was Here, returns with another goodhearted, if peculiar, scheme. When he learns that his friend Gunnar is suffering from a fatal disease, Antsy creates a document in which he "gives" Gunnar a month of his life, a symbolic gesture of support. The idea catches on, and as other students, teachers, and community members begin to bestow the gift of time, it all turns into a huge media event. The problem -- and we likely saw it coming as soon as we learned that the illness was Pulmonary Monoxic Systemia -- is that Gunnar is not actually sick. What can Antsy do to stop the media machine; what should he do? Subplots, some of which link us to Schwa, include a tragedy involving a giant inflatable raccoon, the gambling addiction of Gunnar's father, an extremely nasty aunt, Antsy's new girlfriend, and the trials of the Bonano family restaurant. All this hectic action hits a brick wall when Antsy's father has a heart attack and lands in the hospital. These many strands don't quite weave together, but Antsy remains a fresh and winning amalgam of smart aleck and schlemiel. (And those who liked the diacritic element of Schwa will be pleased to know that Gunnar's last name is åmlaut.)From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Antsy Bonano of The Schwa Was Here (2004) continues his trend of befriending boys named after vowel sounds and diacritics, when he strikes up a strange relationship with classmate Gunnar Ümlaut. When Gunnar casually reveals that he's dying of Pulmonary Monoxic Systemia, Antsy just as casually offers Gunnar a month of his own life. But the friendly offhand gesture prompts other students to follow suit, in a trend which soon spirals out of control, leading to school-district-sponsored rallies and door-to-door time collection. Meanwhile, Antsy struggles with his attraction to Gunnar's gorgeous older sister, Kjersten. Though Antsy's feel-good realizations ought to feel saccharine, they fit perfectly into this tragicomic romp which runs from a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade raccoon-balloon disaster to a chorus of the Swedish national anthem and Abba's "Dancing Queen" sung--simultaneously--in a sketchy Catskills casino. Silliness balances out the maudlin, keeping Antsy's story from either bathos or antic excess. (Fiction. 11-13) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* The wisecracking teenage Brooklynite introduced in Shusterman's award-winning The Schwa Was Here (2004) takes a second ride on the emotional roller coaster in this equally screwball sequel. When classmate Gunnar Ümlaut announces that he is going to die in six months from a rare disease, Antsy Bonnano prints up a formal contract that signs over a month of his own life to his gloomy buddy. This impulsive gesture of comfort unexpectedly nets Antsy a series of dates with Gunnar's hot older sister Kjersten but also takes on a life of its own when everyone who finds out about the good deed wants to get into the act. Meanwhile, Antsy and his closest friend (and ex-girlfriend), blind Lexie, plot to kidnap Lexie's irascible grandpa Creepy Crawley (again), and Antsy's father works his way toward heart-attack country struggling to get the Bonnano family's new restaurant on its feet. Featuring a terrific supporting cast led by Antsy's wise, acerbic mother, an expert blend of comedy and near tragedy, and the wry observations of a narrator whose glib tongue and big heart are as apt to get him into trouble as out of it, this will keep tween readers hooked from start to finish.--Peters, John Copyright 2008 Booklist
