Book Review: Biggie by Derek E. Sullivan

Biggie by Derek E. Sullivan

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Summary by Goodreads:

Henry "Biggie" Abbott is the son of one of Finch, Iowa 's most famous athletes. His father was a baseball legend and his step-dad is a close second. At an obese 300+ pounds though, Biggie himself prefers classroom success to sports. As a perfectionist, he doesn't understand why someone would be happy getting two hits in five trips to the plate. "Forty percent, that's an F in any class," he would say. As Biggie's junior year begins, the girl of his dreams, Annabelle Rivers, starts to flirt with him. Hundreds of people have told him to follow in his dad's footsteps and play ball, but Annabelle might be the one to actually convince him to try. What happens when a boy who has spent his life since fourth grade trying to remain invisible is suddenly thrust into the harsh glare of the high school spotlight? 

My Thoughts:

The heart of this book is about how a lack of self confidence can affect the teenage mind and make a teenager do things that aren't normal.  The decisions Biggie makes, oh these things he does around girls.  There were times I wanted to shake him and teach him what is appropriate and not.  No, Biggie, it is not okay to tell a girl you have hacked into her account and know things about her that she never shared with you.  No, Biggie, having 140+ online girls friends that you talk to every night is not ok.  But beyond this, I loved Biggie.  I loved how he finally was able to let go of the guilt of living in his father's shadow- the infamous, the legend, the man who wanted nothing to do with his own son.  He accept that it was okay not to be like his dad, but instead be himself and play baseball because he wants to not because he is the son of a baseball legend.  I also loved how his relationship with his brother and step father developed over the course of the book.  I can't wait until this book comes out in a few days and I can recommend it to my students.  I think there are many that will gravitate towards Biggie's story.