Spinning Out - Hardcover

Stahler Jr., David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0811877809 ISBN 13: 9780811877800

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2011

Synopsis

High school senior Frenchy has little ambition beyond hanging out at the smoking rock until his best friend, the ever-witty and conniving Stewart, gets him to try out for Man of la Mancha. To everyone's surprise, the guys are a hit. But when Stewart's antics begin to grow more obsessivehe wears his costume 24/7, freaks out about little details, and displays an incessant hatred of the high-tech windmills outside of townFrenchy worries that there's something deeper going on. Is Stewart spiraling into madness, just like Don Quixote? And can Frenchy battle through his own demons in time to save his friend from self-destruction before it's too late?

About this title

About the Author:

David Stahler Jr., is the author of several novels for young adults. He teaches high school English in the mountains of northern Vermont.

From Booklist:

When best friends Frenchy and Stewart try out for the school production of Man of La Mancha, they’re stunned to learn they’ve gotten the parts of Sancho and Don Quixote, respectively. To everyone else’s surprise, they actually turn out to be good at their parts, perhaps because of the way they allow them to replicate their real-life relationship. As rehearsals begin in earnest, other aspects of their lives begin to imitate the art of the musical, especially in the case of Stewart, who becomes increasingly obsessed with Don and his enemy, the Enchanter. In the meantime, Frenchy is having his own problems dealing with the suicide of his father the previous year. Add to that his worries about Stewart’s coming unmoored from reality and, to a lesser degree, an emerging but clumsy relationship with Kaela. Though there are arguably too many subplots here, and the story turns to melodrama at the end, Stahler is a fine writer who does a good job of merging his story and that of Don Quixote—including the windmills! Grades 7-12. --Michael Cart

About this edition

• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0811877809
• ISBN 13: 9780811877800
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288