Vote for Larry (The Larry Series) - Hardcover

Tashjian, Janet

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805072012 ISBN 13: 9780805072013

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2004

Synopsis

Those were the magic words and Beth knew it. How many times had I uttered that phrase to Ms. Robinson in guidance, the standard answer for what I wanted to do with my life? CHANGE THE WORLD. Did I still have the strength and determination to get it together and try to make a difference?
Was it my destiny, my vocation?
Or was I just trying to impress a girl?
As I looked at Beth, I wondered if the reason why even mattered.

The indefatigable Larry is back, and this time he takes on the American political system

After falling off the wagon and becoming what he so clearly and strongly resisted-a consumer-Josh Swensen (aka Larry) finds himself in a hyper-paranoid state of no return. That is, until he's kidnapped and coaxed into resurfacing as his old persona. Before long, Larry is back on the scene with much more on his mind than a gospel Web site-this time Larry wants to affect change in government. What starts out as a campaign to get the younger population to vote turns into a run for the presidency. Can Larry really take on George Bush?

In this very smart, very witty novel, Janet Tashjian brings the political world to the forefront and explores it from many different points of view.

About this title

About the Author

Janet Tashjian is the author of acclaimed books for young adults, including The Gospel According to Larry, Fault Line, Multiple Choice and My Life as a Book. Disney adapted Tru Confessions into a television movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. Tashjian studied at the University of Rhode Island and Emerson College. She lives in Needham, Massachusetts, with her family.

Reviews

Grade 9 Up-Josh (aka Larry) is back-and so are Beth, Peter, Mom's spirit at Bloomingdale's, and even his old nemesis, betagold. This time, the topic de jour is politics-the electoral game, campaign financing, crooked politicians, and the power of the vote. The story begins with Larry finding a new girlfriend who has him out shopping and wearing designer clothes, until he is kidnapped by Beth, who wants him to return home and run for state representative. But that's not enough-Larry decides to run for president. Never mind that he is only 18-Congress can change that rule! When his campaign begins to gain momentum, the story's pace picks up, and the mysterious betagold reappears. Tashjian has written another sermonizing book disguised as Larry. Not that the lessons aren't interesting-they are-but in this book, they feel more like lessons. In The Gospel According to Larry (Holt, 2001) the idea was fresh and interesting, but this time it seems almost forced. The story itself is good, but is marred by sequel syndrome, unnecessary frills, and jumpy writing. Larry's fans will eat it up, but it needs Gospel to carry its weight.
Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gr. 7-10. When readers left Josh Swenson, the anticonsumerism guru from The Gospel according to Larry (2001), he had faked his suicide to avoid the hoopla that was messing with his message. Here Josh finds his way back (well, his best friend, Beth, discovers him and then kidnaps him) to run for president of the U.S. Like the previous book (which probably needs to be read first), this is part allegory and part political thriller, and once again, Josh's plans to protect the planet and involve young people in the care and feeding of democracy go awry. The spirited story focuses on 18-year-old Josh's presidential campaign; although he's too young to be elected, a stunning show of support results in a constitutional amendment lowering the age of the president. However, even with the possibility of being the leader of the free world looming large, Josh still has plenty of time to decide whom he likes better--Beth or a new girl. Back matter allows readers to learn more about a handful of important political issues and informs them how to register to vote. Fans of the first book won't be disappointed in Josh/Larry's further escapades. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0805072012
• ISBN 13: 9780805072013
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240