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If You're Reading This by Trent Reedy
Mike was seven when his father was killed in mysterious circumstances in Afghanistan. Eight years later, the family still hasn't recovered: Mike's mom is overworked and overprotective; his younger sister Mary feels no connection to the father she barely remembers; and in his quest to be "the man of the family," Mike knows he's missing out on everyday high school life.
Then, out of the blue, Mike receives a letter from his father - the first of a series Dad wrote in Afghanistan, just in case he didn't come home, meant to share some wisdom with his son on the eve of Mike's 16th birthday. As the letters come in, Mike revels in spending time with his dad again, and takes his encouragement to try new things - to go out for the football team, and ask out the beautiful Isma. But who's been keeping the letters all these years? And how did Dad actually die? As the answers to these mysteries are revealed, Mike and his family find a way to heal and move forward at last.
Then, out of the blue, Mike receives a letter from his father - the first of a series Dad wrote in Afghanistan, just in case he didn't come home, meant to share some wisdom with his son on the eve of Mike's 16th birthday. As the letters come in, Mike revels in spending time with his dad again, and takes his encouragement to try new things - to go out for the football team, and ask out the beautiful Isma. But who's been keeping the letters all these years? And how did Dad actually die? As the answers to these mysteries are revealed, Mike and his family find a way to heal and move forward at last.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
February 27, 2017
This turned out to be my new favorite book! I loved it and it was just amazing. It is about a boy named Michael whose father died in war and he doesn't know how. He has a overprotective mother, and is poor so he has to work on a farm. He also has to get through obstacles including fights with his family, getting letters from a unknown sender, and hiding that he joined the football team (from his mother).
October 23, 2024
Some inappropriate content make this book unsuitable for the intended target audience of teens/YAs.
✏️ Review ✏️
As far as the story and plot go, If You're Reading This was pretty good, but very disappointing contentwise. The general moral tone is quite loose, especially for a novel marketed for teens.
🚨🚨🚨 The next two paragraphs contain an overview of certain content warnings. 🚨🚨🚨
To begin with, there a several instances where the sixteen-year-old MMC and the fifteen-year-old FMC passionately kiss each other; these scenes are described in a rather sensual manner (such as describing the "electric" emotions and the physical touches) and depicted as being "adventurous" and "exciting." I came very close to DNFing this book because of these scenes. The glamorization of a no-bondaries relationship between members of the opposite sex should NOT be on display in a teen/YA book (or any book for that matter, but especially teen/YA)! What makes this even worse is the fact that there are no consequences for these characters' inappropriate actions. This gives subtle approval to these kind of relationships. And the friendship connection between this guy and girl wasn't even very deep at all. Reading things like this all the time sets a very carnal worldview for today's young people � it tells them that giving in to physical desire is ok and it's something you shouldn't suppress and that's it's ok to try it out.
No! No! No! Young people do not need to be reading about this!
While it is used specifically only once in the story, "follow your heart" seems to be the underlying philosophy at work behind these characters' actions. Again, something else that should not be in a YA book because it leads to all sorts of sinful passions. At the very least, young people should read books containing these worldviews with discernment (most do not, sadly). It is sad and concerning to know that this unbiblical and carnal rhetoric is being pushed in so many teen/YA books these days. But it's also even more upsetting to read a book first hand that displays this philosophy and realize that this is what most young people today read. God in His Word tells us the condition of the heart: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9a); and "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, [and] adultery" (Mark 7:21; emphasis added). Following the desires of your heart is a sure path to sin and disappointment.
🆗🆗🆗 Content warning discussion is now over. 🆗🆗🆗
Well, was there anything good about If You're Reading This? The plot was pretty good and I definitely was intrigued by the bit of mystery thrown in. But still it wasn't anything exceptional (around a 2 out of 5 plot). It may seem paradoxical, but there actually is some good advice given in this book even though it's far and few between. Some of this can be found in my favorite quotes section. Unfortunately, some of it isn't so good (like "follow your heart"), so.... 🤷🏼♂�
The main character, Mike Wilson, lacks any real development. This applies to the other characters as well. While there are some minor character changes, I didn't feel any major changes come through at all.
The writing is more on the rough side. Apart from a few interesting quotes, the writing lacks any solid base for lifting the story from ground level. A good chunk of this book was about football, and since football isn't something I'm familiar with I found this aspect to be confusing and just plain boring.
Looking back, I probably should have DNFed this book. Really wasn't anything worth my time and the content I mentioned would have been better left unread. Teens should not read this book (which includes me... so this is why I wouldn't have even started reading this book had I known about these content warnings but there weren't any reviews that mentioned any of this stuff � which is why I greatly appreciate Christian reviewers who take the time to dissect a book and mention inappropriate content, so keep up the good work if this is what you do even when it can be an overwhelming task!). But adults may find the story to be interesting. I can't really recommend If You're Reading This to anyone, though. This book may have gotten just one star but I'm giving it two stars only because the ending was handled well and the plot was somewhat interesting.
So if you're reading this review and you've come this far, thank you for sticking with it ☺️. I hope my review was helpful; and I will do my very best to keep my reviews shorter in the future *wipes forehead, puts phone down, and exhaustedly walks away to go read a good book*.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
🏼 What I Liked:
•The plot in general. It was pretty good, but not something that was exceptional.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
•The repeated depiction of make-out sessions and the subsequent but subtle endorsement of a no-bondaries relationship between members of the opposite sex.
•The loose moral tone that pervades other elements of this story: such as worldly speech and loose boy-girl friendships.
•The football scenes � boring!
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 2/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
� 📈 Plot: 2.5/5
� 📝 Writing: 2/5
� 👥 Characters: 2/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
� 🤬 Language: 2/5
�Several uses of cr*p.
�Some uses of g**z.
�A few crude comments are made as well.
� ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
� ⚠️ Sexual: 3/5
�Some scenes of passionate kissing/making out (see the second paragraph in my main review for further explanation).
�There are a few suggestive remarks; usually the person speaking is interrupted before finishing the remark, but enough is still said to know it's suggestive.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
•There is a statement in the book that says Christians and Muslims worship the same "God." Any deviation from the God of the Bible is a false god; therefore the book's statement is false.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
�Don't shy away from doing good things because you're afraid or because you're not sure how, or you're not sure if it will work out or not.... Have the courage to do what you know to be right in life. (p. 112-113; italicized in the original)
�Always have a book going. Always take it with you. That way, if you get stuck someplace, like the dentist's waiting room, you'll have something better to read besides those terrible magazines. (p. 119; italicized in the original)
�"Stop arguing with people. Let go of your anger. It doesn't matter who wins arguments, who was right or wrong. Nobody really wins, especially in stupid political disputes. Arguing and anger are just another kind of war, and..., war is terrible. Be at peace." (p. 236-237)
If you read everything from the beginning of this review to here, then a double round of applause for you! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
And swiping all the way to the end without reading the review is cheating. Go back and try again. 🤭
✏️ Review ✏️
As far as the story and plot go, If You're Reading This was pretty good, but very disappointing contentwise. The general moral tone is quite loose, especially for a novel marketed for teens.
🚨🚨🚨 The next two paragraphs contain an overview of certain content warnings. 🚨🚨🚨
To begin with, there a several instances where the sixteen-year-old MMC and the fifteen-year-old FMC passionately kiss each other; these scenes are described in a rather sensual manner (such as describing the "electric" emotions and the physical touches) and depicted as being "adventurous" and "exciting." I came very close to DNFing this book because of these scenes. The glamorization of a no-bondaries relationship between members of the opposite sex should NOT be on display in a teen/YA book (or any book for that matter, but especially teen/YA)! What makes this even worse is the fact that there are no consequences for these characters' inappropriate actions. This gives subtle approval to these kind of relationships. And the friendship connection between this guy and girl wasn't even very deep at all. Reading things like this all the time sets a very carnal worldview for today's young people � it tells them that giving in to physical desire is ok and it's something you shouldn't suppress and that's it's ok to try it out.
No! No! No! Young people do not need to be reading about this!
While it is used specifically only once in the story, "follow your heart" seems to be the underlying philosophy at work behind these characters' actions. Again, something else that should not be in a YA book because it leads to all sorts of sinful passions. At the very least, young people should read books containing these worldviews with discernment (most do not, sadly). It is sad and concerning to know that this unbiblical and carnal rhetoric is being pushed in so many teen/YA books these days. But it's also even more upsetting to read a book first hand that displays this philosophy and realize that this is what most young people today read. God in His Word tells us the condition of the heart: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9a); and "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, [and] adultery" (Mark 7:21; emphasis added). Following the desires of your heart is a sure path to sin and disappointment.
🆗🆗🆗 Content warning discussion is now over. 🆗🆗🆗
Well, was there anything good about If You're Reading This? The plot was pretty good and I definitely was intrigued by the bit of mystery thrown in. But still it wasn't anything exceptional (around a 2 out of 5 plot). It may seem paradoxical, but there actually is some good advice given in this book even though it's far and few between. Some of this can be found in my favorite quotes section. Unfortunately, some of it isn't so good (like "follow your heart"), so.... 🤷🏼♂�
The main character, Mike Wilson, lacks any real development. This applies to the other characters as well. While there are some minor character changes, I didn't feel any major changes come through at all.
The writing is more on the rough side. Apart from a few interesting quotes, the writing lacks any solid base for lifting the story from ground level. A good chunk of this book was about football, and since football isn't something I'm familiar with I found this aspect to be confusing and just plain boring.
Looking back, I probably should have DNFed this book. Really wasn't anything worth my time and the content I mentioned would have been better left unread. Teens should not read this book (which includes me... so this is why I wouldn't have even started reading this book had I known about these content warnings but there weren't any reviews that mentioned any of this stuff � which is why I greatly appreciate Christian reviewers who take the time to dissect a book and mention inappropriate content, so keep up the good work if this is what you do even when it can be an overwhelming task!). But adults may find the story to be interesting. I can't really recommend If You're Reading This to anyone, though. This book may have gotten just one star but I'm giving it two stars only because the ending was handled well and the plot was somewhat interesting.
So if you're reading this review and you've come this far, thank you for sticking with it ☺️. I hope my review was helpful; and I will do my very best to keep my reviews shorter in the future *wipes forehead, puts phone down, and exhaustedly walks away to go read a good book*.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
🏼 What I Liked:
•The plot in general. It was pretty good, but not something that was exceptional.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
•The repeated depiction of make-out sessions and the subsequent but subtle endorsement of a no-bondaries relationship between members of the opposite sex.
•The loose moral tone that pervades other elements of this story: such as worldly speech and loose boy-girl friendships.
•The football scenes � boring!
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 2/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
� 📈 Plot: 2.5/5
� 📝 Writing: 2/5
� 👥 Characters: 2/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
� 🤬 Language: 2/5
�Several uses of cr*p.
�Some uses of g**z.
�A few crude comments are made as well.
� ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
� ⚠️ Sexual: 3/5
�Some scenes of passionate kissing/making out (see the second paragraph in my main review for further explanation).
�There are a few suggestive remarks; usually the person speaking is interrupted before finishing the remark, but enough is still said to know it's suggestive.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
•There is a statement in the book that says Christians and Muslims worship the same "God." Any deviation from the God of the Bible is a false god; therefore the book's statement is false.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
�Don't shy away from doing good things because you're afraid or because you're not sure how, or you're not sure if it will work out or not.... Have the courage to do what you know to be right in life. (p. 112-113; italicized in the original)
�Always have a book going. Always take it with you. That way, if you get stuck someplace, like the dentist's waiting room, you'll have something better to read besides those terrible magazines. (p. 119; italicized in the original)
�"Stop arguing with people. Let go of your anger. It doesn't matter who wins arguments, who was right or wrong. Nobody really wins, especially in stupid political disputes. Arguing and anger are just another kind of war, and..., war is terrible. Be at peace." (p. 236-237)
If you read everything from the beginning of this review to here, then a double round of applause for you! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
And swiping all the way to the end without reading the review is cheating. Go back and try again. 🤭
March 24, 2015
Wow, this book was seriously good. It had some great lessons in it and it was really enjoyable. I also really liked the main character, Mike, he was a hard worker, enjoyed learning, and was just a good person overall. I don't usually get emotional while reading a book, but this one had in me in tears. It is just so real and deals with a lot of things that are going on in the world. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
November 20, 2014
While I think the author's premise and themes are good, I found this book to be contrived and not authentic. The voice of the protagonist didn't sound like a real teenager to me, but rather like an adult trying to sound like a teen. I realize that Mike is supposed to be more responsible than other kids due to his circumstances, but it still didn't ring true for me.
Also, the character of the mother was too contradictory and confusing. She was overprotective and didn't let Mike play football, but she left her kids alone to fend for themselves for hours, rarely checking in with them, and she avoided talking to them about real issues? The town is so small that there are only 40 kids in the senior class, but she doesn't ever find out that Mike is playing football?
In fact, few of the female characters are portrayed positively, except the librarian - even Isma has issues. Mike's mother, Isma's mother, the sister, the sleazy girl - all negative characters. I noticed that the author didn't thank his mother in the acknowledgements... issue there?
All this being said, my teachers' book club decided that this is a 'niche' book- many kids will try it and put it down because of the slow pace. But other kids (perhaps boys who play football, and/or have a parent in the military) will stick with it and enjoy it. We will promote it in the hope that that one kid is reached.
Also, the character of the mother was too contradictory and confusing. She was overprotective and didn't let Mike play football, but she left her kids alone to fend for themselves for hours, rarely checking in with them, and she avoided talking to them about real issues? The town is so small that there are only 40 kids in the senior class, but she doesn't ever find out that Mike is playing football?
In fact, few of the female characters are portrayed positively, except the librarian - even Isma has issues. Mike's mother, Isma's mother, the sister, the sleazy girl - all negative characters. I noticed that the author didn't thank his mother in the acknowledgements... issue there?
All this being said, my teachers' book club decided that this is a 'niche' book- many kids will try it and put it down because of the slow pace. But other kids (perhaps boys who play football, and/or have a parent in the military) will stick with it and enjoy it. We will promote it in the hope that that one kid is reached.
March 19, 2015
This was hard for me to score so low because I thought the basic plot line was excellent: Mike learns about his dead father through a series of letters that begin arriving shortly before his 16th birthday. Unfortunately, the flaws in the writing were distracting. Firstly, the mother and sister were just awful. It was hard to feel empathy for either of them despite the fact that they are living the same hard life as Mike. The football players were one dimensional - I couldn't really tell them apart. I found the football play-by-plays to be an interruption in the real plot. I don't think they added to the story at all. And finally the switch from letters to video was just too much.
I consider it for high schoolers only because of the drinking.
I consider it for high schoolers only because of the drinking.
January 11, 2023
I read this to my study hall (7th graders). For that age group this was a wonderful book. The main character is trying to figure out life as a teenager with a single mom, a father who died in Afghanistan, and a bratty sister who likes to tattle. He starts receiving letters from his father (who had already passed away at the time) which encourage him to try new things and live life to the fullest. The main character, Mike, wants to honor his father’s requests but struggles to do so while supporting his mom financially and being obedient to her wishes. He also doesn’t know who is sending him the letters and wants to solve that mystery.
It was a really cute, clean cut, heartwarming book.
It was a really cute, clean cut, heartwarming book.
March 15, 2017
This book was about a boy named mike, his life is sort of miserable at the moment because of something that happened in school. When he was seven his dad got killed by something he doesn't want to know (he was in the army)& he barely ever got to see him or spend time with him. He was turning 16 or 17 I can't remember but he was mysteriously getting notes from his dad. It was very interesting and mysterious I, would read it again if I wanted/could. I recommend this book to any ages.
Read
October 26, 2014Patrick Murdock
Mr Carroll English
October 26, 2014
Summer book review #2
The title of this book is "If You're Reading This" , written by Trent Reedy.
The main character is named Michael Wilson. Michael lost his father in the war in Afghanistan when he was 7 years old. From then on his mother has been very over protective of Michael. Michael is a very curious kid that is always trying to figure out more about his father. Isma Is a very important character in the book. Isma is a Muslim girl that dates Michael during the book. Although, Isma is constantly made fun of for her religion.
The plot of the book is Michael trying to live a normal life, full of friends, family, and sports. Michaels father, who died in the war, sent Michael letters from 8 years ago In the war. Michael receives these letters when he is 16. In the letters, Michael's dad gave him goals and mission for Michael to do. These missions included trying a new sport. Michael wanted to play football although Michael's mom is not allowing him to play. Although, Michael disobeys his mom and goes out for football.
As Michael continues his quest to find out who is father is and how he died, he discovers that the person at fault for his fathers death may be someone he knows very closely. Michael also lives up to all the missions his father challenged him to do. These missions give Michael a high school experience he will never forget.
I personally very much enjoyed reading this book. It had a lot of suspense and unlikely events. It also made you feel for all those kids who lost a parent or family member in a war. This book helps you understand how hard it is for families to overcome such extreme adversity. This book also included a lot of sports, which is one of the reasons why I very much enjoyed this book.
Mr Carroll English
October 26, 2014
Summer book review #2
The title of this book is "If You're Reading This" , written by Trent Reedy.
The main character is named Michael Wilson. Michael lost his father in the war in Afghanistan when he was 7 years old. From then on his mother has been very over protective of Michael. Michael is a very curious kid that is always trying to figure out more about his father. Isma Is a very important character in the book. Isma is a Muslim girl that dates Michael during the book. Although, Isma is constantly made fun of for her religion.
The plot of the book is Michael trying to live a normal life, full of friends, family, and sports. Michaels father, who died in the war, sent Michael letters from 8 years ago In the war. Michael receives these letters when he is 16. In the letters, Michael's dad gave him goals and mission for Michael to do. These missions included trying a new sport. Michael wanted to play football although Michael's mom is not allowing him to play. Although, Michael disobeys his mom and goes out for football.
As Michael continues his quest to find out who is father is and how he died, he discovers that the person at fault for his fathers death may be someone he knows very closely. Michael also lives up to all the missions his father challenged him to do. These missions give Michael a high school experience he will never forget.
I personally very much enjoyed reading this book. It had a lot of suspense and unlikely events. It also made you feel for all those kids who lost a parent or family member in a war. This book helps you understand how hard it is for families to overcome such extreme adversity. This book also included a lot of sports, which is one of the reasons why I very much enjoyed this book.
September 23, 2016
Mike is the model son. He studies, reads and works to earn extra money for his mom and younger sister. The problem is that Mike wants more out of life than just work, work, work. When he goes behind his mom's back to join the football team, it brings him more friends and more troubles since his new buddies don't approve of his crush. On top of keeping football from his mom, Mike also keeps a much bigger secret about the letters he is receiving that his dad left for him before he died serving in the military. This is a great coming of age story. Many teens will be able to relate to the characters and their struggles with relationships and growing up.
September 1, 2017
This book was one of my FAVORITE books of all time!!
Mike and his younger sister Mary have lived alone,only being raised by their single mom. Mike's father was killed in Afghanistan. As Mike tries to understand what happened to his father, he realizes that not only is he missing his father, he's missing out on high school fun. What will happen next??? Will he ever figure out what happened to his strangely missing father?.......
Mike and his younger sister Mary have lived alone,only being raised by their single mom. Mike's father was killed in Afghanistan. As Mike tries to understand what happened to his father, he realizes that not only is he missing his father, he's missing out on high school fun. What will happen next??? Will he ever figure out what happened to his strangely missing father?.......
January 8, 2019
Grabbed at the library. It was an okay book. A reminder to live life to the fullest and to treat others kindly. Was an intriguing idea. Love the idea of being able to either leave A message for my loved ones if I know I’m going or to receive one from a lost loved one. I would actually love a letter from my dad.
Read
October 28, 2014Won this book on ŷ!!! This is my first book that I have ever won!!! YAY!
Enjoyed this story. Showed it to my students and they are going crazy over it!! Thanks Trent Reedy for writing such a heartfelt story.
Enjoyed this story. Showed it to my students and they are going crazy over it!! Thanks Trent Reedy for writing such a heartfelt story.
September 1, 2014
This is in many ways a story that we've seen before: character's family member has died while serving in the military...and now character is getting letters written before that family member's death. There's the small-town factor, and a grieving parent, and a romance complicated by prejudice.
But character is one of the things that Reedy does best. That's why I entered the first-reads giveaway for this book, even though the premise didn't interest me all that much; I remembered how strong felt and wanted to see what Reedy would do here.
And, yes, it's the character development I loved here. Mike is a twist on the jock-who's-also-smart trope -- he's a bookish guy with an untapped talent for sports. His mother's overprotectiveness (and memories) have kept him from the football field, but he's about to make that change. He isn't going to be the hero of the season, and playing football isn't going to Change Everything for him...but it's an important part of his development: over the course of the book Mike grows up some, and learns a lot, and figures out that some (but not all) of the football guys are worth keeping around, and some (but not all) of them are...well, not.
The secondary characters stand out too. Mike's little sister, Mary, is an average middle school kid; she wants to go to the mall and hang out and not have to deal with her too-serious brother. She can be a brat. She's casually racist at times. She also manages to grow up some as the book unfolds. Mary, more than any other character, is reflective of the way small-town closed-mindedness works; she's not intentionally cruel, but her casual racism stems from ignorance and from the ignorance around her. Mary also makes for an interesting foil of sorts for Mike -- that is, she brings out a side of him that we don't see when he is with classmates or his mother.
Meanwhile, Isma is developing into Mike's love interest, and she's refreshing too -- refreshing because we really do see her from a teenage boy's perspective (Mike is never going to understand Isma completely) and because she's fairly...understated, I guess? Their relationship, romantic or otherwise, isn't the focal point of the book, but she's a realistic (and delightfully level-headed) teen girl.
I'm a little bit over the high-school-football-drama scene (even in books), to be perfectly honest, but at least Reedy does it well.
I received a free copy of this book via a ŷ giveaway.
But character is one of the things that Reedy does best. That's why I entered the first-reads giveaway for this book, even though the premise didn't interest me all that much; I remembered how strong felt and wanted to see what Reedy would do here.
And, yes, it's the character development I loved here. Mike is a twist on the jock-who's-also-smart trope -- he's a bookish guy with an untapped talent for sports. His mother's overprotectiveness (and memories) have kept him from the football field, but he's about to make that change. He isn't going to be the hero of the season, and playing football isn't going to Change Everything for him...but it's an important part of his development: over the course of the book Mike grows up some, and learns a lot, and figures out that some (but not all) of the football guys are worth keeping around, and some (but not all) of them are...well, not.
The secondary characters stand out too. Mike's little sister, Mary, is an average middle school kid; she wants to go to the mall and hang out and not have to deal with her too-serious brother. She can be a brat. She's casually racist at times. She also manages to grow up some as the book unfolds. Mary, more than any other character, is reflective of the way small-town closed-mindedness works; she's not intentionally cruel, but her casual racism stems from ignorance and from the ignorance around her. Mary also makes for an interesting foil of sorts for Mike -- that is, she brings out a side of him that we don't see when he is with classmates or his mother.
Meanwhile, Isma is developing into Mike's love interest, and she's refreshing too -- refreshing because we really do see her from a teenage boy's perspective (Mike is never going to understand Isma completely) and because she's fairly...understated, I guess? Their relationship, romantic or otherwise, isn't the focal point of the book, but she's a realistic (and delightfully level-headed) teen girl.
I'm a little bit over the high-school-football-drama scene (even in books), to be perfectly honest, but at least Reedy does it well.
I received a free copy of this book via a ŷ giveaway.
August 4, 2014
I received this ARC courtesy of Scholastic.
The voice of this narrator drew me in from the very first page. Michael is so raw and real, so honest about everything, especially in his moments of confusion. For me, it was Michael's voice that kept me turning the pages until I found myself finishing the book the same day I started it.
I knew who was sending the letters early on in the book and I wasn't disappointed. I didn't even mind that I'd figured it out so soon.
The family dynamic between Mike, Mary, and their mother also held my attention. I knew each character was hurting in his or her own way and they weren't giving up their secrets to just anyone. The only character I would have liked to have known more about is Mary, but I understand that this isn't Mary's story.
I loved the concept of a boy getting letters from his father years after his death. Books about letters or the equivalent from the dead aren't new, but to have them arrive so long after the initial passing of the person is something I haven't come across before that I can remember.
Reedy is a master of his craft. I saw every scene, every character, every word yelled and tear shed. My heart broke for these characters along the way and rejoiced with them in the end. Bravo!
The voice of this narrator drew me in from the very first page. Michael is so raw and real, so honest about everything, especially in his moments of confusion. For me, it was Michael's voice that kept me turning the pages until I found myself finishing the book the same day I started it.
I knew who was sending the letters early on in the book and I wasn't disappointed. I didn't even mind that I'd figured it out so soon.
The family dynamic between Mike, Mary, and their mother also held my attention. I knew each character was hurting in his or her own way and they weren't giving up their secrets to just anyone. The only character I would have liked to have known more about is Mary, but I understand that this isn't Mary's story.
I loved the concept of a boy getting letters from his father years after his death. Books about letters or the equivalent from the dead aren't new, but to have them arrive so long after the initial passing of the person is something I haven't come across before that I can remember.
Reedy is a master of his craft. I saw every scene, every character, every word yelled and tear shed. My heart broke for these characters along the way and rejoiced with them in the end. Bravo!
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October 10, 2017this book was really good. i would recommend it to anybody because it tells about a very descriptive story. its about a kid named Michael and his dad died in the war at Afghanistan. and he died when Michael was 8 years old. and his father wasn't there for long so he gave these letters to someone in his squad to give it to his son. and he gets them on certain days and the notes ar saying like enjoy high school and dont argue with people and have a good life. and hes trying to get information on who is giving these letters to him.
this book was by far the best book i ever read. i really enjoyed the book and it was interesting to see this kid just go through high school and his father just dying. and its crazy just to see a young kid work just as well as his mom to barely provide for there family in a rundown house. and his dad wants him to play football but his mom doesn't want him to because its "unsafe". but this book was a really good book and i think everyone should read it
this book was by far the best book i ever read. i really enjoyed the book and it was interesting to see this kid just go through high school and his father just dying. and its crazy just to see a young kid work just as well as his mom to barely provide for there family in a rundown house. and his dad wants him to play football but his mom doesn't want him to because its "unsafe". but this book was a really good book and i think everyone should read it
May 27, 2015
I think that this book was a real 5 star because it's a book about a boy named mike who lost his dad 7 years ago when his dad died in the army. So he is 15 years old and then starts getting letter's from his dad. This make's you wonder, who is sending the letter's. The letter's tell Mike that he should do stuff like play football, get a girl, and Get at least one A+ on a test( which he is good at getting). So he what his dad's letter's say.
July 14, 2017
Very good premise with a lot of moral lessons. This is a great book for middle to high school kids. Mike was an exemplary son, brother, student, teammate, etc. Even though he was so perfect he was likable and an underdog. The letters his father sent him were beautiful (because of what he said) and the missions he sent his son on where perfect. It's like he knew his son would rather work than try out for the football team. Or that Mike would be a shy kid too scared to ask a girl out. Or maybe he knew how he felt at that age, he remembered, and was trying to help his son. What ever the reason behind the letters they were gold and I loved that part of the story very much.
However, my like of Mike and the letters wasn't enough to save the book for me. It was slow paced, so much so that I forced myself to continue reading. The only reason I did was because I was reading it in front of my students and I will never DNF a book in front of them. Also, the kids were asking me questions about the story. I had to give them my updates along with their own. I actually believe this made me like the book more. The kids loved when I used the words "love interest" and were so happy/embarrassed/excited for me to tell them about the kiss. They giggled the whole time I reported my progress.
I think I'm focusing too much on the bad. I just don't under why all the female characters were so awful. Young girls will most likely read this, not just young men. The cover has an all-American handsome teenage boy on the cover. Girls will pick the book up. I hope they aren't as upset as I am. They probably won't notice.
P.S. Apparently I write novels when I'm upset. If you got to the end, thank you and sorry.
However, my like of Mike and the letters wasn't enough to save the book for me. It was slow paced, so much so that I forced myself to continue reading. The only reason I did was because I was reading it in front of my students and I will never DNF a book in front of them. Also, the kids were asking me questions about the story. I had to give them my updates along with their own. I actually believe this made me like the book more. The kids loved when I used the words "love interest" and were so happy/embarrassed/excited for me to tell them about the kiss. They giggled the whole time I reported my progress.
I think I'm focusing too much on the bad. I just don't under why all the female characters were so awful. Young girls will most likely read this, not just young men. The cover has an all-American handsome teenage boy on the cover. Girls will pick the book up. I hope they aren't as upset as I am. They probably won't notice.
P.S. Apparently I write novels when I'm upset. If you got to the end, thank you and sorry.
March 19, 2016
Originally reviewed for YA Books Central:
This YA contemporary centers around an almost 16-year-old boy named Michael Wilson, and his coming-of-age struggles as he shoulders the burdens of a strained family life�9 years after his father died in the war in Afghanistan. In addition to working a heavy labor job and handling his own family’s unending household repairs, Mike has to cope with his narcissistic younger sister and a controlling, neurotic mother who won’t allow him to play football. When he begins receiving letters from his long dead father, he seizes the motivation they offer him—though it puts him at odds with his family.
Reedy’s prose is simple and unhurried, exuding an almost upper middle grade feel that may act well as a crossover from MG to YA.
What I liked:
The premise itself is both fascinating and timely. As a parent who is regularly concerned with recording things I’d like my kids to know in case they grow up without me, this struck a poignant and relevant chord. And the loss of a military parent is a subject this reader doesn’t often see meaningfully tackled in YA lit.
On a related note, the military life aspects were represented in a thorough and rounded way—the good, the bad, and the day-to-day tedious. There was a clear effort to humanize soldiers and offer up conversation points about the why’s of the war in Afghanistan. It made for a strong symmetry when Mike’s father used his letters to send him on “missions� in the hopes of giving him a better hold on adulthood.
I also liked that Mike’s love interest was a first generation Iranian-American girl. It presented inherent “different worlds� conflict, and a lot of valid opportunity for cultural and religious comparison.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
The female side-characters felt disappointingly one-dimensional. Mike’s dysfunctional absentee mother and self-absorbed sister came off as flat and overwhelmingly unlikeable—as did Isma, the love interest—though they all featured somewhat prominently. Isma’s disdain for the sports activity Mike loves (and seeming inability to reconcile his intelligence with her prejudices regarding football players) is palpable to the point of obnoxious. And I say this as someone who cares not one iota for football.
While Isma acknowledges having an argumentative nature, her flippantly judgmental tendencies became increasingly tedious—to the point where the lack of chemistry between her and Mike made the entire idea of a relationship difficult to root for.
The dark-moment conflict seemed overly contrived. The solution is glaringly simple: Mike needs to grow a spine and use the compelling information leverage he has collected to confront his mother and force her to talk about the things she is intent on avoiding. I would have loved to see the psychological aspect better fleshed out and justified—rather than neatly wrapping up after unnecessary delays.
Unfortunately, there was a lot of telling but not a lot of showing. Physical descriptions were sparse, and the emotional depth didn’t quite allow for the connectivity this reader prefers. The story frequently suffered from a lack of visceral reactions and emotional intensity conveyance. As a result, readers are given little insight into how Mike actually feels about anything.
This book will likely hold stronger appeal to male readers, military kids, and those interested in some of the inner-workings of high school football.
This YA contemporary centers around an almost 16-year-old boy named Michael Wilson, and his coming-of-age struggles as he shoulders the burdens of a strained family life�9 years after his father died in the war in Afghanistan. In addition to working a heavy labor job and handling his own family’s unending household repairs, Mike has to cope with his narcissistic younger sister and a controlling, neurotic mother who won’t allow him to play football. When he begins receiving letters from his long dead father, he seizes the motivation they offer him—though it puts him at odds with his family.
Reedy’s prose is simple and unhurried, exuding an almost upper middle grade feel that may act well as a crossover from MG to YA.
What I liked:
The premise itself is both fascinating and timely. As a parent who is regularly concerned with recording things I’d like my kids to know in case they grow up without me, this struck a poignant and relevant chord. And the loss of a military parent is a subject this reader doesn’t often see meaningfully tackled in YA lit.
On a related note, the military life aspects were represented in a thorough and rounded way—the good, the bad, and the day-to-day tedious. There was a clear effort to humanize soldiers and offer up conversation points about the why’s of the war in Afghanistan. It made for a strong symmetry when Mike’s father used his letters to send him on “missions� in the hopes of giving him a better hold on adulthood.
I also liked that Mike’s love interest was a first generation Iranian-American girl. It presented inherent “different worlds� conflict, and a lot of valid opportunity for cultural and religious comparison.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
The female side-characters felt disappointingly one-dimensional. Mike’s dysfunctional absentee mother and self-absorbed sister came off as flat and overwhelmingly unlikeable—as did Isma, the love interest—though they all featured somewhat prominently. Isma’s disdain for the sports activity Mike loves (and seeming inability to reconcile his intelligence with her prejudices regarding football players) is palpable to the point of obnoxious. And I say this as someone who cares not one iota for football.
While Isma acknowledges having an argumentative nature, her flippantly judgmental tendencies became increasingly tedious—to the point where the lack of chemistry between her and Mike made the entire idea of a relationship difficult to root for.
The dark-moment conflict seemed overly contrived. The solution is glaringly simple: Mike needs to grow a spine and use the compelling information leverage he has collected to confront his mother and force her to talk about the things she is intent on avoiding. I would have loved to see the psychological aspect better fleshed out and justified—rather than neatly wrapping up after unnecessary delays.
Unfortunately, there was a lot of telling but not a lot of showing. Physical descriptions were sparse, and the emotional depth didn’t quite allow for the connectivity this reader prefers. The story frequently suffered from a lack of visceral reactions and emotional intensity conveyance. As a result, readers are given little insight into how Mike actually feels about anything.
This book will likely hold stronger appeal to male readers, military kids, and those interested in some of the inner-workings of high school football.
October 26, 2016
This will be a great read for students looking for sports/realistic crossovers.
What I love:
--The setting. Set in Riverside, Iowa (where I went to sleepaway camp when I was little), a small town a lot like the one I grew up in. Also, Mike is a huge Iowa Hawkeyes fan (Go Hawks!).
--Mike. Mike is a great combination of athletic and academic, and I feel like we don't see a character this well-rounded too often. He loves reading, but also really enjoys football. He's kind and bright and loves his family.
--Mike's dad. Even though he died in Afghanistan, Mike's dad left letters and videos for his son to be given to him as he becomes a teenager. These interactions (I don't know what else to call them) are awesome and hit me right in the feels.
What I didn't love:
--Supporting cast. None of the side characters are particularly well-developed. However, with the main focus being on Mike's growing connection with his dad, this didn't bother me as much as it could have.
--Mike's Mom. So...this one is probably just a personal thing. I also lost my father, and I watched my mother struggle with anger and grief while still supporting and taking care of my brother and me. I know, I know...everyone grieves differently, but I just felt no sympathy for Mike's mom. She won't allow her children to talk about or ask questions about their father and seems extremely selfish. She was also never very nice to Mike, despite the fact that he works to support the family and takes care of a lot of things around the house.
Overall, though, a satisfying, emotional read.
What I love:
--The setting. Set in Riverside, Iowa (where I went to sleepaway camp when I was little), a small town a lot like the one I grew up in. Also, Mike is a huge Iowa Hawkeyes fan (Go Hawks!).
--Mike. Mike is a great combination of athletic and academic, and I feel like we don't see a character this well-rounded too often. He loves reading, but also really enjoys football. He's kind and bright and loves his family.
--Mike's dad. Even though he died in Afghanistan, Mike's dad left letters and videos for his son to be given to him as he becomes a teenager. These interactions (I don't know what else to call them) are awesome and hit me right in the feels.
What I didn't love:
--Supporting cast. None of the side characters are particularly well-developed. However, with the main focus being on Mike's growing connection with his dad, this didn't bother me as much as it could have.
--Mike's Mom. So...this one is probably just a personal thing. I also lost my father, and I watched my mother struggle with anger and grief while still supporting and taking care of my brother and me. I know, I know...everyone grieves differently, but I just felt no sympathy for Mike's mom. She won't allow her children to talk about or ask questions about their father and seems extremely selfish. She was also never very nice to Mike, despite the fact that he works to support the family and takes care of a lot of things around the house.
Overall, though, a satisfying, emotional read.
August 31, 2017
I really enjoyed this book!
I read it to preview it for our school library. Our school is K-8, and the main character is a sophomore in high school. There is quite a bit of making out and some scenes with underage drinking, so I am not sure it is right for our school. However, I think most of the things that stick out to me as a parent are things that certainly went on at my high school and are typical of most.
As I said, the main character is a sophomore boy in high school. His father was killed 7 years prior in Afghanistan. As a result, his mother is overprotective and only lets him study and work on a nearby farm. She refuses to talk about his father. Nearing his 16th birthday, he starts getting letters from his father, giving him a chance to get to know him better and also raising more questions about his death and what he was fighting for. The letters also challenge him to make improvements in his life, from asking a girl to dance to doing something kind for his mom and sister. The letters and the actions he takes to fulfill the challenges begin the transition from a boy to a man. There is also a lot of football in the book.
I seriously think this should be required reading for all incoming freshman boys, and it is so good that I've encouraged my daughter to read it too.
I read it to preview it for our school library. Our school is K-8, and the main character is a sophomore in high school. There is quite a bit of making out and some scenes with underage drinking, so I am not sure it is right for our school. However, I think most of the things that stick out to me as a parent are things that certainly went on at my high school and are typical of most.
As I said, the main character is a sophomore boy in high school. His father was killed 7 years prior in Afghanistan. As a result, his mother is overprotective and only lets him study and work on a nearby farm. She refuses to talk about his father. Nearing his 16th birthday, he starts getting letters from his father, giving him a chance to get to know him better and also raising more questions about his death and what he was fighting for. The letters also challenge him to make improvements in his life, from asking a girl to dance to doing something kind for his mom and sister. The letters and the actions he takes to fulfill the challenges begin the transition from a boy to a man. There is also a lot of football in the book.
I seriously think this should be required reading for all incoming freshman boys, and it is so good that I've encouraged my daughter to read it too.
May 9, 2015
This book describes a 16 yr old boy growing up without his dad because he was killed in Afghanistan. His mother is overprotective and works two jobs to support him and his sister and Mike works too, at a neighboring farm.
The great things about this book: Mike is a good kid. He studies hard and doesn't get into trouble. He saves his money for things he wants and helps with repairs around the house. He doesn't crave popularity or cave to peer pressure.
The problem with his family is their lack of open and honest discussion. The father's death is not an acceptable topic and the mother doesn't include her children in decision making.
When Mike turns 16, he starts to get letters in the mail from his father, written for him during the last year of his life in Afghanistan. These are the lessons he's been missing with a message for him to open his life to new experiences instead of closing off to stay safe as his mother would wish.
Enter conflict. Do the wishes of a dead parent weigh equally to those of the parent who remains?
I really think kids would like this book, especially those whose family doesn't have open dialogue or a democratic decision making process. I'd recommend it as appropriate for both middle and high school.
The great things about this book: Mike is a good kid. He studies hard and doesn't get into trouble. He saves his money for things he wants and helps with repairs around the house. He doesn't crave popularity or cave to peer pressure.
The problem with his family is their lack of open and honest discussion. The father's death is not an acceptable topic and the mother doesn't include her children in decision making.
When Mike turns 16, he starts to get letters in the mail from his father, written for him during the last year of his life in Afghanistan. These are the lessons he's been missing with a message for him to open his life to new experiences instead of closing off to stay safe as his mother would wish.
Enter conflict. Do the wishes of a dead parent weigh equally to those of the parent who remains?
I really think kids would like this book, especially those whose family doesn't have open dialogue or a democratic decision making process. I'd recommend it as appropriate for both middle and high school.
November 9, 2014
I got this from Scholastic and thought I knew what to expect when reading it. One of my 6th grade boys read it before me and said it was AMAZING. I added it to my pile to read and finally got to it today. It is a really good book! I thought it would be similar to Eight Keys, but for boys. It sort of is but not really. It deals with racism, maturing, kissing, bullies, and forgiveness.
Mike's dad died while serving in Afghanistan and Mike never knew what really happened. His mom works two jobs to make ends meet. His sister is "spoiled" according to Mike, and Mike works at a farm after school and on weekends. Just before his 16th birthday, he starts getting letters from his dad. How? Who is sending them? Was his dad a hero? The letters push Mike to do more with his life. He ends up going against his mother's wishes and learns more about integrity than he had thought he would.
Great story. I am a little nervous about some of the kissing parts (I still teach elementary), but I will give it a try in my library. I'm hoping the kids who choose to read it will understand the story is so much more than those scenes.
Mike's dad died while serving in Afghanistan and Mike never knew what really happened. His mom works two jobs to make ends meet. His sister is "spoiled" according to Mike, and Mike works at a farm after school and on weekends. Just before his 16th birthday, he starts getting letters from his dad. How? Who is sending them? Was his dad a hero? The letters push Mike to do more with his life. He ends up going against his mother's wishes and learns more about integrity than he had thought he would.
Great story. I am a little nervous about some of the kissing parts (I still teach elementary), but I will give it a try in my library. I'm hoping the kids who choose to read it will understand the story is so much more than those scenes.
September 9, 2014
This is an eloquent tale about a teenage boy who struggles to figure himself out, do right for his family and his future,and learn about what happened to his father in Afghanistan.
Reading the letters from his father spark an emotion in this reader that kept me flipping the pages just hoping for closure for Mike. Not just Mike, his family too.
This book is destined for greatness. It touches the soul and is extremely relatable for anyone who had to 1. Help make ends meet in a household 2. Had to put school and family before friends and fun. 3. Anyone who has suffered loss and grieves for a loved one, longs to know more about that loved one.
The fact that it involves losing someone to war makes it even more emotional.
There is a fun feel to this book, which given the subject matter surprised me! I found myself smiling and even laughing throughout the book. CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!!
I also loved that this book incorporated Zulaikha's story from 'Words in the Dust.' It made even more special for me to read.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
Reading the letters from his father spark an emotion in this reader that kept me flipping the pages just hoping for closure for Mike. Not just Mike, his family too.
This book is destined for greatness. It touches the soul and is extremely relatable for anyone who had to 1. Help make ends meet in a household 2. Had to put school and family before friends and fun. 3. Anyone who has suffered loss and grieves for a loved one, longs to know more about that loved one.
The fact that it involves losing someone to war makes it even more emotional.
There is a fun feel to this book, which given the subject matter surprised me! I found myself smiling and even laughing throughout the book. CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!!
I also loved that this book incorporated Zulaikha's story from 'Words in the Dust.' It made even more special for me to read.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
July 22, 2014
Really a charming book. Mike is the son of a deceased Afghanistan war veteran. At 16 he is busy from dawn to far after dusk with school and work to help his mother and sister survive. He has little time for the life he longs for - a life with friends, football and fun. Then in the months before his sixteenth birthday, he starts receiving letters from his father. Penned/recorded prior to his death, these letters serve to give Mike the spark to change his life for the better. He joins the football team, makes time for connecting with friends and works up the courage to talk to the girl he is interested in. He even goes so far as to have a few difficult conversations with his mother about his future and dreams. The only real drawbacks to this book are the lackluster title and cover. In the world of YA literature the title and cover will not draw the flocks of readers that a catcher title and cover would.
March 30, 2015
The premise of the story is that a teenager's father dies while serving in the army during the war in Afghanistan. I enjoy reading young adult literature and overall the story was engaging. There is tremendous loss for a family and a boy entering adulthood, receiving letters from his father long after his father died in combat. Each letter gives his son a mission - something to accomplish, like asking a girl out on a date or getting a good grade. Unfortunately, as in many young adult stories - the adults were oblivious to everything around them. This story makes being a man about 'The Cowboy Way' and it reafirms societys perception of young boys growing into men... (the protector, the fighter, the football player.) I do think, however, there is so much that is good about the story that it's worth reading and discussing with younger readers.
October 9, 2014
If you're reading this, by Trent Reedy is a Heart warming book about a boy named Michael Wilson and how he receives mysterious letters from his long dead father, who died in the Afghanistan war.
With each and every letter, Mike receives a challenge from his father, Some of them are: take chances with a girl, Be nice to your mom and Sister, and go out for football. Mike sneaks into football, Meets the wonderful Isma, and sneaks again into a party. he must go through all the challenges of life.
This book was definitely added to my favorites it is AMAZING! I definitely recommend this to some of my friends and also, my teacher (s). This book really makes you feel In the book, and it really Shows you that life isn't perfect.
With each and every letter, Mike receives a challenge from his father, Some of them are: take chances with a girl, Be nice to your mom and Sister, and go out for football. Mike sneaks into football, Meets the wonderful Isma, and sneaks again into a party. he must go through all the challenges of life.
This book was definitely added to my favorites it is AMAZING! I definitely recommend this to some of my friends and also, my teacher (s). This book really makes you feel In the book, and it really Shows you that life isn't perfect.
April 16, 2017
This story was amazing and not one that I would have picked out for myself. It was recommended to me by one of my students. Mike is a sophomore in high school, about to turn 16, and trying to find his way in the world. His dad was killed in Afghanistan when Mike was 8 years old. Suddenly, Mike finds letters arriving from his dad. The letters include advice on everything from playing sports, being in high school, girls, dealing with his mom and sister, and becoming a man. His dad reminds Mike over and over that his word, his integrity are what mean the most to people. This story was very well written. I enjoyed learning more about football, the plays, and the players. I also enjoyed reading about the Iowa towns that Mike played in. A great book. I highly recommend it.
August 14, 2017
The book "If You're Reading This" by Trent Reedy is a great book. It has some mystery, action, and depth. I would rate an seven on a scale from one to 10. The protagonist, Mike, starts receiving letters from his father, before his father passed in the war in Afghanistan, but Mike does not know who is sending them or how his father died. Mike's mom is overprotective, and Mike joins the football team without her knowing. Through the letters, Mike's father gives him missions such as to date a girl, or do something for his mom or little sister or someone else. Throughout the book, Mike is challenged with supporting his family, finding the mystery-mailer, learning more about his father, keeping a relationship, and football. Overall, this was a good book.
October 22, 2014
I was finally able to finish and unlike the books we’ve read in class with sad endings this book came out with a happy ever after. I enjoyed this book because many people in real life can relate to what Mike went through growing up without a father because of the army. Mike was a strong young boy who was able to understand what had happened having watched the videos and the letters his deceased dad left for him. Mike’s dad wished to help Mike when he was older since he would no longer be alive, and indeed he did help. Mike’s father allowed for the house to live more peaceful and to not hide any secrets from him mom. Now I hope to read the Burn Journal’s.
July 20, 2015
It has been 8 years since Mike's dad was killed in Afghanistan. No one will talk about the events and now Mike is starting his sophomore year of high school. Everything is going as usual until he goes home and finds a letter from his dad in the mail. It looks like his dad wrote a series of letters (just in case he died) to be delivered to Mike before his 16th birthday. This is a story of family and self discovery that will pulls readers in during the first chapter. A great read that includes a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance and a little bit of football. These parts are all weaved into a story that would not be as interesting with one of the pieces missing.
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