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The Downside of Being Charlie Kindle Edition
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- Kindle Edition
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$19.50
Somewhere between the madness, Charlie can at least find comfort in his one and only talent that just might get him out of this life-sucking place. But will he be able to hold his head above water in the meantime?
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRunning Press Kids
- Publication dateMay 22 2012
- Reading age14 - 17 years
- Grade level8 and up
- File size653 KB
Product description
Review
Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward and 17 other novels
"The Downside of Being Charlie is what you always hope a great Young Adult novel will be: raw, heartfelt, searingly honest coming-of-age emotion in a character who feels almost as important to you as you feel to yourself. This novel exceeds expectations in that and all other regards. If this is Jenny Torres Sanchez's debut novel, this is an author to watch. A must-read for YA fans."
David Yoo, author of The Detention Club and Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
“An honest portrayal of an earnestly confused teen boy . . . a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.”
TeenLibrariansToolbox.com
“I am here to tell you that The Downside of Being Charlie by Jenny Torres Sanchez is a really well written, thought provoking contemporary YA novel that reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Chris Crutcher…Jenny writes with wit and insight to help you along the journey that is The Downside of Being Charlie…Like the works of Chris Crutcher and other contemporary YA authors, Charlie is a relatable and discussable read. And like those authors, Sanchez creates realistic teen characters, which in this case includes some harsh (though authentic) language and one bullying incident that involves marijuana. This is a great debut novel and I look forward to reading more by Sanchez; she really captured the lives of teens and wrote a story that is compelling and moving. She used to be a high school teacher which really shows in her writing - she gets teens.
The YA market has been dominated by fantasy and paranormal romance these last few years (which I don't mind at all), but this year it seems like there is a real renaissance of the cotemporary YA novel. The year kicked off with the wonderful The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and I believe this will be one of those contemporary novels that will be a part of the renaissance. Fans of Chris Crutcher, Sarah Dessen and John Green will appreciate The Downside of Being Charlie. Highly recommended.
What they are saying on the Internet: "Realistically edgy and humorously dysfunctional". I agree wholeheartedly.”
Jennifer Castle, author of The Beginning of After
"Charlie is a character you love spending time with -- through his ups and downs, his comedy and tragedy, those moments where you want to give him a hug and the times you just want to slap him to his senses. He is real, and his journey is a real treat. Jenny Torres Sanchez's debut strikes a delicate, heartfelt balance of honesty and wit."
Children’s Literature
“Boys will likely identify with Charlie's self-reliance, while seeing into the mind of a boy will fascinate girls. This is a strong well-written book that takes a different perspective on a high school student's senior year. There are no pep rallies or fluffy high school events, only a boy determinedly trying to keep afloat in a world beyond high school.”
"Sanchez captivated me from the first line and kept me engaged throughout the entire story with the authentic voices of her believable characters. …The relatable issues of identity, family conflict, and high school drama are particularly appealing to teens…Hand it to a teen reader this summer!" Bethesda, MD Library
“The book was beautiful in that that it first held a mirror to the protagonist, then to his society as a whole, then to his family, and finally, back to himself. The plot was what really made the book in that it caught you halfway and refused to let you go.” VOYA
"Sanchez has crafted a unique and moving story that will connect with teens." Seventeen.com book club
"Jenny Torres Sanchez has a talent for bringing a very serious issue to light in a way that teenagers can understand."
Publishers Weekly
“Peppered with sardonic humor, debut author Sanchez’s confessional-style prose conveys Charlie’s distress and confusion … Sanchez explores the psychological underpinnings of eating disorders while creating a complete character in the closet-brilliant but perennially tongue-tied Charlie.”
Kathleen Isaacs, Booklist
"The present tense, first-persona narrative, gives a good sense of the problem-plagued boy's reactions to his life...Boys with bulimia are too rare in teen fiction and Charlie comes across as a full-bodied characer, whose depression and hope seem very real."
Frenetic Reader blog
“the admirable, funny narrator and abundance of issues make it an enjoyable read.”
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile blog
“THIS is the type of book that I feel young people should be reading. It's gritty, raw, and yes there is even some profanity, but at the end of the day it's real….Charlie Grisner will forever remain one of my top ten favorite characters. ….I could ramble on for days about this book, and how amazing it is….This is a book that makes you think. It makes you feel. Isn't that what reading is supposed to be all about?... Loved this book. Loved it with all my heart. The Downside of Being Charlie goes on my list of books that will be well-loved, dog-eared, and passed around as often as possible. Trust me, you want to read this. It's utterly fantastic.”
In Bed with Books blog
"This terrific contemporary will appeal to a wide-range of YA readers. The male narrator will hopefully interest guy readers in some of the "girly" topics covered by THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING CHARLIE. I think Sanchez's is one of the best debuts I've read this year."
Galleysmith blog
“a good book with a message of self discovery. It was a quick and enjoyable read."
That Chick That Reads blog
“I loved this book!... This author does an excellent job battling topics like mental illness and bulimia. It’s serious but she finds a way to put it into an optimistic way. It’s not dark and I love that because that’s what gets you to move forward. In all that negativity you find hope. I honestly can’t wait to read more books from this author. This book is def must read for anyone. It sends out such a good message.”
About the Author
From the Inside Flap
“. . . I’ve had enough experience to know the laws of the universe for Charlie Grisner. I know things like this don’t happen to guys like me. And when they do, it always means something bad is going to follow.”
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.From the Back Cover
." . . I've had enough experience to know the laws of the universe for Charlie Grisner. I know things like this don't happen to guys like me. And when they do, it always means something bad is going to follow."
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.Product details
- ASIN : B06XKM2ZXM
- Publisher : Running Press Kids; 1st edition (May 22 2012)
- Language : English
- File size : 653 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 273 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 0762444010
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Jenny Torres Sanchez is a full-time writer and former English teacher. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, but has lived on the border of two worlds her whole life. She currently lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and children. WE ARE NOT FROM HERE is her fifth novel for young adults. Visit her online at jennytorressanchez.com and follow her on twitter at @jetchez.
Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries

I want to take this kid home and give him a break.
I can't wait to read more from Jenny Torres Sanchez, a fellow writer and teacher. The world she has created for Charlie is full of authentic characters that teens (and adults) will latch onto and cheer for (Charlie), despise (Mark), want to shake the fool out of (Charlie's dad, mom, and the love interest, Charlotte.)
I LOVE the works of Chris Crutcher, Terry Trueman, and Jennifer Brown. And now I can add Jenny Torres Sanchez to my list of favorites. All of this is to say, YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK. I LOVE THIS BOOK.
Beth Fehlbaum, author of The Patience Trilogy
Hope in Patience

I'm always on the lookout for Y/A works that feature male protagonists who don't fall into any of the common stereotypes, such as school jock. Charlie is a "regular guy," battling a weight problem and searching for answers to life's difficult questions, both on a cosmic level and right in his own house.
I recommend this book without reservation. It is a treasure!

I read this book on my Kindle since I took a look at a sample and was immediately hooked, but I'm kind of surprised it's not a hardcover. Because, seriously, this book deserves a Printz Award--it's that amazing.
