Moving is no small deal, especially when it’s to another country. In Ben Phillipe’s A Field Guide to the North American Teenager, Norris Kaplan is forced to do just that. Between 10th and 11th grade, he had to start a new life and (quite reluctantly) make new friends in his new hometown of Austin.
It’s a big change from hockey-obsessed Canada, and Norris has a hard time adjusting. His snarky attitude attracts two people- Madison, a cheerleader, and Liam, with whom Norris forms a hockey team, to substitute for his team in Canada until he gets the opportunity to go back. In school, he meets Aarti, who at first glance becomes his love interest. But on prom night, things don’t end up going as planned, and Norris realizes that he should spend more time with the people who appreciate him and that he should also appreciate them.
Phillipe’s work in this book is funny and relatable. The plot was easy to follow, but a bit too predictable. I enjoyed seeing Norris’ relationships with the characters evolve, and his mindset changes along the way. Also, the side plot with Norris’ family added a big of intrigue to the overall plot. What really caught my attention the most was the “field journal” entry at the start of every chapter as if Norris was observing the city and the people of Austin as a zoologist would observe wild animals.
In this book, Phillipe has succeeded in writing a comedy, albeit not a very complex one. The meagerness of the plot is the reason this book is coming short of 5 stars, at a rating of 4 out of 5. If you are looking for an easy read and a good laugh, I would definitely read The Field Guide to the North American Teenager.
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