It's too bad that the cover of this book makes it look like it's for little kids, because it's a great book for middle and high school kids. One of my best friends has an incredible talent for making me laugh over things that make me sad. She's not callous, she just has a knack for being really compassionate and helping you deal with stuff by being blunt and funny at the same time. It's a rare skill. She's like Antsy. I love Antsy, the main character, because he's hilarious and goofy and he messes up all the time, but he's also really smart and good-hearted. This story manages to be really funny and really sad at the same time. Even though you can see some of the plot coming, the way that the characters behave and think is not very predictable because they are so three-dimensional and complicated. Especially Skaterdud. ( )

Thoroughly enjoyable, if not quite as fantastic as the first one. ( )

Oh I love Antsy and the situations he gets into and the friends he makes. I love how Shusterman gets everything but the kitchen sink in these books, but makes them seem natural and real. Slapstick, pathos, wit, poignancy, romance, adventure.... The only problem was that I inhaled the book, and the third isn't out yet. Despite my ginormous to-read lists, I might have to reread these.

I don't possess the self-preservation instinct. I've got the this-frying-pan-isn't-hot-enough-let's-try-the-fire instinct."

"I wouldn't invalidate his pain [by comparing it mine]. Every problem is massive until something more massive comes along."

"In this world, there is a fine line between enlightenment and brain damage, and I have to say that Skaterdud grinds that line perfectly balanced."" ( )

Narrated by the author. When Antsy learns that classmate Gunnar has been diagnosed with a rare disease and only has months to live, Antsy donates a month of his own life to Gunnar. Soon everyone at school wants to donate months and a movement is born. But is Gunnar really dying or is this his way of dealing with a family that's falling apart? Neal Schusterman does a credible job reading his own work, especially voicing the incredulous Antsy. ( )

I read this book because the author also wrote [b:Unwind|764347|Unwind|Neal Shusterman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255833059s/764347.jpg|750423] and that was pretty good, but this one was great. It's almost like it was written by a completely different person, as the story and writing style are so different. This book is hilarious in parts and generally good throughout. ( )