This was such i good book i just feel it left me with alot of questions at the end. Overall i would highly recomend. ( )

Rating: 3.39 stars

Matthew has become a favorite author due to his unique characters, unusual plots and inspirational themes that lift the reader's spirits among other things. Renown for the film adaptation of "Silver Linings Playbook", he's an under the radar type and extremely talented storyteller.

We first meet Finley McManus, a 17 year old living with his father and Pop, his wheelchair bound grandfather in a modest home in the Philadelphia area. A decent student, his passion is basketball and works diligently at it year round. Fascinated by the star of the girl's team, he develops a close knit friendship with Erin and over time, love blossoms. One day after a practice session, Coach summons him and assigns an unusual task; meeting a star player originally from L.A. living with his grandparents. What follows is classic Matthew Quick.

Having lost his parents, Russ suffers from post traumatic stress and decides he's an alien named Boy21. As one might imagine, this is a bit hard for Finley to swallow. In spite of Boy21's insistence he'll be joining 'his people from another world' they become friends. With parallel plots of Finley/Erin, Finley and Russ, mysteries unfold with themes of loss, redemption and truth.

While many prefer to give details and plot points, I prefer leaving them out. Of all books Quick has written this is far from his best effort, yet worth reading if you enjoy evocative, engaging tales. For those who have yet to read his stories, I'd recommend starting with [b:Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock|13477676|Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock|Matthew Quick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370282544l/13477676._SY75_.jpg|19008613], [b:The Good Luck of Right Now|22328544|The Good Luck of Right Now|Matthew Quick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1423077574l/22328544._SY75_.jpg|25337922] or [b:Sorta Like a Rock Star|6763730|Sorta Like a Rock Star|Matthew Quick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1263329051l/6763730._SX50_.jpg|6961579] instead! ( )

Boy 21 is a realistic fiction book about Finley, a kid that has to deal with a lot of problems at home and at school. He meets a strange kid, Russ who is obsessed with space. Together they will learn a thing or two about life and basketball.
This book was interesting for a few reasons. While it may seem a like a book mainly about basketball at first, there are so many things that become important as you read further. Soon the games do not seem as important. The connection between the characters are what did it for me. Understanding Finley and finding out why Boy21 or Russ is the way he is really made the book important and fresh. ( )

A beautiful book, well crafted, certainly on my favorite books list.
( )

Finley is a high school senior who lives in a town that's run-down, largely taken over by drugs, and ruled by the Irish Mob. He lives with his father and grandfather and is the only white kid on the high school basketball team. He's mostly a quiet and reserved kind of guy, who lives for basketball season. When the coach asks him to take a "new" kid under his wing, he does so, but doesn't quite realize what he's in for. The new kid, Russ, is supposedly a basketball phenom, but due to a family tragedy, has developed some odd mannerisms and has become obsessed with outer space, wanting to be known only as Boy21.

As with a lot of young adult books, this one has a good underlying message. It's a little unconventional, somewhat quirky and odd. I found it just "so-so". The real meat of the story didn't occur until near the end, and then I wanted to know more, but then it was just over. Seemed like there was a lot of potential here, but it wasn't fully developed. ( )