Strange Skies by Matt Marinovich

I'm not sure where to being about this book...
I was given this book as a Christmas present because it was on sale and looked good. It is good for the right age level. But then what is the right age level? How do we know what is appropriate for which students? This book has depressed me, even though I have laughed and enjoyed the ride. I am not a fan of the ending. That would be a cool and thought provoking project for my students, have them recreate the ending of the story.

Maybe everything was too picture perfect. For instance, you have two couples who end up divorced, and then find each other and fall in lust which turns into love when they least expect it. There is the stereotypical boy who has leukemia and tries to teach Paul about life. Everything just seems to be too idealistic and real, almost eerie. I am able to connect personally to this story because I was in the north eastern part of the United States (Brooklyn, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and at the end of the book Florida) this past summer. I knew exactly where Paul was.

A quick synopsis of the book:
Paul, married his wife because her mother is a millionaire and about to die. His wife Lee wants kids, but Paul refuses kids because he sees that kids have ruined his brothers life. Paul's father slept with 512 women and kept each name in a little black book. Paul, towards the end of the book compares himself to his father and how he was an awful person. Paul, lies about having cancer so that he can take a break from his life. In his break from reality he meets up with Barb and Jack. Barb was married a possessive guy and gave birth to Jack who has leukemia. She is no divorced. Paul learns various lessons about life from Jack, and then finds out that he actually does have cancer. I won't give away the ending of the book, but I am not a fan!

Maybe you should pick up this book for a good laugh and a different perspective of life.
Funny, but ultimately depressing.