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    Reality Boy
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    Reality Boy
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    Reality Boy
    Audiobook7 hours

    Reality Boy

    Written by A. S. King

    Narrated by Michael Stellman

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In this fearless portrayal of a boy on the edge, highly acclaimed Printz Honor author A.S. King explores the desperate reality of a former child "star" struggling to break free of his anger.

    Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality TV crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he is still haunted by his rage-filled youth – which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle – and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.

    No one cares that Gerald has tried to learn to control himself; they're all just waiting for him to snap. And he's starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that...until he chooses to create possibilities for himself that he never knew he deserved.

    A Hachette Audio production.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateOct 22, 2013
    ISBN9781478924937
    Unavailable
    Reality Boy
    Author

    A. S. King

    A.S. King is the award-winning author of young adult books including the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Ask the Passengers, Everybody Sees the Ants, 2011 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Please Ignore Vera Dietz, and the upcoming Reality Boy. After fifteen years living self-sufficiently and teaching literacy to adults in Ireland, she now lives in Pennsylvania with her small, freakish family. Find more at www.as-king.com.

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    Reviews for Reality Boy

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      A.S. King's narrator, Gerald Faust, a troubled 17 yr old once a TV reality show "star" kid, has enough mental & emotional issues to seem overwhelming. He has gone to years of anger management and even has an alternate "place", an idealized world with Disney characters and all the ice cream he wants when he cannot cope with the realities of life around him, especially the dysfunction of his parents and oldest sister. Yet, she imbues his voice with realistic sarcasm, sometimes humor, and just enough pathos to keep her readers riveted- what happened to Gerald? Why is he still being seen only as a child TV "star" who reacted violently and pooped on items in his house during the show? Who's telling the truth: is his older sister Tasha a real psycopath or is he "retarded" as his mom claims he must be? Gerald's, aka "the Crapper", story emerges through his memories when he was a little boy on the reality show, intercalaray chapters which help us realize, with growing horror, how very much his parents, his older sister, and even the reality show producers misused this little boy, a boy who is not handicapped at all, but who must serve the interests of the show. Balanced against this is the ongoing narrative of his current life: his high school days, and his job serving food at the local Penn Entertainment & Convention Center, his wry observations of the behavior of people, and his secret crush on the girl at cashier stand #1. Eventually Gerald tenatively reaches out to two teens - Joe, Jr., one of the workers of a visiting circus act who he meets in the alley of the Center, and cashier at #1, Hannah. Hannah also has a "a lot of shit" to deal with in her family life (she mockingly calls herself the "junkman's daughter") and when she lets Gerald into her world, he realizes perhaps there is hope, a future for him that doesn't revolve around his horrible childhood or anger issues. Well written, realistic, even the running away section, and definitely for teen readers who are willing to delve into a troubled young man's mind - with Hannah as a romantic interest to provide much needed happy moments in an otherwise grim story.
    • 4/5
      This book has an amazing premise and a narrator who will break your heart. For some reason, the author goes to some trouble to introduce side characters that don't actually contribute much, and the love interest falls a little flat. But solid 4/5.
    • 4/5
      This my third A.S. King book, and I would say that it falls in the middle of the previous two I’ve read. My favourite A.S. King book is Everybody Sees The Ants, while I did not like Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future. A.S. King’s books are interesting to me in that she writes about angsty teens and dysfunctional families, but does so in a way that isn’t annoying. While reading, you are genuinely able to understand where the characters’ discontent is coming from. I am very impressed with King because usually angsty teen stories come off as annoying and whiny to me (like Catcher in the Rye or some John Green novels – don’t hate me!) However, when we meet Gerald Faust, it becomes apparent that he has every right to be as angry as he is.When Gerald was a child, he and his family appeared on a reality TV show called Network Nanny. The reason for this was because Gerald had a few issues, such as pooping in inappropriate places like the dining room table. Fast forward to when Gerald is seventeen and he now holds a lot of anger and irresolution about the problems he faced with his family as a child. Throw in cute co-worker, Hannah, and you have two dysfunctional teens connecting, trying to come to terms with their past, and wishing to escape their unsatisfying lives. It doesn’t sound like something I would usually enjoy, but like I said, A.S. King’s writing and characters drawn you in. They are so easy to sympathize with that it’s impossible not to have lots of feelings while reading her stories!**WARNING: The rest of the review may get into some spoilery territory. I’m going to talk specifically about some of the issues Gerald’s family had when he was a child, as well as some aspects of his romantic relationship as a teen. If you consider this a spoiler and want to read the book, you can feel free to read this next section after you’re finished!**I think my favourite parts of this book were the flashbacks to when Gerald was young and his family were on Network Nanny. Getting to learn more about his dysfunctional family and watch their dynamic was really interesting and also super frustrating. Let’s talk about Gerald’s oldest sister, Tasha, and their mother. These two fascinated and infuriated me to no end. I actually hated them with a passion most of the time, even though they are complicated characters in their own right. Basically, Tasha was an extremely awful person and her mother made excuses for her, never disciplined her, neglected and mistreated her other two children, and let her marriage fall apart, all because she wanted to protect her horrible daughter. And when I say horrible I mean horrible. Let’s take a look at a list of some of the things that Tasha has done, shall we?She hits people (including her mother.)She pushed Gerald down the stairs.She continually tries to suffocate her siblings with pillows and used to hold their heads underwater in the bathtub.She had sex at twelve years old.She pooped on things and blamed it on Gerald.She continually calls Gerald retarded and gay.All of this and it goes completely ignored by her mother. There was one scene that put me over the edge, and that was her mother doing her homework for her because she forgot. I mean come on. This part, along with many others, had me shaking my head in astonishment.As the story goes on, it becomes clearer that there are some deeper issues within Tasha’s psyche (see attempted drowning), but the way her mother handled it led to the breakdown of their family, and the anger and sense of injustice that Gerald feels towards his life. I couldn’t believe that the mother wished for her other children’s’ failure, just so Tasha could be happy. She doesn’t want her other daughter to go to university, and she even goes so far as to put Gerald in Special Ed classes, even though he has no disabilities! The Nanny from the TV show realizes the true issues of the family, however for the sake of TV, none of these issues are solved. Reading all of this was very frustrating because you can feel the sense of hopelessness every time something happens and Gerald is blamed for it, or whenever Tasha does not receive any discipline. This is one of the reasons that it is so easy to sympathize with Gerald throughout the story.Now let’s jump to present day and discuss some aspects of teenage Gerald’s life. I quite enjoyed the romance present in the novel, moreso than I usually enjoy this kind of contemporary romance between two messed-up teens. Both Gerald and Hannah have their own legitimate issues, and I truly felt that they were good for each other. Their relationship showed the right amount of giddiness, along with tension and fighting. It was much more realistic than a lot of YA romances. Also, the sex! Gerald and Hannah have sex, and although it’s not explicitly described, it is not swept under the rug. After they do it for the first time, they do it a lot and it’s mentioned a few times. I love that A.S. King does not ignore teenage sex, because it happens and I really think that teens should be able to read and learn about this kind of thing in the novels that are geared towards them. I believe that teens should be able to find characters that they relate to on all levels, and see events that happen in real life reflected in their literature. The depiction of teen sex in this book was definitely more realistic than something like Twilight, City of Heavenly Fire, or A Court of Thorns and Roses. This was real teens fumbling around and growing together and it was wonderful.Anyway, I rambled about that book for much longer than I was expecting to! Although I did enjoy Reality Boy, I only gave it three and a half teacups because I didn’t really love it. I love the writing style and the reactions that the characters got out of me, however the story didn’t blow me away or completely suck me in. I may consider giving it four teacups, but for now, the rating is as it stands. I would certainly recommend A.S. King’s novels, my favourite so far being Everybody Sees The Ants. If you haven’t read A.S. King before, you should start with that one! I really want to pick up more A.S. King in the future because there is something about her books that just makes you want to keep reading more and more of them. I can’t wait to pick up Ask The Passengers and I Crawl Through It!
    • 4/5
      A YA novel about a young man with serious anger management issues, a bad home life with an abusive older sister, and a past he can't get away from, since, thanks to the Supernanny-style reality show his parents put him on when he was five, the entire world got to see his most humiliating childhood moments without ever understanding them.This is one of those odd cases where I can recognize that a book is good even while I can't say that I completely enjoyed reading it. I think I was expecting something a bit lighter, some sort of humor-laced satiric commentary on the nature of reality TV. That commentary is in here, I guess, but mostly A. S. King does a really, really good job of capturing the feeling of adolescent angst, of feeling angry and trapped and looking for an escape from your life. And having lived through the pain of adolescence once, that's not a place adult me really enjoys going back to. Even if, in the end, the story does become more hopeful than bleak.Rating: 4/5, for doing well at what it's doing, even if it wasn't quite what I wanted to read.
    • 4/5
      Back when Gerald "The Crapper" Faust was five years old, he was known for expressing his anger by defecating on tables and into shoes. He and his family were featured on a reality TV show at the time, so the entire viewing audience witnessed his cringeworthy behavior. Now Gerald is seventeen and no longer pooping into shoes, but he is still angry. Unable to live down his brush with fame or cope with his family's extreme level of dysfunction, Gerald's contact with reality begins to slip. Then he meets Hannah, a girl who seems only slightly less troubled as he is. Can these two lonely, angst-filled teenagers save each other?I liked this well-constructed young adult novel more than I expected to. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a character-driven love story.
    • 5/5
      This started a little slow for me, and I wasn't sure at first that I'd like it as much as King's previous work. But it picked up as the book went on and got me thinking critically about a whole lot of stuff in my own life, and really, isn't that what good books are supposed to do? Hurrah for another great A.S. King!
    • 5/5
      Gerald is an amazing protagonist. Love him, love this. I was so incredibly drawn into this terrifying story.
    • 4/5
      Imagine being on a reality tv show at the age of five. Are you good? Are you awful? You’re five, of course, you’re awful. Now imagine being 17, and remembered as “the Crapper.” That’s right, it’s just as bad as it sounds; life sucks, doesn’t it?

      This was a fast read for me. I can’t wait to tell several of my students about this one. I wish I’d read it sooner. It’s timely, and probably way more accurate than we’d want to admit. Part pathos, part redemption, Gerald’s journey is one worth reading.

      Notes:
      read in one evening
      lots of cussing
      boys will like this one
      I think Hannah’s notebook is her “Gersday” equivalent

      page 5
      “There are plenty of angry guys like me in jail. Its, like, anger central. If we put together all the jails in this country and made a state out of them, we could call that state Furious.”
    • 5/5
      Gerald Faust is angry. When he gets mad he's been known to fight, bite, andpunch holes in walls. Worst of all, when he was a pre-schooler, he would ...defecate... in appropriate places to show his anger. As bad as that is, this is all caught on film --TV-- and shared with a national audience. Fast forward a number of years to high school Gerald, forever dubbed "the Crapper" living in Youtube infamy, is in therapy for his anger issues, trapped in SpeEd classes (because they're "comfortable") and working at a local arena. The cameras are gone but his family remains hugely dysfunctional. His oldest sister, Talia, is in alliance with is mother and systematically disrupt the household and abuse Gerald. Gerald meets Hannah at work and, together, they try to run away (literally attempting to join the circus) from their bad home situations. They don't get far. Gerald learns slowly to cope and transcend.
    • 3/5
      Although an interesting premise, Reality Boy was just not for me. A boy who grew up on a reality nanny show, now deals with the constant nagging insults from those around him. His sister lives at home, mom is fearful of her daughter, dad will not speak up, and their home is chaos. As a teen, Gerald meets Hannah, who does not judge him as the “crapper”, but rather wants to get to know the real him. Gerald worries his anger issues may ruin what he thinks he may have found with Hannah.
      Some may love this, especially is you enjoy reality television. (YA Novel)
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: The truth behind ‘reality TV.’Opening Sentence: I’m the kid you saw on TV.The Review:Reality Boy explores how difficult it is to change someone’s perspective following fame from a reality TV show. Gerald is (in)famous for being the ‘crapper;’ the kid that pooped everywhere on reality TV because of his behavioural issues. As a teenager, he hasn’t been able to rid himself of that persona and has spent his life unsuccessfully trying to change his image in a town that does not forget.“So where to, then, Ger?” Dad asks, swirling his drink with his index finger.I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to do anything, really. I just want a chance to start over and have a real life. One that wasn’t fucked up from the beginning and broadcast on international TV like a freak show.It took a while for this book to grow on me but eventually I started understanding the main character. I felt for Gerald because although he really does have anger management issues, most of them stemmed from being the highlight of reality TV. He is constantly struggling to stay in control and keep his anger checked but is emotionally scarred from having his privacy violated as a child. Everyone has seen the show but no one realises that it was mostly staged. They just see a kid throwing tantrums and entertaining viewers by pooping in his mum’s shoes. Viewers do not see a little boy living with a psychopath for a sister and parents that either don’t care or pretend to see anything wrong with their messed up family.Given what he went through, it was inevitable for Gerald to be slightly ‘different.’ However, I sympathised with his character because Gerald is constantly mocked for being the crapper. It’s almost like everyone is pushing him to the edge so he becomes that angry child again and creates a scene; which is something Gerald struggles not to do every single day.But no matter how much anger management coaching I’ve had, I know that if I had a gun, I’d shoot Nichols in the back as he walks away with his beer. I know that’s murder and I know what that means. It means I’d go to jail. And the older I get, the more I think maybe I belong in jail. There are plenty of angry guys like me in jail. It’s like, anger central. If we put together all the jails in this country and made a state out of them, we could call that state Furious.It was odd reading about a victim of bullying that can defend himself all too easily but the only thing that prevents him from snapping is not wanting to go to jail. Gerald’s calm reflection on whether or not to kill his mum or sister was disconcerting to read but it helped to better understand him. His behaviour isn’t excusable, clearly he isn’t getting the medical help he needs, but his past helps to identify with his situation. I shouldn’t feel sorry for Gerald because of his murderous fantasies but when he describes how his family treated him as a child, how his sister tried drowning him at the age of three, it’s no wonder he’s unhinged!I don’t know. Something snapped, I guess. After five years of locking myself in my room with no one remotely concerned about that fact, and then a year and a half of being called the Crapper, I ate a kid’s face. Sometimes these things happen.It was tough to read how Gerald is considered to be the ‘trouble child’ on the TV show, when his erratic behaviour is actually because of his nutcase of a sister provoking him behind the scenes. Tasha was probably the evilest sibling I have ever read about; constantly bullying him, taking pleasure in his pain and generally making his life hell. I wasn’t in the least bit surprised to learn that she was a psychopath because no person in their right mind would be entertained by suffocating their baby brother!I felt older than seven.What other seven-year-old could claim he’d escaped being murdered by his own sister at least a dozen times? What other seven-year-old could claim that when he went to school, he was seen as part movie star and part maniac?Hannah and Gerald’s romance / friendship was unusual because they clearly have their quirks and a lot of emotional baggage. They are both dealing with issues and aren’t mentally all there, so technically shouldn’t really be in a relationship, but can’t help it. It’s not romantic in the sense that one isn’t saving the other, and they often argue because of their unique ways of dealing with problems, but I liked the truth of it. Their relationship takes a huge amount of effort but it’s obvious that Gerald and Hannah are made for each other.She tips her head to the side and frowns at me a little. “You okay?”“Yeah. Sure. Gym sucks, that’s all.”“Mightily,” she says. “Indeed.”Who else would say that? Gym sucks mightily indeed. I love her.There are an increasing number of books on mental illness / family related issues, and Reality Boy shares a unique and interesting take on this issue. It was a leeeetle tricky to enjoy from the beginning, but once I found the story’s rhythm, it became a noteworthy read.Notable Scene:And the harder I cry, the more she hugs me and the softer she is. The longer I cry, the more I realize what’s happening.I am being hugged. In ten years, I have been recognized, scrutinized, analyzed, criticized, and even terrorized by a handful of the millions of Network Nanny viewers. Never was I hugged.FTC Advisory: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers provided me with a copy of Reality Boy. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      The whole circumstances in which Gerald grow up in starting from his toddler-hood up to the present teens is deplorable and extremely depressing. From up front, the exterior lifestyles and the money the family received for filming the reality show seemed pristine and just ideal. However, we perceive cracks and the mismatching behavior of the mother who claims to love her daughter and son but then goes and treats Gerald terribly. The fact that Gerald's psychotic sister is a full-fledged adult still living at home is incomprehensible and the ridiculousness of the situation is further emphasized when she lives in the basement alongside her boyfriend who mooches off the family too. Reality Boy operates like a memoir of the sick days of Gerald's current dilemma and offers flashbacks to the abuse suffered (and still does) at the hands of the sociopathic sister. It's all too obvious who is to blame for all these mental problems and the overreaching trauma that still exists and fatally permeates Gerald's life is the main focus. It is a difficult story to tell of the psychological abuse that affects an individual at such a young age. At this point, the characters are pure gold; they have their complex personalities and compelling histories. This almost reminds me of Bender from the Breakfast Club as he and Gerald both come from dysfunctional families and deal with anger and mental issues. They both need someone to be on their side, feel sympathetic and understand their problems, see their true selves and fight to be free from the abuse. Ultimately, the problem is not so simple and healing is a long process. This book is fundamentally a bildungsroman that documents Gerald's story and his development and efforts to fulfill happiness and achieve self-esteem and self-worth. It is a long journey to discover his identity and forge a new path for himself.
    • 3/5
      Interesting psychological novel about a boy who was raised on a reality show.
    • 4/5
      Now that I've read three of her books, I've decided A.S. King (Ask the Passengers, Everybody Sees the Ants) is an author who consistently delivers a solid story packed with character growth, emotion, and just a touch of magical realism. I particularly enjoyed how Gerald, the boy known infamously as the Network Nanny show's toddler "Crapper," talks to an imaginary Snow White who appears in moments he needs to grow. His relationship with Hannah (whose name he refused to think initially, for fear it would lead to expecting too much) is so sweet to watch. They both need to escape, and this reader could not help but root for them to overcome the problems each faced at home. Highly recommended! P.S. The audio is fantastic.
    • 4/5
      The main character Gerald's family was on a reality "nanny" show. Gerald showed his inner anger toward his out of control sister and passive mom by pooping on camera. Thus becoming known as "the Crapper". Needless to say Gerald's younger life has not been all roses.
      I really am surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It is not a hard read at all. You become attached to Gerald almost immediately and go along with him for the ride. He works at a concession stand and becomes attracted to the girl that works register #1. The Junk-man's Daughter, these 2 characters are like-able. I did want his older sister Tasha to get what was coming to her.
      Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
    • 3/5
      Couldn't get past first few chapters. Not for us.....
    • 5/5
      This was a heartbreaking, hopeful, beautifully written story about a young man who struggles with fits of rage due to dysfunctional family dynamics. I highly recommend it.
    • 4/5
      A.S. King has a way of crafting engaging contemporary novels that are impossible for me to put down, no matter what the subject matter is. I was a big fan of 2012's Ask the Passengers, so I was eager to read Reality Boy. Telling the story of Gerald, a teenager still struggling to over come his reality TV infamy from when he was just five years old, King excels at examining dysfunctional family dynamics, bullying, and our reality TV saturated culture.

      While the reader gets much greater insight into Gerald's mind, since the story is told from his perspective, he is a bit of an enigma to people around him. He keeps himself separate from people his age to try to insulate himself from people at school, who still tease him over things he did on TV when he was five. He keeps himself separate from his family to try to insulate himself from a the dysfunction there. He keeps himself separate from the girl he has a crush on to try to insulate himself from the rejection he's sure to experience at her hands. He is full of anger and every day is a constant struggle to keep from acting out and hurting someone else, or himself.

      King captures the bleak landscape of Gerald's life expertly. I don't know how she manages to so perfectly write a horrifically dysfunctional family so well, with all the ways that abuse gets hidden and ignored in order to preserve the image of being a well-adjusted family. The glimpses into his home life -- both present-day and in flashbacks to his time on the "Network Nanny" TV show -- are heartbreaking and terrifying, and are revealed in slow increments as the book progresses. As always, what viewers see on TV rarely tells even a fraction of the story, so Gerald gets to be known for the outrageous ways that he acted on the show, and no one ever sees the abuse, trauma, and neglect he suffered every day.

      His romance with Hannah is sweet and takes its time to develop. Gerald doesn't trust people easily, and neither does Hannah, and it takes a lot for the two of them to start getting past each others' walls. They have lots of ups and downs over the course of the book, because neither of them are very good communicators, but they both challenge each other to open up, even as they come up with a ridiculous, half-baked idea to leave behind their own crappy lives. In real life, I don't know that I would like Gerald very much, at least, not until he fully deals with his angry, violent impulses, but on the page I felt great empathy for him because of his situation. He wants to make his life better, he's just stuck and confused as to how to get to "better", and the book showcases that journey of self-discovery for him.

      A.S. King's books always seem to have a dash of magical realism in them. When Gerald realizes he can't physically act out anymore -- not unless he wants to go to jail for hurting someone, at least -- he finds other ways to escape, namely, he just envisions himself in a better world on another day, which he calls Gersday. The dissociation gets more complex and bizarre as the story goes on. It's a defense mechanism and a means of escape, where he can imagine everything is just the way he wants it. It's worked for him this long, but with Hannah, it starts to cause problems.

      I read Reality Boy very quickly, over the course of a handful of hours, and I definitely did not want to stop until I finished. As with Ask the Passengers, I wasn't completely satisfied by the ending, as it felt like things wrapped up a little too neat and clean for the way the rest of the story went, but it was nice to leave the story feeling hopeful for Gerald and Hannah, two people who really did deserve something better in life.

      To file under the "problematic things this character says/does, but which don't necessarily mean the book/author are problematic" category, there's a bit of an extended metaphor where Gerald talks about putting on his "war paint" and imagining himself as a chieftain, to get through the day, which is a metaphor that appropriates Native American traditions. There's also a passage where Gerald talks about his "slave name" and his life as slavery, which felt uncomfortable to me. (We have no indication that Gerald is either Native American or African American.) Also, there is liberal use of the "r-word" to describe not only developmentally challenged people, but in general things that are stupid. Hannah calls Gerald out on his inappropriate use of the word, and rightly so. There is a lot of bullying and physical violence in this book, as well as references to sexual activity (nothing explicit or crude) and underage drinking.

      I thought the topic of this one was an interesting look at reality TV. I know that I have sat back and watched Supernanny and other similar shows, partly horrified by the kids' antics, and partly entertained by the absurdity of it all. I don't know that I've ever sat back and thought about how the widely watched shows might affect the families later down the road, but in this day and age where nothing ever truly disappears, it's certainly realistic that embarrassing things one does as a small child will follow you around for life. I definitely will find myself thinking a bit more critically before sitting down to watch shows like that in the future.
    • 4/5
      Gerald was young when he was on a reality tv show where a nanny swoops in and makes everything ok. Now that he's almost seventeen, his family is still far from perfect and the anger he had when he was young is still with him at every moment. This book isn't as strong as some of A.S. King's others (read Ask the Passengers, but is still a moving story with a tale that isn't often told.
    • 4/5
      Every once in a while I'll pick up a young adult book and be blown away by the absolutely adult, but totally teenager as well, message that is being conveyed. Reality Boy by A.S. King blew me away. This was the first book by King that I've read, having (for some reason) overlooked previous titles but after reading the story of Gerald and his totally messed up family, and feeling not only fascinating but compelling pity and sadness for him, I have to say that I loved this story. I loved it for invoking some of the strongest empathy I've felt in quite some time. I love it for its imperfectness. I love it for its real theme and for its willingness to take on tough subjects. Mostly though, I love it because I read it at a time when I feel as if it actually spoke to me in a very profound way.Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Oct. 23, 2013.
    • 5/5
      Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality television crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he’s still haunted by his rage-filled youth—which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle—and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.Nothing is ever going to change. No one cares that he’s tried to learn to control himself, and the girl he likes has no idea who he really is. Everyone’s just waiting for him to snap…and he’s starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that.
    • 5/5
      Sixteen year old Gerald Faust has grown up with the social stigma of having been featured on a reality TV show when he was a 5 year old child. Network Nanny, a show similar to Supernanny, swooped in to try to “fix” the problem children but failed to address the real problems, a violent psychotic sister and an emotionally detached mother leaving a very resentful 5 year old who acted out in the only way he knew how. His outrageous behavior made him somewhat of a local celebrity, although Gerald didn’t see this as something to have been proud of. The combination of his embarrassment about those things shown on Network Nanny and his anger, hurt, and resentment about what he has to deal with in his crazy dysfunctional home has made Gerald an extremely volatile kid. The coping skills he has acquired, some on his own and some through his Anger Management sessions, keeps his violent outbursts in check but also makes him very socially awkward.

      The first thing I have to praise about Reality Boy was the authenticity of the characters. The author goes to some dark places and pokes and prods so that the reader can understand the feeling and motivation behind each of her characters actions. I felt for Gerald and spent most of the book furious with his negligent parents, reality TV, and a world where things like this go unnoticed or unremarked upon. Gerald’s inner dialog, while sometimes extremely odd, allowed me to connect with him and understand his inner turmoil, his self-doubt, and his rage.

      The romance was understated and thankfully not the focal point of the book. It felt genuine and I enjoyed Hannah almost as much as I liked Gerald. Hannah had her own emotional baggage which seemed to sometimes clash with Gerald’s and at other times, be a perfect fit. I loved how quirky they both were and how these quirks seemed to forge a bond between them. It was very nicely done.

      There isn’t much negative to say about Reality Boy. I enjoyed reading this much more than I was expecting to having never read anything by this author previously. The only flaws I can think of may be that some parts tended to be a bit repetitive and the story maybe lagged a bit here and there. However, these issues are minor compared to how fascinating and original I found this story to be. I was completely drawn in and invested in Gerald’s story.

      I would absolutely recommend Reality Boy to fans of contemporary YA. This book has heart, spirit, and originality. I look forward to reading more of this author’s books!

      Rating: 4.5
    • 5/5
      Sixteen year old Gerald Faust has grown up with the social stigma of having been featured on a reality TV show when he was a 5 year old child. Network Nanny, a show similar to Supernanny, swooped in to try to “fix” the problem children but failed to address the real problems, a violent psychotic sister and an emotionally detached mother leaving a very resentful 5 year old who acted out in the only way he knew how. His outrageous behavior made him somewhat of a local celebrity, although Gerald didn’t see this as something to have been proud of. The combination of his embarrassment about those things shown on Network Nanny and his anger, hurt, and resentment about what he has to deal with in his crazy dysfunctional home has made Gerald an extremely volatile kid. The coping skills he has acquired, some on his own and some through his Anger Management sessions, keeps his violent outbursts in check but also makes him very socially awkward.

      The first thing I have to praise about Reality Boy was the authenticity of the characters. The author goes to some dark places and pokes and prods so that the reader can understand the feeling and motivation behind each of her characters actions. I felt for Gerald and spent most of the book furious with his negligent parents, reality TV, and a world where things like this go unnoticed or unremarked upon. Gerald’s inner dialog, while sometimes extremely odd, allowed me to connect with him and understand his inner turmoil, his self-doubt, and his rage.

      The romance was understated and thankfully not the focal point of the book. It felt genuine and I enjoyed Hannah almost as much as I liked Gerald. Hannah had her own emotional baggage which seemed to sometimes clash with Gerald’s and at other times, be a perfect fit. I loved how quirky they both were and how these quirks seemed to forge a bond between them. It was very nicely done.

      There isn’t much negative to say about Reality Boy. I enjoyed reading this much more than I was expecting to having never read anything by this author previously. The only flaws I can think of may be that some parts tended to be a bit repetitive and the story maybe lagged a bit here and there. However, these issues are minor compared to how fascinating and original I found this story to be. I was completely drawn in and invested in Gerald’s story.

      I would absolutely recommend Reality Boy to fans of contemporary YA. This book has heart, spirit, and originality. I look forward to reading more of this author’s books!

      Rating: 4.5
    • 4/5
       Gerald Faust is famous, or infamous to be more precise. While he’s not evil, he certainly is known for being bad. His notoriety is the result of his behavior during a reality show when he was five years old. As part of a national Nanny show, his family invited a Nanny in to help fix their dysfunctional children. It seems Gerald was the star of the show; the one who crapped on tables, in shoes, wherever he felt like making a statement. He literally was telling the world: this is crap. While audiences loved to watch the little terror act out his frustrations, Gerald forever cemented his role of the Crapper, which has followed him up through his high school years. There’s no avoiding his moniker and his anger over his life. It seems his older sister has serious issues and continually abused both Gerald and his other sister. They have been at the mercy of the demented oldest sister who was continually protected by the mother. Gerald has a right to be angry and still he tries to use the coping mechanisms his therapist has taught him. He’s resigned himself to being a total loser, a regular student forced into Special Ed. classes because he is such a loser. King has a way with depicting traumatized teens with a keen eye. The despair and frustration screams from the pages as Gerald tries to cope in a cruel world. The book is a diatribe against reality TV and the emphasis on people reveling in other’s problems. The emotional toll such shows can leave on the subjects can be life changing and utterly destructive. Gerald is deeply moved by a stranger who shows him sympathy, and our hearts go out to him as he fumbles to maintain his composure in his dealings with others. The book is edgy and intense, like a bomb waiting to go off – much as Gerald’s temper is seething. Sympathy for the main character is an understatement; readers will root for the kid to catch a break and have someone show him some affection. When a cute girl does seem interested, he initially can’t respond because he’s closed himself off for so long. King is an expert at depicting the disenfranchised, the downtrodden, the victimized souls that can often be dismissed by our popularity-obsessed culture.
    • 5/5
      I got a copy of this to review through NetGalley. I have been a huge fan of AS King’s book for a while. I loved The Dust of 100 Dogs and Everybody Sees the Ants. I have Ask the Passengers sitting at home waiting to be read. This was a very good book, well written and thought provoking. It wasn’t my favorite AS King book, but it was a very well done one.This book is about a boy named Gerald Faust, who did not have a normal upbringing. He pretty much was raised on a reality show, where he was told what to do and how to act. However, that’s not the real problem here...pretty much what has torn the family apart is the fact that his sister is a psychopath, his mom is ambivalent, and his dad is always working. As might be expected Gerald has some issues. The main one of these is anger and managing it, he is incredibly violent….like biting people’s ears off, punching holes in things violent. That is until he meets the Girl at the Register at the hockey arena where he works. Then he decides it’s time to make some changes in his life...hopefully for the better.As with most of King’s books this one is a bit quirky, very heartfelt, and thought-provoking. King’s characters are always in very strange situations and there is usually a little bit of magical realism in the story as well. This book was very similar. Gerald’s sister was very very abusive to him, and no one stopped her. She tries to kill him a number of times when he is younger. Gerald has learned to deal with this, by going off to a happy place in his head where life is wonderful. Part of Gerald going to his happy place is a way of him dealing with his incredible level of anger at everything. It’s hard not to be angry when you are nicknamed The Crapper, because of rebellious pooping at 5 years old that was televised over the whole world….especially when no one can seem to let it go even though you are in high school now.To make matters worse rather than helping her son deal with the issues at home his mother decided that Gerald was retarded and needed to be put into special-ed at a very young age. Gerald is not mentally challenged...he is in fact quite smart. But he likes the kids in special ed because they don’t judge and kind of goes along with it all.When Gerald meets Hannah (the girl who works at the cash register with him) aka The Junkman’s Daughter, he decides things needs to change. He works to get his anger under control and convinces his dad to help him take control of the abusive sister at home...who is still beating up their mother and the rest of the family both physically and emotionally. In addition to all that he’s decided he wants to go to college and is going to move out of special ed and into some more challenging classes. However...it is not an easy or pretty path and Gerald has to fight tooth and nail to stay on it.We watch as he tries to pull his life together and get some direction and sanity in it. It is inspiring and entertaining. Gerald’s family has got to be one of the most messed up families I have ever read about. We are talking seriously dysfunctional...but strangely most of the family (excepting his sister) isn’t evil...just complacent.King does an absolutely stunning job of capturing Gerald’s character; he’s not an easy character to deal with and she does a wonderful job making him come alive. All the characters in this book are just so real and engaging and they are in such crazy situations.Overall this was a very engaging story with incredible characterization. I loved reading it and really enjoyed these zany characters and watching them muddle through all of their issues. It was a creative story and incredibly engaging, the book was very hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who enjoy quirky characters working their way through tough life situations.
    • 5/5
      A.S. King has been quite successful writing family dramas with compelling teenaged protagonists. In Reality Boy, she focuses on Gerald, a teen still dealing with the aftermath of his family’s appearance on reality television more than a decade ago. His family was dysfunctional before Network Nanny came to help, but his mother and sister have treated him even worse since the cameras left. The subject matter tackled in this novel is relevant in this age where reality television has permeated our culture and the first children that were subjected to appearing in front of a nation are starting to come of age. It would be suitable for older teens who can handle the emotional themes and situations and the mature language used in the book. In a book populated by unique characters, Gerald is particularly memorable. His past has deeply scarred him in ways that force him to retreat to a happier place in his mind. His deep-rooted feelings of alienation from his family and his peers may be something that teen readers can relate to. Gerald’s struggles to demand a better life for himself could empower readers to do the same.
    • 3/5
      Remember that song from A Chorus Line: Dance 10/Looks 3? Well, my rating for this is Writing 5/Subject matter 2. I really tried. I could not get past the unlikable main character and the (IMHO) unlikely “reality” of the book. Briefly: Reality Boy is famous because (as a youngster) he used the bathroom (Number Two, no less) in a very public place, in front of television cameras. Now he is 16, he’s still on a reality show, and guess what: he still indulges in this habit in times of stress. I don’t buy it. I think the topic was chosen for the shock value and instead of drawing me in, Reality Boy's unrealistic life pushed me away. I did love some of the writing. “Mom is already sleeping because she gets up so early to power walk and invent exciting new breakfast smoothies.” “Isn’t that what fame is anyway? Being slaves to little people?” “I can’t see anything but the wrinkles of Dollar Night worry on her forehead.” The tale isn’t all about dumping inappropriately – some of it is about having a crush, and the life pressures teens face, and two-faced adults. The chapters are short and punchy – three or four pages – and the dialogue is realistic teen speak. If you can read it just for the writing, please go ahead. For me, this story did not connect to any real life that I am familiar with.