Almost Perfect

Katcher, B. (2009). Almost perfect. New York: Delacorte Press.

ISBN: 9780385736640 | hardback | 357 p. | $17.99 USD

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Annotation: Logan feels alone and unloved until a zany new student arrives at his small-town Missouri high school, keeping a big secret.

Book Talk:  Logan Witherspoon’s senior year of high school is off to a great start. Not only has he and his longtime girlfriend broken up after learning she cheated on him, he’s having second thoughts about leaving his small Missouri hometown to attend college. Despite their best efforts, his friends and family can’t seem to cheer him up. His fog begins to clear, however, after meeting Sage Hendricks, an intriguing new girl in science class. She is quirky, funny, kind…almost perfect. After some initial awkward interactions, Logan and Sage strike up an unlikely friendship, then a flirtation, and then…a kiss. Afterward, overcome with guilt, Sage shares with Logan her darkest secret: she’s actually a boy. Logan’s world is upended by her revelation. In its aftermath, he is forced to re-examine not only his feelings for Sage, but his ideas of friendship, loyalty and forgiveness. Logan and Sage share an unconventional journey into adulthood as they together try to figure out what it really means to be Almost Perfect.

My favorite thing about the book:

The book doesn’t try to oversimplify the subject matter.

First Sentence:

“Everyone has that one line they swear they’ll never cross, the one thing they say they’ll never do.”

Favorite character:

Sage

Awards/Honors:

Capital Choice Noteworthy Book for 2010

Rainbow Lists - Young Adult Fiction: 2010

Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award: 2011

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2010

YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young

Adults: Forbidden Romance 2012

Learn More:

Brian Katcher shares about his writing process and novels with two high school students.

Interview with YA Author Brian Katcher from Daniel Boone Regional Library on Vimeo.