Kick Me

Kick Me 

By Paul Feig

       The theme of Kick Me is growing up and what it brings along with it. Paul Feig finds out how hard it is and that no one can go from child to man in one easy step. The book is trying to tell us how to take little steps and not rush through it or you'll fall over your own feet.

       Paul Feig, The protagonist, wants to be able to fit in with the other kids. He wants them to look past the nickname Fag and really get to know him. The mentor in this book, Paul's dad, wants Paul to fit in as well and get past some girly features and become a boy, preferably a funny one. 

       Over the course of the book, Paul learns a lot about growing up. He learns that you will have to take a shower in front of other boys when you reach middle school and he learns that as you change, girls do too. Paul changes by finally getting a grip on the fast changing world around him in the last chapter of the book and asks his long time love, Mary, to go to the prom with him. This changes him because Paul's never been able to muster up the courage to ask her or reveal his thoughts on Mary ever to her face. In the end, Paul has reached the point where he has caught up with life and can finally enjoy it.

       Three stories from this book really stood out to me. One was where Paul got this 'rope feeling' when he was climbing up a rope in gym. Later, when he finds out how to get the feeling in the bathtub and tells his friend how to do, I was confused until the end when his friend, Brian, told him about getting his 'thingy' stuck in the bottle. It was hilarious. Another was the Killer game, which in Freaks and Geeks the same thing happens. It was so great to find out the part about him getting detention for swearing. I also loved the dog-pile in the showers. How gross!

        I really liked Kick Me. I thought the author did a great job on the book. I'm surprised he was able to tell the world what he was like when he was younger and love the fact he was open to say the truth. It rocked and totally recommend it to anyone. The beginning is a little slow but once you get into it, it's a wonderful book. I hope everyone in our class this year, and next year, reads this book in (or out of) reading bowl.