Dear Life, You Suck

Blagden’s debut, a fast-paced story of a teen trying to figure out his place in the world and his sense of morality, frustrates even as it charms. Cricket has lived in a Catholic church–run orphanage for years, and now that he’s a senior, he’s not sure if his future lies in being a drug dealer, a boxer, or in ending his own life. Other than sparring, Cricket is only motivated to watch old movies and watch out for the younger kids in the orphanage. Defending them from bullies often gets Cricket in trouble, but his habit of smarting off to authority figures also does him no favors. Nor does his crush on classmate Wynona, girlfriend of school bully Pitbull. There’s much to enjoy about Blagden’s storytelling, which is why so many things—Cricket’s overly goofy language (“Foxy Moxie totally shocks the shiitake mushrooms out of me”), Wynona’s undeveloped reasons for dating Pitbull, Cricket’s homophobic and unchecked comments about his principal—are letdowns. The result is an exasperating story from an author with potential. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ruben Pfeffer, East West Literary. (Mar.)