Review: Being Henry David
Feb •
2 •
2013
Being Henry David by Cal Armistead Series: Stand Alone
Published by Albert Whitman Teen on March 1st 2013
Genres: Young Adult-Contemporary
Source: FTC: Exchange for honest opinion, Netgalley
Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old "Hank" has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything --who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David-or "Hank" and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel is about a teen in search of himself. Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past. The only way Hank can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past, to stop running, and to find his way home.
When I was little I ran away once. I packed up my backpack with my gameboy, my favorite gummy snacks, and my red power ranger doll. I made it down the street before I realized how crazy I was being. I left my cat. I couldn’t survive with her. That was me when I was 8.
Finding yourself in a place you never been before can be pretty scary. Just kidding it can be so scary I would be pee in my pants whenever someone looked at me. For “Hank” it must have been freaky waking up in a train station not knowing who he was, where he was, or how he got there.
This is the type of book that can make you think and appreciate the things you have and even though your parents may get mad at you, they will always love you. I think this is where I connected most with the book. I did some bad things in the past and at first I didn’t care but now when reading this book and thinking about those things made me realize how those were the moments I wish I could change.
“Hank” goes on a journey where he sets out to make a new life and meets new people that play an important part in his new life but while beginning his new life, he looks to remember his past. “Hank” is a character I would love to know and would want to know what he was going through the book. Kind of crazy,,,but I feel everyone wishes they had that person of a fiction world they would love to connect with and for me “Hank”is that person.
Cal Armistead just blows me away with an enthralling tale of a boy’s journey. An author that could be a new arising John Green, Being Henry David is a must read book.
I give it 5 BITES!
Happy Reading!
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Wow, this book sounds really good. I love a book that can make you think. This sounds like a beautiful book. Great review!!
LOL I would pee my pants too! I had no idea what this book was about but it sounds right up my alley!! Awesome review, love!
I really want to read this one!
This sounds really good! It sounds familiar so I wonder if I have an ARC with a different cover. I will need to look cause I really wanna read it now!