I didn't like the finale as much as the other two books in the series, but it was still a good read. Although it was necessary for the story line, I was frequently thrown off by the use of two narrators (something not present in the other two novels). The story still made for a good book, but somehow the plot seemed both rushed and too slow at the same time. To be honest, it probably wouldn't have rated so high for me if I hadn't loved the other two books so much.

I enjoy NPH very much. He's a funny guy with a pretty down-to-earth attitude. His stories in this hodgepodge novel are entertaining. I really wanted to rate it higher. But...ultimately, the method by which it is delivered (which, oddly enough is what drew me to this book in the first place) is what caused me to enjoy it less than I imagined. Told in the traditional "Choose Your Own Adventure" style, the plot moves based on what options you "choose" at the end of each chapter. I discovered that (like my elementary school self was with the original style stories) my brain works far too linearly for this concept to work for me. Thus, I had to read it cover to cover, start to finish, rather than playing along with the game. I didn't want to miss anything. Unfortunately, this approach led things to be far too disjointed and left me occasionally questioning which stories were for comedic relief and which ones were true. (I think I was able to figure out the grand majority correctly, but really...who knows?) So while the creative approach was what initially gave me interest in this book, it turns out I'm just not that kind of reader. I still find NPH smart, witty, and entertaining though. So it wasn't a complete loss.

I was given this book by a fellow book blogger. I had heard a few things about it and was mildly intrigued. Turns out, it was better than I expected. It's the story of a trans teen and her struggle with gaining acceptance of her own identity, both from without and within. It's well-written and geared easily toward readers of the same age as the primary character. Though it obviously tackles a rather controversial subject, it is done with fantastic grace and taste. The author herself is trans and states that she modeled the protagonist after herself and her friends to some degree, but admits that Amanda is very much a fictional character that must be taken as such. Regardless, Amanda is very well constructed. The story is believable, the characters are not flat or overly stereotypical. I read the whole book in one quick sitting without feeling like the story was overly contrived or trying to hard to make a political/moral point. It's a very good book that blends nicely with the catalog of young adult fiction available.