Noggin by John Corey Whaley

Pages: 340
Intended Audience: Teens & Mature Tweens
Genre: Modern day science fiction
Notes for Parents: Contains some coarse language.

The Back Cover

Listen—I was alive once, and then I wasn’t. Now I’m alive again. Simple as that.
The in-between part is still a little fuzzy, but I can tell you that at some point or another, my head got chopped off and shoved into a freezer in Denver, Colorado.
Five years later it was reattached to some other guy’s body, and here I am. Despite all logic, I’m still sixteen and everything and everyone around me has changed. That includes my bedroom, my parents, my best friend, and my girlfriend. Or maybe she’s not my girlfriend anymore. That’s a bit fuzzy too.
I guess if the new me and the old me are ever going to find a way to exist together, then there are going to be a few more scars.
Oh well. You only live twice.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is only the author’s second novel.

What’s good?

For Travis, it’s like he was fighting cancer just yesterday. But for his family and friends, it’s been five painful years of grieving, and learning to live without him. The premise is inventive and appropriate in these times of medical miracles. The writing is excellent, with a strong first-person conversational style. There’s plenty of humor, witty dialogue, and stinging sarcasm. The characters are well-drawn, the plot moves along easily, and the story is emotional.
Best Part: Hatton.

What isn’t good?

The story is thin. While the pace is even, it moves slowly because there’s really no action to speak of. Travis’ obsessive behavior overpowers what could have been an exciting story about a boy who returns from the dead and has to cope with many changes. It could have been a story about identity, self-awareness, body-image, and even loss and acceptance. Instead, there were just general reflections on life, love, death, etc. Regarding the science behind his medical miracle, a lot of suspension of disbelief is required.
Worst part: The mention of David Letterman completely threw me off.

Recommendation þþþoo

I was underwhelmed. Travis was weak and dying before he woke up five years later in a strong and healthy body. That fact barely received a mention. Still, this book wasn’t bad, which makes me think it could have been brilliant if the author had explored a little more life and a little less love. I found the story interesting enough to recommend, but know it could have been so much better.

Whaley, John Corey. Noggin. New York: Atheneum, 2014.