Dying to Know You (Aidan Chambers)

***

         Karl knows he loves Fiorella, but that is not enough for her.  She wants proof - written proof, that is, in the form of a Q&A essay.  As girl who considers herself a writer, this seems to be the most romantic thing Fiorella can imagine.  But for Karl, who is dyslexic, it only inspires terror.  Will Fiorella, lover of poetry, reject him when she discovers that he hates to read?
         Instead of telling her the truth, Karl asks Fiorella's favorite author to answer the questions for him.  The lonely novelist reluctantly agrees, and in the process starts a friendship with the shy, reserved plumber that is Karl.  They help each other move beyond the past and restart life on their own terms.

         This time, I'm facing the opposite problem from my last review.  Now I can't remember what I didn't like about this book that merited three stars instead of, say, four.  Aaaaarghhh!  What I will say is that this isn't your typical teen novel.  If you're looking for a super-cute romance, you're not going to get it.  Karl isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill teenaged boy, and things don't turn out the way you would expect them to.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but this way you won't fall victim to false advertising.  If you are in the mood for a book that's a little more thoughtful and introspective (which isn't all that common in YA lit), this would be a good option.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: June 10, 2013