Like We Care

Rating:
Summary: Great discussion book
Review: I don't know that I would have picked up this book on my own. A friend loaned me an advanced copy to read, and I was pleasantly surprised by several things. The best part of this book is the humor. I really enjoyed the clever turns of phrase and especially the parenthetical comments...laughed out loud every few pages! The second pleasant surprise is the depth with which Matthews explores this scenario. I was fascinated to learn about the marketing philosophy and techniques of the fictional network, which shamelessly and very aggressively stalks teens both to rake in their revenue and shape their views, at literally all costs.

While the political race tie-in was interesting, I found myself more drawn to the relationships and language of the young people, the garish, almost characatured behavior of the 'celebrities,' and the power of one person...or a small group...to make a huge difference.

The underdog aspect, with Todd and Ira sort of masterminding everything and getting their own brand of geek-revenge just has to be satisfying to anyone out there who wasn't the most popular in school!

Matthews's ability to let us hear what goes on in his characters' heads (truly remarkable; I could 'hear; their voices and inflections) and his shrewd representation of marketing on a national level are what make this book rich with questions and discussion opportunities. While the media prey on teen apathy, I don't think anyone would say the teens in this book are stupid. Like We Care is a study in revolution....just not the kind the network had in mind!

Today I'll buy my own copy so I can mark it up and talk about it with my book group!



Rating:
Summary: refreshingly original work
Review: Seventeen year old Joel Karstan hopes to go to college on a baseball scholarship but he takes an unexpected time-out from playing when his jaw is broken when he is hit by a ball. After six weeks of having his jaw wired shut, the popular teen is hanging out at the Happy Snack convenience store when he realizes that the managers treats him and the other teens like garbage. With the help of his friend Todd Noland he organizes a boycott that grows bigger every day and finally attracts the attraction of television executive Annie McCullough.

She works for a rock Cable music station that makes gangsta rap seen like lullabies. She finds Kyle charismatic and believes he and his protest would play very well on her television station. Joel and his boycott grab the attention of teens across the nation who start boycotting stores that exploit teenagers as a demographic group. Todd and Joel's next project is getting their black history teacher elected to the white city council by getting the 18-23 age group to come out and vote. They prove that teenagers can make a difference.

Tom Matthews takes sacred cows and satirizes thing in a way that is simultaneously funny and sad. LIKE WE CARE is a story of two wise arse students who know how to play the system and make it work for them. Annie goes from executive flunky to detached observer to active participant. If teenagers ever truly organized they would have plenty of economic and political clout. This is a refreshingly original work that has a very special appeal to the younger crowd and anyone who remembers Wild in the Streets.

Harriet Klausner