Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
The book that inspired the hit film!
Sundance U.S. Dramatic Audience Award
Sundance Grand Jury Prize
This is the funniest book you'll ever read about death.
It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he's figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.
This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg's mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg's entire life.
Praise for Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
STARRED REVIEW
“One need only look at the chapter titles (“Let's Just Get This Embarrassing Chapter Out of the Way”) to know that this is one funny book.”
–Booklist, starred review
STARRED REVIEW
“A frequently hysterical confessional...Debut novelist Andrews succeeds brilliantly in painting a portrait of a kid whose responses to emotional duress are entirely believable and sympathetic, however fiercely he professes his essential crappiness as a human being. Though this novel begs inevitable thematic comparisons to John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (2011), it stands on its own in inventiveness, humor and heart.”
–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“It is sure to be popular with many boys, including reluctant readers, and will not require much selling on the part of the librarian.”
–VOYA
"Mr. Andrews' often hilarious teen dialogue is utterly convincing, and his characters are compelling. Greg's random sense of humor, terrible self-esteem and general lack of self-awareness all ring true. Like many YA authors, Mr. Andrews blends humor and pathos with true skill, but he steers clear of tricky resolutions and overt life lessons, favoring incremental understanding and growth."
–Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Awards:
Capitol Choices 2013 - Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2013 list - Young Adult Fiction
YALSA 2013 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
YALSA 2013 Best Fiction for Young Adults
YALSA 2014 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
Frequently asked questions
Is Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
There is no explicit violence depicted in the book. The story revolves around a teen with cancer and focuses on personal and emotional challenges rather than physical confrontations. The book does not contain genuinely frightening content. While it deals with serious themes related to illness and mortality, it is presented in a comedic and relatable manner.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have violence?
There is no explicit violence depicted in the book. The story revolves around a teen with cancer and focuses on personal and emotional challenges rather than physical confrontations.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have scary content?
The book does not contain genuinely frightening content. While it deals with serious themes related to illness and mortality, it is presented in a comedic and relatable manner.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. The narrative does not explore or reference any religious practices, beliefs, or themes.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have racial/cultural content?
The book features a Black character, Earl, but includes critiques of casual racism that go unchallenged within the narrative. This raises concerns about the portrayal of race and racial dynamics.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have profanity?
The book contains frequent use of profanity, including words like 's--t', 'f--k', and other crude language, reflecting the way teenagers might speak.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have climate change?
No climate themes or environmental issues are present in the book. The narrative focuses on personal relationships and the experience of dealing with illness.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have sexual identity?
The book contains no actual sexual content, including nudity or sexual contact. There are some jokes about sexual topics, but these are not explicit and do not constitute sexual content.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have gender roles?
The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. While it features male characters and a female character with cancer, it does not promote or challenge traditional gender expectations.
Does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) have lgbtq+ themes?
The book does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or themes. One review mentions a conversation about bisexuality that is dismissive, indicating a lack of representation rather than inclusion.
