Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft

Wesselhoeft, Conrad. Adios, Nirvana. 235 pgs. Houghton Mifflin, 2010. $16.00. Content PG-13, sexual content, swearing (2 F-word and 10+ other swears).  When Jonathan’s twin brother dies, he becomes rather introverted and even his best friends, his thicks, can’t seem to help him get out of his funk. He’s failing his classes, his friends and his mother. He can’t seem to please anyone, including himself, until a rather unconventional proposal - involving interviewing and writing a book for a dying man - is introduced in lieu of completing schoolwork for failing classes. Throughout the course of a few months Jonathan learns many life lessons and creates his own path to healing with little help from his dysfunctional mother and friends that don’t seem to be able to relate to him anymore. This is a great book for high school aged and older reluctant readers (I consider myself one). I read this book in one day and couldn’t put it down. ADVISABLE, HS. Shauna, Reading teacher.