YA Contemporary
“Boy makeover books are rare, and this one’s a gem.”
— Publishers Weekly
Winner of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award
A YALSA Most Popular Paperback for Young Adults
FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE is the story of a boy who doesn't fit--in his pants, in his family, in his school, or in his life. If Andrew Zansky can only be thin enough, smart enough, or popular enough, he thinks everything in his life will be perfect. His father will come back home. The pretty girl in school will fall in love with him. His Mom will be happy again.
While he's working to achieve this fantasy future, Andrew eats. A lot. He buries his problems in his Mom's mini-snacks, analyzing his world while stuffing down his feelings. "When I chew loud enough," he says, "I can't hear myself think. It's like a little vacation." FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE follows Andrew's journey to self-awareness and self-acceptance (by, unexpectedly, joining the high school football team). By the end of the story, Andrew stops living in his head and starts participating in life. Perhaps most importantly, he comes to understand that feeling different doesn't make him weird or special; it makes him just like everyone else.
"All the world's a stage, indeed, and these players earn their applause.”
— Publishers Weekly
High school sophomore Adam Zeigler, who lost his father to a sudden accident two years ago, thinks the best way to live life is behind the spotlight. As a member of the theater crew, he believes he's achieved it all when he wins the coveted job of spotlight operator. But that was before a young actress, Summer, appeared in his view. Instantly smitten, Adam is determined to win her over. But to do so, he'll have to defy his best friend and break the golden rule of his school: techies and actors don't mix.
Set against the backdrop of a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Zadoff's latest is a bromance, a love story, and theater story in one. The politics of love and high school collide as Adam struggles to find the courage to step out of the shadows and into the light.
“In this lively romantic dramedy, Zadoff (Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have) uses a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream as a backdrop for one teenager's coming-of-age. Zadoff captures the confusion, torn loyalties, and overwrought drama of teenage life—not to mention student theater. All the world's a stage, indeed, and these players earn their applause.” –Publishers Weekly
“Drama begets drama in this examination of relationships set against the backdrop of a high-school theater production…. this solid tale ultimately appeals. –Kirkus Reviews
Fast-paced and filled with humor, Zadoff's latest title is sure to appeal to fans of Glee and other performance-based TV shows.” -School Library Journal
“Zadoff tells the story of California's new Jewish family...a humorous and introspective read for any age."
— The Jewish Daily Forward
For Sanskrit Aaron Zuckerman, it isn’t easy to believe. Especially when all the people you care about leave.
His dad left after the divorce. The love of his life left in second grade. His best friend in Jewish school found God and practically left the planet. Now his yoga-teacher mom is falling in love with her spiritual guru, and she’s threatening to leave, too.
In a desperate attempt to keep his family together, Sanskrit tells just one small lie. And for a while it seems to be working. Because people start coming back. Sanskrit might even get the family he always wanted.
There’s just one little thing in his way. The truth.
Against the setting of modern-day Los Angeles, YA author Allen Zadoff presents a funny and heartbreaking novel about the search for love—and meaning—in a world where everyone is looking for something to hang on to.
"...it isn't the plotline that makes Allen Zadoff's Since You Left Me special: it's Sanskrit's voice...so snarkily hilarious that you'll laugh through all of the painful moments."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Not many YA books dare to tackle the issues of faith and religion, but Since You Left Me is a rare gift...a story that's hilarious and hopeful--and one you should definitely add to your reading list."
--Pick of the Week, 60SecondRecap