Twisted

By: Laurie Halse Anderson

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

High-school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background: average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But ever since he got busted for spraying graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father's boss' daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy, and Tyler's secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.

In Twisted, the acclaimed Laurie Halse Anderson tackles a very controversial subject: what it means to be a man today. Fans and new readers alike will be captured by Tyler's pitch perfect, funny voice, the surprising narrative arc, and the thoughtful moral dilemmas that are at the heart of all of the author's award-winning work.

©2007 Laurie Halse Anderson (P)2007 Random House Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"What works well here is the frank, on-target humor ('I was a zit on the butt of the student body'), the taut pacing, and the small moments, recounted in Tyler's first-person voice, that illuminate his emotional anguish. Writing for the first time from a male perspective, Anderson skillfully explores identity and power struggles that all young people will recognize." (Booklist)

"[A] chillingly accurate portrayal of the high-school social scene, in which morals, perceptions and conceptions of truth are continually...challenged." (Publishers Weekly)

"Anderson...stretches her wings by offering...a male protagonist... one of the most poignant and gripping scenes in young-adult literature." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Important story

4.5 STARS

A summer of probation and community service bulks Tyler’s muscles and social cred. No longer bullied, he attracts his crush Bethany’s attention, who happens to be his father’s boss’s daughter. At home, Tyler endures relentless emotional bullying from his father. Then an incident at a party threatens all the positives Tyler has.

Any child with a father like Tyler’s would be depressed. Convinced he’s a loser with no potential, Tyler has fantasized about dying for years. His mom drinks a little too much and his younger sister Hannah views him as an impediment to her social ambitions. Although he does the right thing at the party, Tyler is accused of taking pictures of Bethany. His father assumes he’s guilty. He just can’t win.

Laurie Halse Anderson always has her finger on the pulse of teen readers, capturing the pain of adolescence in an authentic and heartfelt way. TWISTED, written years before the #MeToo movement, is filled with toxic masculinity. While reading, I wondered whether she would have written the story differently today. When I was in HS, freshmen dating seniors was commonplace as Tyler’s sister and his best friend are together. Calvin probably treats Hannah with more respect than her freshman peers would, so it wasn’t an issue.

TWISTED is an important, compulsively readable story about family, depression and friendship.

Wow this is my fav book by this writer

This is the fifth book I’ve listen to by this author and it’s my favorite one. The reader is really good and the story is very complex. I highly recommend this title.

Great story

Love the entire story line. The book highlighted key events in a young man’s life that may parallel experiences of other young teens. The story presented so many details the allowed to author play on the readers emotions. The progression of a character from boy to man was inspirational. Many life lessons can be drawn from reading a book like this. Wonderful!

best book ever

warning that there are alot of cuss words... but it is a wonderful book enjoy!

maybe good for young adults

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I'd rather have not listened to this one. I bought on a recommendation from my daughter. I had high hopes cause it started out well, but went downhill to the finish. Maybe I'm just too old (40, Male) to relate.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'm not sure what's next. but I'm really looking forward to books like "A Memory of Light" and other sequels from my preferred genres of fantasy and science fiction from "The Grimnoir Chronicles", "The Lies of Locke Lamora" and "The Name of the Wind", etc.

Have you listened to any of Mike Chamberlain’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first I have heard Mike Chamberlain. I thought he was great, it was the story that didn't turn me on. I would definitely give him another chance as a narrator

Was Twisted worth the listening time?

Personally, no. The only advantage to listening to this was to warn my daughter that it wasn't worth finishing.

Any additional comments?

This might be a good book from the perspective of a younger reader, but to me it didn't hold a candle to other young adult classics like "Catcher in the Rye" or "The Outsiders"

Corny but great

I read this book years ago for the first time and just listened to it today for the first time in years. I forgot how corny it is at the beginning, but it is a great book.

Hack yeah

this book is awsome you relly need to read this book right now and I mean now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing

I read this book when I was in high school. I like the book very much I had to get it here so I can hear it and remind my self of it again.

really good

I really liked this story. The narrator did a really great job at bringing this story to life.

Love this book!

Loved this book. It was a high school favorite and I was happy to revisit it. I did however think that the dialogue was a little monotone.