The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A Black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that being the new kid is always a challenge, but nothing could prepare him for the move from Montreal to the sweltering heat of Austin, Texas. To cope with his new surroundings, Norris begins categorizing the students at Anderson High into a field guide in his journal, mocking the 'clichés' he encounters—the Jocks, the Cheerleaders, and the Loners. He is content to remain a detached observer until he starts forming genuine connections with people like the quiet Liam and the artistic Aarti. However, when his private and often harsh observations are exposed to the entire school, Norris must face the consequences of his cynicism and decide if the labels he coined are worth more than the relationships he's built. This witty debut novel explores themes of identity, race, and the struggle to belong.

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