My Most Excellent Year

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of
Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park
by Steve Kluger

MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR by

Category:

Contemporary

Age Recommendation:

Grades 9+

Release Date: 3/13/08

Publisher: Dial

Reviewed by:

Rating:

4 Stars

Three teens, one assignment… their most excellent year.

T.C., originally Anthony Conigliaro Keller, was born into a family who loves baseball, and speaks with a very

distinct accent. Like his family, T.C. loves the sport and practically knows all there is to know about baseball. It

certainly helps him with his grades; if only it could help him get the girl of his dreams. With quite an odd family, a

knack at frustrating those around him, making sure he only gets a B+ on everything (except for algebra, since he

isn’t a poser), and being a trendsetter, T.C.’s life completely changed when his mother passed away.

Augie, T.C.’s non-biological, Chinese brother, became his best friend after his mother

died, helping him cope. With

a love for theater, movies, and everything dramatic, Augie definitely hasn’t found his true identity yet, even though

everyone around him, especially the ones he loves, has. Besides theatrics, Augie is a pretty good soccer player,

especially when he is playing with T.C. Of course, these distractions can’t possibly pull his mind away from how his

heart is pulling him in a very different direction.

Alejandra, a.k.a. T.C.’s dream girl, has never fit in, both at school or home. With a father who was the ambassador

to Mexico, her dream was never with politics like her brother but more towards dance, which she must keep a

secret. Because of her father, Alejandra has been able to meet some very famous politicians and celebrities. Of

course, all of the famous people she met didn’t help her status in school, since she was automatically considered

stuck-up. But T.C. still loves her, except she doesn’t love him back, or so she thinks. Not one to hide her opinions,

who wouldn’t be scared of her?

Beginning in their late junior year, the three flash back to their freshm

n year… their most excellent year.

The year where love, sexuality, identity, friendship, and strength were discovered. Each one writing in the diaries for

their English class, all addressed to an important person: T.C. to his mama, Augie to the diva of the week, and

Alejandra to Jacqueline, the wife of her favorite president, JFK.

Laughter, tears, and relief will be felt by not only the characters but also the readers. MY MOST EXCELLENT

YEAR takes three very distinct, honest teens who all have problems of their own, and who need each other

desperately in the end. Steve Kluger allows the reader to have a close interaction with the characters, who are all

very well-developed and defined, making the story all the more enjoyable.