The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

 Philippe, Ben. The Field Guide to the North American Teenager. 2019. 372p. ISBN 978-0-0628-2412-7. Available at FIC PHI on the library shelves.

Austin, Texas, is really hot. Norris can't believe that this is where he will be living as his mother starts her new job at the local university. This being Texas, everything is bigger, and more stereotypical in Norris' mind. Joining a new high school in January of his junior year was not his idea of a good time, so he plans on blending in and not attract attention. But as a French-Canadian black kid whose parents are from Haiti, Norris stands out. It doesn't help that people don't play hockey here, and that he left behind his best friend Eric just as Eric was coming out to his parents, so he can't really provide the support he would have liked.

At school, Norris quickly meet the jocks, the cheerleaders, the theater kids, and the other misfits. He labels them all to avoid remembering names and making friends. He earns the jocks' ire and the cheerleaders' disdain with his big mouth and unfiltered comments, but draws the attention of Madison, one of the cheerleaders (lucky for her, Norris calls all cheerleaders Madison). He runs into Aarti, the cool artsy Indian girl he quickly develops a crush on, and Liam, the quiet giant who is hoping to start a hockey team.

Looking to make money so he can travel back to Canada and go skiing with his friend Eric, Norris joins the staff of a local restaurant, only to realize that it is owned by Madison's father, who has his hands full managing the place, marrying his younger daughters, and babysitting two evil babies. Despite the sarcasm and the insults he delivered the gaggle of cheerleaders on their first encounter, Maddie puts in a good word for him and he begins working with her. 

Over the course of the next several months, Maddie helps Norris navigate the choppy waters that are Aarti, while he successfully forms a hockey team and even gains the jocks' grudging respect. As the end of the school year nears, however, Norris realizes that there is more to people than just labels, and that in fact he might have found some friends in unexpected places. An epic screw up threatens all of that, however, and Norris will be faced with the biggest decision of his life. Remain in Texas and pick up the pieces, or run away back to Canada and start anew?