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Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe
Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe | Preston Norton
11 posts | 7 read | 1 reading | 4 to read
Cliff Hubbard is a huge loser. Literally. His nickname at Happy Valley High School is Neanderthal because he's so enormous"6'6" and 250 pounds to be exact. He has no one at school and life in his trailer park home has gone from bad to worse ever since his older brother's suicide. There's no one Cliff hates more than the nauseatingly cool quarterback, Aaron Zimmerman. Then Aaron returns to school after a near-death experience with a bizarre claim: while he was unconscious he saw God, who gave him a list of things to do to make Happy Valley High suck less. And God said there's only one person who can help: Neanderthal. To his own surprise, Cliff says he's in. As he and Aaron make their way through the List, which involves a vindictive English teacher, a mysterious computer hacker, a decidedly unchristian cult of Jesus Teens, the local drug dealers, and the meanest bully at HVHS--Cliff feels like he's part of something for the first time since losing his brother. But fixing a broken school isn't as simple as it seems, and just when Cliff thinks they've completed the List, he realizes their mission hits closer to home than he ever imagined. Razor sharp, moving, and outrageously funny, Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe is an unforgettable story of letting enough light in to find your place in a vast cosmos.
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jmtrivera
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Pickpick

Cliff's level of interest in his & Aaron's mission exceeded my own for a long time. These kids talk & act like real teens, but at times it was a bit exhausting & I was more invested in The List itself than I was in the characters. The 2nd half improves immensely as they improve their honest communication & expose their vulnerabilities, and they become engaging. It was heartwarming to experience & I found myself crying at a few points near the end.

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CoffeeNBooks
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This is what I chose to start reading today for Library Friday. Every Friday, all of my English classes go to the school library so my students can read whatever they choose for the entire class period. #teachersoflitsy #englishteacher #librarylove

JaclynW I love that your classes do this! Nice! 5y
74 likes1 comment
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Shay1097
Pickpick

Books Read in 2018
This was really cute and surprisingly a great read. There were a few points where I had to roll my eyes, but overall this was a really lovely read. I thought Cliff and Aaron were really fun characters that brought out the best in each as the story progressed. I also really enjoyed all the other characters!

rather_be_reading welcome to litsy 📚🎄📚 @LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
Shay1097 @rather_be_reading thanks so much!! 5y
3 likes2 comments
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3lizabethe
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rather_be_reading welcome to litsy!! 📚🎃📚 @LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
2 likes1 comment
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Peddler410
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@TheFunkyBookworm #yawednesday

Here is one of the more recent YA BOOKS I want to get my hands on! Why? Because it sounds like an awesome read....the misfit and the quarterback teaming up. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

TheFunkyBookworm I haven‘t heard of this one before but now it‘s on my list too! Good Luck! 🍀💜 6y
25 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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breemariegarcia
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Crewgurl
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Pickpick

This book punched me right in the feels, in the best way possible. Read it.

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Crewgurl
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I do love a good ginger joke 😂 I‘m also really enjoying this so far.

TheBookKeepers That‘s funny! 6y
10 likes1 comment
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PJPeski
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From the Stone Age to the Space Age?

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PJPeski
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Catching up on some YA reading for the store ...

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GerardtheBookworm
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Pickpick

Sprinkle a bit of Jesse Andrews and Sherman Alexie because you'll fall in love with 'Neanderthal' Cliff Hubbard. A tall, stocky teen, Chris selectively becomes an outcast after the suicide of his older brother. When the school jock has a near death experience, he enlists Cliff as his sidekick in order to perform good deeds for their peers. A teen version of Pay It Forward with a sassy, male character in this comedy drama.