A Novel That You Won’t be Able to Put Down: Say You Will

Introduction

Say You Will, written by Eric Walters, is a teenage novel focused on a 11th grade boy Sam, who’s IQ score is stratospheric. It was published on May 19th, 2015, following some of his other popular books including: Camp X, We All Fall Down, The Rule of Three, and Walking Home. Throughout the novel, Sam struggles to fit in at school, as he is “freaky'' smart. The novel describes Sam’s life in high school, and his desperation to get a prom date, all while being inside his head. I enjoyed reading this novel, as it always left me on a cliff-hanger, and I could never set it down. Overall, this is an entertaining novel for teenagers, because there are several settings, and characters that are relatable.

Setting

The main setting throughout this novel is a high school, along with smaller locations involving teenage kid houses, and a crazy clown town, similar to an arcade. These settings are very relatable to teenagers, as we all go to school, hang out at friends’ houses, and go out with friends, sometimes involving an arcade. Having settings that are relatable to the targeted audience helped me throughout the novel, as I could picture the scenes in my head. I was able to use imagery as I read the novel, which helped me stay focused, and be able to engage with the characters.

Characters

The key characters throughout the novel can be easily identified by the teenage audience, as all teenagers experience the same in high school. I was able to connect with all three of the main characters (Sam, Brooke, and Ian) because I have similarities with them, as well as being around my friends who also share similarities. I believe having a novel that involves characters that are easy for the audience to connect with is very attractive, as it will allow you to feel like you are within the novel, feeling the same emotions as the characters.

Reviews

Overall, the majority of the reviews from the readers are somewhat high, averaging at a 3.6 out of 5 stars. Many people express their excitement on how they never got bored while reading, as it is a “funny, heartfelt novel”. The language is told to be very well written for teenagers, involving a variety of jokes, all capital writing, and descriptive words. Lastly, according to an author, the book is recommended for ages 12-16, which lands right in the novels teenage target audience.  

Conclusion  

In conclusion, Say You Will by Eric Walters is a fun book to read, that will allow you to deeply connect with both the setting, and the characters. Through the effective use of similar settings, and relatable characters, the novel presents an entertaining romance that will make many teenagers not be able to put the book down.

Written by Leah Tindale