Overview
Those were the magic words and Beth knew it. How many times had I uttered that phrase to Ms. Robinson in guidance, the standard answer for what I wanted to do with my life? CHANGE THE WORLD. Did I still have the strength and determination to get it together and try to make a difference?
Was it my destiny, my vocation?
Or was I just trying to impress a girl?
As I looked at Beth, I wondered if the reason why even mattered.
The indefatigable Larry is back, and this time he takes on the American political system
After falling off the wagon and becoming what he so clearly and strongly resisted-a consumer-Josh Swensen (aka Larry) finds himself in a hyper-paranoid state of no return. That is, until he's kidnapped and coaxed into resurfacing as his old persona. Before long, Larry is back on the scene with much more on his mind than a gospel Web site-this time Larry wants to affect change in government. What starts out as a campaign to get the younger population to vote turns into a run for the presidency. Can Larry really take on George Bush?
In this very smart, very witty novel, Janet Tashjian brings the political world to the forefront and explores it from many different points of view.
In this follow-up to "The Gospel According to Larry," Larry is back, and this time he wants to affect change in the government. Not yet eighteen years old, Josh, a.k.a. Larry, comes out of hiding and returns to public life, this time to run for President as an advocate for issues of concern to youth and to encourage voter turnout. Tashjian brings the political world to the forefront and explores it from many different points of view in this smart and witty novel.
Synopsis
Those were the magic words and Beth knew it. How many times had I uttered that phrase to Ms. Robinson in guidance, the standard answer for what I wanted to do with my life? CHANGE THE WORLD. Did I still have the strength and determination to get it together and try to make a difference?
Was it my destiny, my vocation?
Or was I just trying to impress a girl?
As I looked at Beth, I wondered if the reason why even mattered.
The indefatigable Larry is back, and this time he takes on the American political system
After falling off the wagon and becoming what he so clearly and strongly resisted-a consumer-Josh Swensen (aka Larry) finds himself in a hyper-paranoid state of no return. That is, until he's kidnapped and coaxed into resurfacing as his old persona. Before long, Larry is back on the scene with much more on his mind than a gospel Web site-this time Larry wants to affect change in government. What starts out as a campaign to get the younger population to vote turns into a run for the presidency. Can Larry really take on George Bush?
In this very smart, very witty novel, Janet Tashjian brings the political world to the forefront and explores it from many different points of view.
Publishers Weekly
In Tashjian's clever, inspiring sequel, Josh Swensen (known to his public as Larry)-now living in Boulder, Colo., as Mark Paulson-comes clean about faking his death in The Gospel According to Larry (he refers to it as a "pseudocide"), and announces his run for the presidency. Beth, his childhood love, convinces him to return to public life ("It was time for me to contribute again"). Readers meeting Josh for the first time do not have to worry; a generous supply of Tashjian's trademark pithy footnotes fill in the back story. Here, instead of battling consumerism via a Web site, Josh (as Larry) is out trying to get young people to vote. He blasts SUV drivers, the nation's "color-coded alert system" and "politicians who [have] taken so much money from Big Business for their campaign war chests that they have to listen to their concerns." When teen supporters press for a constitutional amendment to allow 18-year-olds to be eligible for the presidency, Josh's candidacy goes from symbolic to viable. But trouble looms: betagold, the woman who exposed his identity in Gospel, is back on his trail, and there's a traitor in his camp. Josh's narration moves swiftly, and the topical yet universal themes make this book even more compelling than the first. Readers will get a charge out of Josh/Larry's fiery speeches and outrageous platform, and startling facts (e.g., "Every minute, a baby in the U.S. is born without health insurance") plus a resource list in the back (with voter registration Web sites) provide plenty of fuel for those motivated by the hero's call to action. Ages 14-up. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From the Publisher
A Publishers Weekly "Editors' Pick for June""Hilarious"—Teen People
"Clever, inspiring sequel"—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Josh has a fresh, intelligent voice, filled with common sense, passion and conviction. . . . [A] solid and timely work that will make readers laugh, but more important, will make them think."—VOYA
"Politics, romance, important social issues, and even a saboteur in the wings make this a fun, spirited romp through an election year. Tashjian's lively, comic prose, coupled with her characters' anger at politics as usual in this country, may just inspire young readers to become young voters."—Kirkus Review
"Whether young readers tap into their inner activist through Larry or not, they're in for a great story."—Pages magazine
"Vote for Larry is a crash course in the rough and tumble world of national politics, and teen readers will get a taste of just what it takes in idealism and courage to achieve such goals."—Bookpage
"[T]his is part allegory and part political thriller, and once again, Josh's plans to protect the planet and involve young people in the care and feeding of democracy go awry. The spirited story focuses on 18-year-old Josh's presidential campaign; although he's too young to be elected, a stunning show of support results in a constitutional amendment lowering the age of the president. . . . Fans of the first book won't be disappointed in Josh/Larry's further escapades."—Booklist
"Once again, Tashjian manages to take a fairly unbelievable premise and make it seem more than fairly believable. The fast-paced story and Josh's witty narration will keep readers hooked."—Horn Book
"Readers who've moved up from Dan Gutman's The Kid Who Ran for President may find this a congenial as well as provocative. . . .and perhaps it'll encourage them to become involved in upcoming elections."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Publishers Weekly
In Tashjian's clever, inspiring sequel, Josh Swensen (known to his public as Larry)-now living in Boulder, Colo., as Mark Paulson-comes clean about faking his death in The Gospel According to Larry (he refers to it as a "pseudocide"), and announces his run for the presidency. Beth, his childhood love, convinces him to return to public life ("It was time for me to contribute again"). Readers meeting Josh for the first time do not have to worry; a generous supply of Tashjian's trademark pithy footnotes fill in the back story. Here, instead of battling consumerism via a Web site, Josh (as Larry) is out trying to get young people to vote. He blasts SUV drivers, the nation's "color-coded alert system" and "politicians who [have] taken so much money from Big Business for their campaign war chests that they have to listen to their concerns." When teen supporters press for a constitutional amendment to allow 18-year-olds to be eligible for the presidency, Josh's candidacy goes from symbolic to viable. But trouble looms: betagold, the woman who exposed his identity in Gospel, is back on his trail, and there's a traitor in his camp. Josh's narration moves swiftly, and the topical yet universal themes make this book even more compelling than the first. Readers will get a charge out of Josh/Larry's fiery speeches and outrageous platform, and startling facts (e.g., "Every minute, a baby in the U.S. is born without health insurance") plus a resource list in the back (with voter registration Web sites) provide plenty of fuel for those motivated by the hero's call to action. Ages 14-up. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
This sequel continues the story of the marvelous character the author invented in The Gospel According to Larry (Laurel Leaf, ). Josh Swensen, a prodigy who rocked his teen world when he came out against consumerism on a website as a persona he named Larry, eventually faded into "pseudocide", disappearing from the lives of all who worshipped and knew him. This companion story opens as Josh/Larry is living in Colorado with his first real girlfriend who is, ironically, a committed shopper. When he is rediscovered by his best friend, true love and cohort, Beth, she persuades him to run for president for the Peace Party. Amazingly they are successful in adding a 28th amendment to make 18 the minimum age requirement to run for president of the United States. Larry's desire is to get youth voting and enlighten them about everything from SUVs to Big Business owning politicians. This is an unlikely premise, a doubtful plot, but Tashjian's brisk writing and humor makes it work as Larry speaks out against the horrors of current political ploys. Tashjan's genius is that she chooses statistics that are shocking and has invented a character with enough depth and so saucy that we can allow him to climb up on a pedestal and preach so that the book's audience can listen. There book is flavored with enough conflict and love interest that somehow it becomes a story rather than a treatise. In truth this would make a great book to read aloud in a political year and discuss current trends and youth's opinions of them! 2004, Holt, Ages 10 to 14.—Susie Wilde
VOYA
In this sequel to The Gospel According to Larry (Henry Holt, 2001/VOYA December 2001), teen prophet Josh "Larry" Swenson returns from the dead. Hounded relentlessly after it was revealed that he was the creator of a Web site that captivated and inspired American teens by taking a stand against consumerism and celebrity worship, "Larry" staged his own death to escape the media attention. Josh is now living under an assumed name in Colorado. Beth, his best friend from his former life, tracks him down and convinces him to run for president. Despite the fact that Josh is not even old enough to vote, he hits the campaign trail as Larry again with Beth as his running mate. The goal of their Peace Party is not to win, but to enlighten voters and engage the youth of America in the political process. Josh has a fresh, intelligent voice, filled with common sense, passion, and conviction. He faces the rigors of the campaign trail, mudslinging from foes, and a tricky love triangle with self-deprecating humor and the power of his convictions. This novel is all about the idea that young people can and do make a difference when they choose to become politically involved. Josh's story offers the fresh device of showing readers the Post-It notes that Josh uses to jot down thought-provoking ideas and statistics, accurate and current to the time of publication according to the publisher. Footnotes are also used effectively, allowing the narrator to insert wry asides and extra observations in a format rarely used in fiction. Parts of the plot strain the boundaries of credibility and there are difficulties with chronology that the author does not quite explain, but overall, it is a solid and timely work thatwill make readers laugh, but more important, will make them think. Set during the current 2004 election campaign, it might just convince some teens to care. VOYA Codes 4Q 4P S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2004, Henry Holt, 240p., Ages 15 to 18.—Heather Pittman