Freshman for President

by Ally Condie

Fifteen-year-old Milo J. Wright and his best friend, Eden, are crazy to even consider participating in the election for President of the United States of America, aren't they? Never mind that Milo is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590389131
• ISBN13: 9781590389133
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Fun with Freshman

This is Condie's fourth book - the first that wasn't in the Yearbook trilogy or LDS based and it was an absolute joy to read. I really like Milo and related very well to the students in the book. This is about a teen, Milo, who is annoyed with what is happening concerning the student body elections at his school, and has a brilliant friend, Eden, who talks him into running as a write-in candidate in the presidential election. They take the city, then state, then US by storm through the methods best for teens - internet. Milo has to really grow up - sometimes it is nice and slow - other times it's in the course of a conversation, but that is reality. I like that the dreams thought up by these teens are a little big - something abnormally ambitious. I like that the conflicts weren't written to be the conflicts everyone assumes teens have but surely are being over-exaggerated - that Ally wrote them how teens feel them without being cutesy or trite.

He's got my vote!

You should definitely read this book. You should definitely NOT read this book at the gym, a doctor's waiting room, at church, or anywhere else where laughing aloud to yourself will earn you some curious glances. Let me just say that I made this mistake and there are now several people who won't be stair stepping next to me anytime soon. I was prepared to have to do some pretty heavy suspending of disbelief to buy into the plot of this story. Milo is a typical 15 year old boy who decides to do something atypical with his life--run for President of the United States! However, despite my reservations I was immediately drawn into the story and the fact that Condie made it actually seem possible for a teenager to make a significant difference on such a grand scale. But that is only a small part of what makes this story so clever and touching. Milo not only takes on a rigorous campaign, but he does it while coming to terms with serious emotional issues that touch the lives of those he cares for the most. This book resonated with me and I believe it will resonate with anyone who reads it. I think that readers will relate to Milo's struggle to know how to help a sister who is struggling with emotional issues, while dealing with some of his own. I also thought that Condie's treatment of life and death issues was very real and timeless. The plot moves at a good pace and is full of humorous banter, believable relationships, inspiring ideas, and beautiful symbolism. Through it all, Milo's character development is a potent illustration of how we really are the product not only of our experiences, but how we choose to handle them. Milo is definitely my favorite candidate this year!

A Great Book!

I found this book to be interesting on a few different levels. First, it's got a fun plot with warm and interesting characters. Milo is charming because he is so average in many ways. I found myself rooting for him because it felt a little like I was rooting for the good kid that (literally) lives next door. He's not eloquent, or intellectual but he is earnest and sincere. I also enjoyed this book on a more fundamental level. Surprisingly, the theme of this book is not the at times trite "anything is possible." It is really about the important teenage issue of how the attention and love of others affects your own self esteem. This theme is developed nicely in the contrast between Milo, who would do anything to have people know who he is and Milo's sister Mara who, because of some events in her life, wishes that she could be forgotten. Both eventually realize that they can get what they are seeking. Milo achieves national recognition and Mara buries herself in near complete isolation. The interesting part comes when they realize that the kind of fulfillment that they have been seeking can't be found in the places they have looked. I really loved this book, and I think that teenagers would love it even more. It's both exciting and deep, two things that don't often go together.

Good clean fun. Teens will love this book!

As an adult who enjoys YA literature, this book was so fun and refreshing to me. The author clearly feels no need to push the envelope of how many adult themes can appear in a book aimed at teenagers. Freshman for President is touching, funny, inspiring, and thoroughly enjoyable to read, all while maintaining what I'd consider a PG rating. Well done, Ally Condie!