Booked

Alexander continues using various poetic devices in moments of tension, humor, and excitement. Nick writes the poem “April is” as an acrostic: Each line in the poem begins with a particular sequence of letters, often forming a word. This acrostic spells limerence, a term Nick learned from his dad’s Weird and Wonderful Words. In the poem “Limerence,” Nick’s imaginary obituary reveals the protagonist’s sense of humor peeking through his intense embarrassment. Also during that scene, Ms. Hardwick surprises Nick by not revealing the content of his poem. As he observes Ms. Hardwick and The Mac on a date and tries to figure out why his parents split up, Nick is learning that adults are not always as they appear. 

The poems in this section use large and small font sizes to emphasize important points, as well as create interesting visual effects. Muttered, whispered words like “You’d know that if you were here” (149) appear in smaller fonts, and loud outbursts like “You don’t let me do ANYTHING” (140) appear in large fonts that stand out on the page. The poems “You miss” and “Bad” are lists, another unique form that poetry can take. 

Another important poetic tool is repetition. The poem “Boy rides his bike” contains near-identical stanzas (or sets of poetic lines, separated from other stanzas by white space) at the beginning and end of the poem. This repetition shows how Nick wishes he could repeat a peaceful bike ride to and from his home, “like he’s always done” (136), but the Eggleston twins interrupt his normal afternoon.

Nick makes up with his best friend through a metaphor in the poem “Coby’s Back.” Nick compares his toy helicopter getting ruined with letting Coby get a black eye during the cafeteria fight. Nick has decided to take action and face his fears from now on, including fears around bullies and April. Nick may declare, “I’m gonna wear cool today” (169), but Coby’s questions—and Nick’s unbrushed teeth—diminish his confidence. However, during “Conversation with April,” Nick shows off his dictionary skills as he breaks down the root words of Miss Quattlebaum’s name—or “Miss Fruit Tree” (131). Nick may act uninterested and mad at his dad when it comes to memorizing the dictionary, but he clearly enjoys his unique way with words when it can impress the girl he likes.

Tensions between Nick and his dad reach a boiling point in “Breakdown.” Faced with his father’s continued strictness, Nick finally tells his dad how he has been feeling since his mom left. Nick feels surrounded by bullies inside the home and out, forcing him into a life he doesn’t want. Nick acts out by yelling at his dad and posting about his turmoil on social media. Once his mom arrives, Nick can express how he feels more easily. He admits that he doesn’t actually want to die, as he told his dad. He says, “I say stuff all the time that I don’t mean” (144), and his mom responds, “So, you lie?” (144). This exchange further explores the book’s theme about the power of words. Nick, so gifted with language, is learning that choosing the right words matters a great deal, especially when his words upset his family and friends. 

Furthermore, the content of the poem “What are you doing here?” reveals that Nick’s relationship with his mom resembles his relationship with Coby. Nick shares a love of sports, competition, humor, and trash talk with both. Nick and his dad have a more difficult time bonding, aggravating Nick’s dissatisfaction at home. 

Forced to attend therapy and skip an important soccer tournament, Nick resents the “psychologist / with a black and white beard longer / than Santa Claus’s, / a red pencil in his mouth, / and a tendency to ask stupid questions [...]” (155). Despite Nick’s resistance to Dr. Fraud, he makes peace with his parents during the appointment, repeating a truth Mr. MacDonald taught him: “You get one chance to love, to be loved, Nick” (153). The Mac may be quirky, with his dragonfly-themed library and t-shirts printed with reading puns. However, he is becoming a dependable support and role model during Nick’s difficult transition into adolescence and the painful separation of his parents.