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Saint Iggy
I am not so bad a person once you get to know me.
When Iggy Corso gets kicked out of high school, there's no one for him to tell. His mother has gone off, his father is stoned on the couch, and the phone's been disconnected, so even the social worker can't get through. Leaving his public housing behind, Iggy ventures into the world to make something of his life. It's not easy when you're sixteen, have no skills, and your only friend is mixed up with the dealer who got your mom hooked. But Iggy is . . . Iggy, and he has the kind of wisdom that lets him see what no one else can.
K. L. Going's third novel is a haunting achievement about a young man's tragic search for meaning in a world that to him makes no sense.
When Iggy Corso gets kicked out of high school, there's no one for him to tell. His mother has gone off, his father is stoned on the couch, and the phone's been disconnected, so even the social worker can't get through. Leaving his public housing behind, Iggy ventures into the world to make something of his life. It's not easy when you're sixteen, have no skills, and your only friend is mixed up with the dealer who got your mom hooked. But Iggy is . . . Iggy, and he has the kind of wisdom that lets him see what no one else can.
K. L. Going's third novel is a haunting achievement about a young man's tragic search for meaning in a world that to him makes no sense.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
About the author
K.L. Going
23 books256 followersK.L. Going is the award winning author of numerous books for children and teens. Her first novel, Fat Kid Rules the World was named a Michael Printz Honor Book by the American Library Association, and was included on YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults list and their list of Best Books for the Past Decade. Her books have been Booksense picks, Scholastic Book Club choices, Junior Library Guild selections, NY Public Library Best Books for the Teenage, and winners of state book awards. They’ve been featured by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Children's Book Council as Best Books of the year. Her work has also been published in Korea, Italy, Japan, Germany, and the UK, and her novel Fat Kid Rules the World is soon to be an independent film!
K.L. began her career working at one of the oldest literary agencies in New York City. She used this inner knowledge of publishing to write Writing and Selling the Young Adult Novel -- a how-to book for aspiring writers, published by Writer's Digest. She has also written short stories for several anthologies and currently has multiple picture books under contract. She lives in Glen Spey, NY where she both writes and runs a business critiquing manuscripts. She’s also a mom to the world’s cutest little boy.
To visit KL on-line go to www.klgoing.com, www.facebook.com/klgoing, or at http://twitter.com/#!/KLGoing.
K.L. began her career working at one of the oldest literary agencies in New York City. She used this inner knowledge of publishing to write Writing and Selling the Young Adult Novel -- a how-to book for aspiring writers, published by Writer's Digest. She has also written short stories for several anthologies and currently has multiple picture books under contract. She lives in Glen Spey, NY where she both writes and runs a business critiquing manuscripts. She’s also a mom to the world’s cutest little boy.
To visit KL on-line go to www.klgoing.com, www.facebook.com/klgoing, or at http://twitter.com/#!/KLGoing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
July 9, 2009
So the principal calls teen-aged Iggy into his office and tells him that Iggy's recent actions are "incomprehensible". Iggy's thought is one of the better lines I have ever read in a book: "I wonder why I am incomprehensible because everything I do makes perfect sense to me." Ain't that the truth for most of us.
Based on that quote, I was certain than that I was going to love this book, and that it was leading up to a 5-star review. But, unfortunately, the rest wasn't nearly so perfect. Iggy's got a lot of problems. His parents are drug addicts, and his mom is currently missing. Iggy's been suspended from school for his "incomprehensible" actions, and now faces expulsion if he can't get his life under control. What's a kid to do?
Regretfully, Iggy does little more than wander around and get a haircut. And then, the books ends. As in a totally final ending. Nothing is resolved, and I, at least, was left feeling a little cheated.
This is a 2-star book, but I added a star for the "incomprehensible" quote.
Based on that quote, I was certain than that I was going to love this book, and that it was leading up to a 5-star review. But, unfortunately, the rest wasn't nearly so perfect. Iggy's got a lot of problems. His parents are drug addicts, and his mom is currently missing. Iggy's been suspended from school for his "incomprehensible" actions, and now faces expulsion if he can't get his life under control. What's a kid to do?
Regretfully, Iggy does little more than wander around and get a haircut. And then, the books ends. As in a totally final ending. Nothing is resolved, and I, at least, was left feeling a little cheated.
This is a 2-star book, but I added a star for the "incomprehensible" quote.
March 7, 2017
I really loved this book because I actually got know Iggy and his life is. He got kicked out of high school and he had a goal of trying to convince everyone who thinks bad about him. The part that I thougt was hilarious was when he was holding Maria's baby and he was in his mind thinking " this baby is real!".
April 2, 2009
He reaches out to shake my hand like we are both adults and I am not a kid or student anymore, and that's when it hits me that I am on my own, which is scary because even though I'm sixteen I am only a freshman and that is too soon to get kicked out. Plus, I have no skills, and if you do not graduate high school and you have no skills then you are shit out of luck.
So I decide that Principal Olmos is wrong about the hearing and even though he thinks it is a done deal I will make a plan. And the kind of plan I will make is a How-to-Change-Everyone's-Mind-About-Me plan since Principal Olmos is the only one who thinks I am a decent guy, but really, I am not so bad a person once you get to know me.
I'm really torn about the four-star rating on this, as part of my wants to give it five, but I always round down when I'm in any doubt.
I picked this up because I absolutely adored Fat Kid Rules the World, and my only letdown was in the recycled gimmick between them. Fat Kid's Troy spends a lot of time imagining headlines about himself, and Iggy spends a similar amount of time imagining the reactions of people when they realize how awesome Iggy really is. Honestly, that's the only reason for my downgrade.
In all other respects, this is a gut punch picture of families, love, and who really has it worse. It touches on class differences but stays tight to Iggy's perspective, and you really do, after you get to know him, realize that Iggy's not such a bad kid after all.
October 19, 2012
I like this book a lot because I am a huge fan of K.L. Going's books and the way she writes them. The main character is a freshman in high school which is cool because I could really relate to the things that were happening to him. I thought at first this book would be about some kid who wants to cause trouble, but it completely caught me off guard. After Iggy is expelled from school his plan is to make a change in his society for the better good and be recognized for it. This book was really inspiring to me to be a better person. I would recommend it to teenagers in high school.
March 9, 2018
Iggy is about to get kicked out of school, but he's determined to do something good with his life before the hearing. Unfortunately, with his mom MIA, his dad drunk, his mom's dealer on his back, and his friend Mo in desperate need of a couple grand to pay for drugs, it's going to be tough for Iggy to make things right.
Despite all of Iggy's bad decisions, he is so likable. He means well, he really does, he just doesn't always think everything through. The sad part is that he never really had a chance, since he was born addicted to drugs, and his parents, with their own drug problems, do their best by him by neglecting him. I suppose I knew the story would end as it did, but I still ended up caring about Iggy...
The narrator of the audiobook had a thick New York accent that on occasion made him sound like Christopher Walken or Robert DeNiro, yet somehow it worked.
Despite all of Iggy's bad decisions, he is so likable. He means well, he really does, he just doesn't always think everything through. The sad part is that he never really had a chance, since he was born addicted to drugs, and his parents, with their own drug problems, do their best by him by neglecting him. I suppose I knew the story would end as it did, but I still ended up caring about Iggy...
The narrator of the audiobook had a thick New York accent that on occasion made him sound like Christopher Walken or Robert DeNiro, yet somehow it worked.
October 25, 2018
Personal Response:
Saint Iggy is an slended book to anyone who love books with huge words. What makes it more marvelous is the appealing cover that makes you wonder what its about. When I first saw the cover I knew it was going to be a really good book.
Plot Summary
Iggy Corso, who lives in city public housing, is caught physically and lifely between good and bad when he is kicked out of high school. Once his mother goes missing he goes searching for his missing mother. Somehow he causes his friend to get involved with the same dangerous drug dealer who deals to his parents. So he leaves a note, and goes out into the world to make something of his life. It starts to get difficult when he is only sixteen and moving out to find someone who basically doesn't want to be found.
Recommendations:
I recommend Saint Iggy to anyone who would do anything for family. If you have a hard time fitting in, your not the only one. Iggy had the worst time fitting in, so if that is you, you will love this book.
Saint Iggy is an slended book to anyone who love books with huge words. What makes it more marvelous is the appealing cover that makes you wonder what its about. When I first saw the cover I knew it was going to be a really good book.
Plot Summary
Iggy Corso, who lives in city public housing, is caught physically and lifely between good and bad when he is kicked out of high school. Once his mother goes missing he goes searching for his missing mother. Somehow he causes his friend to get involved with the same dangerous drug dealer who deals to his parents. So he leaves a note, and goes out into the world to make something of his life. It starts to get difficult when he is only sixteen and moving out to find someone who basically doesn't want to be found.
Recommendations:
I recommend Saint Iggy to anyone who would do anything for family. If you have a hard time fitting in, your not the only one. Iggy had the worst time fitting in, so if that is you, you will love this book.
November 3, 2017
I loved this book so much. I sarted reading this book because a few of my class mates had recommended to me. Its so cool how a boy never gave up on what he wanted. By changing peoples mind about him. I would recommend this book to who anyone that loves reading.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
Iggy Corso isn't a bad kid. He's not that bright, and he often does and says things long before thinking through the consequences of his actions, but he isn't inherently bad. Iggy is the product of his upbringing, which includes an alcoholic father, a junkie mother, and life in the projects. His school file is crammed with notations regarding his run-ins with security, teachers, and the principal. But this time, Iggy's been expelled from high school pending a hearing with the Superintendent, and there's no one around for him to tell--no one around, in fact, to even care.
Iggy, though, has a plan. He'll contribute to the world, will somehow make a difference in these few short days before Christmas and his school hearing, and convince everyone--from his parents to Principal Olmos--that they were wrong about him. The first part of Iggy's plan involves getting out of the Projects, so he goes to the only other place he knows, which is the dump where his friend Mo lives. Mo was kicked out of college, where he was studying pre-law, for smoking pot, and now he lives in an apartment with a broken window and ratty furniture, alternately stoned and renouncing all material hings. But Iggy needs Mo's help to get him back into school, so he follows him along when Mo decides to get a line of credit on some pot.
Iggy doesn't do drugs. Everything thinks he does, because of his home life, but being born addicted to crack did more to Iggy than just slow down his brain. He's seen firsthand how it affects his family, especially his mother, who has been gone for months now "visiting" someone. He's seen Freddie, his father's dealer, break his father's fingers when his dad didn't have the money to pay for his drugs. So although Iggy doesn't do drugs, he goes along with Mo when he needs some pot--and realizes that his plan isn't going very well when Mo goes straight to Freddie. When Mo gets his pot, along with some other "free samples" on a line of credit, Iggy realizes that getting back into school might be the least of his problems.
But now it's Mo's turn for a plan--he needs a couple grand to pay off Freddie, so he'll go to his mother, who has more money than she knows what to do with. But that doesn't turn out exactly right, either, and soon Iggy is involved in yet another scheme involving drugs, a dealer, and a friend. For Iggy, who isn't a bad kid but also isn't Mother Teresa, there's a fine line between contributing to the world and making something of yourself.
SAINT IGGY is a great, heartbreaking read. From the beginning, you can't help but wish a better life for Iggy, all the while knowing, somehow, that things aren't going to end up the way you want them to. Iggy is a boy who has somehow fallen through the cracks, and yet he manages to bring a sense of hope to every situation he finds himself in. Ms. Going has done a wonderful job of bringing Iggy Corso to life, and you'll be forever grateful for the chance of getting to know him.
Iggy Corso isn't a bad kid. He's not that bright, and he often does and says things long before thinking through the consequences of his actions, but he isn't inherently bad. Iggy is the product of his upbringing, which includes an alcoholic father, a junkie mother, and life in the projects. His school file is crammed with notations regarding his run-ins with security, teachers, and the principal. But this time, Iggy's been expelled from high school pending a hearing with the Superintendent, and there's no one around for him to tell--no one around, in fact, to even care.
Iggy, though, has a plan. He'll contribute to the world, will somehow make a difference in these few short days before Christmas and his school hearing, and convince everyone--from his parents to Principal Olmos--that they were wrong about him. The first part of Iggy's plan involves getting out of the Projects, so he goes to the only other place he knows, which is the dump where his friend Mo lives. Mo was kicked out of college, where he was studying pre-law, for smoking pot, and now he lives in an apartment with a broken window and ratty furniture, alternately stoned and renouncing all material hings. But Iggy needs Mo's help to get him back into school, so he follows him along when Mo decides to get a line of credit on some pot.
Iggy doesn't do drugs. Everything thinks he does, because of his home life, but being born addicted to crack did more to Iggy than just slow down his brain. He's seen firsthand how it affects his family, especially his mother, who has been gone for months now "visiting" someone. He's seen Freddie, his father's dealer, break his father's fingers when his dad didn't have the money to pay for his drugs. So although Iggy doesn't do drugs, he goes along with Mo when he needs some pot--and realizes that his plan isn't going very well when Mo goes straight to Freddie. When Mo gets his pot, along with some other "free samples" on a line of credit, Iggy realizes that getting back into school might be the least of his problems.
But now it's Mo's turn for a plan--he needs a couple grand to pay off Freddie, so he'll go to his mother, who has more money than she knows what to do with. But that doesn't turn out exactly right, either, and soon Iggy is involved in yet another scheme involving drugs, a dealer, and a friend. For Iggy, who isn't a bad kid but also isn't Mother Teresa, there's a fine line between contributing to the world and making something of yourself.
SAINT IGGY is a great, heartbreaking read. From the beginning, you can't help but wish a better life for Iggy, all the while knowing, somehow, that things aren't going to end up the way you want them to. Iggy is a boy who has somehow fallen through the cracks, and yet he manages to bring a sense of hope to every situation he finds himself in. Ms. Going has done a wonderful job of bringing Iggy Corso to life, and you'll be forever grateful for the chance of getting to know him.
January 28, 2021
This story revolves around 16 year old Iggy Corso. He is the troublemaker at school and one day gets suspended with an expulsion impending at his hearing. He decides to run away from home, quickly do something good in his life and use that to make it back into school. He seeks help from his only friend Mo who has major issues of his own and gets Iggy involved in the conflict. Iggy experiences a temporary rich life, the haven of a chapel, the peace of a newborn baby and tries to find answers to his solutions as well as who he really is. A theme I found is that all humans are still good people deep down, no matter what’s on the outside. Iggy was labeled as the kid that probably did drugs and possibly even a killer, however he is clearly just a wonderful kid that was dealt a bad hand in life. For example, “‘I swear to God.’ Yolanda says, ‘that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. What’s your name?’”(122).
My favorite character in the book is Iggy Corso. I felt like Iggy was a very good display of what it’s like to be the kid with a bad upbringing in school. No one there understood him. After he got suspended, he was somewhat lost. He didn’t know what to do with himself, or how to fix things. He found all these different ways that people can reinvigorate their lives. Was it through drugs, contributing to society, or even finding joy in the youth? Iggy found all these things and compiled it all into his one goal. With his parents too far gone, he decides to help his only friend Mo get his life back on track and make Mo repair relationships with his parents. I strongly related to this because I can see myself going as far as Iggy did to help my friends. I think the author intended for me to feel this way. Especially when he says things like “‘I was just thinking how you clean people up all day. That’s all’”(122). The school troublemaker wouldn’t first think to compliment his new hairdresser. The troublemaker would think about how they can get out of there without paying for the haircut.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to other friends my age. With the idea of giving them a new perspective in mind. This book is a great way to show how we should treat everyone better in all scenarios, not just school. The book does have a very slow start, and takes a little while to get going. Once the idea of what’s going on clicks with readers, it’s very enjoyable.
My favorite character in the book is Iggy Corso. I felt like Iggy was a very good display of what it’s like to be the kid with a bad upbringing in school. No one there understood him. After he got suspended, he was somewhat lost. He didn’t know what to do with himself, or how to fix things. He found all these different ways that people can reinvigorate their lives. Was it through drugs, contributing to society, or even finding joy in the youth? Iggy found all these things and compiled it all into his one goal. With his parents too far gone, he decides to help his only friend Mo get his life back on track and make Mo repair relationships with his parents. I strongly related to this because I can see myself going as far as Iggy did to help my friends. I think the author intended for me to feel this way. Especially when he says things like “‘I was just thinking how you clean people up all day. That’s all’”(122). The school troublemaker wouldn’t first think to compliment his new hairdresser. The troublemaker would think about how they can get out of there without paying for the haircut.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to other friends my age. With the idea of giving them a new perspective in mind. This book is a great way to show how we should treat everyone better in all scenarios, not just school. The book does have a very slow start, and takes a little while to get going. Once the idea of what’s going on clicks with readers, it’s very enjoyable.
August 2, 2009
From library record - Iggy Corso, who lives in city public housing, is caught physically and spiritually between good and bad when he is kicked out of high school, goes searching for his missing mother, and causes his friend to get involved with the same dangerous drug dealer who deals to his parents.
This book is okay...not one that I remembered details of long after reading it (maybe I read it too fast!). K.L. Going does deal with some difficult issues and the main character is given some great opportunities that not very many kids in his situation ever see. As with many struggling kids, Iggy makes choices that hinder his ability to get what he wants/needs, but he does really want to do and be better. The ending is sad and probably very realistic.
Starred review from School Library Journal:
Gr 9 Up - Iggy Corso, 16, doesn't do drugs, even though he was born addicted to crack. He lives in a city housing project, in an apartment filled with furniture that his stoned and drunken father collects from the street. Iggy's mother is an addict who has been AWOL for a month. The cool thing about the teen is that, despite his parents and his environment, he doesn't feel sorry for himself. A freshman who has failed two grades and been suspended eight times, he takes things for what they are, until he gets suspended again, pending a hearing. His principal says to him, You've had a lot to overcome...but....We can all...do something that contributes... After listening to this, Iggy realizes that his only chance for the future is to get back into school. The principal's statement haunts him throughout the book. He enlists help from his so-called mentor/friend, Mo (who was suspended from pre-law school after being caught smoking pot), but his association with this disaffected youth from a wealthy family creates a whole new set of problems. Thick pencil lines run down the inner margins of the pages; Iggy's life is like these lines, on the edge, reaching out, searching for somewhere to go. The story is told in widely spaced paragraphs, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. Like Troy Billings in Going's Fat Kid Rules the World (Putnam, 2003), Iggy Corso is unforgettable.–Shannon Seglin, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
This book is okay...not one that I remembered details of long after reading it (maybe I read it too fast!). K.L. Going does deal with some difficult issues and the main character is given some great opportunities that not very many kids in his situation ever see. As with many struggling kids, Iggy makes choices that hinder his ability to get what he wants/needs, but he does really want to do and be better. The ending is sad and probably very realistic.
Starred review from School Library Journal:
Gr 9 Up - Iggy Corso, 16, doesn't do drugs, even though he was born addicted to crack. He lives in a city housing project, in an apartment filled with furniture that his stoned and drunken father collects from the street. Iggy's mother is an addict who has been AWOL for a month. The cool thing about the teen is that, despite his parents and his environment, he doesn't feel sorry for himself. A freshman who has failed two grades and been suspended eight times, he takes things for what they are, until he gets suspended again, pending a hearing. His principal says to him, You've had a lot to overcome...but....We can all...do something that contributes... After listening to this, Iggy realizes that his only chance for the future is to get back into school. The principal's statement haunts him throughout the book. He enlists help from his so-called mentor/friend, Mo (who was suspended from pre-law school after being caught smoking pot), but his association with this disaffected youth from a wealthy family creates a whole new set of problems. Thick pencil lines run down the inner margins of the pages; Iggy's life is like these lines, on the edge, reaching out, searching for somewhere to go. The story is told in widely spaced paragraphs, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. Like Troy Billings in Going's Fat Kid Rules the World (Putnam, 2003), Iggy Corso is unforgettable.–Shannon Seglin, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
October 9, 2014
I did not like this book. I don’t think that the story was very good, I couldn’t find anything to relate to. It was a little too messed-up of a life for Iggy, that it was kinda unbelievable. I know kids have parents that do drugs, but the Mo situation wasn’t believable, and neither was the chapter when they go to the party. And when the author described Iggy as he shot Frankie with the gun, I think he made Iggy seem too calm for someone who just killed someone, and got shot himself. I also thought at the beginning that the story was hard to follow. Also I don’t think the author explain/describe the reason Iggy got kicked out of well enough, he didn’t go into enough detail. I do know that we are in highschool, but this book was still very inappropriate, from the overall story of his parents, to the language, to the part with the gray girl at the party. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone I know.
January 15, 2010
Saint Iggy never really took off for me. The events unfold at a slow pace and the characters and plot drag at times.
Iggy Corso is a second time freshmen and the story begins when Iggy is expelled from school. At first, I really felt bad for Iggy because he's from a family that is guilty of substance abuse and his mother has taken off on him. He wants to do something with his life and prove to everyone, before a hearing at school that will determine if he can return, that he is capable of turning his life around and worthy of a second chance. As the story unfolds, the reader gets a chance to compare Iggy, someone that has no one and nothing, to Mo, a friend of Iggy that comes from a rich family with everything at his disposal, but ironically, they are both trying to redefine themselves.
Interesting story, just needs to be tightened up a bit.
Iggy Corso is a second time freshmen and the story begins when Iggy is expelled from school. At first, I really felt bad for Iggy because he's from a family that is guilty of substance abuse and his mother has taken off on him. He wants to do something with his life and prove to everyone, before a hearing at school that will determine if he can return, that he is capable of turning his life around and worthy of a second chance. As the story unfolds, the reader gets a chance to compare Iggy, someone that has no one and nothing, to Mo, a friend of Iggy that comes from a rich family with everything at his disposal, but ironically, they are both trying to redefine themselves.
Interesting story, just needs to be tightened up a bit.
October 30, 2012
Everyday kids are born into a poor life that is not ideal. it is not a life most people would ask for, but they have no choice. In the book Saint Iggy, by K.L. Going, the author tells a story of a teenage boy who has a bad home life and cant concentrate on school because he has nothing going for him. Iggy gets kicked out of school and throughout the story, goes through a long planned process to make something out of his life.
Iggy is a small, scrawny kid who is thought of by everyone, "a bad kid." Iggy's dad is an alchoholic and a narcotic adict. His mother is seldom seen and there apartment is a terrible mess. Iggy needs to find a way out and get his life in order. he goes to his helper and makes a plan. Iggy is hopeful that this will result in a life-changing experience.
Iggy is a small, scrawny kid who is thought of by everyone, "a bad kid." Iggy's dad is an alchoholic and a narcotic adict. His mother is seldom seen and there apartment is a terrible mess. Iggy needs to find a way out and get his life in order. he goes to his helper and makes a plan. Iggy is hopeful that this will result in a life-changing experience.
Read
December 9, 2014 Saint Iggy a book by K.L. Going talks about an adventure and a plan that is bizarre. I read Saint Iggy when I was forced to pick a book to read in class but I can’t lie I did enjoy it.
Saint Iggy is a book about a boy who has trouble changing his image. Iggy Corso is a troubled kid living in an urban city with his lazy, unusful father and a mother that is never around. Iggy only wants to change peoples mind about him. When Iggy gets kicked out of school he turns to his best friend Mo for help. When Mo makes a drug deal with Freddie -Iggy’s father’s best friend- Mo and Iggy find themselves looking for money they don”t have. They both turn to Mo’s mom for the money. Getting a couple grand from Mo’s mom wasn’t a problem until Iggy spilled out to her what the money is for.
Saint Iggy is a book about a boy who has trouble changing his image. Iggy Corso is a troubled kid living in an urban city with his lazy, unusful father and a mother that is never around. Iggy only wants to change peoples mind about him. When Iggy gets kicked out of school he turns to his best friend Mo for help. When Mo makes a drug deal with Freddie -Iggy’s father’s best friend- Mo and Iggy find themselves looking for money they don”t have. They both turn to Mo’s mom for the money. Getting a couple grand from Mo’s mom wasn’t a problem until Iggy spilled out to her what the money is for.
December 14, 2012
I loved this book. This book would be great for anyone into different walks of life. This book shows both the slums of New York and the riches of New York. I related a lot to the main character Iggy because I know what it is like to live a life like he lived. I hated how the book ended.
December 28, 2018
The book I have read is Saint Iggy, written by K. L. Going.
Iggy Corso, the main character of this book, has been at a disadvantage for most of his life. Both his parents are drug addicts and his best friend, Mo, is addicted to pot. When we open the book, he is 16 years old and is about to be expelled from school. Reasons for his expulsion aside, Iggy is not a bad kid. He is now on a mission to redeem himself. He has a plan “make a plan”. Including the four mentioned before, Mo’s Mom and Mo’s Dad, Iggy’s principal Olmos, and Freddie (his parents drug dealer) all play a big part in the story.
It begins with Iggy getting in trouble. One of his teachers has wrongfully accused him of going to shot up the school. The reality was that he was chasing after a girl and did something stupid and now principle Olmos is lecturing him. During the lecture, a phrase we need to “make something of ourselves”, clicks with Iggy and he now has the idea to change people’s minds about him. He makes a plan to go visit his friend Mo. Usually, Mo has a little bit of money, which he is more than willing to loan to Iggy, but today Iggy is fresh out of luck. Mo decides he is low on pot and goes of to get more. On the way there things feel familiar to Iggy, mainly because they are going into his neighborhood. He finds out that the dealer Mo is going to, is the same dealer who supplies his parents. Mo gets a bag of non-descriptive drugs on credit and says he will pay it back before Christmas, and that is where the trouble starts.
The overall story is enjoyable and watching Iggy struggle to do what he thinks is right is endearing. The ending is predictable but still good. This book is most certainly worth the read. I found myself enjoying it at the best moments and natural at it’s worst. As the moments were Iggy is doing something good, you cannot help by smile, but when he is shot you cannot help but feel sad.
I recommend this book to all who enjoyed reading Huger Games and Maze Runner. Not because I believe they will enjoy it but because maybe it will let them think of more than just themselves. For genuine recommendations, I don’t know many books to compare this book with, but if you like good characters and a bitter sweet ending, I cannot recommend it more. All in all, I give it 4 stars.
In contrast to Overlord Volume 7, (the book I read last and therefore that I remember most), Saint Iggy is quite different. The first difference is that Saint Iggy’s protagonist has skin. The second is that Volume 7 was set up for the next volumes, while Saint Iggy was a self contained story. Iggy is not the sharpest tool in the shed but has a heart of gold. In comparison the protagonist in the Overload series is regarded as intelligent and does not have a heart.
Iggy Corso, the main character of this book, has been at a disadvantage for most of his life. Both his parents are drug addicts and his best friend, Mo, is addicted to pot. When we open the book, he is 16 years old and is about to be expelled from school. Reasons for his expulsion aside, Iggy is not a bad kid. He is now on a mission to redeem himself. He has a plan “make a plan”. Including the four mentioned before, Mo’s Mom and Mo’s Dad, Iggy’s principal Olmos, and Freddie (his parents drug dealer) all play a big part in the story.
It begins with Iggy getting in trouble. One of his teachers has wrongfully accused him of going to shot up the school. The reality was that he was chasing after a girl and did something stupid and now principle Olmos is lecturing him. During the lecture, a phrase we need to “make something of ourselves”, clicks with Iggy and he now has the idea to change people’s minds about him. He makes a plan to go visit his friend Mo. Usually, Mo has a little bit of money, which he is more than willing to loan to Iggy, but today Iggy is fresh out of luck. Mo decides he is low on pot and goes of to get more. On the way there things feel familiar to Iggy, mainly because they are going into his neighborhood. He finds out that the dealer Mo is going to, is the same dealer who supplies his parents. Mo gets a bag of non-descriptive drugs on credit and says he will pay it back before Christmas, and that is where the trouble starts.
The overall story is enjoyable and watching Iggy struggle to do what he thinks is right is endearing. The ending is predictable but still good. This book is most certainly worth the read. I found myself enjoying it at the best moments and natural at it’s worst. As the moments were Iggy is doing something good, you cannot help by smile, but when he is shot you cannot help but feel sad.
I recommend this book to all who enjoyed reading Huger Games and Maze Runner. Not because I believe they will enjoy it but because maybe it will let them think of more than just themselves. For genuine recommendations, I don’t know many books to compare this book with, but if you like good characters and a bitter sweet ending, I cannot recommend it more. All in all, I give it 4 stars.
In contrast to Overlord Volume 7, (the book I read last and therefore that I remember most), Saint Iggy is quite different. The first difference is that Saint Iggy’s protagonist has skin. The second is that Volume 7 was set up for the next volumes, while Saint Iggy was a self contained story. Iggy is not the sharpest tool in the shed but has a heart of gold. In comparison the protagonist in the Overload series is regarded as intelligent and does not have a heart.
December 1, 2023
I very rarely feel the need to review books, but I have a lot of feelings about this one. This was a book recommended to me by a student (I'm a teacher) because it was one of the only books he's read that resonated with him.
I think this book is set up quite beautifully narrative wise. The inciting incident of the story is, of course, Iggy getting suspended for something he didn't do; Iggy resolves to "do something good" in order to "change everyone's mind" about him. Most of the conflict is therefore internal, and so much of the book is rooted in dialogue with other characters, and often Iggy makes connections between what he's experiencing and his past, so he relives memories.
What I really like about this book is the way that Iggy is juxtaposed both with Mo and Mo's Mom. Mo is obviously the main foil: he is smart, where Iggy is "stupid"; privileged while Iggy is poor; addicted to pot while Iggy is clean; has a mother who cares for him while Iggy's is missing. Even Mo's privilege sets in motion the external conflict with Freddie in contrast to how Ms. Brando's bias against Iggy starts his internal conflict.
Meanwhile, Mo's Mom, like Iggy, is also trying to be a good person, though it comes off as hollow in the beginning, since, as Mo points out, she "throws money at the same problems she helps create" without ever actually experiencing the problems (truly an excellent piece of irony, since Mo is there to ask for money and therefore is benefitting from the system he is denouncing so loudly). There are a lot of things I can say about Mo's Mom, but what really stuck out to me was the way her care of Mo consistently reminds Iggy of the way he cared for his mom when she was around. It highlights the reversed relationship between Iggy and his mother - Iggy as caretaker and his mother as child.
One of the things that struck me so much about this book is the point Mo's Mom makes on the bench: "There's a whole other world available to you. All you need to do is choose it." In a lot of ways, this book is about seeing the mistakes your parents have made and choosing not to make them, too. Obviously, boot strap ideology is great in theory but doesn't address the systemic issues that cause poverty - we can't all have a Mo's Mom willing to pay for school or giving us a place to live. But still, there's something powerful about acknowledging that we're not doomed to a life that's been decided for us. Everyday, we can choose, like Iggy, to make the world a little better than it was before us.
I think this book is set up quite beautifully narrative wise. The inciting incident of the story is, of course, Iggy getting suspended for something he didn't do; Iggy resolves to "do something good" in order to "change everyone's mind" about him. Most of the conflict is therefore internal, and so much of the book is rooted in dialogue with other characters, and often Iggy makes connections between what he's experiencing and his past, so he relives memories.
What I really like about this book is the way that Iggy is juxtaposed both with Mo and Mo's Mom. Mo is obviously the main foil: he is smart, where Iggy is "stupid"; privileged while Iggy is poor; addicted to pot while Iggy is clean; has a mother who cares for him while Iggy's is missing. Even Mo's privilege sets in motion the external conflict with Freddie in contrast to how Ms. Brando's bias against Iggy starts his internal conflict.
Meanwhile, Mo's Mom, like Iggy, is also trying to be a good person, though it comes off as hollow in the beginning, since, as Mo points out, she "throws money at the same problems she helps create" without ever actually experiencing the problems (truly an excellent piece of irony, since Mo is there to ask for money and therefore is benefitting from the system he is denouncing so loudly). There are a lot of things I can say about Mo's Mom, but what really stuck out to me was the way her care of Mo consistently reminds Iggy of the way he cared for his mom when she was around. It highlights the reversed relationship between Iggy and his mother - Iggy as caretaker and his mother as child.
One of the things that struck me so much about this book is the point Mo's Mom makes on the bench: "There's a whole other world available to you. All you need to do is choose it." In a lot of ways, this book is about seeing the mistakes your parents have made and choosing not to make them, too. Obviously, boot strap ideology is great in theory but doesn't address the systemic issues that cause poverty - we can't all have a Mo's Mom willing to pay for school or giving us a place to live. But still, there's something powerful about acknowledging that we're not doomed to a life that's been decided for us. Everyday, we can choose, like Iggy, to make the world a little better than it was before us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2018
Saint Iggy follows the life of a troubled teenage boy who is determined to “contribute” to the world in any way possible. Iggy Corso lives in the run-down part of the city, or the ghetto, with his dead-beat, drug-addicted, alcohol-abusing father. His mother, whose only initiative is drug-focused, comes and goes as she pleases, but despite his family situation, Iggy still yearns for the day he can be with his “family” whom he believes still has hope. One day, due to his poor decision of walking into the wrong class at the wrong time at school, Iggy’s stereotypical teachers see him as a threat because he reaches for his pocket in a manner that makes the Spanish teacher feel he has a weapon. What’s worse is that Iggy has a history of getting in trouble at school and he’s just on the cusp of expulsion. Unless Iggy can find a way to prove he still deserves a place at his high school, he’s bound to end up without a proper education, or worse- like his parents. Iggy decides from that point on that he is going to find a way to do good in the world and prove to himself and others that you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Read to follow Iggy’s journey through thick and thin as he battles the troubles of finding a place in the world with the help of both his friends and enemies.
I enjoyed reading this book because it was within my lexile range and it kept me hooked because each part of the book was very interesting and intense all at once. Also, it wasn’t my typical reading genre choice, which is romance, so I got a taste of how other books can be fun to read also. One thing I didn’t like about this book was that it ended on a cliffhanger at the most exciting part!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about adventure, coming-of-age, and family relationships.
I enjoyed reading this book because it was within my lexile range and it kept me hooked because each part of the book was very interesting and intense all at once. Also, it wasn’t my typical reading genre choice, which is romance, so I got a taste of how other books can be fun to read also. One thing I didn’t like about this book was that it ended on a cliffhanger at the most exciting part!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about adventure, coming-of-age, and family relationships.
December 1, 2017
I read the book “SAINT IGGY,” by K.L. GOING. This book is about a young boy named Iggy and Iggy is not much of an intelligent boy. Iggy gets suspended in school due to all the troubles he has committed and he is frightened once he hears there's a slit chance of him going back to school or never go back to school. One of Iggy’s goal in this book is making people change their view upon him. This book basically focuses on Iggy’s goal and things he encounters which is a lot, and you will find out once you read it!
Going back to getting suspended, “Iggy threatened the teacher and supposedly he had a weapon in his pocket.” Due to all that Iggy realized that he has to find a way to get back into school and do something that can change people's mind about him. One problem is that he can’t go to the hearing because his mother is nowhere to be found and his father is just a complete druggy. That’s when he realizes there’s no point of going back to school since his parents are no good. So he leaves a letter for them saying, “I got suspended today and there will be a hearing someday; but you guys don’t have to worry because I’ve got a plan and I’m going to do something with my life.” Once he leaves his house there's a whole adventure out there for him.
Afterall I really enjoyed this book, such an interesting book. There is also a part that I truly dislike and it was the ending. The part that I didn’t like is when he leaves with this girl after doing something good with a problem his friend Moe had with a drug dealer named Freddy. Iggy leaving with the girl wasn’t a good idea, he never accomplished half of his goal which was seeing if people changed their mind about him. I recommend everyone to read this book! You will enjoy reading it!
Going back to getting suspended, “Iggy threatened the teacher and supposedly he had a weapon in his pocket.” Due to all that Iggy realized that he has to find a way to get back into school and do something that can change people's mind about him. One problem is that he can’t go to the hearing because his mother is nowhere to be found and his father is just a complete druggy. That’s when he realizes there’s no point of going back to school since his parents are no good. So he leaves a letter for them saying, “I got suspended today and there will be a hearing someday; but you guys don’t have to worry because I’ve got a plan and I’m going to do something with my life.” Once he leaves his house there's a whole adventure out there for him.
Afterall I really enjoyed this book, such an interesting book. There is also a part that I truly dislike and it was the ending. The part that I didn’t like is when he leaves with this girl after doing something good with a problem his friend Moe had with a drug dealer named Freddy. Iggy leaving with the girl wasn’t a good idea, he never accomplished half of his goal which was seeing if people changed their mind about him. I recommend everyone to read this book! You will enjoy reading it!
August 10, 2019
This is one of those books everyone should read once in their life. Holy crap.
This is much heavier than I tend to gravitate towards. (I like fantasy because I want to escape reality.)
Holy crap. Iggy is one of those kids that grows up in the projects but really wants to get out and doesn't quite know how. He's also a teenager and that's a problem within itself.(I love teenagers. Don't get me wrong. I will even mercilessly make fun of my younger self.) Iggy had one adult who saw past the huffing and eye rolling and told him he was a good kid on his worst day(s), a broke hippie friend, and his rich mum who was trying to look after them all. Meanwhile he's trying to weave his way through seeing the people at this never ending party out and to safety, while his father gets rip roaring drunk and confused. It's a beautiful book and I'm not doing it justice.
WOW.
I am so glad one of my Guild teens told me to go read it.
Just wow.
This is much heavier than I tend to gravitate towards. (I like fantasy because I want to escape reality.)
Holy crap. Iggy is one of those kids that grows up in the projects but really wants to get out and doesn't quite know how. He's also a teenager and that's a problem within itself.(I love teenagers. Don't get me wrong. I will even mercilessly make fun of my younger self.) Iggy had one adult who saw past the huffing and eye rolling and told him he was a good kid on his worst day(s), a broke hippie friend, and his rich mum who was trying to look after them all. Meanwhile he's trying to weave his way through seeing the people at this never ending party out and to safety, while his father gets rip roaring drunk and confused. It's a beautiful book and I'm not doing it justice.
WOW.
I am so glad one of my Guild teens told me to go read it.
Just wow.
Read
May 1, 2020Iggy Corso just got suspended from high school, and there’s no one to tell. His mother has gone off, his father is stoned on the couch, and the phone is disconnected so even the social worker can’t call.
Read p. 6: “I look up and Principal Olmos … not so bad a person once you get to know me.”
But Iggy doesn’t have a lot going for his self-betterment plan. How’s he going to change his life when all he’s got is a life in public housing, no skills and his only friend is a law school dropout who wants to join the Hare Krishna?
But Iggy is Iggy, and he continues on … headed straight for sainthood.
Read p. 6: “I look up and Principal Olmos … not so bad a person once you get to know me.”
But Iggy doesn’t have a lot going for his self-betterment plan. How’s he going to change his life when all he’s got is a life in public housing, no skills and his only friend is a law school dropout who wants to join the Hare Krishna?
But Iggy is Iggy, and he continues on … headed straight for sainthood.
September 2, 2017
At first I hated how it was written. Why so many grammatical errors? Why the run on sentences? Then it struck me, because it's written as if by the character's own telling of the story. Once I began to understand this Iggy Corso's tale became endearing to me.
If you're looking for a quick read with a heart warming story then this is the one for you. The ending did break my heart, but totally worth it. ❤️
If you're looking for a quick read with a heart warming story then this is the one for you. The ending did break my heart, but totally worth it. ❤️
August 20, 2018
Iggy, born to an addicted mother in a NYC housing project, remains determined to do one heroic deed, and his disarming first-person narrative will turn readers’ perceptions of the world upside down. Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2006, 258 pgs., hardback via Berea Library, read Jan.2008; also FAT KID RULES THE WORLD a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book + THE LIBERATION OF GABRIEL KING, a Book Sense Children’s Pick, an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society and a CBC Children’s Choice
June 23, 2020
Quick YA read about a mostly likeable 16-year-old boy who must fend for himself because his mom is off on a bender somewhere for the past month, and his dad is on a bender at home. So he's tough, doesn't realize his limitations, doesn't seem to understand why he's been kicked out of school (apparently he's threatening somehow, for a 16-year old?) and is rather naive despite it all. But at least he doesn't drink or do drugs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2023
Read for RDG 4533: Teaching Young Adult Literature for Middle and High School Readers.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was unlike anything I had ever read before. I found myself constantly in suspense and wondering what would happen next! I liked how even in the midst of a tough life, Iggy kept a positive attitude and wanted to make something out of himself.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was unlike anything I had ever read before. I found myself constantly in suspense and wondering what would happen next! I liked how even in the midst of a tough life, Iggy kept a positive attitude and wanted to make something out of himself.
November 16, 2022
Slow to start, but after it gets gong, a decent read. I found myself rooting for Iggy to make the right choices. Very unexpected ending. I may use for my high school book club, but it needs a permission slip.
July 13, 2018
What I think about this book is that the texture is really hard for me since I am still learning English.
April 20, 2020
Good read-offers an interesting perspective from a young male from the "wrong side" of town. Things are not always as they appear to be...
May 15, 2020
trash af
Read
July 11, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Cheating
Parent with substance addiction
Alcohol consumption
Recreational drug use & abuse
Physical injuries
Murder
Police brutalty
Gun violence
Cheating
Parent with substance addiction
Alcohol consumption
Recreational drug use & abuse
Physical injuries
Murder
Police brutalty
Gun violence
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews