The Field Guide to the North American Teenager: Book Review

Is The Field Guide to the North American Teenager a good book for teens? Ben Philippe’s 2019 young-adult novel is a funny, sharp-tongued coming-of-age story about Norris Kaplan, a Black French-Canadian teenager adapting to a new school in Austin, Texas. This review considers its plot, characters, themes and suitability for a Grade 9 classroom book club—not just whether it is entertaining.

Quick verdict: Worth considering for teenagers who enjoy witty, sometimes prickly narrators and realistic stories about belonging. It also offers discussion opportunities about stereotyping, immigration, race and friendship. Teachers should preview language, partying and other mature material before assigning it. The original educator’s impressions appear below, with some plot spoilers clearly marked.

The novel won the American Library Association’s William C. Morris Award for debut YA writing. Book details are confirmed by the publisher’s bibliographic listing and the classroom-content discussion by Common Sense Media. This is one entry in our Inclusive Classroom Library Project.

Plot summary of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

Spoiler-light introduction: Norris arrives from Montréal and uses a notebook to classify the classmates he meets. The more he gets to know them, the less useful those tidy labels become. His sharp observations entertain him but sometimes damage relationships.

What happens later? (Spoilers)

Norris Kaplan is a Black French-Canadian who is forced to move to the outskirts of Austin, Texas because his mother has a new job at the university. 

He is unhappy and lonely because of the sudden move. Plus, he is snarky and rude to other people (a fun little contrast to the stereotypical Canadian).

Over time he makes unlikely friends with cheerleaders and jocks, the people he typically pokes fun at. He also finds himself uncontrollably attracted to an aloof girl named Aarti, that plays mind games with him. 

Major plot spoilers below. Near the novel’s end, we find out that his closest friend, a cheerleader named Maddie, has had a crush on him. We glimpse Aarti’s perspective and see that Norris is also playing games, although he doesn’t realize it. In a moment of revenge, Aarti shares a secret with Maddie about Norris’ field guide.

In the end, Norris manages to alienate everyone around him. Eventually, he apologizes, and we’re left with him working hard to regain favor with the others. The ending is great because it aligns with several discussions about Hollywood movies throughout the novel.

Review: the book’s strengths and limits

The Field Guide… was a fun story to read. Norris is an interesting character to read. He’s clever with plenty of snappy dialogue. It’s very reminiscent of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian but with a slightly older character. I suppose it’s like most ‘Fish out of water’ stories written for teens.

Who will enjoy this young-adult novel?

I think most Canadian teenagers will like the story because it reflects Canadian stereotypes of being too polite and Americans being too rude. In the story, the Americans are just regular people, and the Canadian boy is rude.

It’s also an easy enough read, making it a decent choice for reluctant readers.

Is this book appropriate for a Grade 9 classroom?

There is plenty to discuss, but it is not a content-free or automatically easy classroom choice. The text includes strong language, teen drinking, romantic and sexual references, racial taunts and some confrontational scenes. Common Sense Media’s detailed review suggests age 13+, but teachers and families should make their own judgments based on students, local policies and reading goals.

In an inclusive classroom, particularly useful questions include: When does Norris’s “field guide” become unfair stereotyping? What does his status as a newcomer reveal about belonging? How does humour conceal vulnerability? Why do people he labels as one-dimensional prove more complicated? Consider offering an alternative selection for students who prefer different subject matter.

The book’s dialogue and humour make it accessible for some reluctant readers, but its slang, character relationships and shifting tone may be challenging for others. Avoid assuming that a low-friction reading experience means every student can engage with it equally well.

Final classroom recommendation

This is a great book, and it’s fun to read. Some of the other books in this category are more meaningful and easily accessible for reluctant readers. The Field Guide…, however, is a more enjoyable, funnier read. So, that is a tough call.  

Read other inclusive classroom book reviews

Explore the Inclusive Classroom Library Project and our reviews of Strangers and The Hate U Give. These comparisons can help educators choose books for different students and discussion goals.