---
product_id: 42009162
title: "The Great American Whatever"
brand: "tim federle"
price: "€ 26.31"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.sk/products/42009162-the-great-american-whatever
store_origin: SK
region: Slovakia
---

# The Great American Whatever

**Brand:** tim federle
**Price:** € 26.31
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Great American Whatever by tim federle
- **How much does it cost?** € 26.31 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sk](https://www.desertcart.sk/products/42009162-the-great-american-whatever)

## Best For

- tim federle enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted tim federle brand quality
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## Description

Full description not available

## Images

![The Great American Whatever - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51fQfMBWkjL.jpg)
![The Great American Whatever - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31d4jpkPCtL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    One of the best young adult novels I've ever read. Funny and heartbreaking all at once.
  

*by U***Z on Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2016*

Funny, heartbreaking, filled with teen angst, Tim Federle’s book made me a teenager again in the most bittersweet way. Quinn Roberts reveals himself to the reader bit by bit, and as the camera metaphorically pulls back, and we gradually see the big picture, we appreciate the tender, damaged resilience of this young man.To some degree, all teen novels must be voyages of self-discovery. This book is no exception, but Federle’s wonderful writing and Quinn’s wry, endearing personality offer an intense reminder of what, to some degree, we all went through to survive into adulthood.Quinn is gay, but that fact is more of an annoyance to him than a trauma. “It just seems like such a hassle to come out. I want to just be out.” Problem is, he’s still trying to cope with the sudden, tragic death of his sister Annabeth, which has thrown a monkey wrench into his family’s ability to cope. Fortunately, Tim has Geoff, his best friend forever. Geoff is the catalyst who ignites the sparks that set the ball rolling, as it were. Geoff is a remarkable character, and Quinn knows it as much as we do.I don’t want to give things away. It’s not a long book, but it’s superbly crafted to wring every possible emotion out of us. I surely thought of Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” as I read this, but of course here the gay kid is the centerpiece, and to me that makes all the difference.“The Great American Whatever” is unquestionably one of the best YA novels I’ve read. It touched me deeply and made me envious of Federle’s gift as a writer.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Tender, funny, sad, adorable--you'll feel all the feels
  

*by J***N on Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2016*

One of the latest YA novels to tell the tempestuous and angsty but ultimately affirming tale of adolescent coming out, Tim Federle’s *The Great American Whatever* problematizes the romantic notion of 21st-century queer affirmation by complicating the protagonist’s sexual identity development with grief over the death of his older sister and managing his own control issues.Quinn Roberts—sometimes called “Win” (a clear signifier of his eventual triumph) by his late sister and his new paramour—aspires to be a successful Hollywood screenwriter. After his childhood crush and former babysitter shared with him the formula for successfully crafting an epic heroic adventure (which nearly replicates Joseph Campbell’s monomyth paradigm), Quinn collaborated with his sister Annabeth on a number of quirky independent films. He also casts himself as the hero of his own life and imagines life itself as a screenplay that he has the power to control. The people with whom he interacts are “scene partners.” He doesn’t engage in conversation; he speaks scripted dialogue. He even renders parts of his first-person narrative as movie scenes complete with dialogue, set descriptions, and stage directions.As he struggles to cope with his sister’s untimely death (for which he at least partially blames himself), he also tries to help his mother come to terms with the loss (his father abandoned them long ago) as he discovers the limits of just how well he knows his best friend. And he’s falling in love for the first time.Federle depicts these events with all of the sweet innocence and snide frustration that so deftly characterize adolescence. Although the novel tackles some heavy issues—coming out, the death of a loved one, first love, virginity (and the loss thereof)—it never feels particularly heavy. The novel’s sole weakness might be the blithe spirit with which it regards profound developmental aspects of maturity and sexuality, but its many attributes more than compensate for that.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    The best of YA
  

*by A***T on Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2016*

I don't read YA that frequently, it can be a little formulaic. And while in many ways this book sticks to the themes of every coming of age tale that has come before, it's done so well by Tim Federle I don't even care. It's a quick read, but perfectly paced with just the right amount of humor to offset the tragedy, and just the right amount of realism to offset all the standard YA tropes.I'd highly recommend if you are interested in any of the following: YA fiction, Pittsburgh, film making, gay protagonists (where sexuality is not the main source of conflict or angst), coming of age stories, The Perks of Being a Wildflower (it's an easy comparison to make. I'll be honest though, I think I like The Great American Whatever more.)

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*Product available on Desertcart Slovakia*
*Store origin: SK*
*Last updated: 2026-02-25*