What’s heartfelt, raunchy and like a roller-coaster ride? In a nutshell, that would be David H. Steinberg’s latest novel, Last Stop This Town.
Last Stop This Town, a young adult fiction geared toward teens, tells the story of four life-long friends heading out for a big night in New York City the weekend before they graduate from high school. The book is centered on four boys: Dylan, Noah, Pike and Walker. Each of these characters have distinct personalities – the confident leader, the nice-guy, the pothead and the shy doormat – whose unique stories intertwine to make up a humorous but compelling read. While the underlying theme deals with friendship and the struggle of growing up, the book also contains everything teenagers love to read about: sex, drugs and partying.
When I first read the synopsis for the book, I knew it was right up my alley. Not only did it sound like the type of book I usually like to read, but it sounded like a story I could relate to. Not because I’m a party animal who partakes in reckless behavior, but because I recently faced the inevitable force that is college which split me apart from some of my best friends. After exchanging a few emails with the author of the novel, he sent me a copy of the book and I was eager to start reading. Having learned that Steinberg has screen-written for teen movies such as some from the American Pie series, I knew it would be an interesting read.
I’m usually skeptical about adults writing about adolescent topics and trying to realistically portray young people, but Steinberg does so flawlessly. The diction of the characters and their responses to common teenage ideas make the characters feel real. For example, the characters throw out the occasional profanity and attempt picking up girls by using crude pickup lines (yeah, sounds like some guys I know). The author handles topics, which other writers may make awkward, in a very natural way. This includes, but is not limited to, Noah’s relationship struggles with his girlfriend Sarah and Pike’s frequent weed smoking. It is obvious that Steinberg has a clear understanding of his target audience; it is this that makes readers feel as if they are watching their high school peers’ actions play out firsthand.
While the book doesn’t involve blood-sucking vampires or magical wizards, following the characters on their quest to reach a gigantic party in the city is just as entertaining. Steinberg takes what seems like a generic plot line and keeps it interesting by throwing in twists and writing in a comedic way that seems to come easy to him.
With my busy schedule, I rarely have time to read these days. Amidst homework, newspaper tasks and an ACT to study for, I managed to find a couple hours to devote to reading this book last weekend. The story had me so enthralled that I was able to finish it in one sitting. Let me tell you; this was the fastest I have ever finished a book. And that’s not because it’s short, but because it’s formatted and written in a way that quickly guides you from page to page. But, simply put, I also just found it that good.
I would easily recommend Last Stop This Town to any of my teenage readers. This is a book that will be put on my bookshelf and reread the next time I get some free time. Although movies often butcher the essence of a good novel, I would love to see this book adapted for and played out on the big screen. To put it in perspective, this book in movie format would be a cross between Superbad and The Hangover (but might lean more toward a PG-13 rating).
If it says anything, the ending of the book gave me goosebumps, which is something that rarely happens. I hope others who read Last Stop This Town get the same reaction.
