Review of How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theater

Review of How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theater, by Marc Acito

This is an amazing book! I was drawn to this book by the colorful nature of the cover, as well as the little Buddha on it, and the words “musical theater”. As a former drama geek in high school, those words were like a siren’s song. I ended up picking this book up on one of my many trips down to St. Louis, MO to visit some friends, and we happened to meander into a local Barnes & Noble. I had seen this book on display at my home store in Eden Prairie, MN, and having been drawn to it again over 500 miles away in another B&N, I figured that it was a sign I should purchase it.

And am I ever glad I did.

It’s the early years of the 1980s, and we are introduced to Edward Zanni, a high school senior in New Jersey who is striving to just survive high school, his father’s new marriage to a horrible woman, and just trying to make sense of these new things called “hormones”. He is a theater guy, who lives for the lime light and everything musical and drama, and has his whole life set on going to the prestigious art school Julliard. Sadly, because of his dad’s new wife controlling every part of his life, Edward’s dad refuses to pay to send him there. Now Edward has to figure out how to get to Julliard on his own.

Enter his small band of tried-and-true friends: his on again/off again girlfriend Kelly, Doug the jock who he turned on to the world of drama whom Edward has strange feelings towards, his uber nerd friend, and a Persian beauty all help Edward with crazy schemes to raise money for school. Along the way, the group finds themselves on a mad ride of coming-of-age moments and bonding experiences, such as stealing a ceramic Buddha from a front yard and the lawn ornament becoming a strange symbol of their friendship. Also along the way, the friends learn more about themselves and what growing up really means. Edward enters a blurred world of sexuality beginning with an awkward three-way with Kelly and Doug, and realizing that Kelly is more turned on by Doug than him and he is more turned on by Doug. Then Kelly suddenly hooks up with their Persian friend, and Edward is struggling with his emerging homosexuality and strange attraction to Doug. Even with these personal struggles and revelations are going on, the group of friends stays true to their pledge to help Edward get into the school of his dreams.

This story is a great coming-of-age tale that delves into all aspects of trying to survive high school, learn about life and love, and figuring out your place in the world. How I Paid for College is a strange mixture of the painfully honest personal stories of David Sedaris and the highschooler’s last hoorah vibe of Ferris Bueller. In one moment it is a mad-cap adventure tale of kids doing crazy stunts, pulling pranks and grand schemes to set up a false scholarship for Edward to “win”; and then the next heartbeat it throws you a curve ball and you’re torn at the touching, emotional turmoil Edward as he is floundering in a sea of emotions that besiege teenagers at any given moment.

I fully loved this book. So much so, I immediately purchased the sequel, Attack of the Theater People! when it came out a year or so later. I’ll be writing a review of that book a little later. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the theater, had been a drama or band geek in high school, or loves a well-written teen coming-of-age story that brings back glorious memories of John Hughes’ cinematic masterpieces of the 80s. However, I will give a warning: this tale does have homosexual themes in it, of the gay and lesbian tendencies; so if those topics offend you, you might not like this book. This book was not meant to be “gay fiction”, but those themes are part of the story. Also, there are strong themes of sex and sensuality in the book. But if you are not easily offended, then this tale is for you.

On my scale of 1 (literary hari kari) to 10 (literary orgasmic bliss), I give How I Paid for College a strong 9. This book has everything: crazy antics, heart-wrenching emotions, a high school theater production of Grease, and a ceramic Buddha.

You need to go read this book. Now. 

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So here's the updated list of my books to review, so far:

• Dead of Night
• Crooked Little Vein (4-11-12)
• Homer's Odyssey (3-26-12)
• Crimson City Series
• Circle of Heck series (thus far) (4-8-12)
• Joe Ledger series (thus far)  (3-27-12)
• Mutant Island series 
• Double Booked for Death (3-15-12)
• Family Affair
• Sacre Bleu
• How I Paid for College  (5-2-12)
• Attack of the Theater People!
• Liberty
• Tattoo (Jennifer Barnes) (4-30-12)