Ostrich: A Novel

A brilliant and moving coming-of-age story in the tradition of Wonder by R. J. Palacio and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon€"this debut novel is written with tremendous humor and charm.
 
This is Alex€s story. But he doesn€t know exactly what it€s about yet, so you probably shouldn€t either.
 
Instead, here are some things that it€s sort of about (but not really):
 
It€s sort of (but not really) about brain surgery.
 
It€s sort of (but not really) about a hamster named Jaws 2 (after the original Jaws (who died), not the movie Jaws 2).
 
It€s sort of (but actually quite a lot) about Alex€s parents.
 
It€s sort of (but not really) about feeling ostrichized (which is a better word for excluded (because ostriches can€t fly so they often feel left out)).
 
It€s sort of (but not really (but actually, the more you think about it, kind of a lot)) about empathy (which is like sympathy only better), and also love and trust and fate and time and quantum mechanics and friendship and exams and growing up.
 
And it€s also sort of about courage. Because sometimes it actually takes quite a lot of it to bury your head in the sand.

Praise for Ostrich
 
€œIrresistible! Ostrich is loaded with wit, charm, and wisdom. Alex is one of the sweetest and most inspiring narrators I€ve ever encountered. I dare you not to laugh, cry, and fall utterly in love.€€"Maria Semple, New York Times bestselling author of Where€d You Go, Bernadette?

€œA coming-of-age story of some brilliance . . . I laughed heartily, sobbed unexpectedly, and significantly improved my grammar.€€"Nathan Filer, author of the Costa Book Award winner The Shock of the Fall

€œOne of the bravest novels I€ve read in a very long time. Matt Greene lets the reader become detective, and clue by clue we uncover not only the truth of Alex€s world, but the deepest truths of what it means to love and lose.€€"Carol Rifka Brunt, author of Tell the Wolves I€m Home
 
€œOstrich has given me the most enjoyable reading experience I€ve had all year and has one of the funniest and most engaging young narrators I€ve had the pleasure of reading. Matt Greene is seriously funny and in Ostrich proves comedy can be the finest of arts.€€"Matt Haig, author of The Humans