# How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater

By Marc Acito · Edward Zanni, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/how-i-paid-for-college-a-novel-of-sex-theft-friendship-musical-theater-221f46e1/

For Edward Zanni, the route out of suburban New Jersey goes through Juilliard. It’s 1983, his father has refused to cover acting school, and Edward still has a part in the high school production of Grease to rehearse. He recruits his friends to help him raise the money by stealing it.

## What makes it funny?

Edward has already imagined his Oscar acceptance speech, right down to the people he plans to snub. He hasn’t finished high school yet.

### The comedy at work

The audition panel takes Edward’s very real nerves for a great performance. Later, he and his friends put their acting skills to deliberate use, dressing as priests and nuns for the tuition scheme.

### Try this if…

Pick this up for the loyalties and crushes of a theater kid who has a girlfriend and can’t stop thinking about a football player.

### Good to know

The novel is frank about teenage sexuality. There’s time to get to know Edward and his friends before the tuition caper picks up around the midpoint.

## What to expect

- Genre: Contemporary
- On the shelf: Coming of age
- Kind of humor: Farce
- The atmosphere: Warmhearted
- Audience: Young adult
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2004

## A few distinguishing details

- A high school production of Grease alongside a tuition heist

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Crown sequel listing](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/432/attack-of-the-theater-people-by-marc-acito)
- Awards: [ALA Teens’ Top Ten](https://www.ala.org/news/news/pressreleases2005/october2005/favoriteyabooks)
- Publisher: [Crown paperback](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/433/how-i-paid-for-college-by-marc-acito/9780767918541)
- Library catalog: [WorldCat first-edition record](https://search.worldcat.org/title/53993019)
- Review: [Kirkus review](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marc-acito/how-i-paid-for-college)