On the HahaFiction shelf
How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater
by Marc Acito
Edward Zanni · Book 1 · 2004
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.
From the publisher’s blurb
“one overly theatrical and sexually confused New Jersey teenager’s larcenous quest for his acting school tuition.”Read the full description at Crown
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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.
A few distinguishing details
- A high school production of Grease alongside a tuition heist
More funny coming of age
Sources & further reading
- Crown sequel listing
Publisher
- ALA Teens’ Top Ten
Awards
- Crown paperback
Publisher
- WorldCat first-edition record
Library catalog
- Kirkus review
Review
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