What Happened to Lani Garver? :: Carol Plum-Ucci
Genre: Young Adult
Year: 2002
This is a fantastic book for young adults - and for adults too if they'd take the time. I think that's what we lack, or fail to make enough of for books.
This novel takes place in a small town, and deals with the life of Claire Mckenzie. Claire is recovering from an illness that cost her a year at school, which has put a kink in her high school development - at least in her mind. What happens next is that Lani Garver arrives, and no one, not even Claire, can figure out if Lani is a guy or a girl. At least at first. As the book continues, Claire begins asking herself if Lani is in fact an angel.
This novel deals with some chilling behaviour stemming from homophobia. Violence shatters Claire's already fragile world and she learns who her real friends are. It was a tough read, but it is one of the few books in a long time to leave me breathless. The reader can really identify with Claire, who feels like an outsider in her high school - which many high school age students are well familiar with. Not only does she feel outside of the social circles at school, she has this strange relationship with her mother that forces Claire to be the adult. Her friendship with Lani, who recognizes and validates these feelings within her is a real gem. He supports her in a way that she needs, and she grows as a result of it - but none of it seems hokey, which is terribly refreshing.
I think this genre has really taken off and grown since I was young enough to be a regular devourer of it, and this novel is a prime example. I'm adding this one to my must read list.
54 Comments:
This is the best book i have ever read in my entire life. Im only 14 and it had such a strong effect on me. I read atleasta month and a half ago and i havent been able to one day without thinking about it. I always wonder if i will meet someone like lani garver... Maybe i will until then everyone should read this book.
This is the best book i have ever read in my entire life. Im only 14 and it had such a strong effect on me. I read atleasta month and a half ago and i havent been able to one day without thinking about it. I always wonder if i will meet someone like lani garver... Maybe i will until then everyone should read this book.
This book changed my life in a way which no other book did. It changed my outlook on everything. I don't go a week without thinking of it. Lani is as much a part of my life as my friends are. It's like "what would lani do?"
i wish i could somehow get in touch with the author. claire and lani have changed my life. the first time i read it, i cried hysterically; the second time i went numb. i want to hate the boys who killed lani, but at the same time, i remember the words, "ever heard of middle ground?"
This is the most touching and insightful book, I think, that I've ever read. It deals with so many topics that many authors don't even dare to touch, and yet it seems that Plum-Ucci has done them all! Peer-pressure, homosexuality, eating disorders, divorce, cancer, and AIDS... and so much more. It made me think about what kind of world we live in and think to myself: "God... does this really happen?" And I know it does, and it makes me shiver inside kind of. Because even though these sort of bad things do, I have hope that someday a floating angel will pass by and make things a little bit better, even if it's not my turn.
Yes, this book is a book that changes a person. xD Like Marci said, "What would Lani do?" This book has become almost like a bible to me. It's labeled me genderqueer to my friends that can't grasp Lani's philosophy. And caused other friends to adopt a non-gender specific pronoun when talking about me.
This book is great and insightful! It changed my life. I no longer go to school stereotyping, as most other people do. The story showed an everyday life of a teenager and how creating a "box" effects people around you. This book is real and grasps topics other authors don't write about. Overall, this was the best story I've ever read!!
i read a lot but this is the first book ive found that i can read over an dover and over and it always has such a strong impact on me
lani is a one in a lifetime character and i doubt ill ever see a character as realistic as him
good enough to be made into a movie
but the movie would just disspaoint those who have read the book
i loove it
What Happened to Lani Garver is one of those books that will stick with you for the rest of your life. I sometimes find myself relying on the wisdom that Lani gives us thoughout the book to help me through hard times. I had a best friend, she was very much like Macy. Reading, and rereading, this novel has helped me to understand her a little better... and it has helped me to understand why I've outgrown her.
Lani Graver is such a phenominal chracter. i read the book in two days. i love this book so much! it's so ... magical. lani graver is a floating angel, and because of this book im nicer to everyone around me. this book has made me think about other people and not to stereotype them. i dont want to be put in a 'box'- just like lani. I LOVEEEEEEE LANI GRAVER and i just wish he was reallllllll!
BEST book I have read to date. I am fourteen, but I first picked this book up three years ago when I was eleven. It didn't have much effect on me back then. I read it again when I first turned fourteen, and it changed my entire outlook on life. Now everyday I look around me for a second time and think, "Maybe someday I'll meet someone like Lani." I can't go a day without thinking about the phenomenal(sp?) character, this coming from someone who has been reading longer than she can remember.
i read this book two summers ago and i have never forgotten it. i cant relate to it in so many aspects of my life. it is excellent.
this book was one of the best ive ever read. its additcting i'm froma place like the coast where claire lives and the scary part is i could see something like this happening.
I LOVE THIS BOOK. Right now I'm 15 and re-reading it, but I first read it at 14. Normally, I will readreadread, but after reading this book I had to cool off and think for a while- that's how powerfuly it impacted me. Whenever someone askes me what my favorite book is, this is the first one to come to mind.
When I check out a book at the library, I rarely find one that I don't enjoy. When I stumbled upon Carol Plum-ucci's book "the body of Christopher Creed" I absolutely fell in love with her writing, and then I went on to read "what happened to Lani Garver?" I've never been much of a labeler, but I now have a whole new concept of why they're wrong. I've never been comfortable with being put in a 'box'. Lani and Claire will forever be in my memory. The power that Plum-ucci wrote with simply astounded me. I've never in all the books I've read been so swept away. I suggest that anyone who reads this book and doesn't enjoy it step back and look at themselves, because there is something seriously wrong with them. I suggest that those who enjoyed this book read The body of christopher creed by Carol Plum-ucci as well as Aimee by Beth Miller and any book written by Ellen Hopkins
I hope that some of you will give me some stellar suggestions for books to read! My AIM is ClarvointDisease
-Gabby
This book is fantastic, ever since i read it i haven't been able to stop thinking about it and the issues the book addresses. I just has changed my outlook on so many things.
This book is amazing. It's beyond amazing, it's phenomenal. It's astounding. It's brilliance in character portrayal.
Lani has stayed in my mind from the day I first read the book, and I still think about him every day. I have not gone a day without thinking about it, and my copy is so battered the pages are falling out from having being read too much.
I first read the book in grade six, four years ago. Four years ago, it changed my outlook on the world. It still affects me today.
What Happened to Lani Garver is my favourite book other than Speak by Laurie-Halse Anderson.
This book shows us what sorts of problems exist in our society... it is an eye-opener.
I would recommend this book to anyone. Anyone could read it and realize what Carol Plum-Ucci is trying to say. It's truly exceptional!
My friend came up to me in school and said "You have to read this book. YOu have to! It will change your life" so i was like 'alright....w/e' and I tossed the book aside. Two weeks later i started reading it and i couldnt put it down. i read it in two days. and then i read it again. and again. It is so mesmorizing. It is so about life. It tells you to be your self. Be who you are. Be YOU. because wheather people like you are not, there will always be someone watching over you. Always.
This is my favorite book. I haven't read it in a year and i still thing about the jolt i got when i read it.
Lani just seems so real, so GOOD, that I can't help but wish that he/she is real. Like everyone else said here, this book has impacted my life in a way I cannot describe... I will never forget Lani Garver. He's the type of person I wish I were blessed enough to have in my life. Thank you, Lani, for showing me the different levels of importance in life, and the things that we should change.
As said by virtually everyone thus far, this is the most amazing book I've ever read. I'm currently re-reading it for the fourth time. Every time I read it, I take something new from it that I can apply to my life. I'm sixteen years old and a Junior in high school. The first time I read it, I cried so hard, and I actually began praying again, a habit lost among growing up. I know this probably sounds pretty over dramatic but this book is something I will never forget. I find myself thinking about Lani everyday as though he were real and then end up wishing he was. It's quite the bummer to remind myself that he's just a character in a book. I really adore this book for reasons I can't express. I wish more people would take the time to read it. It is definitely worth it.
im in thew middle of reading this book...i started 3 days ago and im on page 68..i love it so far..im only 12 but this book is amazing so far...its really interesting and i try 2 commit most of my day 2 reading it...lani is an interesting character...he is harsh but honest and amazing and seems really cool...he is different from most people and sounds really unique...i, glad he doesnt think much of claire's illness and just thinks she needs 2 talk 2 someone.....i cant wait 2 finish this book.....
I just finished this book book and I absolutely loved it! It was funny, yet deep. It gives us a life lesson that would improve anyone if only they listened to it. Personally, my favorite part of the book was when she was at the clinic and talking about floating angels with the doctor. And she wanted to know if he thought Lani was a floating angel.
"You like boys?"
"Yes. I love boys"
"You like girls?"
"Yes. I love girls"
"You bi?"
"Bisexual is a pretty sizeable box"
Lani was just so smart, knowledgeable...wise! It was definitely hard to believe he was 16 years old. But, then again, he never confirmed his age. When she asked all he said was, "I'm ancient"
I cant wait to read other books by Carol! (I'm going to pick up another one at my school library!)
I read this book when I was in 7th grade. I read alot and I thought it was one of the best books ever. Whenever someone asks me what my favorite book is I say "What happen to Lani Garver." This book changed my life and how I thouhgt. I think this is always be my favorit book.
'What Happened to Lani Garver' caught me, and made me fall in love. Lani's character is so raw and blunt, that he (or she, depending on what you believe) makes the reader take a look at who they are and how they represent themselves. He doesn't think of anyone else but himself, but not selfishly. He does what feels right to himself, and doesn't go with the flow of teenage pressures. Lani is a teacher to not only Claire, but to everyone else. I recommend this book to anyone who needs inspiration to look inside and evaluate themselves. It certainly made me think differently about my veiws, the world, just EVERYTHING.
I love this book! I hope I'll meet someone like Lani someday. He just seems so real 8D
This was the hardest book for me to read. Ever. Not because of the words, but because of the content. It was chilling how well it was written and the behaviour of Claire's "friends" made me want to reach through the page, grab them by their necks and scream at them until they got it into their heads how wonderful Lani actually was/is (due to the ambiguous ending). It was especially hard for me because, being face to face with homophobia at my school and thus being in the closet with everyone other than my mother and my cousin, I could see people I knew reflected in Macy's words, in Tony's actions and in Scott's mentality. That was what made it the most heartbreaking; to analyse my peers and see that maybe they would do what was done to Lani, as well.
I hope I meet my Lani one day.
This book is the most amazing book on the face of the earth. It changed the way I look at life and the people in it. It's so relatable and it is something every single person should read.
This book - as most has covered- is an amazing book that left me thinking about the way I view things and how I think in general. I have just finished recently, and but I still can't seem to get it out of my mind.
I seem to quote the book wherever I am now. This book, even if just fictional, holds a lot of wisdom that I find myself relying on. It really is an amazing read for everyone. I have just turned fourteen myself, but it really has effected me in such a strong way.
This book totally changed how I think about life. What if there really are floating angels? What DID happen to Lani Garver? It's just an amazing book, and you should definatly read it if you haven't already.
ohmigawdd!
seriously, the best book i ever read(:
it was so enlighting and insightful,
it changes your view on things
+& beautiful saying and morals :D
I swear I just finished reading this book today, and I started it yesterday. It was so addicting, something pushed me to keep reading and reading until it was over. And when it was over I cried, and I almost never show emotions like that. This book is officially the best book I have ever read, and it touched me. I don't even believe in god or angels...but this book made it seem so real, so vivid, like something like this could actually happen. Its such a saddening story, but somehow..just somehow, it can uplift your spirits when you look back at it. I don't think I will ever read a book that can make me feel the way this one did. I am going to try my hardest to get some others to read it..Its just so good and addiciting. I will see some other books from CArol Plum-Ucci and see if any can touch me such as this one.
This book really changed my life. I look at everyhting so different and now than ever i understand life
I recently read this book and it hit home in a way nobody else has expressed. I actually have a Lani. Their name is Sam. Nobody's 100% on their gender. They came to me in a very rough time. Everyone hated Sam but me.Great description, great imagery and fantastic storylines propel this story to new heights in the young adult genre. But I guess that's a box. I recommend this to everybody and their dog.
this book is definitly on the list of greatest books i have ever read. (along with few others) it has touched me somewhere, i dont know if it was lani's death, or his story, or how he lived his life, but something about him has changed my outlook on life. i know i'll remember this book always.
This is my favourite book, and no wonder. Carol Plum-Ucci has managed to incorporate so many different things, which just about everyone can relate to. I cry every single time, which means it's amazing. :)
this book is one of, if not THE best book of our generation this far. I constantly think of lani everyday. he's a big part of my life. he's the reason that, when I have a bad day, I don't ever just take it out on other people. just like marci said, I ask myself daily, what would lani do? this novel touched several of the situations that other authors are afraid to even skim across. I checked this book out at the library, read it through, went back and read specific parts and then I bought it the next month. then, I told all of my friends to read it. its just that good. i knew that hate and homophobia was dangerous, but not this dagerous. wow. that's all there is to this novel. WOW!
This my all time favorite book. I read it for the first time when I was thirteen; I'm now seventeen and have reread it what feels like countless times! It's helped to cope with a lot of the hard times I've been through growing up. Lani is absolutely amazing.....I wish there were more people like him out there.
This is a book that changes lives. It makes you laugh, cry, and think all at once.
Thank you, Carol Plum-Ucci!
Oh my goodness. I just started this book yesterday afternoon and I only put it down once I was too tired to keep my eyes open any longer. I finished it only an hour or two ago. It made me cry, like, three times. I wish I could meet someone like Lani. Call me crazy, but I really think that if I had known Lani, I could have fallen in love with him. He was just so sweet. I will never forget this book. It has definitely changed my life. There should be more books out in the world like this one. Well, maybe not, because then this one wouldn't be so special. But all the same, it was definitely a good read. I don't think I'm ready to let go of it yet, though. I wish I was still reading it, because it's just so wonderfully sad and emotional and so inspiring. I really hated the ending, and yet it was a great ending at the same time. I mean, of course, no one reading the book would want Lani to die, but at the same time, it made a good ending for a book. I love endings that make you think and make you cry and smile. I loved the part when Claire is looking through the photo album at Lani's mom's house. I also loved the part when Claire said something along the lines of, "Why is it that girls can do boy things, but when a boy does girl things, kids beat him up for it?" So true. There's so many girls playing sports and farting and burping, but what happens when a boy prefers to play with dolls and use sweet-smelling lotion, etc? It's an unfair world. I think that of all the gay guys in the world, it's because they think they have to be that way because of the things they like to do. But why can't a boy like to play with a doll and like girls at the same time? I mean, girls who fart like boys, don't they? I guess I'm just babbling now, but I absolutely love this book, and even though it's a bit more for mature people with all the "talk" and language in it, I would recommend it to any one who believes they are mature enough for the sex and language talk. Buh-bye!
--Violet
I read this book when I was thirteen, and I'm fifteen now, and I found that it was one of the best books I have ever read, and I have read a whole lot of books. I became completely immersed in what I was reading, and it was one of those books that I could connect with emotionally. It made me tear up, and even cry at some parts, but some parts made me want to scream with happiness. I just felt as though I could relate to a lot of what happened in the book, and it gave me so many life lessons that I now live by. I've found my own sort of 'Lani Garver' in my life, and I really hope that everyone else can too, because it's just like having your own guardian angel. This book was fantastic, and it changed my life in ways that I can't really explain.
Honestly one of the most touching, caring, & life-changing books that honestly make you think, not for a second, but for a lifetime. This book made me see things I've never seen before, made me gasp, made me believe. Please read & enjoy (:
what stayed with me the most was "whats wrong with you?!" lani looked at me with cherubic eyes and softly replied, "nothing"
[not origanal text but close enough]
this book has to be the best book i've ever read. it had such an impact on me. i look for people like lani now. i want to meet someone like lani. it changes the way you look at things. alot.
This book is by far one of the most intresting books i have ever read. Most books for young adults don't really make you think, but this bok actually made me think and wonder. It left me with question which is probably why it is so hard to get the story out of my head. I'm in high school, and usually I can get all caught up in drama, but after reading this book, everything else is just a blurr, I feel like my life is so insignificant compared to this story. At first, it didn't seem as intresting, but I had the patience and got through the first coupke of pages and then I just couldn't put it down. Lani Garver, is an open-minded, gay and intellectual which made the story oh-so very gripping. This is a must read, especially for young adults.
This book is by far one of the most intresting books i have ever read. Most books for young adults don't really make you think, but this bok actually made me think and wonder. It left me with question which is probably why it is so hard to get the story out of my head. I'm in high school, and usually I can get all caught up in drama, but after reading this book, everything else is just a blurr, I feel like my life is so insignificant compared to this story. At first, it didn't seem as intresting, but I had the patience and got through the first coupke of pages and then I just couldn't put it down. Lani Garver, is an open-minded, gay and intellectual which made the story oh-so very gripping. This is a must read, especially for young adults.
PPL WERE DO I GET THE BOOK FROM
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I fell in love with Lani, i dont even care that he has no gender. I think i will read this book atleast once a year. In some ways, it made me change and now i look at a person and wonder if they're an angel as well. When the book ended i cried and cried for two hours. I was mad at Claire, the cops and her parents for not believing her, and Lani. But i was really angry at those gay wads who killed him. I wanted to jump into the book and hurt them.
wow, i didnt know this book had such an impact with so many people. i thought i was the one being overly gaga over this book. This book had changed me so much and I just loooove Lani too much. Just wished he hadnt died. After reading this book, i was starting to think like Claire, hoping Lani was a floating angel so that he would still be alive. (and maybe come back for claire and live happily ever after!, dont care that he's an angel) I just wished Caro Plum-ucci would write a sequel to this book. I would reeaaaly want to know what actually happened to Lani Garver.
I am 13 years old and read this book for a book report. For this report, we had to read any novel, but it had to be a high school level book. Out of a random shelve in the YA section in my local library, I picked out this book. I skimmed the first couple of chapters and figured it was a good read.
This book changed my life entirely. It had such a strong impact on me. About life, friends, and just being yourself. This book truly shows you the meaning of true friendship and makes you wonder... "Will I ever meet a Lani Garver in my lifetime? Are angels real?"
THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please do yourself a huge favor and read this book. I finished it in 2 days by staying up all night reading it. I could not but this book down!
Hello, I do not agree with the previous commentator - not so simple
I've read this book atleast 20 times already and it always makes me cry. It changed me in a way i cant even describe. Lani means the world to me now and I wish he was there to help me through my problems. I feel for Claire but at times during the book I wanted to shake her! I have my own little floating angel with me and we're in love. I no longer "box" people, I dont even "box" gender anymore. To Carol Plum-Ucci, thank you so much for showing the dark side of the world because people push it down too much. To my fellow Lani Garver fans, i love you all!
This book is so amazing, I will never forget it. Something inside of me just wishes that Lani was real :/
The first while made me think the book a bit juvenile, and the overuse of word's such as 'stud' threw me off. As I read it, and dove into intentions and realities... I believe this may be one of the most pure novels I have read in a very long time. Lani Garver is my ultimate role model.
I love this book so much. The first time I picked it up was at a book fair when I was in seventh grade. I finished it in one day, I could not put it down. "What Happened to Lani Garver" is one of those books that has stayed with me through the years, and I just feel that it has so much meaning to it about being yourself and not "boxing" people. It makes me cry every time I read it, and I hope that I'll find myself a floating angel one day just like Lani!
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