I like the way you phrased that- totally agree.

I feel the same, though more so with his newer books. I couldn’t get behind Fairy Tale, for example, because the character was so close to my own age. No one born in 1996 did or said those types of things- it was just extremely disconnected from the time and reality in which it was set. I do feel his earlier books are better, but the way kids speak and bond is still unnatural.

He’s a good writer, and I see why he is popular. Personally his books are quite hit and miss for me, and although he is a great writer not all of his writing is great. He does handle youth dialogue in an unrealistic way. Valid criticism.