Going Bovine by Libba Bray, reviewed by K. Bird Lincoln
4 of 5 stars for this recent winner of the Printz award!
What do you get when you cross a spongiformed-brain adolescent outsider boy with the Dwarf of Destiny who overuses "pendejo" and Baldur, the Norse God, disguised as a garden gnome?
You get Going Bovine, the psychedelic tale of Cameron, a "slipped through the cracks" kind of student who finds himself diagnosed with Mad Cow Disease and confined to the hospital. An angel gives him a quest to find a Dr. X and save the universe. On the way, he and his little people friend Gonzo (the aforementioned dwarf of destiny) who is paranoid about getting diseases or injured, meet up with a vibrant cast of characters in a series of coincidences and interconnected events that leads Cameron to a realization about the nature of his life.
None of the philosophy in the book seemed that new to me or surprising. The pleasure in this book is going along for the ride with Cameron as he experiences all the crazy things life has to offer him on his last journey.
Frolicing fun, crazy smoothie-obsessed cultists, a jazz musician, and reality-tv hosts are what you'll find in this book. With just enough deep emotion to satisfy you without being too full.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: A strawberry-banana smoothie with added protein powder, for the frothy goodness of the story underlaid with a healthy message that's always just under the surface without making things bitter.
