21. The Art of Loving Libby Green by Bellebird James

read on Kindle
252 pgs.

2021
YA CRF
Finished 3/10/23
Goodreads rating: 4.08
My rating: 4
Setting: contemporary New Zealand

My comments: A real tough look at homelessness.  Dylan is homeless, trying to watch out for his absurdly alcoholic father and finish his senior year at high school.  He is an incredible graffiti artist whose only dream is to go to SOFA, the prestigious art school right in his community.  But living in a tent beside an abandoned public toilet and riding his bike are all he has to hang on to.  His father abandons him for days, even week on end and he has to take care of his little elderly dog, Bear.  He has no money, so he steals his food and his father makes him steal booze and cigarettes.  It's really sad, quite heartbreaking.  He's got a crush on Libby Green, but he keeps to himself until one day they sit beside each other in art class.  There's the typical obnoxious boyfriend, blah, blah, blah, but I very much enjoyed it, on the whole and as sad as it was.

MOVIE - Hunt for the Wildepeople

PG-13 (1:21)

Limited release 6/24/16

Sunday, 7/24 at Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg

RT Critic:  99  Audience:  92
Critic's Consensus:  Critics Consensus: The charmingly offbeat Hunt for the Wilderpeople unites a solid cast, a talented filmmaker, and a poignant, funny, deeply affecting message.

Cag:  5/Loved it

Directed by Taika Waititi

Piki Films

Based on the book by

Sam Neill

My comments:  This was a wonderful movie, correctly rated by Rotten Tomatoes and all the other reviews I've read. Set in "the bush" of New Zealand, it tells the story of how power put in the wrong hands can go dreadfully awry and that you definitely cannot judge a book by its cover.  When a 13 year old overweight boy is fostered by a loving woman and her grumpy husband way in the middle-of=nowhere-New Zealand, an instant bond forms between the boy and the woman (she has the boy call her "auntie").  Then, in order to set in motion the craziness that follows, tragedy has to strike.  The rest of the film is about how "uncle" (Sam &&&&) and &&&&&& take off into the bush to avoid the law, while bonding and hunting and figuring out how to stay alive.  So much humor and well-meaning in this excellent film!  You always know that the outcome is going to be a good one, too!

RT Summary:  Raised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options: go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family. Equal parts road comedy and rousing adventure story, director Taika Waititi (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, upcoming THOR: RAGNORAK) masterfully weaves lively humor with emotionally honest performances by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison. A hilarious, touching crowd-pleaser, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE reminds us about the journey that growing up is (at any age) and those who help us along the way.

MOVIE - Hunt for the Wilderpeople

NR (1:41)

Limited release 6/24/16

Viewed around June 30, 2016

RT Critic: 97   Audience:  91
Critic's Consensus:   The charmingly offbeat Hunt for the Wilderpeople unites a solid cast, a talented filmmaker, and a poignant, funny, deeply affecting message.

Cag:  5 Loved it

Directed by Taika Waltiti

Piki Films

Sam Neill

My comments:  I didn't write my thoughts and comments at the time, stupid me!  I do remember that this had heart and I really enjoyed it a lot.  A great family film from New Zealand.

RT/ IMDb Summary:  Raised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options: go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family. Equal parts road comedy and rousing adventure story, director Taika Waititi (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, upcoming THOR: RAGNORAK) masterfully weaves lively humor with emotionally honest performances by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison. A hilarious, touching crowd-pleaser, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE reminds us about the journey that growing up is (at any age) and those who help us along the way.