Spring 2005 Review:

        Naked without a Hat is a book about a 19 year old boy named Will who decides to leave his home to be on his own to get away form his future step-father and his mother.  His mother constantly nags him about his knit hat the he never takes off, which is one of the reasons why he decides to leave. He moves in a house with 3 other people- Chrissy, who owns the house, Rocco, a VERY BIG man who likes colors and wears a lucky hat of his own, and James who thinks he is James Bond. Will is enjoying his life away from his mother (even though she constantly calls to make sure he is all right) and being an individual. When he gets a job, he meets Zara, a gypsy who is camping on the plot next to his work illegally. He immediately falls in love with her and plans to marry her. He takes Zara to his “home” to meet his mother. Disaster strikes when Will is caught stealing cream from a store and Will’s mother blames Zara for it. She forbids him form seeing her but he doesn’t listen. It is then that his mother takes him back home telling his friends about a secret Will was never supposed to revel. Zara finds out and then she and Will must decide if they still want a life together. All in all, it is a good book. 

        This is a book that would suit kids grades 8-12. It is a good book, but there seems to be no plot to the story at all. Will just does his own thing and it can get very random. There might have been a type of message there at the end but I really didn’t see it. However, the book has some good points. It points out certain things about real life, such as prejudice and lying. It caught my interest really well and I would recommend reading it. 

~ Vincent Calautti, grade 9, Boardman High School

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