Me And Earl And The Dying Girl Analysis

Taking aim at the young adult demographic, Jesse Andrews’ fictional work Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a force to be reckoned with. Written from the perspective of Greg Gaines, the awkward high school senior protagonist, who by choice does not belong to any one social group. With no ‘friends’ but a ‘co-worker’ Earl, he makes mediocre film parodies. Greg documents what happened to him during his senior year when his mother forces him to befriend a girl he once knew, Rachel, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The pair form a genuine friendship as Greg tries not to form any emotional attachment, as he believes would be the end of the world. I cannot recall if there has ever been an account in which someone was ever unapologetically honest about being a teenager. With an opening paragraph stating,”it is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks,” it’s a bit difficult to not start reminiscing back to when all you were was just a name and test score. Like most books written about cancer, it is hilarious, witty, and quaint. These books purposely tug on your heart strings and make you feel something for the dying girl and her hopeful lover. This however is not one of those stories. She is dying and he feels bad, that is about as similar as any of
these books come. Every character proves themselves just as important and relatable as Greg.
Earl, the pervertedly fun-loving friend who is one of the two people who ever actually cared about Greg (making this statement very known to Greg when he desperately needed a reality check). Rachel, the dying girl, who even when in excruciating pain looks on the bright side of life and has the idea that negativity is being neutral. Greg’s well-meaning parents who do not know much about either of their kids, and “ encourage” Greg to spend time with an old friend whom he has not spoken to in over five years. Denise Kushner, Rachel’s mom, who finds comfort in alcohol and is just a bit out
there. A central theme in the novel is self-absorption and insecurities. Greg heavily struggles with both throughout the book, while Rachel tries to be at peace with what she is going through. This is Jesse Andrews’ first novel. Andrews was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Schenley High School and Harvard University. He is currently based in Boston, Massachusetts.