{"product_id":"the-strange-fascinations-of-noah-hypnotik-isbn-9780425288870","title":"The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"As he did in his fantastic debut \u003ci\u003eMosquitoland\u003c\/i\u003e, David Arnold again shows a knack for getting into the mind of an eccentric teenager in clever, poignant fashion.\" —\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e This is Noah Oakman → sixteen, Bowie believer, concise historian, disillusioned swimmer, son, brother, friend.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Then Noah → gets hypnotized.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Now Noah → sees changes: his mother has a scar on her face that wasn’t there before; his old dog, who once walked with a limp, is suddenly lithe; his best friend, a lifelong DC Comics disciple, now rotates in the Marvel universe. Subtle behaviors, bits of history, plans for the future—everything in Noah’s world has been rewritten. Everything except his Strange Fascinations . . . \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A stunning surrealist portrait, \u003ci\u003eThe Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik\u003c\/i\u003e is a story about all the ways we hurt our friends without knowing it, and all the ways they stick around to save us.\"As he did in his fantastic debut \u003ci\u003eMosquitoland\u003c\/i\u003e, David Arnold again shows a knack for getting into the mind of an eccentric teenager in clever, poignant fashion . . . An artfully crafted tale about a boy finding his groove amid the cacophony of adolescence.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An unpredictable, Vonnegut-esque examination of identity, friendship, and forgiveness . . . Unique and surprisingly poignant.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Shivery and vaguely psychedelic . . . This is the kind of book that will appeal strongly to teenagers like Noah who are just starting to think about what they want from their futures, but it’s also immensely enjoyable to read as an adult. It’s a funny, eerie, beautifully textured book, a strange fascination in and of itself.\" —\u003cb\u003eVox\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Don't just pick this one up for its brilliantly bright cover. This book is equal parts odd, imaginative, and insightful.\" —\u003cb\u003eBuzzFeed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A surreal, memorable examination of how our relationships can both hurt and ultimately save us.\" —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eTeen Vogue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eThe Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik\u003c\/i\u003e is an epic wonder that only David Arnold could have dreamed up. You'll marvel at every glowing page as powerhouse Arnold tells a blazing, transporting story of love and history and mystery and more.” —\u003cb\u003eAdam Silvera\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eMore Happy Than Not\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThey Both Die at the End\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"A breathtaking, mind-bending tour de force that probes fate and forgiveness, history of the human connection, and what it means to live. Ambitious, wise, hilarious, and yearning, \u003ci\u003eThe Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik \u003c\/i\u003eis David Arnold at his exuberant best.\" —\u003cb\u003eKelly Loy Gilbert\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003ePicture Us in the Light\u003c\/i\u003e and Morris Award finalist \u003ci\u003eConviction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e★ \"Arnold has written an in-your-face validation of the power of real and honest friendship, guaranteed to mesmerize readers and leave them altered.\" —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e★ \"This is a comedic coming-of-age tale with plenty of pop culture and literary references and the snarky, casual, and observational feel of a mumblecore comedy. Supporting characters are fully fleshed out and hilarious. A weird, compelling teen-angst trip that will appeal to fans of John Corey Whaley.\" —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An incredible, eye-opening read . . . Arnold’s characters shine in their realistic relationships and in their relatable fears and shortcomings. Be ready for a game changer of a novel—and a lot of reflection.\" —\u003ci\u003eRomantic Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Boom! That's the sound of your mind exploding when you listen to this audiobook.\" —\u003ci\u003eAudioFile\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003eEarphones Award Winner\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Arnold’s hipster wit and wickedly clever plotting make for an absorbing, stylized romp . . . Holden Caulfield’s reluctance to grow up mixes with Andrew Smith’s sharp-eyed, sharp-tongued narrators to create a character altogether Arnold’s own.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBCCB\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Compelling.\" —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Singular and brainy and deeply intriguing, with an ending that devastates . . . The book’s shattering payoff takes a primary rule of storytelling and busts through it like Kool-Aid Man, and the results are electrifying.\" —\u003cb\u003eB\u0026amp;N Teen Blog\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Arnold’s characters are seeking higher meaning but he manages to keep the story from drifting into the esoteric by creating moments of true tenderness. Noah’s own writing and his internal exploration propel the narrative forward, allowing Arnold to explore the stagnancy of a predetermined path and unanswered questions about reality, interpretation, and imagination.\" —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Whip-smart dialogue, fun pop-culture asides, endlessly endearing and fully realized characters and a hypnotic mystery...\"\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eBookPage\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e A Barnes \u0026amp; Noble Best Book of 2018   \u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e A \u003ci\u003eTeen Vogue\u003c\/i\u003e Best Book for Teens 2018  \u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e A \u003ci\u003eVox \u003c\/i\u003eBest Book of 2018  \u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e A \u003ci\u003eBookPage \u003c\/i\u003eBest Book of 2018  \u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2018\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e A \u003ci\u003eBooklist \u003c\/i\u003eBest Fiction for Young Adults 2019  \u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2019\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Arnold\u003c\/b\u003e is the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of\u003ci\u003e The Electric Kingdom, Mosquitoland, Kids of Appetite, \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik, \u003c\/i\u003ewhich has been optioned for film by Paramount. He has won the Southern Book Prize and the Great Lakes Book Award, and was named a \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003eFlying Start for his debut. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and son.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eLearn more at davidarnoldbooks.com and follow him on Instagram @iamdavidarnold and Twitter @roofbeam.\u003cb\u003eChapter 1 \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ethat sadness feels heavier underwater\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I’ll hold my breath and tell you what I mean: I first discov­ered the Fading Girl two months and two days ago, soon after summer began dripping its smugly sunny smile all over the place. I was with Alan, per usual. We had fallen down the YouTube rabbit hole, which was a thing we did from time to time. Generally speaking, I hate YouTube, mostly because Alan is all, \u003ci\u003eI just have to show you this \u003c\/i\u003eone \u003ci\u003ething, yo, \u003c\/i\u003ebut in­evitably one thing becomes seventeen things, and before I know it, I’m watching a sea otter operate a vending machine, thinking, \u003ci\u003eWhere the fuck did I go wrong? \u003c\/i\u003eAnd look: I am not immune to the allure of the sea otter, but at a certain point a guy has to wonder about all the life decisions he’s made that have landed him on a couch, watching a glorified weasel press H9 for a bag of SunChips.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Quiet, and a little sad, but in a real way, drifting through the Rosa-Haas pool—I fucking love it here.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I would live here.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e For the sake of precision: the Fading Girl video is a rapid time-lapse compilation of photographs clocking in at just over twelve minutes. It’s entitled \u003ci\u003eOne Face, Forty Years: An Examination of the Aging Process\u003c\/i\u003e, and underneath it a cap­tion reads: “Daily self-portraits from 1977 to 2015. I got tired.” (I love that last part, as if the Fading Girl felt the need to explain why she hadn’t quite made it the full forty years\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e) In the beginning, she’s probably in her early twenties, with blonde hair, long and shimmery, and bright eyes like a sun­rise through a waterfall. At about the halfway mark the room changes, which I can only assume means she moved, but in the background, her possessions remain the same: a framed watercolor of mountains, a porcelain Chewbacca figurine, and elephants everywhere. Statues, posters, T-shirts—the Fading Girl had an elephant obsession, safe to say. She’s al­ways indoors, always alone, and—other than the move, and a variety of haircuts—she looks the same in every photo: no smile, staring straight into the camera, \u003ci\u003eevery day for forty years. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Always the same, until: changes. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Okay, I have to breathe now. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I love this moment: breaking the surface, inhale, wet hair in the hot sun. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Alan is all, “Dude.” \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The moment would be better alone, to be honest. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “That was like a record,” says Val. “You okay?” \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e A few more deep breaths, a quick smile, and . . . \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I love this moment even more: dipping beneath the sur­face. Something about being underwater allows me to feel at a higher capacity—the silence and weightlessness, I think. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e It’s my favorite thing about swimming. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The earlier shots are scanned-in Polaroids, but as the time lapse progresses and the resolution of the photos increases, the brightness of the Fading Girl begins to diminish: little by little, the hair thins; little by little, the eyes dim; little by little, the face withers, the skin droops, the bright young wa­terfall becomes a darkened millpond, one more victim in the septic tank of aging. And it doesn’t make me sad so much as leave an impression of sadness, like watching a stone sink but never hit bottom. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eEvery day for forty years. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I’ve watched the video hundreds of times now: at night before bed, in the morning before school, in the library dur­ing lunch, on my phone during class, in my head during the in-betweens, I hum the Fading Girl like a song over and over again, and every time it ends I swear I’ll never watch it again. But like the saddest human boomerang, I always come back. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Twelve minutes of staring at your screen and watching a person die. It’s not violent. It’s not immoral or shameful; nothing is done to her that isn’t done to all of us, in turn. It’s called \u003ci\u003eAn Examination of the Aging Process\u003c\/i\u003e, but I call bullshit. That girl isn’t aging; she’s fading. And I can’t look away. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e There it is, the inevitable shoulder tap. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Time to join the land of the breathing.","brand":"Penguin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302782423269,"sku":"NP9780425288870","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425288870.jpg?v=1767741698","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-strange-fascinations-of-noah-hypnotik-isbn-9780425288870","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}