Jesse Andrews may have written a book about a girl dying of cancer, but he is no Lurlene McDaniel. Me & Earl & The Dying Girl is not jam packed with sappy moments and words of wisdom from a girl intelligent beyond her years. It is, however, full of so much sarcastic, self-deprecating, and crass humor that you might want to put on some depends before you read it.
Greg is more an observer of the world than a participant in it. He wants everybody to like him, which means avoiding making friends as much as enemies. The exception is his buddy Earl. Earl is Greg’s sidekick, though not of the yes-man variety; Earl is never afraid to tell it like it is, even if that means kicking Greg’s ass from time to time.
Greg and Earl spend most of their time together making films. When Greg’s former friend Rachel is diagnosed with leukemia, Greg’s mom urges him to reconnect with her and cheer her up. Greg and Earl’s world of two increasingly becomes a world of three as they share their movies with Rachel and decide to make a movie for her. Greg’s not too sure he’s very good at being friends or making movies, but Earl is not about to let him get away with disappointing the dying girl.
