By: Eda Galvez
Eighteen-year-old Dylan Mills is from Castleton, the rich town that churns out “it-school”-worthy students each year. However, Dylan doesn’t find himself at an it-school like his girlfriend, Rosemary Silversmith, does. Instead, he winds up at North South, the college that’s frowned upon in his hometown. It’s also notoriously dubbed Party School. “Party School,” a 2022 debut novel written by Jon Hart, puts an interesting perspective on growing up, accepting change, and everything college-related.
When Dylan first arrives at his new school, he has multiple things fueling his sour mood. He isn’t satisfied with his relationship with his girlfriend, Rosemary, which is currently on a “no contact” break. At the same time, his divorced parents are acting closer than ever, which is confusing him. Dylan quickly befriends Wally, a freshman who helps Dylan through the ropes of North South. Dylan soon encounters his first taste of the infamous North South party life itself, where drugs and alcohol are favored. Besides the underground motorcycle gang that throws ragers and the dorm dubbed ‘420’ for its smokers and music-playing, North South has good professors, whom Dylan slowly grows fond of. Berkowitz, a sociology professor, turns out to be an important character in the plot, often steering Dylan’s decisions and offering guidance.
Now, I found myself at first confused by Jon Hart’s “Party School,” due to the fact that I couldn’t wrap my head around the backstory. What was the reason for Dylan’s parents’ situation? I also felt like I needed to know more about Dylan and Rosemary. I knew that Dylan was obsessed with her, but why? The plot could’ve used more introduction to our protagonist. These points could possibly be connected to Hart’s simplistic writing style; sometimes, I felt the writing lacked detail. However, this kind of writing style can also be a plus, and ultimately I grew fond of Hart’s simple descriptions. A main characteristic of Hart’s style is the dead-panned comedy, which fits seamlessly into his characters. Another thing I appreciated about “Party School” was its characters themselves; I liked how Dylan Mills wasn’t written to be your cliche “nerd” or “loner,” but more realistic. The sociology professor, Berkowitz, also had a realistic and unique character make-up that made me excite at his dialogue. His motto, that frequently occurs throughout the novel, is, “Don’t be sorry. Make it better!”
Overall, I enjoyed the messages conveyed through this book. I admire Hart’s stance against the idea that prestigious schools are the best option for a recently graduated student--if anything, they can be incredibly expensive and oftentimes valued only for their name. Equally, I agree that change is natural and can greet us with new opportunities, a message given through Dylan’s relationship with Rosemary.
All in all, “Party School” by Jon Hart puts a thoughtful but also comedic take on college--a fast-paced, must-read for those with plans of college in their future. As a high school student in a town not unlike Dylan's, Jon Hart’s debut novel provided me with a breath of fresh air.
Image courtesy of https://aosepress.org/staff_name/umasofia-srivastava-2