Ben Philippe’s 2019 young adult novel, The Field Guide to the North American Teenager, follows the life of Black Haitian Canadian teen, Norris Kaplan, as he settles into his new life in Austin, Texas. Through Norris’s experiences, the novel explores the harmful impacts of words, stereotypes, and judgment. Philippe, a Haitian Canadian immigrant, lends his unique perspective to the novel as Norris navigates the challenges of his new life. This novel won the American Library Association William C. Morris Debut Award.

This study guide refers to Alloy Entertainment’s 2020 first paperback edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source material features depictions of racism, bigoted language, and descriptions of suicide.

Plot Summary

Black French-Canadian teenager Norris Kaplan and his mother, Judith, move from Montreal, Canada, to Austin, Texas, for Judith’s work. As Judith drops Norris off for his first day at American high school, she warns him to watch his mouth. Norris has formed judgments of Austin and the American high school experience from watching American teen movies. On Norris’s first day, the guidance counselor gives him a notebook and encourages him to keep a journal. Norris decides that there is no chance he’ll fit in as a Black French Canadian.

In his first few days, Norris manages to gain a reputation as the “rude Canadian” after he mouths off to the cheerleaders during a confrontation, which he’s saved from by an artsy photographer, Aarti Puri. Aarti has an ongoing conflict with the cheerleaders. She becomes Norris’s first crush, but he struggles to find her to talk to her more after their initial encounter. Norris also meets a loner named Liam, who approaches Norris due to a flier Judith printed. Liam is interested in learning to ice skate and play hockey, but Norris is so embarrassed by the flier that he refuses.

To ensure he’ll have money to fly home for spring break, Norris applies for a part-time job at a local barbecue place. One of the cheerleaders, Madison, also works there as it’s her family’s business. To Norris’s surprise, she helps him get the job.

One day, Norris criticizes the jocks and gets thrown into wet paint. Liam finds Norris and apologizes for Patrick, the jock. Liam proposes again that he and Norris hang out, and Norris accepts.

During Norris’s first shift, Madison proposes a deal: If Norris takes on more work at the restaurant, she’ll help him get close to Aarti. Norris accepts, and Maddie invites him to a party she guarantees Aarti will attend.

At the party, Norris and Aarti go to the basement to talk, but Norris notices she is glancing at the stairs. When Aarti’s ex-entanglement, Ian, shows up at the top of the stairs, Norris worries Aarti is using him to make Ian jealous. Aarti goes to talk to Ian, and Norris scribbles in his journal while waiting. He’s turned it into a field guide, writing snarky comments and observations about the people he encounters. Maddie helps Norris by pretending to laugh at his jokes when Aarti is watching. Norris gets Aarti’s number that night.

At work, Maddie gives Norris advice while they set up for Maddie’s sister’s wedding. Norris learns that Maddie used to date Patrick but stepped aside so her best friend could have him. He thinks Maddie is too selfless.

Aarti and Norris go on a date and share a kiss, but when Norris returns from his spring break trip, Aarti is cold toward him and calls him needy. Norris goes to the ice rink with Liam, which he’s begun to do regularly. Liam suggests Norris and Aarti have different expectations from relationships. Liam wants to start a hockey team, and Norris is hesitant but excited.

Aarti stops texting Norris, so he seeks advice from Maddie, who helps him smooth things over and plan a new date. Maddie is being considered for head cheerleader next year. She worries about taking the spot because her best friend has dreamed of it. Norris tells Maddie to be more selfish. Norris sets up a romantic date with Aarti watching his favorite hockey film in the school’s indoor pool area. The date is a success, and they end by making out.

Later, Maddie invites Norris to her sister’s wedding. Norris plans to attend after hockey practice, but Norris and Liam must handle a drunken Patrick. They decide to take him to the restaurant where the wedding is taking place since Patrick knows the family. Patrick makes a comment about Liam having a breakdown last year, which catches Liam off guard.

Maddie allows them to store Patrick in her dad’s office. Liam leaves to clear his head, and Norris yells at Patrick for mentioning Liam’s breakdown, using insensitive language, which Liam overhears. On the way home, Norris apologizes and asks about Patrick’s comment. Liam confesses that he attempted to die by suicide last year. He’s on medication now and wants to get his life back together, but he’s found it hard with everyone knowing about his past.

Norris visits Aarti’s home to meet her parents. After dinner, they go to Aarti’s room. Norris asks Aarti if she wants to go to prom. Aarti has contempt for prom, and she thinks Norris is starting to like Maddie. Norris shows Aarti his journal, where he wrote mean things about Maddie when they first met. His feelings have changed since then, but he wants to reassure Aarti. Aarti finds the field guide entries hilarious. She tells Norris to go to prom if he wants, but she won’t be going.

Maddie attends Norris’s first hockey game and offers to give him a ride home. In the car, she invites him to prom with the rest of her jock and cheerleader crew. Norris accepts. During prom night, Aarti sends Norris mean and angry texts. Maddie tells Norris that Aarti has been playing games with him. Then, she kisses Norris and reveals that she’s liked him since he interviewed at the restaurant. She only decided to confess now because Norris told her to be more selfish. Norris realizes he likes Maddie, too.

At the after-prom party, Norris sees Aarti kissing Ian. He confronts her, so Aarti reveals to Maddie what Norris wrote in his field guide about her. After reading his notebook, Maddie is upset and wants nothing to do with him. Upset and alone, Norris drinks champagne while wandering through the city. He makes several drunk phone calls and mouths off to a police officer.

Judith picks Norris up from the police station, furious with him. She reminds him that as a Black teen boy in the United States, he doesn’t have the same privileges as his white friends and that he must be more careful with the police.

Norris’s dad flies in from Canada so they can talk about the next steps as a family. Norris chooses to move back to Canada, having ruined all his friendships in America. He says goodbye to Liam and Aarti, but Maddie refuses to see him. At the airport, Norris reads his field guide and realizes how bitter and miserable he sounds. He changes his mind and stays.

Norris finds Maddie at the restaurant and apologizes. He asks if he can take her on a date like she deserves, but Maddie isn’t interested. In the Epilogue, Norris and Liam both work for the restaurant under Maddie’s management. Maddie still gives Norris a hard time, but Norris is hopeful he can make things up to her before next year’s prom. He's looking forward to his life in Texas.